mandrakes, sorting hat

[joanne0012]

No: HPFGUIDX 32081

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Jennifer Boggess Ramon <boggles at e...> wrote:
> >Maybe the Mandrakes are clearly non-intelligent upon observation-- e.g. they
> >might throw wild parties, but might not actually be able to speak, solve
> >problems, fill in your favorite test of "intelligence" here.
> 
> Professor Sprout seems to be watching them for specific behaviors, 
> much as she would a tree for its first blossoms, its first fruit, 
> etc.  I don't think she thinks they're intelligent.  However, given 
> how everyone in the wizarding world seems to feel about house-eleves, 
> she might well be wrong . . .

But given the fact that the wizarding world has screaming books and staircases 
that relocate, they are relatively accustomed to verbal and mobile activity from 
things that we muggles would consider to be inert objects.  Plus, the mandrakes 
look like wiggling babies when the kids transplant them, but perhaps they're less 
human-looking when they're mature. And of course, we don't know whether they 
SOUND like crying babies.

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "brewpub44" <brewpub44 at e...> wrote:
> After reading this thread with interest, I've re-read the sorting 
> ceremony in SS. Has anyone considered that the Sorthing Hat may just 
> be messing with Harry? Harry says "not Slytherin". The hat taunts him 
> with it a bit, and then puts him elsewhere. Could the hat have simply 
> been playing with him a bit? 

I think you're on to something there, barkeep!  We know from its songs that the 
hat has a sense of humor, and as one of the characters has pointed out, it must 
be pretty boring living the life of a hat (though living in Dumbledore's office can't 
be entirely boring; the hat must get, um, an "earful" sometimes).  The very fact 
that an incoming student would have the chuzpah to try to influence or argue 
with the renowned hat is evidence of the type of ambition that characterizes 
Slytherins!