For those who have read the Harry Potter series or seen the movies, the moment when Harry discovers he’s a wizard is one of the most iconic scenes in the entire story. However, for those who are new to the world of Harry Potter, the question may arise: who said to Harry that he is a wizard?
In this blog post, we will dive into the specifics of this memorable moment and explore the character responsible for revealing Harry’s true identity.
The Big Reveal
The scene takes place in the first installment of the series, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (or “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” for American audiences). Harry is living with his abusive aunt and uncle, the Dursleys, when he begins receiving mysterious letters addressed to him. The Dursleys, not wanting Harry to discover the truth about his family, frantically try to keep the letters from him and even move to a remote island to escape them.
Despite their efforts, Hagrid, a half-giant groundskeeper from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, eventually tracks down Harry and breaks the news to him that he is a wizard. Hagrid presents Harry with his letter of acceptance to the school, revealing that Harry is not just any wizard, but that he is famous in the wizarding world for surviving an attack by the dark wizard, Voldemort, as a baby.
Throughout the rest of the series, Hagrid acts as a mentor and father-figure to Harry, helping him discover his place in the wizarding world and defending him against those who wish him harm.
Who is Hagrid?
Hagrid, whose first name is actually Rubeus, is a beloved character in the Harry Potter series. He is known for his love of dangerous creatures, his loyalty to Dumbledore and Harry, and his tendency to accidentally reveal secrets.
Hagrid first meets Harry on the fateful night when he delivers him to the Dursleys after Voldemort’s attack. In “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” Hagrid becomes an important ally to Harry as he tries to uncover the truth about the opening of the Chamber of Secrets.
Throughout the series, Hagrid’s character evolves from a somewhat comical figure to a brave and respected member of the Hogwarts faculty. His kindness and loyalty to Harry make him one of the most endearing characters in the series.
In Conclusion
In the end, it was Hagrid who revealed to Harry that he was a wizard. This pivotal moment sets the entire series in motion and acts as the catalyst for Harry’s incredible journey. Hagrid’s character not only serves as a friendly and often humorous guide for Harry, but also as a symbol of the power of loyalty, kindness, and the magic of friendship.
FAQ
How did Harry see into Snape’s mind?
Harry Potter had a unique ability to see into the thoughts and memories of others, called Legilimency. He first learned about this ability from Severus Snape, who was a master of Legilimency and frequently employed it to extract information from Harry’s mind. However, in Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts, he had an unexpected experience of seeing the memories of Severus Snape.
This happened during one of their Occlumency lessons, which was a magical skill that enabled one to shield their mind from being read by others. Snape was supposed to teach Harry how to protect his mind from Lord Voldemort’s attempts to infiltrate it. However, during one of their sessions, Snape carelessly left his own mind unprotected, and Harry accidentally saw a glimpse of his memories.
In these memories, Harry saw Snape preoccupied with Dumbledore and the prophecy that foretold the fall of Lord Voldemort. He also saw Snape’s deep love for Harry’s mother, Lily Potter, and how he regretted his actions that contributed to her death. Harry was shocked to see that Snape had been working behind the scenes to protect him and that his loyalty to Dumbledore and the Order of Phoenix was genuine.
This experience greatly affected Harry’s perception of Snape, who until then he had considered a cruel and malicious professor. He recognized Snape’s deeper motivations and appreciated the sacrifices he had made to protect Harry and prevent the rise of Voldemort. From that moment on, Harry had a newfound respect and appreciation for Snape, even though they continued to have a contentious relationship until the end of the series.
Harry saw into Snape’s mind, and more importantly, his memories, by accident during one of their Occlumency lessons. This experience gave Harry an insight into Snape’s character and motivations, which greatly impacted Harry’s perception of the professor and his role in the fight against Voldemort.
How did the Death Eaters know when Harry was being moved?
In the Wizarding World, Voldemort and his followers, known as the Death Eaters, were constantly on the hunt for Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. As a result, the Order of Phoenix, a secret society formed to fight against Voldemort and his army, had to take extra precautions when it came to Harry’s safety. One such measure was to keep the information about Harry’s whereabouts and movements a closely guarded secret.
However, during the events that took place in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the Death Eaters came to know that Harry was being moved from the Dursley’s home to a safe location. The question that arises is how did they obtain this information?
The answer to this question lies in the character of Severus Snape, a former Death Eater turned spy for the Order. Snape, who had a complicated history with both Harry’s parents and Voldemort, had vowed to protect Harry at all costs. This prompted him to offer his services to Dumbledore, the leader of the Order, as a spy within the ranks of the Death Eaters.
However, the situation became more complex when Voldemort returned to power. Snape was forced to play a double agent, which meant that he had to maintain his position as a trusted member of the Death Eaters, even as he fed information to the Order. In order to do so, Snape had to maintain the trust and confidence of Voldemort, which meant that he had to provide accurate information at all times.
This put Snape in a difficult position when the Order planned to move Harry from the Dursley’s home. Snape, who was privy to this information, had to reveal the date of the move to Voldemort in order to maintain his position as a trusted Death Eater. This information, in turn, was passed on to the Death Eaters, who attacked the convoy moving Harry, leading to a deadly battle.
While the Order of Phoenix took every precaution to prevent Voldemort and the Death Eaters from knowing the details of Harry’s movements, their efforts were in vain due to the complicated situation involving Snape. Snape’s status as a double agent made it necessary for him to reveal Harry’s whereabouts to Voldemort, which ultimately put the young wizard’s life at risk.
