If you can't see where it keeps its brain...

[ratalman]

No: HPFGUIDX 74827

In CoS, Arthur Weasley upon hearing of Tom Riddle's diary, tells 
Ginny:  "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't 
see where it keeps its brain!"  The problem is that this same 
description aptly fits two other prominent magical entities:  the 
sorting hat and the marauders map.  As we know (presumably) 
that these are not the handiwork of dark wizards, I don't think that 
we should fear them, but I wonder if JKR is hinting that all is not 
as it seems with one or the other.

Robyn