From Boy to Gamekeeper - The Story of Rubeus Hagrid

When I was young, I wasn't exactly your average boy. Being half-giant, the other kids weren't too accepting, and I was usually teased and ridiculed. I would run, crying to my mother, and she would tell me, "Rubeus, you are special, don't let anyone say otherwise. There is only one Rubeus Hagrid in the universe." This would cheer me up a little bit, but soon I would be back to being hurt time and time again. Why didn't the other children think I was special? I was distraught when my mother left that year and only my father and I were left.

I gave up on making friends with the other children in my neighborhood, and I turned my attention to the creatures in the woods behind our house. My favorite had to be a little badger, because it was the only non-magical creature in the forest. I named him Alderus, and I had many good times with him. He was such a sweet thing, although misunderstood like me. On my eleventh summer, I received a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I thought it would be a new opportunity for me, but I was apparently wrong.

From the moment I entered platform 9 ¾, I knew I wouldn't be the most popular kid in Hogwarts. I boarded the train and sat in a compartment. I thought I was doomed to sit by myself for the whole ride, with just my owl to keep me company. Fortunately, a small boy walked in. He seemed a little nervous, and I think it was because of my size.

"H-hello, my name is Philip, and this is my toad Rowlan. Can I sit in here? All the other ones are full?"

"Sure. It's a pleasure meeting you. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Hagrid for short. This is my owl, Charlie."

I think he was a bit taken back by my gruff voice, but on the whole he was nice.

"So what house do you want to be in?' he asked.

"Oh, I don't know. I'll be happy with anything, except for Slytherin. What about you?"

"Well, I hope to make it into Gryffindor, but, like you, I will be happy with about anything."

We continued our conversation until we made it to the station. We seemed to have hit it off, and I was enjoying myself, until we made it onto the platform. Then a boy pushed me out of the way on purpose. He knew what he had done, cause everyone knows when they push me out of the way. Instead, he looked back and smirked. Philip helped me up, but for some reason, the whole time I was at Hogwarts, that boy was mean to me. I found out later his name was Tom Riddle. He was a third year the time he pushed me over, and he loved making my life hard for me. Philip and I both made Gryffindor, and people instantly judged me because of my size, and so I didn't have many friends. Philip stuck by me 'til the end.

My time at Hogwarts flew by so fast. I couldn't believe it when my third year came. My father had died that summer, and the only good thing to look forward to was going to Hogsmeade, the town near Hogwarts. One day when I went with Philip to Hogsmeade, we were walking by an alley right next to The Three Broomsticks, when a strange man came up to us.

"Hey boys,' he said to us, 'you want to see something."

Philip was cautious, but I was eager.

"I'd love too,' I said.

He pulled a small spider, about the size of a tarantula, out of his pocket. I was fascinated with it.

"It can be yours for 20 galleons, do ya want it?' he said.

I was quick to pull out my money, just enough for him.

"Hagrid,' said Philip, 'I don't know if this is such a good thing. Maybe you should think about it."

What was there to think about? I politely told Philip that there was no stopping me. I left Hogsmeade very happy, but Philip was giving me the silent treatment. Little did I know that my little spider, Aragog, I thought was the proper name for him, would reach the size of a barn. Around that time, strange things were happening at Hogwarts. People were being petrified, and I thought that Tom was acting rather suspicious. Then one night the worst happened. Myrtle had been killed. I had had her in a couple of my classes, and like me she was often teased. I felt so bad for her, and her parents.

Tom cornered me that night in the dungeons. I was letting Aragog get some exercise, but I quickly put him back in his crate when I heard footsteps.

"Hagrid, I know what happened. We have to kill that monster,' he said coolly.

"No! Aragog never killed no one. He's as gentle as a lamb."

"It will be your wand Hagrid, and you'll be expelled."

With that he zapped the crate and Aragog escaped. The events that happened after that are blurry. All that I can remember is the kindness Professor Dumbledore showed to me when he let me stay at Hogwarts by being a gamekeeper. That was really my calling, because I had such a gift with animals. Tom always seemed to laugh when he passed me on the grounds.

It didn't surprise me a bit when he became evil. I was devastated when I found out that he'd killed Lily and James Potter, and ecstatic when little Harry survived him. James was one of my friends. So of course I had to help Dumbledore retrieve lil Harry. Well, that's the long and short of it. Unfortunately, Philip was killed by Voldemort, or Tom, but he died a hero. I'm sure someone will write another story when I'm gone, but now, I'm the happy gamekeeper at Hogwarts, and good friends with Harry Potter.