Hagrid, the Marauders, and Snape

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 150079

The discussion of whether or not James' threat to take off Snape's
underwear is sexual harassment got me wondering what happened after
the scene was broken off and why we were not allowed to see it.  If
Snape really did have his underpants removed, I agree that such a
scene would be far too indecent and shocking for a series of books
marketed to children.  

But it could be that the scene was broken off for other reasons, one
of which is the disturbing effect on Harry, causing him to doubt his
father's character and question whether his mother really loved his
father (because he must imagine the worst).  But it is also possible
that something happened after Harry left the Pensieve that would give
too much information away, both to Harry and to the readers had we
been allowed to see it.

Was Snape rescued by Hagrid?

There has ben much discussion about Hagrid's trust of Snape.  The
reason put forth in PS/SS is that Hagrid is too loyal to Hogwarts ever
to speak ill of a Hogwarts teacher (unless it's a sadistic bully like
Umbridge or a phoney like Lockhart.  Hagrid is pretty plain spoken
about both.)

There is only one scene between Hagid and Snape.

*********************
Ron dived at Malfoy just as Snape came up the stairs.
"WEASLEY!"
Ron let go of the front of Malfoy's robes.
"He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking his huge
hairy face out from behind the tree. "Malfoy was insultin' his family."
"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," said
Snape silkily.
(SS12)
*********************
>From Snape this is almost conciliatory language.  He speaks "silkily".
 He calls Hagrid by name.  Most importantly, he does not question
Hagrid's account of what happened.  He merely asserts his
responsibilty to enforce the school rules (and we know how important
obeying the rules is to Snape).  On Hagrid's part, we see no hesitance
to stand up to Snape.

It has been suggested that Hagrid knows something about why DD trusts
Snape, that he was a bonder for a UV Snape took to protect Harry, that
Snape was involved in the rescue of baby Harry from Godric's Hollow. 
It is all speculation, since there is so little canon to go on.  So
now I would like to add mine.

Hagrid was the groundskeeper.  He must have seen a lot more of what
went on outside of classes than the other Hogwarts staff.  He is
extolled by Firenze "for the care he shows all living creatures".  He
loves "interestin' creatures" including a pet dragon and a giant
spider.  Is it likely that he would be put off by a sullen unpopular
teenager, even one who had a fascination for the dark arts?

I think it is possible that Hagrid befriended Snape as a teenager. 
Possibly he even rescued him on occasion from the bullying of other
students.  The fact that the only scene in the books between them, as
adults, deals with a conflict between students outside of class makes
this possibility seem even more likely to me.

So is it possible that Hagrid (the half-human who could teach
pure-bloods a thing or two about what it means to be human) rescued
Snape from James?

If so, it doesn't seem to have hurt his opinion of James  whom he
praises over and over again to Harry in the highest terms.

As groundskeeper, Hagrid must have known Lupin's secret and the
efforts that were made so that he could attend school.  Surely he was
involved in digging the tunnel and planting the whomping willow. How
much did he know of the activities of the Marauders? It's hard to
believe that he would have kept the information from Dumbledore if he
had known that three illegal animagi and a werewolf were running loose
in Hogsmeade once a month.  His position must have allowed him to know
all about the Prank, though.

Did James' exposure of the Prank earn Hagrid's good opinion?  We have
heard very little of what actually happened, most of it from Snape. 
Was James' behavior more noble and disinterested than Snape has been
willing to credit?  Did it gain Lily's regard for James, as well as
Hagrid's?  Was it the beginning of the breakup of the Marauders?  And
yet James and Lily still choose Sirius to be the godfather of their
son--*and* their secret keeper.