Mary Poppins: The World's Favorite Hufflepuff
The Other Broken Wand
Many people know the story of Rubeus Hagrid, a poor misunderstood little half-giant with a dangerous affinity for monstrous creatures. Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for opening the Chamber of Secrets, a crime he was later exonerated for. But few people know that there was another student expelled for this same crime, or rather as an accomplice to this crime; a muggle-born from the Hufflepuff house named Mary Poppins.
On the second day of school, in her second year at Hogwarts, Mary was exiting the Hufflepuff common room, on her way to class, when she came across a big oaf of a first year trying to access the kitchens. He was clumsy, inarticulate, and incredibly charming. Mary was immediately smitten. From that day forward, any time Hagrid was outside the Gryffindor common room or out of class, you could be sure to find Mary Poppins right alongside him.
Mary was what you would consider an average student. She was abysmal in Transfiguration, Divination, and History of Magic. Her best subjects were Muggle Studies and Charms, where she was considered a favorite student. Her potions professor did not know what to do with her as she kept adding sugar to the cauldron so that the potion would “taste better”. He tried to point out that when one is drinking Draught of the Living Dead, what it tastes like quickly becomes moot, but he had no success.
Hagrid came to really appreciate Mary over time. She was an excellent singer, which really comes in handy when you are dealing with huge monstrous beasts. There was even one three-headed puppy that Mary discovered was easily subdued by song. This happy discovery is the only reason Hagrid still has two arms and a whole face. Mary was also incredibly forgiving of Hagrid’s diminished communicative capacity. When he stumbled on his words, or didn’t know what to say, she just smiled and said what use is language if you can’t make up new words anyways? One of such ramblings created the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, which Mary liked so much she started using it in everyday speech.
Mary had strong beliefs. She believed in order, respect, cleanliness (which was always at odds with Hagrid), and above all fun. Mary always encouraged the truth, a belief that backfired on her a little bit when Hagrid suddenly became unable to keep anything a secret.
For three years, Mary continued a happy existence of following Hagrid around and keeping him from being murdered from the beasts he so lovingly embraced. In the middle of her fourth year at Hogwarts, Mary was spending a rare moment without Hagrid, trying to procure a dragon egg for Hagrid’s upcoming birthday, when she saw Tom Riddle heading for the dungeons, where she knew Hagrid was spending time with his acromantula, Aragog. Tom looked like he was up to no good, so Mary followed him. But she was too late; Tom Riddle had already framed Hagrid for opening the Chamber of Secrets.
Hagrid was immediately expelled. Mary, who knew that Hagrid was innocent, stood up for him; saying that she had been with him all the time and therefore he was not guilty. But Tom twisted this story around, and in the end Mary Poppins was expelled from Hogwarts with her beloved.
Their wands were snapped in half and they were left alone to grieve the loss of magical power. But Mary was not defeated. She walked over to an umbrella stand, where stood a pink umbrella and a black umbrella with a bird for a handle. While Hagrid lay sobbing on the floor, she took the pieces of her wand and placed them in the black umbrella, effectively creating a makeshift wand. She then did the same thing with Hagrid’s wand and the pink umbrella. When she presented Hagrid with this gift he was overjoyed, and hugged her for the very first time. She was elated.
Albus Dumbledore took pity on the two students and offered them positions as game keepers at the school. This was perfect for Hagrid, and Mary was happy anywhere he was. For a whole year they lived in a little hut at the edge of the school. Hagrid took care of the animals and Mary took care of Hagrid. But as time passed, Mary came to realize something; Hagrid did not care for her the way she did for him. When she told him she was leaving to try her luck in the muggle world, Hagrid was sad to lose a companion. But the way his tears fell, told Mary everything she needed to know; this was the right decision.
Rubeus Hagrid and Mary Poppins still keep in touch by owl every now and then. And Mary is happy with the muggle children she has come to care so much for. But as hard as she tries, she can never bring herself to stay with any one family for any length of time. Because as she stays in those houses and starts to love those people, she is reminded too strongly of that year in the hut at the edge of the school. And the pain of that rejection is too much, even for one so practically perfect in every way.
