Hi guys,
This newsletter comes bearing a news every potterhead doesn’t want to hear but it also comes with a lot of fun stories directly from the desk of the Care of Magical Creatures Professor, Rubeus Hagrid.
Before I begin with the fun stories, let’s do a background check on Robbie Coltrane. It is a regret for those in the magical community and the wizarding world to hear such news, but what can you really expect or do as a matter of fact, it's a cycle of life and this is how everything that begins has an ending and it is most natural. Being a professional Scottish actor and comedian, born on 30th march 1950 in Rutherglen, Scotland he is most famous for his role of Rubeus Hagrid in the 7 movies and book series - Harry Potter. He was the son of Jean Ross Howie who was a teacher, pianist and among many other professions, a forensic surgeon. He studied in a private school where he expressed some of his unhappy days. Later he attended the University of Edinburgh. During his career, he won 9 awards, did 54 parts in 54 movies, did a myriad of TV shows, voice covers, comedies and worked in theatre. In his early days he mostly did theatre and comedy. He was most famous for his roles in a James Bond movie and the Harry Potter franchise, respectively. In fact, when asked to JK Rowling who she would like for Hagrid to be played, she said “Robbie Coltrane” without an ounce of hesitation. He was sick 2 years prior to his death and died on the 14th of october, 2022.
What Hagrid taught us…
"...an' a thumpin' good'un I'd say, once yeh've been trained up a bit. With a mum an' dad like yours, what else would yeh be?”
Hagrid didn't know Harry but took him to be a gentleman like his parents. He was one of the first characters who showed respect, love and loyalty towards Harry.
“I've decided to call him Norbert,' said Hagrid, looking at the dragon with misty eyes.”
Norbert(dragon), Aragog(giant tarantula), Fluffy(3 headed dog) all these creatures were of interest to Hagrid along with niffler and hipogriffs. These interests are very unusual but Hagrid shows us that it is okay to have unique interests, it is okay to be different, it is beautiful to be kind and have a big heart, it’s what sets you apart from others.
“Yeh don’ have ter be ashamed of what yeh are.”
Hagrid is a half giant and has a very bad reputation among some of the folks of the community. It makes him upset and feel small. The way the wizarding community humiliated him for being someone of a tribe that is considered threatening, possibly dangerous made him ashamed of who he was. Later we see that he gets okay overtime being a half-giant, turning a blind eye towards the people who were degrading him. Hagrid taught us that we are so much different from each other, we are always changing by the influence of how we were brought up, of how the society and environment influences us in so many different ways, that it is okay to be someone or come from somewhere which doesn't make you exactly popular regardless of the kind of person you are. He taught us that you can't judge someone just because they are different, that you don’t have to be ashamed of what you are, it's what makes you different and so unique. You have to have your back and keep on going regardless.
Hagrid’s love of creatures regardless of them being dangerous is extraordinary. He always, always sought to look after a creature whether it is a hurt thestral or dragon, he is always up for the job. When a creature would do something that is dangerous or if it would hurt he wouldn’t get snapped on, he would be calm and kind to them knowing very well that they cannot speak, they cannot talk when they are hurt, they are helpless creatures and the least we could do is not react but respect their barriers and be kind to them instead. Animals are just as important.
Apart from these few incidents, Hagrid cared for Hogwarts, its teacher and the students very much, he always looked out for the animals in the forbidden forest, protected animals from being persecuted for wrongful accusations, always cared for Hermione and Ron as he did for Harry. His rock cakes, though inedible, were a symbol of love. Rubeus Hagrid has truly lived to his name as his name means red and red indicates bravery, as JK Rowling tells the wizarding world in an interview.
‘...first names are Rubeus (red)/
red meaning passion (or emotion); white for asceticism; Hagrid being the earthy, warm and physical man, lord of the forest;’ - JK Rowling