How Portkeys Work and Herminone's Placement

[prefectmarcus]

No: HPFGUIDX 43257

I have a thing for Occam's Razor.  The simpliest solution is likely 
right.  So...

The Portkey spell is a time-armed charn that is triggered by touch. 
The Portkey arms itself at a certain time.  The first person to touch 
it triggers the spell.  You can place multiple spells upon one 
Portkey.

Imagine, if you will, the night of Halloween 1981.  Hagrid has to get 
to Godric Hollow, go someplace else for about 24-hours (love the 
Weasleys' idea), go to #4 Privet Drive, and then return to Hogwarts.  

He goes to McGonagall.  She puts a series of enchantments on a single 
Portkey.  One to get to Godric Hollow immediately.  One to go his 
refuge in an hour.  One to go to #4 Privet Drive at Midnight 1 Nov.  
And one to get to Hogwarts at 12:30 AM 2 Nov. 

Hagrid, after going to Godric Hollow, puts the Portkey away into one 
of his multiple pockets and rescues Harry.  While waiting for the 
Portkey to arm itself, Sirius shows up and offers the bike.  Hagrid, 
seeing the chance to save the Portkey for later, takes the bike to 
his refuge.  When his errand is through, he now has a portkey to get 
to his refuge anytime he wants and return with a short stop at Privet 
Drive.  

Now, what the result of all those jumbled up armings, I have no 
idea.  But it makes the spell into one simple spell without several 
variations.

This explains how the boot at Stoathill worked.  It armed itself at 
5:05, or whatever the time was.  They had to find it before then else 
the first person to touch it would trigger it, leaving everybody 
behind.  So they all stood around touching it so that when it armed 
itself, it was immediately triggered.

This also explains the cup.  Psuedo-Moody charmed it to arm itself 
shortly after the last task began.  He also charmed it to arm itself 
later to return, possibly for Voldemort's use.  So when Harry and 
Cedric both touch it at the same time, it was already armed to go to 
the graveyard.  The second charm did not arm itself to return until 
later.

Any holes?

As to Herminone's placement, it is the same deal with all the other 
children.  I have always felt that the hat essentially contains the 
essense of the four founders.  When a student is being sorted, the 
founders have a debate.  The winner gets the pupil.  

As many things as possible goes into placement.  Potential for growth 
and friendships.  Size of placement so far.  Who's been placed 
already.  The student's preference.  Personality type does play a 
major role, but certainly not the only role.  

Slytherin would want Hermione because she stops at nothing in getting 
what she wants which is to be the best.  Ravenclaw would certainly 
want her for her accademic achievements.  Hufflepuff admires her work-
ethic.  And Griffindor admires her courage and bravery.  She could go 
anywhere.  I suspect it put her in Griffindor because she admires 
bravery and courage above all else, and we tend to emulate what we 
admire.

Marcus