"Would" versus "Was"

[s_luhtanen at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27449

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., prefectmarcus at y... wrote:
> The recent discussion about CoS has brought to mind something that 
> has often bothered me.  It seems that many of us take the words of 
> the Sorting Hat, "...you [Harry] *would* have done well in 
> Slytherin." to mean that the Sorting Hat WAS going to put him there 
> but was stopped because Harry requested not to.  The belief seems 
to 
> be that Harry only missed getting placed there by his strong 
> opposition.
> 
> Can we really say that?  It seems to me that while the Sorting Hat 
> was having its internal debate where to stick him, Harry steps 
right 
> into it with his strong opposition to Slytherin.  The Hat, IMO, 
very 
> properly challenges him. 
> 
> One of the main themes in these books is the fallacy of prejudice 
and 
> bigotry.  So here we find the main hero being prejudice against one 
> of the houses.  The Hat, which is supposed to represent the 
> cumulative wisdom of the founders, challenges that prejudice.  It 
> points out to Harry that Slytherin DOES have good points, points 
that 
> would be personally beneficial to him.  Would we expect less?
> 
> Thoughts?

Well, the House is determined by each persons personality - and moral 
code. It's been told several times that they all appreciate different 
values.

And - I don't think Harry said NOT Slytherin merely out of prejudice, 
but because he does NOT want into the same house as Malfoy. He 
doesn't want power or louds of cash. Latter being more important.