InsaneJournal

Rubeus Hagrid, 14 June 1943, Pensieve Memory
Name: Rubeus Hagrid
Format: Pensieve Memory
Date:14 June 1943
Relevance: Hagrid is expelled for allegedly opening the Chamber of Secrets




When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station...

Rubeus Hagrid was down at the lake, throwing stones, when one of the house elves appeared and told him that the Headmaster wanted to see him. Hagrid gulped and nodded. It was a beautiful June morning with the sun shining brightly, a few high white clouds breaking up the blue of the sky, but Hagrid suddenly felt chilled. He wasn’t surprised by the summons. He just didn’t know what was going to happen. He plodded miserably up to the school and scarcely noticed that it seemed deserted. The gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmasters office turned aside without a word, obviously expecting him. Hagrid concentrated on the narrow, moving steps, staring down at them dejectedly. He stepped off at the top and stood before the polished oak door to the office. He swallowed hard, and then knocked gently.

“Enter.” The headmaster called out and Hagrid opened the door, ducking to go inside.

Hagrid had never been in the Headmasters office, but he’d certainly heard about it and he looked around the large room curiously. The curtains were closed, shutting out the view of the Quidditch pitch and the office was lit by two torches. Hagrid had heard about the portraits of previous Heads that hung in the office, but all the frames behind the huge desk were empty. He wondered where they had all gone.

Armando Dippet, seated behind the enormous claw-footed desk, looked up from a parchment he had been writing on.

“Ah Hagrid,” he said, a touch of malice in his tone. “Sit down.” He waved his hand at a narrow bench that had been placed in front of the desk. Hagrid looked at it warily. It didn’t look as if it was strong enough to support his weight, but he didn’t dare to disobey. He gingerly sat on the bench, which creaked alarmingly, but didn’t break. He tried to decide what to do with his legs. The bench was quite low and he either had to stick his legs out so his feet nearly went under the desk, or hitch them up so his knees were nearly up to his ears. Hagrid decided that sprawling in the Headmasters office was a terrible breach of manners so he sat with his knees pulled up. He looked up at Headmaster Dippet, wondering what was going to happen next.

While Hagrid had been doing this, the Headmaster had been watching him through narrowed eyes.

The man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.

Hagrid looked up. Dippet lay down his quill and folded his hands.

“Hagrid,” he began briskly. “It has been brought to my attention that you have been harbouring a dangerous creature in the castle.” It was a statement, not a question, and Hagrid knew exactly who had spoken to the Headmaster. His heart sank, but he took some comfort from the fact that Aragog was no longer in the castle.

“Furthermore,” Dippet continued, rising to his feet and coming round to the front of his desk, “I am told that this creature came from the Chamber of Secrets which you have located and opened.” He glared at Hagrid. “Is this true?”

Hagrid, who had not been expecting such an accusation, could only shake his head mutely. He eyed the Headmaster. Lately he had looked tired and worried, upset by the terrible goings-on that had plagued the school. Now though, he looked alert and some of the worry lines had disappeared from his face.

“Come come Hagrid,” the Headmaster remonstrated. “Tell me what sort of creature it was and where the Chamber is and I promise to go easy on you.” He raised his eyebrows. “Even you can see I’m being entirely reasonable about this whole affair.”

“I didn’t open the Chamber of Secrets,” Hagrid muttered to the floor.

Headmaster Dippet looked at him with disgust. “Hagrid, a girl is dead because of this horrible thing that you’ve done! Come on now, confess!” Twin spots showed on his cheeks.

“I…I know an’ I’m sorry Myrtle’s dead, but yeh’ve got ter believe me Headmaster, he didn’t do it!”

“WHO didn’t do it?! Dippets voice cracked like a whip. “Hagrid, this thing is dangerous and it must be destroyed before it harms anyone else!”

Hagrid looked up. His face was pale and he wrung his hands. “I swear, Headmaster, it wasn’t him what killed Myrtle an’ he didn’t come from the Chamber of Secrets! I dun’t know where it is! Yeh’ve got ter believe me”! He had sworn to himself that he would protect Aragog and he wasn’t going to tell anybody anything about him. He had escaped anyway and even Hagrid didn’t know where he was right now.

“I see no reason to believe anything you say to me.” The slight emphasis on the pronoun told Hagrid that Dippet considered his source of information un-impeachable.

“But…”Hagrid began, but the Headmaster waved it away.

“I thought it was a mistake to allow you to come to Hogwarts.” He told Hagrid, his voice biting. “I’m just sorry it took the death of an innocent child to prove me right. You have no business associating with normal people.

Hagrid flushed at this, but he remained silent.

“Hagrid,” and Armando Dippet’s face was suffused with red now. “If you were just a little older and there wouldn’t be such a scandal, I’d see you in Azkaban!”

Hagrid froze at the mention of the horrible prison. His lips moved soundlessly.

“As it is,” the headmaster continued ruthlessly, “you leave me no choice…” he took a deep breath. “Rubeus Hagrid, in light of the crimes you have committed and your refusal to cooperate with me I hereby expel you from Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry!”

“WHAT?!” Hagrid was dumbfounded. “But yeh can’t! I haven’t done anything!” He almost wailed.

“You aren’t fit for civilised society,” Armando Dippet told him bluntly. “I’ve already had the house-elves pack up your things. I want you out immediately before you do something to hurt someone else.

Hagrid stood up, but his legs wouldn’t support him after the shock he’d just had and he sank back down on the bench, which gave an ominous crack.

Asking only workman’s wages, I come looking for a job, but I get no offers…

“But…where will I go?” Hagrid asked miserably.” What’ll I do?” The farm had been sold after his father’s death and while he had a little money from that, it wasn’t enough to support him for the rest of his life.

The Headmaster pressed his lips together. “That is no concern of mine Hagrid. You’ve made your bed and now you must lie in it. Just not here.” He pointed to the door. “Now get out! I don’t want you anywhere near any students!”

Hagrid rose unsteadily to his feet, his face a picture of abject despair. He turned to leave the room.

“Oh, before you go Hagrid,” Dippet said nastily. “Your wand. Give it to me.”


Hagrid just stared at him, unable to comprehend what the Headmaster had just said.

“Come now, Hagrid! Give me your wand. You’ve been expelled and you are no longer a member in good standing of the Wizarding World. You wand will be broken and I will take a great deal of pleasure in doing the deed.” His eyes glittered meanly.

Hagrid reached into his pocket and took out his wand. He stared at the length of oak for a moment and then laid it very carefully on the Headmasters desk.

Til he cried out in his anger and his shame. I am leaving I am leaving but the fighter still remains.
Yes he remains…

Hagrid turned and walked slowly out of the Headmasters office. He swallowed hard to keep from crying. All he could think of was how glad he was that his father hadn’t lived to see his son disgraced. The stairs took him down to the entrance and Hagrid slowly walked out of the huge doors. He didn’t look behind him and he didn’t see the slender, dark-haired figure smiling evilly as it watched him leave.