erm yap about hagrid x dumbledore.!? ive ac never heard of this oml
i haven't either but omg!
dumbledore is (for wizard standards) a very progressive man and a repetitive activist for magical creatures. he is the sole reason a werewolf got to attend hogwarts, a centaur got to teach and house elfs are free to quit their services at hogwarts. it's implied all of these decisions are fairly controversial in the wizarding world. to me, it is very probable dumbledore had a word in letting a half-giant attend hogwarts. hagrid owes his position as a student of hogwarts to progressive people like dumbledore & is probably aware of this
when hagrid is expelled, dumbledore is the one who puts in a good word for him and saves him from azkaban. furthermore, dumbledore grants him a position on campus as gamekeeper & groundskeeper. hagrid gets to stay a part of the magical society, even gets to make his passion (care for magical creatures) his job and life. must be very fulfilling. albus breaks the law to secretly fix hagrid's wand (not entirely, to keep him in line, just enough to make to him feel grateful) and greants him a tiny bit of magic back!!
it's obvious dumbledore puts immense trust in hagrid. hagrid is granted entry into all of hogwarts' affairs. hagrid is overpowered!!! he is a traumatized middle school drop out who gets to be on the same level as hogwarts teachers. all of this because dumbledore favours him.
why does dumbledore care so much for hagrid? where does his trust come from? dumbledore is the most influential wizard, has many enemies and tons of reasons to distrust people. he definitely likes hagrid on a personal level, they dine and drink together, comfort each other. but perhaps he also sees hagrid as someone easy to manipulate, to form in his own will. hagrid obviously longs for stability, for a parental figure (he's practically an orphan!), someone to look after him, take care of him. and albus gives him all of that and more, showers him with promises of mutual trust. hagrid falls easily and hard. he would give anything to and for albus. and in turn albus gets to create his perfect partner (in crime), shape a person's whole personality and ideals so they will end up perfectly in place to serve him.
therefore, the power balance is inherently toxic. dumbledore has ALL the power over hagrid. albus has a massive power fetish and it's obvious even in canon, loves to pull strings and play god, be mysterious and peacefully dangerous. hagrid is just an extension of that issue.
the thing is, hagrid doesn't mind the slightest bit. he is exactly where he wants to be: has his dream job, a stable & respected place in society and a best friend turned sugar daddy who always has his back. also that sugar daddy is the leader of his political ideology and the most powerful wizard alive. hello?? why would he ever leave???
and so albus lets himself be worshipped & gets to coddle his big beefy boyfriend. he invites hagrid up for dinner dates and gives him tiny missions and will shower him in affection afterwards. hagrid introduces albus to all the creatures of the forest, mediates between them and helps deepen magical inter-species communication. he picks flowers for albus and plays him songs on his flute.
and if albus is ever mad with hagrid, he'll just give him the silent treatment until hagrid is an unstable mess and vows to lay his entire life at albus' feet (he already has but reducing him to this point reminds him of that vow her took, his duties to albus and where he'd be without him)
