The orphaned wizardHarry Potterhad a difficult upbringing without a proper father figure in his life to guide him, yet it was not Albus Dumbledore or Sirius Black who stood out as his most gracious mentor following his arrival at Hogwarts. As the world-renownedBoy Who Lived,the sad story of Harry’s parentswas well known throughout the wizarding world, and he was hidden away with his mean-spirited aunt and uncle for his protection when he was just a baby. While this was difficult, Harry did gain some much-needed parental guidance in the form of several important mentors.
WhileHarry was introduced to a magical world of endless wonder and possibilities when he arrived at Hogwarts, he was also in grave danger as the evil Lord Voldemort sought to return and swore revenge upon him. With the help of his close friends Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and some important father figures, Harry managed to overcome these challenges and emerge victorious. Yet for all the attention given tomajor players like Dumbledore and Sirius Black, there was one kind-hearted groundskeeper who supported Harry unconditionally from the very start.
Hagrid Supported Harry Unconditionally Throughout Harry Potter
Hagrid Was The One Who Introduced Harry To The Wizarding World
Rubeus Hagrid was the one who introduced Harry to the wizarding world after his Uncle Vernon stopped him from receiving his Hogwarts acceptance letter when he turned 11 years old. As a gentle giant who burst into Harry’s life after the Dursleys had hidden him away in a remote seaside hut, Hagrid whisked Harry away and brought him to Diagon Alley to gather his school supplies, including getting his wand from Ollivanders. With a kind-hearted disposition and loving sense of protection,Hagrid slowly introduced Harry to the complexities of being a wizard.
With Hagrid’s hut acting as a safe space for Harry, Ron, and Hermione throughout the entire series, it’s clear Harry felt at home when he was close to Hagrid.
Hagrid always took the time to consider the little things and even baked Harry a birthday cake when no one else did. As one of the few Hogwarts staff members that Harry considered a genuine friend, Hagrid only ever acted in Harry’s best interest and did not keep things from him in the way other father figures in his life did. With Hagrid’s hut acting as a safe space for Harry, Ron, and Hermione throughout the entire series, it’s clear Harry felt at home when he was close to Hagrid.
Not only did Hagrid always treat Harry with kindness, but he also always believed in him even when others doubted his intentions.Hagrid consistently risked his safety to protect Harryand even ended up behind bars in Azkaban after he was falsely accused of being the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets. Even after it appeared that Harry had been killed at the hands of Lord Voldemort inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it was Hagrid who carried Harry’s lifeless body back to Hogwarts Castle with tears in his eyes.
Harry’s Other Father Figures Weren’t All That Great
Dumbledore And Sirius Were Far From Perfect Father Figures
Hagrid was not the only one who could be considered a father figure in Harry’s life, but there’s no question that he was the most consistent and forthright in his honesty. While Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black, acted as an important connection to his parentage and helped him through very difficult times, he also wasn’t around much and was not reliable in the way that Hagrid was. Sirius had good intentions when it came to being there for Harry and even proposed that they move in together, but his situation was always so uncertain it never happened.
Many will also say that Albus Dumbledore was the definitive father figure of Harry’s youth, yet the Hogwarts Headmaster’s actions were so full of deceit and misinformation that it’s impossible not to feel like he put Harry’s destiny as the Chosen One above his best interests. While Harry clearly viewed Dumbledore as a father figure and even named his firstborn son Albus, it’s hard to shake the feeling that naming him after Hagrid would have been an even more touching tribute. As a gentle giant with an unshakeable sense of loyalty, Hagrid was always there forHarry Potter.
