The orphaned wizard Harry Potter had a difficult upbringing without a proper father figure in his life to guide him, yet it was not Albus Dumbledore or Sirius Black who stood out as his most gracious mentor following his arrival at Hogwarts. As the world-renowned Boy Who Lived, the sad story of Harry’s parents was well known throughout the wizarding world, and he was hidden away with his mean-spirited aunt and uncle for his protection when he was just a baby. While this was difficult, Harry did gain some much-needed parental guidance in the form of several important mentors.

While Harry was introduced to a magical world of endless wonder and possibilities when he arrived at Hogwarts, he was also in grave danger as the evil Lord Voldemort sought to return and swore revenge upon him. With the help of his close friends Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and some important father figures, Harry managed to overcome these challenges and emerge victorious. Yet for all the attention given to major players like Dumbledore and Sirius Black, there was one kind-hearted groundskeeper who supported Harry unconditionally from the very start.

Hagrid Supported Harry Unconditionally Throughout Harry Potter

Hagrid Was The One Who Introduced Harry To The Wizarding World

Rubeus Hagrid was the one who introduced Harry to the wizarding world after his Uncle Vernon stopped him from receiving his Hogwarts acceptance letter when he turned 11 years old. As a gentle giant who burst into Harry’s life after the Dursleys had hidden him away in a remote seaside hut, Hagrid whisked Harry away and brought him to Diagon Alley to gather his school supplies, including getting his wand from Ollivanders. With a kind-hearted disposition and loving sense of protection, Hagrid slowly introduced Harry to the complexities of being a wizard.

Hagrid always took the time to consider the little things and even baked Harry a birthday cake when no one else did. As one of the few Hogwarts staff members that Harry considered a genuine friend, Hagrid only ever acted in Harry’s best interest and did not keep things from him in the way other father figures in his life did. With Hagrid’s hut acting as a safe space for Harry, Ron, and Hermione throughout the entire series, it’s clear Harry felt at home when he was close to Hagrid.

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Hagrid is a loved and vital Harry Potter character, but he makes a lot of mistakes through ignorance, oversight, or malevolence throughout the books.

Not only did Hagrid always treat Harry with kindness, but he also always believed in him even when others doubted his intentions. Hagrid consistently risked his safety to protect Harry and even ended up behind bars in Azkaban after he was falsely accused of being the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets. Even after it appeared that Harry had been killed at the hands of Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it was Hagrid who carried Harry’s lifeless body back to Hogwarts Castle with tears in his eyes.

Harry’s Other Father Figures Weren’t All That Great

Dumbledore And Sirius Were Far From Perfect Father Figures

Hagrid was not the only one who could be considered a father figure in Harry’s life, but there’s no question that he was the most consistent and forthright in his honesty. While Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black, acted as an important connection to his parentage and helped him through very difficult times, he also wasn’t around much and was not reliable in the way that Hagrid was. Sirius had good intentions when it came to being there for Harry and even proposed that they move in together, but his situation was always so uncertain it never happened.

Many will also say that Albus Dumbledore was the definitive father figure of Harry’s youth, yet the Hogwarts Headmaster’s actions were so full of deceit and misinformation that it’s impossible not to feel like he put Harry’s destiny as the Chosen One above his best interests. While Harry clearly viewed Dumbledore as a father figure and even named his firstborn son Albus, it’s hard to shake the feeling that naming him after Hagrid would have been an even more touching tribute. As a gentle giant with an unshakeable sense of loyalty, Hagrid was always there for Harry Potter.

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen

Movie(s)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore