What You Never Knew
Rubeus Hagrid: The World's Biggest Teddy Bear
1. For years, he hated his mother.
He had known his mother for just over three years, and then she had left, leaving him motherless and his poor dad broken hearted. For years, Hagrid resented his mother for this; he wanted nothing to do with her. Nothing whatsoever. She could go rot with Satan for all he cared. Then, on his deathbed, his father told a twelve-year-old Hagrid, "She was a good woman, your mother. She grew up differently than us- she wasn't raised to live like this. It was too different for her. I understand why she left, and I respect that. Don't hate your mother, Hagrid."
For his father's sake, Hagrid loved his mother from that point on.
2. The Sorting Hat was prejudiced.
In fact, that infamous hat was the first person (or, rather, article of clothing) to display a hatred for giants. Because of this, Hagrid never forgot his conversation with the hat.
"Hagrid, Rubeus!" Professor Dumbledore's voice rang loud and clear throughout the Great Hall. A massive boy, nearing Dumbledore's height already, lumbered up to the stool, looking down shyly. Upon sitting down onto the stool, it promptly broke, and Hagrid plopped onto the ground. The Great Hall burst into laughter, and he felt tears fall slowly down his cheek, his face an embarrassed red. Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he looked up into Professor Dumbledore's kind eyes, and saw that the older man was offering him a hand up. Sniffling, Hagrid accepted it, stood up, and sat down on the newly conjured- and much stronger- stool. Smiling at him, Dumbledore gently placed the ancient hat on his head.
'Lo, Mr. Hat, Hagrid greeted nervously.
Why, you're a polite one, I see! What a nice change of pace!
My ol' man taught me to be real nice an' polite to ev'ryone I meet.
Oh, yes, I remember your father. Kind, but with a rather unhealthy obsession with magical creatures. Unusually short, too. Which makes me wonder- where on earth do you get your height from?
My mum, Mr. Hat.
What's your mum's name, Hagrid?
Fridwulfa.
Oh, well, that- that's a rather odd name. I don't remember hearing it before. I assume she wasn't a witch, then?
No, Mr. Hat.
A Muggle, then, I presume.
No.
...Not a Muggle or a witch? What is she, then?
On his stool, Hagrid's chest puffed with pride as she silently declared, A giantess!
A- A giantess?! Merlin's beard, I'm on top of a half-giant's head!
Is- Is tha' a problem, Mr. Hat?
Giants are evil, vicious creatures, young… er… one. You should not be proud of being related to one!
I don' mean no disrespect, Mr. Hat, bu' my ol' man always taught me tha' giants are beautiful, powerful creatures, an' that they were greatly misunderstood!
Your father was slightly barmy even at eleven. Don't listen to a word of that nonsense. There's not a single sane witch or wizard that doesn't hate giants.
Does tha' mean tha' I shouldn't tell people abou' mum?
Not if you want to have any friends!
Oh… okay, then. Would yeh mind Sortin' me now, Mr. Hat? I'm real hungry.
Of course. Let's see… well, that's strange?
Wha' is?
Despite being raised by a giantess, it seems you don't have a single mean bone in your body!
Oh, I wasn't raised by 'er, Mr. Hat! She left when I was three.
Well, I'm… sorry?
Don' apologize, Mr. Hat. Much thanks, though.
You're welcome. Now, let's see… take no offense, Rubeus, but you're not brainy enough for Ravenclaw. I suppose Hufflepuff would work; you're quite hard working and loyal- but wait! What's this? You've got a lot of bravery! Yes, that settles it! "GRYFFINDOR!"
Thank you, Mr. Hat! My ol' man will be so proud!
Good luck, Rubeus. And remember: if anyone asks, your mother is not a giantess. I'm telling you this for your own good. Now put me back on my stool.
3. The saddest day of his life was when his father died.
When Hagrid went home from his Second Year at Hogwarts to find his father unable to get out of bed, he had been surprised. He had spent the rest of his summer attempting to nurse his father back to health, but it was no use. Even the Muggle doctors hadn't really been able to help him- they had just offered to give him some sort of treatment that would make him lose all his hair. Hagrid and his father did not have enough money to pay for this, however, and so returned home even more dejected than before.
Despite all of Hagrid's efforts, his father died just over two weeks later.
4. In his three years at Hogwarts, he had one good friend.
Despite her being in Ravenclaw, they hung out whenever possible. They were the most unlikely friendship Hogwarts had ever seen; the annoying, acne plagued girl and the abnormally large, sensitive boy. However, they were both friendless except for each other, and this was what made their friendship one of the strongest Hogwarts had ever seen as well. The two could often be seen doing homework together in the library or looking at something rather furry in a large box.
Then, in the course of one day in their Third Year, both of them were forcibly taken out of school, never to sit in classes together or laugh with each other again.
Her name was Myrtle.
5. Sometimes, he really hated being gamekeeper.
Sure, he was grateful that he was able to stay on the Hogwarts ground, sometimes pick up a few spells from his former classmates. But those same former classmates took every opportunity they had to mock him, tease him, gloat about their promising magical futures, knowing full well that Hagrid would be stuck in his hut for the rest of his life. As gamekeeper, Hagrid was forced to look around and see what he could have had, what he could have been, the choices he could have had. And that hurt more than anything else.
