Snape, Hagrid and Animals/Crime and Punishment

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 143865

> Magpie:
> 
> And yet Hagrid is sticking them on top of them and releasing them 
into a 
> paddock with instructions to pet away on their own.  This is the 
essence of 
> Hagrid.  Why do the kids even need a class if they're supposed to 
be such 
> pros via common sense?

a_svirn:
This is not an accurate account of Hagrid's first lesson. He did not 
release the kids to the paddock with only the "pet-away" guideline.  
First, he got the theory part explained – that hippogriffs are 
proud, that one offends them at one's peril (on account of their 
talons), that one has to bow and wait for a hippogriff to bow back. 
And if it doesn't – well, then "get away from him sharpish, 'cause 
those talons hurt". After this theory bit there was a demonstration 
with a volunteer, and a successful one at that. During the 
demonstration Hagrid did exactly what he ought to have done – 
watched every move and was prepared to intervene in case anything 
went wrong. Nothing did, however, because his instructions were to 
the purpose. The petting bit only came up during the demonstration, 
after the first successful round. 
And only after the demonstration did he allowed his students to the 
paddock. They were all following his instructions and most were 
doing rather well. And those who didn't (like Neville) still adhered 
to the instructions and, therefore, were not in danger. Neville, for 
instance, did not succeed in receiving a bow from his hippogriff and 
knew better than to proceed to the next stage.