“Yer A Wizard, Harry.”

Rubeus – “Rubeus” means “red.” “Ruber” is also Latin for “red,” and can mean “ruddy” – a perfect representation of our favorite gamekeeper.

Hagrid – J.K. Rowling said: “Hagrid is also another old English word meaning if you were Hagrid, it’s a dialect word meaning you’d had a bad night. Hagrid’s a big drinker. He has a lot of bad nights.” Grid was a Norse giantess known for having a terrible temper. “Ha” is a variant of the Old West Norse name element “half.” So, “Ha-Grid” may just mean “Half-Grid” or more notably “Half-Giant.” ” Haggard” can also mean “appearing worn and exhausted, gaunt; wild or distraught in appearance; a disheveled individual.” From the Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, the Old English term “hag-rid” means “indigestion” (not surprising considering all the weird things Hagrid eats). Found in the exact same paragraph as “Dumbledore.” Coincidence?

I’m pretty sure I say this every post, but I love Hagrid. He really does make Hogwarts home. I love how someone who seems so scary at first glance is really a sweet, caring, loyal, and emotional man. Hagrid is just wonderful. He’s definitely one of my favorite characters. I hated the part in Order of the Phoenix when he’s away with Madame Olympe Maxime trying to make peace with the giants. But Rowling made up for it with his awesome story. I remember reading that and being completely transported to be there with them and it’s just one of those things that I love about the way that J.K. Rowling writes.

As always, the name holds significance. Rubeus meaning red and ruddy is perfect for Hagrid, as it says above. I believe that J.K. often describes him as being ruddy. Hagrid is yet again perfect, whether referencing the quote or the half-giant or haggard or hag-rid. I think it’s rather interesting that Rowling made Hagrid a drinker. I know he had to have some fault, but wouldn’t it be enough that he was blamed for opening the Chamber of Secrets? He had a terrible childhood though, so I guess that’s probably why. His mother left when he was young, his father died when he was at school, he had few friends, he got blamed for opening the Chamber of Secrets, saved by Dumbledore who allowed him to stay on the grounds. Hagrid also was a very close friend of the Potters and so when they were murdered it was very hard on him. Hagrid also has the tendency to blame himself. I think part of the reason Hagrid has such a fascination with animals is that they’ve never let him down and they’ve always been there for him. I think it’s also pretty awesome that hag-rid and Dumbledore (an old English word for bumblebee) are in the same paragraph. It could be where Jo found their names, or it could merely be a coincidence. Or even cooler would be if she found one of them, then the other later and then came across them in Thomas Hardy’s book.

Though this picture isn’t really something that happened in the series, it’s so true. Hagrid revealed the truth about Harry’s life to us all. Hagrid bought Harry his first real birthday present. Hagrid did so much for Harry, year after year. Though Ron was Harry’s best friend, Ron did leave. Hagrid never did. He never could have. (I’m not hating on Ron, I’m just saying, think about it.) Hermione wasn’t friends with Harry at first, though she didn’t seem to loathe him like she loathed Ron. Hagrid is so important to Harry because Hagrid represents Hogwarts to him somehow. Harry knows that Hagrid cares, and vice versa. Hagrid is just so wonderfully wonderful. He really truly does make Hogwarts home.

One of my favorite Hagrid moments is when the trio goes up to him after finding out he’s the new Care of Magical Creatures professor. He’s so shy about it! It’s adorable. I also love and yet hate the part when Harry goes into the Forbidden Forest in the Deathly Hallows. Hagrid is scared for Harry and I hate that Voldemort makes him carry Harry, but no one else would have been right. It was so emotional. I love Hagrid. He’s a big teddy bear.

More on Hagrid here!

Some quotes from Hagrid:

No, sir – house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin’ around. He fell asleep as we was flyin’ over Bristol.

“Harry — yer a wizard.”

Rubeus Hagrid: “This boy’s had his name down ever since he was born. He’ll be goin’ to the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world and he’ll be under the greatest headmaster that Hogwarts has ever seen; Albus Dumbledore. Vernon Dursley: “I will not pay to have some crackpot old fool teach him magic tricks! Rubeus Hagrid: “Never… insult… Albus Dumbledore… in front of me!
Great man, Dumbledore. ‘S long as we’ve got him, I’m not too worried.
Listen to me, all three of ya: Yer meddlin’ in things that aught not to be meddled in; it’s too dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel.
“If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they’d have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That’d lead ’em right! That’s all I’m sayin’.”
When I firs’ met you, you reminded me o’ me a bit: Mum an’ Dad gone, and you was feelin’ like yeh wouldn’t fit in at Hogwarts, remember? Not sure yeh were really up to it…an’ now look at yeh!.
My dad was broken-hearted when she wen’. Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him up an’ put him on top o’ the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh…
Dumbledore sent me to parley with the giants…I tried to convince them to join the cause. But I wasn’t the only one that was trying to win them over.
Harry?! No! What are you doin’ here?!