In Defense of Hagrid - Jumping into the Fray

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 144018

This discussion has gone on for quite a while (at least in Internet
time), and I thought I should drop back in and once again try to add
some perspective to the debate.

Again, I say that Hagrid's problem is that, in the beginning, he
doesn't understand his job. He hears "Care of Magical Creatures" and
all that stands out is the 'Magical Creatures' part. In the beginning,
he has decided that it would be cool and impressive, and certainly
make him well liked, if he shows the students a series of Impressive
Magical Creature. But as I've said, the operative words in his job
description are not "...Magical Creature", but "Care of...". 

When his first year is a total failure, he thinks about it over the
summer and decides to try an new approach. That next year, he decides
to make a project out of it; the Blast-End Skrewts. Again, in his
enthusiasm to show the student Impressive Magical Creatures, he
forgets the 'Care of...' part. Since Hagrid /invented/ the Skrewts,
they are not magical creatures that anyone is likely to every have to
take care of. So, he is improving, and clearly trying, but again his
emphasis is on the wrong aspect.

In Harry's OWL years, Hagrid's focus changes because of his friendship
with Harry. Now Hagrid sees that Harry and friends must pass their
OWLs, and it is Hagrid responsibility to make sure that happens. Now
that he has gained a new perspective, his classes change, and even the
 student who don't like him have to admit that he is doing a much
better job. Why? Because with OWLs hanging over his head, Hagrid has
not choice but the teach CARE OF Common Magical Creatures, and you
will notice that a majority of his student do well on their OWLs. He
must have done something right.

As the the Draco/Hippogriff incident, naturally, as the teacher,
Hagrid can not escape some responsibility. When ever you are in
charge, in the real or fictional world, anything that happens on your
watch is your responsibility. But while it is your official
responsibility, that doesn't mean that the incident in /necessarily/
your fault. It's a fine distinction.

When the hippogriffs appear, it is clear from everyone's reactions
that they are fearful. The very large, and menacingly equipped (talons
and beak) creatures are nothing to be triffled with. When Hagrid
invite the class forward, none of them except the inviation to step up
to the fense. Eventually, only with great reluctance, and in support
of Hagrid, do Harry, Ron, and Hermione move to the fense. The danger
is clear. It is further clear that Malfoy can't be bothered to listen. 

None the less, Malfoy is watching when Harry is invited to approach
the hippogriff. Clearly anyone and everyone see the potential danger.
The problem is Harry is successful, and Malfoy in his arrogance, can't
abide Harry out doing him. With that same arrogance and distain,
Malfoy ignore everything he should have heard, and everything he HAD
seen, and does exactly the opposite of what any reasonable and
rational person would do. 

After Harry's success, and before Malfoy acts like the idiot he is,
the rest of the class are interacting with the Hippogriff with
reasonable caution and reasonable success; all of which Malfoy witnesses.

Pg 117 PB - "Emboldened by Harry's success, the rest of the class
climbed cautiously into the paddock. Hagrid untied the hippogriffs one
by one, an dsoon people were bowing nerviously, all over the paddock.
Neville ran repeatedly backward from his, which didn't seem to want to
bend its knee. Ron and Hermione practiced on the chestnut, while Harry
watched."

Clearly, all the student including Neville are excesizing do and
reasonable caution with large and obviously dangerous creatures.

pg 117-118 pb - "Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had taken over Buckbeak. He
had bowed to Malfoy, who was now patting his beak, looking distainful.
"This is very easy," Malfoy drawled, loud enough for Harry to hear
him. "I knew it must have been, if Potter could do it.... I bet you're
not dangerous at all, are you?" he said to the hippogriff. "Are you,
you great ugly brute?"

Under no circumstance could anyone say that Malfoy is justified in
making such a statement. It's fine that he is minimizing Harry role in
the hippogriffs, but there really is no reason or point in insulting
the hippogriff itself. Malfoy has clearly decided he knows more that
that oaf of a teacher, and chooses to freely and unnecessarily insult
a dangerous creature that all others are very cautions around.

As a result Malfoy pays for his self-absorbed arrogance.

Again, by virtue of the fact the Hagrid was in charge, he bares a
degree of responsibility, just as Snape bares a degree of
responsibility for Harry throwing a firecracker into a potion in his
class, causing several students to be injured. Just as McGonagall is
responsible for Transfiguration mishaps, and Flintwick is responsible
for Charms mishaps, and I am sure there are plenty of both. 

But, in fiction and in real-life, we do not live in an 'idiot proof'
world. There are idiots and they will hurt themselves, and they will
certainly whine and cry that the world should have protected them, and
that, idiots that they are, they shouldn't be held responsible for
their own idiotic actions. 

So, in this one incident, Hagrid can't escape responsibility because
he was in charge and that makes it his responsibility, but on the
other hand, you can't blame the world or Hagrid because some people
are idiots. Idiots can and will get hurt because they are
self-absorbed, self-indulgant, irresponsible idiots; that's life.

Further, injuries, in and out of the classroom, are common at
Hogwarts. Harry has had all kinds of extreme injuries that Madame
Pomfrey has mended easily. Just as she easily mended Malfoy's cut.
Certainly, Malfoy's cut was cause for concern, but Hagrid got him to
the hospital wing as soon as possible.

Of course, there is no denying that hippogriffs were too advanced for
third years. But again, I'm back to Hagrid not understanding his job.
He is focusing on '...Magical Creature' when he should be focusing on
'Care of...'. 

Still, in Harry OWL year, Hagrid seems to have mellowed. He seems to
be getting his teaching legs. And while it is a slow process, I think
he will finally figure his job out. In the future I have no problem
seeing Hagrid presenting age appropraite creatures with full
information on their care and feeding, enhanced by an occasional
'interesting creature' presented in an age appropriate way. For
example, while he may let 4th or 5th years approach and pet a
hippogriff, he would only let younger student see them while he
explained some of their interesting characteristics. 

I think we need to give Hagrid a chance as a teacher. Students do seem
to be passing their OWLs, and I suspect as he melllows a bit, his
classes will fall in line, and eventually "Care of Magical Creatures"
will become a very popular class.

Though out the series we see Hagrid both trying to improve, and indeed
improving, in his teaching methods. I think that now that Harry is
past his OWLs, Hagrid is beginning to get the hang of it. 

One last note on the Draco/Hippogriff incident. I think people on
polar sides of this argument are simply trying to present a
perspective. Those who say Draco is at fault are not totally absolving
Hagrid, they are merely saying the Draco cause his own injuries. Those
who are saying Hagrid is at fault, are not absolving Draco of being an
arrogant idiot who acted in an unbelievably stupid manner and against
all common sense and obvious signs. They are merely saying that Hagrid
was in charge, he was responsible for the safety of his students, and
he can never escape that responsibility. 

In a sense, both sides are rigth; Hagrid is in charge therefore he is
responsible. Draco acted like a thoughtless arrogant idiot and
suffered for his actions. Now combine that with the fact the people
are being magically and physically hurt all the time at Hogwarts, all
of which is easily fixed by Madame Pomfrey, and I think you have a
fair perspective.

Malfoy's attempt at getting Hagrid fired and Buckbeak killed was his
own petty spitefull revenge against Hagrid. It was something of a
crime of opportunity; he did it because he could, and because he
enjoyed it and because he knew it would indirectly hurt Harry.

A fair and balanced approach.

Steve/Bbboyminn