Sorting Hat/Predictions/Eyes/Switching

[Koticzka]

No: HPFGUIDX 60695

Comments of POPO, Merlin, Brief Chronicles, Chuck, tammy and pjaponica's posts!

CHOICES:

pjaponica wrote:
<<One thing I think you're overlooking is something emphasized over and over
in HP: choice.  We know that Hermione wanted to be in Gryffindor because she
said so to Harry and Ron when she first met them - "I hope I'm in
Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best".  It's entirely possible that
Hermione would have done well in Ravenclaw, just as Harry "would have done
well in Slytherin" according to the Sorting Hat in CoS.  But even if she
didn't ask specifically to be placed in
Good 'Ole Gryff, surely the Hat knew where she wanted to be placed.  In
fact, I'd go so far as to say that a good deal of what the Sorting Hat does
has to do with finding out where the student *wants* to be placed.  For
example, Draco "got his wish" (SS) to get into Slytherin right away.>>

****Koticzka's newest comment:
Well, you are right.  After a couple days break from  reading "the Group",
and after a break from considering the problem of students' fitting into a
House, I must admit that I did probably go too far sometimes.  The procedure
would be: the Hat's suggestion and then a student's choice. I cannot imagine
Sorting a student against his/her wish and making him/her unhappy or even
disappointed. I presume that loyalty to one's future House is the clue for
sorting.

Than again - Hermione could have acted according to stereotypes rather than
her own personality - seeming proud and ambitious to imitate Slytherin's
features and get herself sorted into Slytherin, for example.  Stereotypes
about the Houses have been built by JKR herself and, going along with them,
I wonder who would like to be a Hufflepuff (no offence meant!)?

I wonder what would have happen if the Sorting Hat had insisted? Not as a
subject for a fanfiction story, but what the reaction of a student might be?
Is the Hat only to help those undecided ones and to perform its official
role as the secret supporter and enabler for students' dreams and wishes to
be sorted to a particular House)? I

 believe some of these points have been discussed on the forum but - as I
mentioned above - I had some delay in reading.  There is a lot to study
about the Trio: characters, personalities, and deeds.  I am fascinated by
the composition of their features confronting the needs of
the plot.

IN RESPONSE TO A BIG PREDICTION...

tammy at mauswerks.net writes:
>>On the fateful night, toward the end of the year, when Voldemort makes his
appearance, the Trio is faced with a chilling, sadistic choice. Voldemort
has two hostages, and there's only a chance to save ONE of them.  Harry has
to choose between saving Ron and saving Dennis Creevey. Ron, who had
deserted him, or poor, innocent, baby-brother to new best buddy, and too
cute, to boot, Dennis Creevey.
Harry chooses to save Ron, of course, and too cute to live Dennis dies.
Colin, outraged at the betrayal by his hero, secretly meets with Draco, and
subsequently becomes the first Muggle-born junior Death Eater.>>

Brief Chronicles:
>>(...)I don't think Ron will leave the trio. He's sort of done that already
(when he and Harry weren't speaking in GoF) (...)<<

*****Koticzka's comment:
If The Trio's friendship would go smoothly, without any problems and
arguments between them, it would be a first, and would seem totally
unnatural (which does not fit JKR's style nor her intelligence).  If their
relationship was not tested and proven by overcoming any conflicts, it would
not be as strong, especially in the reader's eyes.

Harry's choices (which you might consider comparing to "Sophie's Choice"
would be very difficult. I am convinced he would not stay passive, not being
able to decide whom to rescue (as in another story by a
not-well-known-writer, who let two friends of his drown when he was not able
to decide which to save).  Harry would rather fight to death trying to save
them... however I am certain of the result of this fight.

EYES:

Chuck wrote:
<< JKR may literally mean that Harry has his mom's eyes.  Ten bucks says
Lily switched eyes with Harry.>>

***Koticzka's comment:
I feel sick, though I like the theory. Very... Snapish. Perhaps this is what
happened during the missing 24 hours? Exchange of the eyes? Gosh, where is
the toilet?! But it is a good theory!  "Take mine instead" she should have
said...

SWITCHING:

Merlin wrote:
<<Because James is actually in Remus' body thanks to a switching spell.
Another clue that I forgot to mention was that Lupin burst into the room in
a flash of red sparks, the color of a true Gryffindor(AKA heir of Godric).<<

PoPo answered:
>>Is the red sparks surrounding Lupin the only real basis for this theory of
James and Lupin switching?(....snip!)<<


***Koticzka's comment:
I always fail to provide my sources of information to the Group, but I
remember discussion of James Potter and making him a Gryffindor in the
movie.  JKR was warning screenwriters not to do that. This would imply  that
James was not a Gryff, nor there is a single canon to be found that would
indicate that he is a Gryffindor heir.

Koticzka
How can you hurt a man who has nothing?
Give him something broken.


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