6. Once, he confronted Tom Riddle.
It was just after the older boy had graduated and, for once, Tom was alone. So Hagrid took the opportunity to finally talk to him for the first time since being expelled.
"OI! RIDDLE!" Hagrid called, his long strides quickly catching up to the now-former Slytherin.
"What do you want, Hagrid?" Tom smirked. "Don't you have to catch up with old Ogg? You are his apprentice, after all."
"He gave me a break," Hagrid said sharply. "I need t' speak with ya, Riddle."
"Alright, then. Speak," Tom ordered, looking up into Hagrid's black eyes.
"Why'd yeh do it?" Hagrid asked.
"Do what?"
"Why'd yeh accuse me of killin' Myrtle?" Hagrid snapped. "Yeh know I wouldn't do tha', she was my friend!"
"Do I really know that, Hagrid?" Tom raised an eyebrow. "After all, we are in different Years- we rarely ever discoursed. In fact, this may be the fourth time in our lives we've ever had a conversation."
"Don' play dumb with me, Riddle!" Hagrid exclaimed. "We both know I'd never do that t' no one! What'd I ever do t' yeh, eh? Like yeh said, we could count the number o' times we've ever talked on one 'and! So why'd yeh do it?"
"I believed you guilty," Tom shrugged, his face showing even less than nothing. "In fact, I still do. I understand you wish things had turned out differently, Hagrid- but justice is justice, and I felt it was my duty to make sure it was served." He smiled charmingly at Hagrid before turning around and strutting away liked he owned the grounds.
"Yeh're lyin', Riddle!" Hagrid shouted after him, beady eyes narrowed. "Yeh may 'ave ev'ryone else fooled, bu' no' me!"
Slowly, Tom walked back, and spent a solid minute staring Hagrid straight in the eye before hissing, "Prove it."
Hagrid opened his mouth to speak, but closed it; he had no proof. Tom sneered triumphantly. "Exactly. You have no proof, Hagrid. Who would believe you, an awkward half-giant, over me- Head Boy and the most talented wizard Hogwarts has ever seen?"
Steeling his nerves, Hagrid spoke, "Yeh're no' the best wizard'ogwarts 'as ever seen. Professor Dumbledore is!"
Tom glared at him fiercely, almost as if he was cutting him with his eyes. "You're wrong, you great oaf. You'd do best to learn that."
Then he walked away once more, and this time, Hagrid didn't call him back.
7. He was to thank for James Potter and Lily Evans getting together.
Very few people knew this. However, both James and Lily often visited Hagrid in his hut- separately, of course- and all too often talked about each other. For the first few years, it was with hatred on both parts. Then, during the middle of his Fourth Year, James had announced, "Lily's beautiful, don't you think?" and from that point, the boy had never shut up about her many wonderful traits. He began to ask Lily out with fervor, causing her to complain about him to Hagrid even more than before. Hagrid, however, privately agreed with James- the two were meant for each other. And so, towards the end of Sixth Year, Hagrid advised James to smarten up and not be such a prat towards Lily and everyone else. He even went so far as to go to Dumbledore and suggest that James be made Head Boy.
Surprisingly enough, both James and Dumbledore listened to his suggestions. James and Lily were married two and a half years later.
8. He was never really in love with Olympe Maxime.
Oh, yes, he was infatuated with her- that much was certain. But, deep down, he knew he wasn't in love with her. She may have been a half-giant like him, but they were just too different personality wise to work as a couple.
When did he realize this, you might ask? When he was visited the giants on Dumbledore's orders and met Bolmunt, a giantess on the small side.
9. He always knew that Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger would get together someday.
Really, it was hilariously obvious. Yes, they bickered like an old married couple- but that was just it! They bickered like an old married couple! When Hagrid saw the two of them holding hands and sending each other long overdue loving looks after the final battle, he couldn't help but run over to them, encase them in a suffocating hug, and start sobbing happy tears.
But those tears were nothing compared to when Hermione asked him to walk her down the aisle in place of her recently deceased father. Then, he bawled like a newborn baby.
10. He wasn't surprised when Bolmunt left him.
Upset, yes; but surprise was probably the last thing he felt. When he had returned to the giants after the War and met with Bolmunt again, he had known that they wouldn't last, no matter how much he cared for her. That was why he didn't marry her- so that she would always have the freedom to leave and be happy if she wanted to, and so she wouldn't feel tied down.
That said, he probably would have been much more upset if Bolmunt hadn't left him their daughter, Maxine, to raise and love.
The life of Rubeus Hagrid was filled with ups and downs, good things and bad things. People saw Hagrid many different ways. Some people hated him for his giant heritage. Some people loved him for his kindness and good heart. Some people really didn't know what on earth to make of him. But everyone could agree on at least one thing about Rubeus Hagrid, whether they did so grudgingly or not: he was the World's Biggest Teddy Bear.
Not to mention the World's Most Notorious Child Spoiler.
I'm personally quite proud of this one. So, what do you think? Thanks for all the respond to my last chapter, by the way! I love reviews! I need three at least before I update again!
By the way, character suggestions are still welcome!
Thanks for reading!
-Joelle8