It’s common knowledge that film adaptations of bestselling book series often cut plot points that readers would’ve preferred left in.Harry Potteris no exception to this rule, and despite having eight films to cover seven books, there’s still so much depth that was left on the cutting room floor. Perhaps one of the best examples of this is the treatment of Grawp inOrder of the Phoenix.
InHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth film in the franchise, Hagrid’s giant half-brother, Grawp, is introduced. In the movies he is little more than the latest in a long list of dangerous creatures that Hagrid smuggles onto school grounds. In fact, afterOrder of the Phoenix, he’s never seen or mentioned again. In the books, however, Grawp is part of a much larger narrative about Hagrid’s origins and Voldemort’s plot to conquer the Wizarding World.
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Giants
Giants don’t receive a lot of development in theHarry Potterfilms, something fans hopedHogwarts Legacy had a chance to remedy but didn’t. In theHarry Potteruniverse, they largely resemble humans, with the biggest difference being their height - most stand between 20 and 25 feet. Though giants aren’t known for being extremely social creatures, they do live in tribes, each led by a chief called a “Gurg.” They speak their own languages but are capable of learning human ones like English. These similarities between giants and humans, and more secrets that haven’t yet been revealed, allowed for the creation of a fan-favorite character - Rubeus Hagrid.
Fans of the movies and books alike will know that Hagrid, Hogwarts' beloved, if wildly irresponsible, groundskeeper,is a half-giant. Born to a wizard father, known only as “Mr. Hagrid,” and a giantess named Fridwulfa. Fridwulfa abandoned them when Hagrid was only three years old to join a giant colony in Northern Europe. Sometime in the years following, she had Grawp, a full-blooded, if shorter-than-average giant who stood at 16 feet tall. The two brothers knew nothing of one another and had no contact until decades later, during the summer beforeOrder of the Phoenixbegins.
After Voldemort’s return during theTriwizard Tournament inGoblet of Fire, Dumbledore sent Hagrid and Madame Maxime, half-giant headmistress of Beauxbatons, on a mission to find the giants. The giants, whose magical resistance and strength made them formidable combatants, had sided with Voldemort duringthe First Wizarding War, and Dumbledore had hoped to persuade them against doing so again.
Grawp at Hogwarts
Ultimately, Hagrid and Madame Maxime’s attempts to win the giants over were thwarted by Death Eaters, but the trip wasn’t without reward. During their stay with the giants, Hagrid learned that his mother, Fridwulfa, had died years ago but that she’d left behind another son. When Hagrid found Grawp, he was badly beaten after years of bullying at the hands of the other giants who equated size with power and health and thus deemed the small giant a runt.
Fearing for his brother’s life, and perhaps not wanting to leave behind the only family he had left, Hagrid secretly took Grawp back to Hogwarts against his will. Over the next few months, Hagrid attempted to teach his half-brother human manners and English in hopes of introducing him into society. The endeavor was largely a failure, with bruises and broken ribs all he had to show for it. Grawp was much more violent in the books than he was depicted in the film series, taking out his confusion and frustration at being kidnapped on anything he could, usually Hagrid.
The Skirmish in the Forbidden Forest
WhenDolores Umbridge, who harbored a fierce bigotry against “half-breeds,” ousted Dumbledore and took over as Headmistress, she placed Hagrid on probation. Fearing she would fire him any day, Hagrid told Harry and Hermione his secret, leading them into the Forbidden Forest where he’d restrained Grawp. He made the two of them promise to look after his younger brother should anything happen to him.
They ultimately had to make good on their promise when Umbridge sent six ministry officials to arrestHagrid at his hutin the middle of the night. Hagrid escaped and went into hiding, leaving Harry and Hermione to care for Grawp.
Near the end of the book, Grawp would finally have the chance to return the favor and save the day. When Umbridge threatened to use the Cruciatus curse on Harry to force him to reveal what she believed to beDumbledore’s plan to overthrow the government, Hermione promised to show her Dumbledore’s “secret weapon.” Of course, there was no secret weapon, so all Hermione could think to do was lead Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest.
When a band of centaurs attacked, angered by Umbridge’s racist slurs, they bound the vile woman and dragged her deeper into the forest. When the centaurs turned on the students, insulted by what they felt was Hermione’s intention to use them like pawns, Grawp interceded. The lonely giant was searching for his brother and recognized Harry and Hermione from their visits. Grawp demanded to know where Hagrid had gone, showing no real interest in the centaurs or Umbridge. Nevertheless, the centaurs attacked him, and he chased them off, freeing Hermione and Harry to escape.
Grawp Throughout the Rest of the Series
This scene in the movie goes largely along the same lines. But fans who haven’t read the books may wonder just what happened to the giant after theOrder of the Phoenix. As mentioned before, Grawp made a few more appearances despite being cut from the films entirely.
When Dumbledore and Hagrid were reinstated afterOrder of the Phoenix, Grawp went to live in the same cave Hagrid hid in during his brief stint as a fugitive. He remained there through the events of the next two books, popping twice in the narrative. In the bookDeathly Hallows, it is explained that Hagrid threw a party in support of Harry Potter. This angered the Death Eaters, who’d taken over the school, and Hagrid was again forced into hiding with his brother in the mountains.
Perhaps the biggest Grawp-related plot point left out of the movies comes during the Battle of Hogwarts. In the final battle between Voldemort’s forces and those allied against him, the castle is attacked bygiant spiders, dark wizards, and, of course, evil giants. While the film Deathly Hallows removes Grawp from the battle, he actually showed up to fight against the other giants, protecting his brother along the way. Grawp survived the battle, and survivors sheltering in the Great Hall threw food into his mouth from a broken window to show their gratitude.
What’s Next for Grawp and The Giants?
With a newMax original Harry Potter series in development, there’s ample opportunity for missed story beats to finally get their chance to shine. The world of Harry Potter is a sprawling one, with honestly more depth than afilm series could’ve ever hoped to capture. Grawp, Hagrid’s origins, and the vital role giants played in both the first and second Wizarding Wars are all prime candidates for a deep dive.
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