The Other Broken Wand
Many people know the story of Rubeus Hagrid, a poor misunderstood little half-giant with a dangerous affinity for monstrous creatures. Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for opening the Chamber of Secrets, a crime he was later exonerated for. But few people know that there was another student expelled for this same crime, or rather as an accomplice to this crime; a muggle-born from the Hufflepuff house named Mary Poppins.
On the second day of school, in her second year at Hogwarts, Mary was exiting the Hufflepuff common room, on her way to class, when she came across a big oaf of a first year trying to access the kitchens. He was clumsy, inarticulate, and incredibly charming. Mary was immediately smitten. From that day forward, any time Hagrid was outside the Gryffindor common room or out of class, you could be sure to find Mary Poppins right alongside him.
Mary was what you would consider an average student. She was abysmal in Transfiguration, Divination, and History of Magic. Her best subjects were Muggle Studies and Charms, where she was considered a favorite student. Her potions professor did not know what to do with her as she kept adding sugar to the cauldron so that the potion would “taste better”. He tried to point out that when one is drinking Draught of the Living Dead, what it tastes like quickly becomes moot, but he had no success.
Hagrid came to really appreciate Mary over time. She was an excellent singer, which really comes in handy when you are dealing with huge monstrous beasts. There was even one three-headed puppy that Mary discovered was easily subdued by song. This happy discovery is the only reason Hagrid still has two arms and a whole face. Mary was also incredibly forgiving of Hagrid’s diminished communicative capacity. When he stumbled on his words, or didn’t know what to say, she just smiled and said what use is language if you can’t make up new words anyways? One of such ramblings created the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, which Mary liked so much she started using it in everyday speech.
Mary had strong beliefs. She believed in order, respect, cleanliness (which was always at odds with Hagrid), and above all fun. Mary always encouraged the truth, a belief that backfired on her a little bit when Hagrid suddenly became unable to keep anything a secret.
For three years, Mary continued a happy existence of following Hagrid around and keeping him from being murdered from the beasts he so lovingly embraced. In the middle of her fourth year at Hogwarts, Mary was spending a rare moment without Hagrid, trying to procure a dragon egg for Hagrid’s upcoming birthday, when she saw Tom Riddle heading for the dungeons, where she knew Hagrid was spending time with his acromantula, Aragog. Tom looked like he was up to no good, so Mary followed him. But she was too late; Tom Riddle had already framed Hagrid for opening the Chamber of Secrets.
Hagrid was immediately expelled. Mary, who knew that Hagrid was innocent, stood up for him; saying that she had been with him all the time and therefore he was not guilty. But Tom twisted this story around, and in the end Mary Poppins was expelled from Hogwarts with her beloved.
Their wands were snapped in half and they were left alone to grieve the loss of magical power. But Mary was not defeated. She walked over to an umbrella stand, where stood a pink umbrella and a black umbrella with a bird for a handle. While Hagrid lay sobbing on the floor, she took the pieces of her wand and placed them in the black umbrella, effectively creating a makeshift wand. She then did the same thing with Hagrid’s wand and the pink umbrella. When she presented Hagrid with this gift he was overjoyed, and hugged her for the very first time. She was elated.
Albus Dumbledore took pity on the two students and offered them positions as game keepers at the school. This was perfect for Hagrid, and Mary was happy anywhere he was. For a whole year they lived in a little hut at the edge of the school. Hagrid took care of the animals and Mary took care of Hagrid. But as time passed, Mary came to realize something; Hagrid did not care for her the way she did for him. When she told him she was leaving to try her luck in the muggle world, Hagrid was sad to lose a companion. But the way his tears fell, told Mary everything she needed to know; this was the right decision.
Rubeus Hagrid and Mary Poppins still keep in touch by owl every now and then. And Mary is happy with the muggle children she has come to care so much for. But as hard as she tries, she can never bring herself to stay with any one family for any length of time. Because as she stays in those houses and starts to love those people, she is reminded too strongly of that year in the hut at the edge of the school. And the pain of that rejection is too much, even for one so practically perfect in every way.