How did Hagrid get to Harry ?

[Gargs]

I was wondering how did Hagrid get to Harry to deliver his letter and escort him ? When Harry asked him, he replied that he "flew" and also that now that Harry is in his hands, he is not allowed to use magic and suggests to take the boat. Which means he could have used one of the following -
1. Sirius's magical bike(but then he wouldn't leave a magical bike on an island)
2. Broomsticks or Thestrals(but he states later in the books that he broomsticks and thestrals can't take weight)
3. Umbrella, using Mary Poppin's style(which seems quite unrealistic to me)
So, how did he get there ? What comes more surprising is that fact that JKR states on Pottermore that Hagrid actually crossed the water. Here's what she said -
"Even though Petunia was raised alongside a witch, she is remarkably ignorant about magic. She and Vernon share a confused idea that they will somehow be able to squash the magic out of Harry, and in an attempt to throw off the letters that arrive from Hogwarts on Harry's eleventh birthday, she and Vernon fall back on the old superstition that witches cannot cross water. As she had frequently seen Lily jump streams and run across stepping stones in their childhood, she ought not to have been surprised when Hagrid had no difficulty making his way over the stormy sea to the hut on the rock."
Any idea how he got there ?

[Jeni]

The Harry Potter wiki states: "In spite of all their [the Dursleys] efforts, however, Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts' groundskeeper, was able to reach the hut by flight."

They then take the Dursley's boat back to the mainland. (How they ever got back is a mystery!)

So, by process of elimination, I think he flew on a Thestral. They have great sense of direction and he is the groundskeeper that cares for them. The Thestral would return home and Hagrid and Harry left in the Dursley's boat.

Elimination process: Hagrid is not supposed to use magic and left school early-his wand was broken (though that umbrella is suspiciously wand-y!)-and he would not have learned to apparate. His umbrella wouldn't be able to do much more than start a fire or grow a pig's tail. Broomsticks won't hold him and Sirius's bike is enchanted to fly with the guidance of a rider, but not alone.

So, I suggest he flew by Thestral, it returned home, and we know he took the boat with Harry back.

[Gargs]

Jeni wrote: "The Harry Potter wiki states: "In spite of all their [the Dursleys] efforts, however, Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts' groundskeeper, was able to reach the hut by flight."

They then take the Dursley's boa..."
He himself states in DH that neither Broomsticks nor Thestrals can take his weight. I don't think he came by a Thestral. I guess he floated across the water using "Oppa Mary Poppin's style"(seriously I can't stop laughing at this) which makes JKR's statement valid. Also, Hagrid probably didn't want to make a joke of himself, so he simply stated that he "flew".

[Jeni]

If a full-grown magical creature can't hold his weight, how could a flimsy umbrella? If the answer is magic, then the Thestral could do the same. :)

[Gargs]

Jeni wrote: "If a full-grown magical creature can't hold his weight, how could a flimsy umbrella? If the answer is magic, then the Thestral could do the same. :)"
Ya right. But maybe it wasn't a thestral at all but some other creature which hasn't been mentioned.

[Jeni]

JKR spent over 5 years setting up rules and parameters and story arcs before even starting on HP and I've found no plot holes in the books. The movies are another kettle of fish entirely, though, and those were not of her making, but the script writers and director's.

Back to Hagrid flying to the hut. Another creature mentioned online is Fawkes. This would be a reasonable alternative to a Thestral, in my estimation, since it is clear a Phoenix can carry a large amount of weight with little effort. She couldn't mention it in book one, though, without spoiling book two!

[Jeni]

I wasn't really trying to be argumentative, just stating I hadn't noticed any plot holes or mistakes through multiple readings. Although, the list you linked does state many things were later fixed--maybe I just got a later copy. :)

As for the original question, the more I think about it, the more I think that Fawkes is a really good suggestion so I'm officially sticking with the "phoenix flying Hagrid there" theory.

[Elizabeth]

I would say he just flew in the air. I thought that was it, but in the seventh book everyone was so amazed when Voldemort could fly, so it must be really hard magic, so Hagrid, never having finished his wizard training, probably couldn't do that. So good question.

[Gargs]

Jeni wrote: "JKR spent over 5 years setting up rules and parameters and story arcs before even starting on HP and I've found no plot holes in the books. The movies are another kettle of fish entirely, though, a..."
Ya right. Fawkes might be possible. Though I still dont understand JKR's words on Pottermore.

[Gargs]

Jeni wrote: "I wasn't really trying to be argumentative, just stating I hadn't noticed any plot holes or mistakes through multiple readings. Although, the list you linked does state many things were later fixed..."
Later copy ? Do writers really make changes in later editions of their work ?

[Vera]

Gargs wrote: "Jeni wrote: "I wasn't really trying to be argumentative, just stating I hadn't noticed any plot holes or mistakes through multiple readings. Although, the list you linked does state many things wer..."

Yes, quite often. A lot of the times, fans will ask questions and the authors and editors run through thef copies and reprint the books with corrections for the new batches.

[Jeni]

Okay, I have read the first two books today and I'm more convinced than ever it was Fawkes. Dumbledore says they are "able to carry extremely heavy loads".

[Jeni]

Just an aside: I have been exploring the HP Lexicon and some of the essays and I stumbled upon an interesting clue about how the Dursleys got home. I'll paraphrase as it's quite a long passage.

Basically, Hagrid and Harry's journey from the Hut on the Rock goes like this: They leave in the boat, take a train from Paddington Station to London, shop, and then back to Paddington where Harry says he has to go back to "the Dursleys."

Since there is no apostrophe in the word Dursleys, it doesn't mean Little Whinging where they live, but the actual people where they are. He would then go by boat back to the Hut-on-the-Rock and Harry and the Dursleys would all return home together.

I thought this was a brilliant observation on the part of the author of the essay and easily explains how they got off the rock.

Here's a link to that essay: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essa...