Rubeus Hagrid

Harry Potter · Character

Rubeus Hagrid

Also known as Hagrid

  • Major
  • First seen · Book 1

Rubeus Hagrid is a major character in Harry Potter (Book 1).

Gender
male
Age
adult
First appears
Book 1
Books
4

Rubeus Hagrid, the towering half-giant gamekeeper of Hogwarts, enters the series as the warm, rough-hewn messenger who rescues Harry Potter from the Dursleys and opens the door to the wizarding world. His fierce loyalty to Dumbledore and boundless affection for dangerous creatures define him, even as his past catches up with him: in Chamber of Secrets he is revealed to have been framed by Tom Riddle fifty years earlier and is hauled off to Azkaban by Cornelius Fudge. Elevated to Care of Magical Creatures professor in Prisoner of Azkaban, he battles to save Buckbeak, and in Goblet of Fire Rita Skeeter's exposé of his giantess mother Fridwulfa drives him into shamed seclusion until Dumbledore's faith and his friends' support draw him back.

Description

Hagrid is a giant of a man almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide with a vast muscular build and enormous hands the size of trash can lids. Long tangles of bushy black hair and a wild tangled beard hide most of his face revealing only his warm black eyes that glint like beetles under bushy eyebrows while his feet resemble baby dolphins in their huge leather boots. He wears a thick black moleskin overcoat stuffed with odd objects in its many pockets along with enormous boots and is often seen carrying a battered pink umbrella or large crossbow. A towering half-giant with fair weathered skin and a massive, muscular build that allows him to stride with enormous boots while others must take three steps to match his pace, standing head and shoulders taller than anyone around him. His shaggy black hair sits atop a wild face with beetle-black eyes that flash with emotion, thick eyebrows, and a great bristling beard. Usually dressed in a heavy moleskin overcoat with gloves on his massive hands, he carries a formidable yet kindly presence as the Hogwarts gamekeeper. A colossal half-giant of a man easily twice the height and breadth of a normal wizard stands with a wild mane of long shaggy black hair blending seamlessly into an enormous tangled black beard that often conceals his expressions. His beetle-black eyes peer out from crinkled corners set in a broad ruddy face that can rapidly flush ruby red with joy or turn parchment-pale with fear while enormous hands the size of dustbin lids gesture expressively or gently tend to creatures. He wears a heavy long moleskin overcoat over shirtsleeves or a leather vest and frequently mops his shining sweaty face with a handkerchief the size of a tablecloth. An enormous, exceptionally broad human man, about twice a normal man's height and at least three times as broad. He has long, wild, tangled black hair, a bushy black beard, beetle-black eyes, and large, bushy eyebrows. His usual gamekeeper clothing includes a large coat or moleskin overcoat, with large boots.

Connections

  • F

    Fridwulfason

    His giantess mother, whose identity, publicly revealed, becomes a source of shame and prejudice.

  • MO

    Madame Olympe Maximelove interest

    Hagrid falls for the Beauxbatons headmistress but alienates her by suggesting shared giant ancestry.

  • Albus Dumbledoreconflicting source relationships

    Dumbledore trusted Hagrid after his father's death and expulsion, giving him a home as gamekeeper and later professor; Hagrid repays him with unwavering devotion, and Dumbledore refuses his resignation after the Skeeter scandal.

  • Harry Potterconflicting source relationships

    From the man who carried baby Harry from Godric's Hollow and delivered his letter, Hagrid becomes Harry's first wizarding friend and protector; their bond deepens into a father-like loyalty, with Hagrid standing by Harry when the school doubts him in the Triwizard Tournament.

  • Hermione Grangerfriend

    A loyal defender of Hagrid's lessons and character.

  • B

    Buckbeakpet hippogriff

    Hagrid's beloved hippogriff, whom he fiercely defends against an execution order.

  • CF

    Cornelius Fudgearresting officer

    The Minister of Magic arrests Hagrid as a precaution during the Chamber attacks, sending him to Azkaban.

  • Minerva McGonagallcolleagues

    A colleague who initially doubts his reliability but works alongside him under Dumbledore.

  • Draco Malfoyconflicting source relationships

    A persistent antagonist who mocks his lessons and seeks to have him sacked, culminating in the Buckbeak affair and skrewt sniping.

  • TM

    Tom Marvolo Riddleframed schoolmate

    Riddle framed the young Hagrid for opening the Chamber of Secrets, causing his expulsion; the truth emerges decades later.

  • IK

    Igor Karkaroffadversary

    Hagrid physically confronts Karkaroff for insulting Dumbledore.

  • RS

    Rita Skeeterconflicting source relationships

    After a seemingly friendly interview, Skeeter publishes a prejudiced exposé of his giant parentage that drives him into hiding.

Story so far

  1. BOOK 1Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    • Delivers infant Harry to Privet Drive on Dumbledore's orders after the Potters' deaths
    • Breaks into the hut on the rock to deliver Harry's Hogwarts letter and reveal he is a wizard
    • Guides Harry through Diagon Alley and retrieves the Philosopher's Stone from Gringotts
    • Illegally hatches the dragon Norbert and inadvertently tells a disguised stranger how to pass Fluffy
  2. BOOK 2Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    • Rescues Harry from Knockturn Alley
    • Is suspected of reopening the Chamber of Secrets and arrested by Fudge, sent to Azkaban
    • Revealed to have been framed by Tom Riddle fifty years earlier, leading to his expulsion
    • Leaves Harry and Ron the clue to 'follow the spiders' to Aragog
    • Exonerated and returns to Hogwarts to celebration
  3. BOOK 3Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    • Appointed Care of Magical Creatures professor
    • His first lesson ends with Draco Malfoy injured by Buckbeak
    • Fights a losing legal battle to save Buckbeak from execution
    • Rejoices when Buckbeak mysteriously escapes
  4. BOOK 4Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
    • Teaches the troublesome Blast-Ended Skrewts and shows Harry the dragons before the first task
    • Courts Madame Maxime, who furiously rejects his suggestion she is half-giant
    • Rita Skeeter exposes his giant heritage, causing him to hide away and offer resignation
    • Dumbledore refuses his resignation and he returns to teaching
    • Confronts Karkaroff violently in defense of Dumbledore

Key events

  1. Book 1
    Ch. 6
    Harry's Arrival at HogwartsHarry learns he is a wizard, purchases his school supplies in Diagon Alley, and boards the Hogwarts Express for his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
  2. Book 4
    Ch. 22
    The Yule BallThe Triwizard champions and students attend a formal dance, where romantic tensions rise and Hagrid's giant heritage is revealed.

Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Appearances

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