The Sorting *Hat*

[prefectmarcus at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23474

How does the Sorting Hat work?  Here are my thoughts.

We know that each of the Hogwarts founders put something of themselves 
into the hat.  That, I believe, is the key.

Imagine if you will, each student being brought before the four 
founders.  Their job is to determine which of them would accept the 
child and be responsible for him.  Would they decide on each student 
on the basis of two or three traits?  No.  They would consider how 
that child would fit in their house.  They would consider who was 
already in it and where that child would be in the structure that is 
already present.  They might even decide that they already have enough 
and will only accept one that was exactly what they were looking for.

Let's imagine Harry's interview.  Harry Potter is brought in before 
the founders.  Hufflepuff remarks that Harry is steady, loyal, and 
knows how to work, but he tends to be a little too fool-hardy for my 
taste.  Ravenclaw points out that he has great potential for knowing 
alot of magic, but he would have to apply himself to excel.  Besides, 
we already have our fair share.  Slytherin says flat-out, "This guy 
belongs in my house.  He has great ambition.  The real telling point 
is he's a parseltongue. Any arguments?"

Griffindor pipes up, "Yes, several in fact.  First of all, You can't 
have all the ambitious ones.  I like them too.  I particularly like 
the fact that he isn't afraid to stand up for himself or others. He's 
just what I look for.  You've already got Draco Malfoy.  Do you 
really think they were get along?"  

Slytherin would reply, "Getting along with each other is not a high 
priority in my house, as you know very well Godric.  It's survival of 
the fittest, not the namby-pamby coddling you subscribe to.  And Harry 
is a survivor.  He will develop to his fullest potential with me.  
Besides, You cannot argue with the fact that he is a parseltongue.  He 
belongs with me!"

Griffindor might then have said, "And YOU can't argue with the fact 
that he is my last descendent, you snake!"

So there you have it.  Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw liked him, but didn't 
feel strongly one way or the other.  Slytherin and Griffindor both 
wanted him badly.  Harry chose not to go with Slytherin, so Griffindor 
it was.

And that, my friends, is how the Sorting Hat works.  :)

Marcus