Sorting Hat as a plot device

[rayheuer3 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 59974

  In reading two unrelated subjects, one about the Sorting Hat and another 
about the parallels between Harry and King Arthur, a thought has come to me. [It 
was a welcome change, my brain gets so few visitors these days...]

  The Sorting Hat is, as far as we know, the only artifact that has come down 
to us from the time of the founding of Hogwarts, and it bears some of the 
essences of the four founders.  There has been tons of speculation on this list 
and in fanfic as to what the hat can do besides sort out first-years, but only 
one canonical reference (Harry literally "pulling a sword of the hat" in the 
battle against the basilisk in CoS).
  And, in Arthurian legend, there was the search for the Holy Grail, which 
obsessed many of the Knight of the Round Table, but no obvious cognate in HP.

   So, here's the premise...  The Sorting Hat is stolen!  Besides the obvious 
chaos this would cause if it wasn't returned by the start of next term, there 
are all sorts of hints of dark possibilities if Voldemort gets his hands on 
the Hat.  It could easily drive an entire book.

  --  Ray


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