The Extraordinary Origins of Hagrid's Beloved Pets: Unveiling the Magical Tales Behind Them

Highlights

Hagrid, the beloved character from Harry Potter, has a deep love for animals and bonds with various magical creatures throughout the series.

At Hogwarts, Hagrid fulfills multiple responsibilities such as acting as the Keeper of the Keys, guiding students, attending to the gardens, and instructing students in Care of Magical Creatures. In terms of acquiring his pets, Hagrid employs various methods that encompass adoption, purchasing, and even winning them in card games, all while dutifully ensuring their well-being.

Rubeus Hagrid, a beloved character in the Harry Potter saga, is not only Harry's first friend but also the one who introduced him to the wizarding world. Apart from his friendship with Harry, Hagrid's love for animals is well-known. He presents Harry with his owl, Hedwig, as a birthday gift before his first year at Hogwarts. Throughout the series, Hagrid forms strong connections with various magical creatures, some of which are incredibly dangerous. How did Hagrid manage to acquire such exotic and hazardous creatures?

While many Harry Potter fans may associate a wizard who dedicates his life to the care of magical creatures with Newt Scamander, Hagrid fits this description as well. The big-hearted half-giant wizard befriends and cares for all kinds of magical creatures, albeit without writing books about it. He treats every animal he encounters with kindness and love. According to J.K. Rowling, the only furry creatures that Hagrid does not befriend are cats. It is revealed in The Philosopher's Stone that Hagrid is allergic to cats, causing him to sneeze, which explains why he claims not to like them.

What Is Hagrid’s Role at Hogwarts?

Hagrid joined Hogwarts as a student in 1940 and was placed in Gryffindor. However, he faced trouble during his third year when Tom Riddle unleashed the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets. Hagrid, who owned an Acromantula named Aragog, was blamed for this unfortunate incident and subsequently expelled from the school. Although he was forbidden from practicing magic, Hagrid found solace at Hogwarts under Dumbledore's guidance. In 1943, he began his new role as a Gamekeeper in training, and in 1945, he took on the responsibility of being Hogwarts' Keeper of the Keys, a position he maintained even when Harry enrolled at the school.

Hagrid's tasks encompassed various responsibilities, such as managing the school keys, ensuring the entrance gates were open for visitors, guiding first-year students to the castle, and assisting Dumbledore with official Hogwarts affairs. Additionally, he contributed to the upkeep of the gardens, tended to magical creatures, and dealt with matters concerning the Forbidden Forest. In 1993, Hagrid assumed the position of a Care of Magical Creatures professor during Harry's third year. His teachings focused on hippogriffs and familiarizing students with Buckbeak. Following the conclusion of the Second Wizarding War, Hagrid faithfully continued to carry out his duties at Hogwarts.

How Did Hagrid Get His Pets?

Hagrid's affection for magical creatures is evident through his care of numerous pets. Many of them were either given to him, purchased, or adopted. For instance, he bought Fluffy, the enormous three-headed dog, from a Greek man in a pub. Subsequently, he loaned Fluffy to Dumbledore to safeguard the Philosopher's stone upon its arrival at Hogwarts castle. Hagrid acquired Norbert, who was later renamed Norberta, the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon, after winning an egg during a card game against a stranger at the Hog's Head.

Throughout the series, Hagrid's most faithful companion is Fang, his sizable boarhound dog. Fang was born in 1984 and was taken in by Hagrid as a puppy. Despite being described as timid, Fang displayed unwavering loyalty to his owner and always remained by Hagrid's side. They lived together in his hut and continued to do so even after the Battle of Hogwarts, both surviving the ordeal.

Hagrid's loyal Acromantula, Aragog, is one of his most well-known pets. During his time at Hogwarts, a mysterious traveler gifted Hagrid with an egg, from which Aragog hatched. Initially, Hagrid kept Aragog hidden, but eventually released him when suspicion grew that Hagrid and his pet were connected to the death of Moaning Myrtle. Subsequently, Hagrid discovered a female Acromantula named Mosag and introduced her to Aragog, resulting in the establishment of a spider colony in the Forbidden Forest.

In 1993, Hagrid shared his living space with Buckbeak, a majestic hippogriff. When Hagrid took on the role of a professor for Care of Magical Creatures, he brought the students to meet and study Buckbeak. Following an unjust death sentence, Harry and Hermione liberate the hippogriff, who later escapes alongside Sirius Black. Notably, Buckbeak was not the sole hippogriff in Hagrid's care, as he had thirteen others under his watch. Additionally, Hagrid also nurtured and tended to several Thestrals, which were trained to pull the carriages at Hogwarts.

Hagrid's pets in the books, not shown in the movies, include a Blast-Ended Skrewt that he bred and multiple Flobberworms that he acquired for his lessons following the hippogriff incident. The topic of what is and isn't considered Harry Potter canon remains a contentious issue among fans. However, it is worth noting that certain Harry Potter video games feature Hagrid taking care of other pets. The game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone reveals that Hagrid owned several Flitterby Moths. In Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Hagrid is depicted as having a pet Occamy of unknown origin. Additionally, in the mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, it is mentioned that Hagrid adopted a litter of Crup puppies in the 1980s.

Hagrid has consistently displayed unwavering loyalty and friendliness not only towards Harry but also towards animals. His love and concern for magical creatures is beyond doubt, and many lives in the Harry Potter universe have been saved thanks to his kindness and dedicated efforts.