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Why I Hope to Be Like Hagrid

Why Hagrid Is the Best Parent Figure to Harry

By Michelle SchultzPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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I am a HUGE Harry Potter nerd! It is, by far, my all-time favorite series. I don't mean that I really enjoy the series or I like how they're written. I mean I have two Harry Potter tattoos and entirely too much merchandise. I'm a Harry Potter nerd. Everyone asks me who my favorite character is. This is a complicated question for a lot of reasons. If we're talking in general, my favorite character is Sirius Black. However, if you asked me who I admire most as a parent figure for Harry, I would have to say Molly Weasley and Hagrid. I admire Molly Weasley for obvious reasons. Many people question why Hagrid though. I have a few reasons...

1. He always stands up for Harry.

From day one, he has always proved his loyalty. When he comes to give Harry his first Hogwarts letter, he stands up to the Dursleys. Granted, when you're as tall as Hagrid that's not really a hard feat, but the meaning was still there. Hagrid defends Harry like he's his own flesh and blood a thousand times. I know I would defend my daughter at every corner and every chance I can, and that is part of the reason I greatly admire Hagrid.

2. Hagrid has his little secrets with Harry.

Hagrid has a ton of little moments with Harry where he suggests they just keep that between them. They aren't huge secrets, but they're enough that it brings them closer together. It's the little things he shares with Harry, and some things he doesn't even specifically tell him, like that he turned the pieces of his wand into an umbrella in the first few books. It's those types of things that bring them so much closer. My daughter is a little young for that right now, but I try. Giving her an extra popsicle before dinner, calling her in sick to daycare to take her to Chuck-E-Cheese for the day. When she's older she'll obviously appreciate these things more, and, hopefully, I'll be able to share a little more with her than just these spoiling moments.

Which brings me to my next point...

3. He always makes sure Harry feels wanted.

He was probably the first person to properly celebrate Harry's birthday. From making sure he always sends birthday and Christmas presents to sending him letters so that he doesn't feel left out when the owls come at breakfast, he always makes sure Harry doesn't feel left out. He tells him about his parents and how proud they would be. Hagrid constantly invited him to his hut for tea and just to spend time with him. I know that there are moments when Harry feels unwanted and left out, but I hope that I'm like Hagrid. I hope that in those moments when my daughter has her moments of feeling unwanted, I'll recognize how she feels and change that. That she'll always feel wanted by me, and we can sit and have tea together and talk about everything.

4. Hagrid slightly encourages Harry to get in trouble.

I think he does this without really meaning to. However, he definitely encourages him and gives him advice on how to get away with things. I think every parent should encourage their kids to get into a little bit of trouble and help them if things get messy. Obviously not too much, but Hagrid slowly gives him hints about where he should be or how he should do things. Like when he shows him the dragon before the first task in the Triwizard Tournament. Honestly though, when my daughter's older, I hope she comes to me for advice about how to egg that guy's house who hurt her best friend. You know... little trouble.

5. Hagrid was there to buy Harry his first pet.

That's, like, a really big parent thing to do. He brings him into town to get all his school supplies and he's so happy that he's celebrating Harry's birthday with him and he's so proud of him for getting into Hogwarts that he buys him his first pet. Like any proper parent with a soft spot for animals. I can't wait to buy my daughter her first owl... I mean dog...

6. Harry knew he could trust Hagrid.

And Hagrid was sure to never break that trust. Look at when Ron's slugs curse backfired in the second book. Harry didn't go to Madame Pomfrey or McGonagall or even Dumbledore. He went to Hagrid. He knew Hagrid wouldn't get Ron into trouble for trying to curse Draco. He trusted Hagrid to know what to do and to help his friend get better. Harry confided in Hagrid and Hagrid was sure to keep their talks between them.

7. He was always in the stands cheering for Harry at his Quidditch matches.

He shuffles his way through the little stands to watch the big matches and when he's not actually there, he's watching with binoculars from his hut. Hagrid is the loud, over enthused parent in the stands, screaming their head off in encouragement. I can't wait to be that parent. Whether my daughter is a sports fanatic or performs in every play and musical or maybe competes in academic competitions, I will be the loud embarrassing parent cheering her on.

8. The heartbreak is palpable when Harry goes to meet Voldemort in the forest.

Hagrid is there and asks Harry what he's doing there. Even though everyone knows what has to be done. Hagrid, as a parent figure, cannot accept that Harry is coming to face his own death. When he's forced to carry Harry's body back, he is sobbing angry sobs and shouting at the centaurs for refusing to fight. He's angry and hurt in any way a parent would be. But he's also carrying Harry close to him, in the way someone would carry a baby, and I think J.K. Rowling did this on purpose: to show us that Hagrid ultimately was like a father to Harry, until the very end. Obviously, I hope I don't live to see the day my daughter dies, but this part really touched me as I was rereading the books.

Overall, I truly believe that Hagrid is the ultimate parent figure (next to Molly Weasley, of course). I've had a lot of people argue with me that Dumbledore was more of a parent figure, but as a parent myself, I would never set Harry up without any warning whatsoever of what he was expected to do. Dumbledore left out a lot of details when he was explaining things to Harry and I think he lacked trust in him a bit. Hagrid's trust never wavered and he always put Harry's wellbeing first, which, in my opinion, is more parent like than anything else. I also have to thank J.K. Rowling for not killing Hagrid. I don't know if I could've kept reading if Hagrid died.

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About the Creator

Michelle Schultz

I'm mostly an editorial writer. I love to share my opinions and experiences. I don't hold back and I swear so if you take offense easily, my articles probably aren't for you. I'm a single mom just trying to stay sane.

@loreleismom

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