small thing in COS

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 98115

HunterGreen wrote:
<(I've also always found it odd that Tom Riddle and
Hagrid knew each other personally when they were several years 
apart and presumably in different houses, although Tom could 
just have seen him as an easy patsy).>
 

Ivogun responded:
Because of his size, Hagrid stood out. Even when he was in school.  He 
wasn't the normal type of kid who blended in with the rest.  I'm sure 
there were all sort of whispers and mumbling about his giant blood.  
Everyone probably knew his name.  The pure blood group was probably 
scandalized. I can see them pointing, laughing, and making snide 
comments.  His love of monsters was probably common knowledge too.  It 
would act as a proof that Hagrid wasn't human.
 
As for Tom Riddle, he was also probably known by just about everyone 
too.  In Dumbledore's words (paraphrased because I'm too lazy to look 
it up) "he may have been the best student that ever went to Hogwarts."  
I'm sure all the students knew him as the very intelligent, good 
looking prefect.  I would think that most students would know all the 
prefects by name.  I started attending a K - 12 school in 7th grade.  
Mostly one would know the students in your class, but certain upper 
class members (sport stars, prom queens, geniuses, class presidents,  
musical stars, club presidents etc.) would be known by many other 
students.
 
I am going beyond the text a little.  I'm sure that Riddle had it in 
for Hagrid just because he's part giant.  I'm suspect that Riddle 
monitored Hagrid's activities, trying to gather evidence against him.  
Catching Hagrid with Aragog was probably not the first (or even the 
second or third) encounter between the two. Oh yes, I think they knew 
each other fairly well.
 

Carol:
Except for the part about knowing each other fairly well, I agree with
this post. For the reasons mentioned (Hagrid's size and fondness for
monsters, Tom's good looks, good grades, and status as prefect) I'm
pretty sure that everyone in the school knew both of them by sight and
name even if they had no personal acquaintance with them.

I think Tom's intention in addressing Hagrid by his first name was to
establish his position as Hagrid's superior in age and social status.
But Hagrid, who wouldn't understand such subtle snubs, probably took
Tom's use of his first name as a friendly gesture and reciprocated by
doing the same. That's how I read the scene, anyway.

Carol