[HPforGrownups] Re: Why Voldemort doesn't challenge Dumbledore?

[djtarb at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 29238

In a message dated Wed, 14 Nov 2001  2:20:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, "Andrea Renkel" <arenkel at t-online.de> writes:

> > While I think the Heir of Gryffindor theory to be quite believable, I 
> don't think Harry could be Gryffindor's heir *by birth*. The Sorting 
> Hat considered seriously putting him into Slytherin and I'm quite 
> convinced it would have recognized Gryffindor's heir in an instant 
> (even if not giving that knowledge away).
> If Harry becomes Heir of Gryffindor through his deeds, that's an 
> entirely different topic - but that wouldn't have any effect on what 
> Voldemort did to his parents and himself, power-wise.
> 

Hi Andrea, and welcome!  I'm responding to your post because you've cited the Sorting Hat-wanting-to-put-Harry-into-Slytherin argument that surfaces quite frequently on the list.  I have a different take on this, which may be way off base, but here it is.

Harry is the one who brought up Slytherin, not the Sorting Hat.  We know that Harry's character, and the character of his magic, are not straightforward and have at least partially been formed by the Heir of Slytherin.  So, once Harry brought up the possibility of being sorted into Slytherin, the Hat had to consider it.  It's a sort of teasing, sly game on the part of the hat, but what the heck...the poor thing only gets brought out once a year!

The hat showed its true recognition of who Harry was when it assisted in his rescue in the Chamber of Secrets.  It brought him another sign of Godric Griffindor's power, his sword, and protected him from the basilisk's stare.  If Harry is, indeed the blood heir of Godric Griffindor, the hat surely does recognize him for who he is and affirms that with those actions.

Diane in Philly