Hagrid's Lateness

[kashlie]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but I can't find it :(

Hagrid tells Harry that he was late to the feast because he was with Grawp and lost track of time, suggesting he'd been there for quite a while.

If he was with Grawp, then how did the first years get to the castle? Or did Hagrid have time to go down to Hogsmeade Station, get the kids across the lake and up to the castle, get down to Grawp, lose track of time then return to the castle in time to see dinner?

[Fortescue]

We never saw the typical beginning of the book - Harry didn't get off the Hogwarts express to hear the familiar, "Firs' years, this way". He got off with Tonks. We never saw who took the first years to the castle. I'm not sure what he was up to at the start of HBP, and we might never find out unless he was doing something that will come up in the next book.

[Hermione]

Due to all the additional security measures, I would think that the traditional boat ride would have been foregone. My guess is they were taken with the rest of the school and poked by Filch, then separated and led in for the sorting as usual.

[Alz]

We never saw the typical beginning of the book - Harry didn't get off the Hogwarts express to hear the familiar, "Firs' years, this way". He got off with Tonks. We never saw who took the first years to the castle. I'm not sure what he was up to at the start of HBP, and we might never find out unless he was doing something that will come up in the next book.
No such thing as typical - OoTP, he wasnt there for the start of term as well - and we know what he was up to then ... as such I can see Kasher's point here ...
I know the most compelling thing here is that we see from Harry's POV - and that his start to the new year wasnt the best he ever had ...
My guess is that perhaps Auror's escorted the train party to Hogwarts - based on the new risks to the school and students - Hogsmeade station perhaps isnt as well protected as Hogwarts - bit like Hogsmeade itself ...