Hagrid (and Dumbledore)

[Kelly Molinari]

No: HPFGUIDX 153429

> Kelly:
> <snip> It is my belief that IF Dumbledore is not dead, that Hagrid
> is in on it. Dumbledore's line that he would trust Hagrid with his
> life is very fitting here. <snip of Kelly's speculation of Hagrid's
> possible involvement in Dumbledore's faked death>

> Kemper now:
> I'm mostly responding to your conditional supposition of Hagrid's
> possible part in DD's possible faked death.
>
> I think I'm the only one on the list that has the porchlight on
> for DD.

Kelly now:
     I'm still on the fence about DD being alive or dead. I'd like to
believe JKR when she says *dead is dead*. I'd also hope that she
wouldn't have put all the DD lovers through that gut-wrenching
experience if he weren't really dead. But at the same time I can see
many scenarios (can't go into all of them here) in which DD's faked
death will be more beneficial to Harry, as well as the story line.
The most obvious, IMO, is that LV and the DE's will let their guard
down now that DD is out of the picture.

Kemper:
> My reasons are also based on Dumbledore's solid trust in Hagrid.
> <snip examples>

Kelly now:
      Yes, all excellent examples of the extent to which DD trusts Hagrid.

Kemper:
> How could such a powerful endorsement by such a powerful wizard
> (whom the reader now knows to do things with a wand that an ancient
> witch had never seen and to be the only one LV ever feared) not be
> proven anywhere in the series?!

Kelly now:
     Exactly! That is why I think Hagrid will play a huge role (no pun
intended) in the outcome of the series. Hagrid, though very loyal and
trustworthy in the most Gryffindorish way, has yet to show the finest
Gryffindor trait of all: Courage. Sooner or later Hagrid will have to
do something that shows how brave he really is. I know he came out to
fight the DE's on the grounds but I think it will be bigger than that.
Having only three years of Wizard schooling does not make Hagrid a
strong candidate to out duel LV or a DE. Yet I can't see him running
from a confrontation. Whatever he does I hope he does not loose his
life over it.

Kemper:
> However, I do not think that Hagrid is in on DD's faked death.
> Hagrid wears his emotions on his sleeve.  He would not be able to
> pull off faking grief for DD.

Kelly now:
     I thought about that too. But I just can't get over the fact that
having moved DD's body (twice) he would not have been able to tell
that DD was still alive, if in fact that was the case.

Kemper:
> I believe that DD had a will drawn up that had Hagrid perform
> certain duties with regards to his body and resting place.

Kelly now:
     If that were true then Hagrid would have known about it, and
wouldn't he have said as much while everyone was in the headmaster's
office? Was he so grief stricken that he forgot what his duties were?

<snip of Kemper's speculation on how DD could help HP in the defeat
of LV>

Kelly now:
    Since Hagrid does wear his emotions on his sleeve maybe the
bravest thing he will ever have to do is send HP out there to fight
LV thinking that DD is not there to help him. If DD is alive this
will not be an easy thing for Hagrid to do. Kind of like parenting,
we always want to protect our children but there comes a time when
WE have to be brave and let them fend for themselves, all the time
knowing that we will bail them out if the need arises.

Kemper:
> Kemper, waiting for DD patiently with the porch-light on and
> pouring him a large brandy

Kelly, hoping that Dumbledore enjoys the brandy.