[HPforGrownups] How the Sorting Hat works (was: What house Peter was sorted into.)

[imhotep1]

No: HPFGUIDX 55084

Quote from Sheila:
> I see the Sorting Ceremony in my mind and it could be
> anyone....  like one of those personality tests. You have both
> characteristics or qualities of something but more of one than the 
> other.

Perhaps the sorting hat isn't really as all knowing as all the children
believe.

Perhaps the sorting hat detects what house they want to be in, and sends
them that way.  With the kids who take a while, maybe they aren't sure,
so the sorting hat has to ask them a few questions.

If Harry does contain a some of Voldemort's power, this could have been
why the sorting hat thought he should be Slytherin.  Then his
conversation with HP changed his choice to Gryffindor.

Similarly, PP desire might have always been to be popular and respected,
and REALLY wanted to be in Gryffindor, so that's how he was sorted.

If someone can't make up their mind, perhaps the Sorting Hat simple
picks a house at random, or possibly chooses based on what houses need
more members.  This could explain why the student ratios seem to be
consistent between houses.

If the Sorting Hat really isn't a soothsayer, or even one to probe very
deeply in to the subconscious, I think it might imply that all students
are capable of becoming anything, regardless of house.  As DD said, "It
is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our
abilities."  

Perhaps the Sorting Hat is more of a tool, it gives students who don't
have a firm idea of what they want to become a destiny-of-sorts to live
up to.

-Jeremy