How important is Hagrid?

[hagrid_hut]

No: HPFGUIDX 186699

Hagrid81 (http://teawithhagrid.blogspot.com):

Hello everyone!  I've been reading on and off for a few weeks now and thought it be best to just start a new post rather than risk redundancy in another.

First let me tell you all that I am obsessed with the character Hagrid--not just because he's so loveable, but also because I find that he plays so many different roles in the series: protector, comic relief, tongue-slipper, etc.  He's a hard character to place because he serves so many functions in the story, but none to a degree that it makes the reader feel as if the story couldn't go on without him (like a Dumbledore does).

So my question is: Where would you all rank Hagrid in order of importance?

I hope this is not redundant either.