Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Order of the Phoenix/Chapter 20
From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection
Chapter 20 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Hagrid's Tale
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Harry immediately fetches his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map, and with Ron and Hermione (Ron crouching because he is almost too tall to fit under the cloak), they head to Hagrid's hut. They are shocked by his battered appearance: his face is bloodied and bruised, he has a black eye and multiple cuts on his face and hands, and he moves as if his ribs are broken. However, he refuses all suggestions to visit Madam Pomfrey, instead offering to make tea. Hermione asks if he visited the giants, and he is astounded they are able to guess that much, but also secretly seems pleased that they are so quick. Ron mentions that if Hagrid tells them about his mission, Harry can tell Hagrid about the Dementor attack. Hagrid is stunned to hear that Dementors attacked near Privet Drive, and wants to know what happened, but Harry insists that Hagrid recount his mission first.
Hagrid says he was on a secret mission with Madame Maxime, the Headmistress of the Beauxbatons Academy in France. Dumbledore sent them into the European mountains to recruit the Giants against Voldemort. They were on their way to opening relations with the Gurg, the chief Giant, when he was overthrown. The new chief was less receptive, and he and Madame Maxime had to use magic to escape. Giants hate magic, and that ruined their chances to negotiate with the new Gurg. Hagrid and Madame Maxime attempted to recruit those Giants who tried escaping the new chief, but with little success. They also had to avoid Macnair and other Death Eaters, who were recruiting Giants for Voldemort.
Hermione asks about Hagrid's mother. Hagrid says she died long before, but was not much of a mother anyway, and he hardly remembers her. Ron asks who attacked him, and Harry wants to know why he returned long after Madame Maxime did. As Hagrid starts protesting that he has not been attacked, there is a loud knock on the door; Harry, Hermione, and Ron duck under the cloak, and Professor Umbridge strolls into Hagrid's hut.
Umbridge, speaking loudly and slowly as if to a deaf person, introduces herself as she scrutinizes Hagrid's cabin. She asks Hagrid why there are three sets of footsteps going to his hut and none going away; Hagrid is unable to answer coherently. She asks where he has been, and he stammers that he was away for his health; Umbridge appears to disbelieve that given his current battered state. Umbridge looks around the hut, apparently looking for students hiding, and passing within inches of the cloaked Trio. She informs Hagrid that she will be inspecting his class, as the Ministry is determined to weed out unsatisfactory teachers, then leaves.
Once Hagrid reports that Umbridge is back at the castle, Harry strips off the Cloak. Hermione, worried, asks what Hagrid plans to teach. Hagrid does not say, except that it will be good. Hermione warns him that Professor Trelawney is already on probation, and she recommends that Hagrid follow boring, Ministry-recommended procedures. Hagrid brushes off her concerns, saying that he is tired, it is late, and they need to get back to the castle.
As the Trio return to the castle under the Cloak, Hermione works on an Obliteration Charm to hide their footprints. Ron does not think Hermione got through to Hagrid, and she vows, even if she has to plan all his lesson for him, that she will prevent Umbridge from firing Hagrid.
[edit] Analysis
Although Hagrid and Madame Maxime failed to enlist the Giants as allies, their mission's importance should not be under-emphasized. Dumbledore knows that Voldemort is actively recruiting non-human magical creatures, specifically Giants and Dementors, because Harry had reported Voldemort's words on that subject. Voldemort is also approaching Werewolves, Centaurs, and others who have historically been repressed, ostracized, and even enslaved by the Wizarding world. We can safely assume that Centaur pride and their distaste for human affairs will prevent them from supporting either side. For the werewolves, Dementors, and Giants, however, there is no such assurance. No matter how evil and violent Voldemort's reign will likely be should he prevail, he can offer these denizens more opportunities and freedom than most currently have under the present social order. If Voldemort entices these outcasts to join him, it could tilt the war in his favor.
It also appears that Hagrid and Madame Maxime's mission ended some time ago. Hagrid's delayed return and his injuries may have some cause apart from the mission, although Hagrid remains secretive about what that is.
Hermione cautions Hagrid about Umbridge, knowing that she is targeting weaker teachers. Unfortunately, Hagrid seems unconcerned and downplays Hermione's warning, although just why is unclear. Hagrid, who has been out of touch with events at the school until this point, may believe that he is immune from Umbridge's attempts so long as he has Dumbledore's backing. While it has been suggested that Hagrid may feel he does not stand a chance against the possibility of Umbridge dismissing him, his reaction here seems more one of complacency than resignation; he simply does not perceive that Umbridge is a threat despite what Hermione tells him. This seems quite in line with Hagrid's character, as he does not seem to see dragons or Blast-Ended Skrewts to be threats either.
Umbridge's condescending treatment of Hagrid certainly seems to indicate that she considers him vastly inferior and of low intelligence, and this may indicate a prejudice she has towards partially-human or non-human races. It also appears that she may know something about his secret mission, and it is possible that Voldemort's spies or Ministry agents spotted Hagrid and Madam Maxime while they were away.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- What was Hagrid's secret mission? Who sent him, and why is it so important?
- Why was Madam Maxime also sent on the mission?
- What was the outcome of Hagrid and Madam Maxime's secret mission?
- Why is Umbridge so interested in where Hagrid has been? She asks if Hagrid had been vacationing in the mountains – does she possibly know anything about the mission and where he went?
- Why does Umbridge speak to Hagrid in such a deliberately slow and loud manner?
- Why does Hagrid shrug off Hermione's warning?
- Just how does Hermione intend to prevent Umbridge from firing Hagrid?
- What is Umbridge's definition of "unsatisfactory teachers"?
[edit] Further Study
- If Hagrid and Madam Maxime were on the mission together, why might Hagrid have returned much later than she did?
- What could have caused Hagrid's battered appearance? Why won't he say how he was hurt?
- Why might Umbridge suspect that Hagrid and Madame Maxime were on a secret mission?
- What would motivate magical creatures like Werewolves, Goblins, Centaurs, and others to support Voldemort?
[edit] Greater Picture
It is mentioned above that Umbridge's denigration of Hagrid may indicate a dislike for half-Human and non-Human races. While this is not completely confirmed until near the end of this book, it is strongly suggested that Umbridge is biased against "half-breeds" in general by comments she makes while "examining" Hagrid's teaching. Later in the book, we will learn that Umbridge's hatred of what she terms "half-breeds" extends to Centaurs, a proudly pure-bred race.
Even now that he is back on nominally safe ground, Hagrid will continue to sport various injuries throughout the rest of the year. It will not be until much later in the year that we learn the cause of these injuries: Hagrid had managed to locate his half-brother, Grawp, living with the giants, and brought him home. Grawp's intransigence, which will continue into the summer, had slowed Hagrid's return, and is now the source of the injuries Hagrid repeatedly suffers. Hagrid, mindful that Grawp is all the family he has left, is trying to civilize him. There will be a number of points where Hagrid alludes to "family", meaning Grawp, but it will be significantly later in the year before we meet him.
Hagrid is hiding Grawp in the Forbidden Forest while he attempts to make him fit for society. This, while it would normally be a safe hiding place, will result in the Centaurs falling out with Hagrid, and eventually will result in Hagrid being barred from the Forest. One centaur, Firenze, will allude to this problem in private conversation with Harry, but when the message is passed on, Hagrid will dismiss it.
In passing, it may be of interest that while the centaurs do not help Voldemort, neither do they help those who would fight him, remaining neutral until, in the final chapter of the final book, they are goaded into action by Hagrid. The werewolves, led by Fenrir Greyback, will take Voldemort's side, as will the Dementors and at least two Giants.
