The Sorting Hat and Houses

[Morgan D.]

No: HPFGUIDX 52935

Aldrea quoted one of the the Sorting Hat's songs (GoF ch12): 
> A thousand years or more ago, 
> When I was newly sewn,
> There lived four wizards of renown,
> Whose names are still well known:
> Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Morgan D. (me) wonders: could this "wild moor" be a hollow? ^__^

The Hat went on singing (and Aldrea added the ****s):
<snip>
> While still alive they did divide
> Their favourites from the throng,
> Yet how to pick the worhty ones
> When they were dead and gone?
> 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
> He whipped me off his head
> ****The founders put some brains in me
> So I could choose instead!****

Then Andrea suggested:
> You see, I have my own pet theory on the Hat. The
> Hat's song in GOF said the Founders "put some brain in me so I could
> choose instead."  My own theory is that the Founders used their OWN
> brains; that is, a preserved memory (like the diary) of each of the
> four Founders still lives inside the Hat. 

And I nod: I had the same idea. I was under the impression that the
four founders had created a unique personality from a sort of magical
merging of part of their minds. So in a way, the Hat would *be* the
living mind of the founders. Therefore, he must know many of the
secrets we're all dying to learn. 

Andrea pointed out:
> If anyone is still aware
> of this, it would be Dumbledore (well, and past Headmasters, 
> presumably), but it would
> be a powerful secret weapon to be used in the new war.  

And I add: Wouldn't the Hat keep inside itself other magical weapons,
objects that belonged to the other three founders just as the sword
that was once Godric's? Isn't it possible that others will ask for the
Hat's help in the hour of need and receive those secret weapons?

Now back to Aldreas, who commented: 
> Looking at that song closer...I never really noticed before that the 
> Sorting Hat was *Gryffindor's* Hat.  Also, Gryffindor was the one 
> that solved the problem as to how to sort the students once the 
> Founders are gone(you'd think it would have made more sense for the 
> *clever* one, Ravenclaw, to have solved that puzzle).  Hogwarts is 
> really a very Gryffindor-biased place, when you look at it.

I sigh: Isn't it? I confess I find this absolutely annoying. And when I
read JKR's interviews and see her complaining about an online "hat"
that sorted into Hufflepuff and arguing that, if someone was a
Gryffindor, that would be her (even if she claims -- in the very same
interview -- to be a coward), I'm left without any hope of seeing the
others Houses better developed. 
(I apologize, I don't have the link to that interview right now, but if
someone wants it I can give it a search. The version I read was on CBBS
Newsround.)

I mean, I expect Harry to be biased about the other Houses. He's a kid,
living in a competitive environment. If the narration follows Harry's
beliefs, we'll be stuck with the concept of Gryffindor being superior
to all others for as long as Harry believes that. But if the *author*
agrees with Harry on this... then I must say that I'm so very glad I
never studied in a school with such improper pedagogic methods. 

And Aldrea signed:
> ~Aldrea, who wants to hear the story behind why the Founders 
> thought "Hogwarts" was such a great name for a school... :)

And I laugh: At least one of them must have had a sense of humour
similar to Dumbledore's then... ^__^

Morgan D.
Hogwarts Letters - http://www.hogwartsletters.hpg.com.br

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