The Virtues of Hagrid

[Missy]

No: HPFGUIDX 175044

First of all, I need to say, that I love Hagrid.  I have from the 
moment he pulled up to the Dursley's on the motorcycle.  But I think 
a lot of people see him differently than I do.  In fact, from reading 
the posts, I know this is true.

Hagrid loves Harry deeply.  That much is shown by the gifts he buys 
and by the hurt he feels when Harry et al do not take his class.  It 
is partially because he thought they loved the class, but I think 
also a little bit because he misses them.

Hagrid is alone in the world.  He mentions several times to Harry 
that they are the same, that they have no family.  But the one thing 
Hagrid never mentions is that aside from DD, until the trio came 
along, Hagrid didn't have much of anyone at all.  At the beginning of 
SS McGonagall questions DD's decision to let Hagrid bring the baby.  
Hagrid was kicked out of school, but DD knew he was alone and allowed 
him to stay.  

As for the monsters, yes they are monsters.  But so is Hagrid.  
Hagrid has lived his life among witches and wizards who constantly 
talk of how vicious giants are.  All the while, Hagrid MUST be 
thinking to himself, "Well, I'm not so bad."  So, in his mind, these 
magical creatures deserve the same chance to show they are not as 
vicious as people say they are.  And sometimes, he is right.  The 
thestrals and Buckbeak aren't vicious, once you know how to deal with 
them.  

I thought that Hagrid yelled, "Don't hurt them" at the spiders and 
meant the students.  I don't have the book in front of me, and am 
ashamed to admit I've only read it once, so I missed the passage 
where people thing he meant to not hurt the spiders.  After being 
kicked out of the spider's part of the forest, I would think he loves 
the kids more than the spiders.  So, please point out what I missed 
because I will be reading it again.

These are just my feelings, and I welcome all discussion.