Does the sorting hat sort?

[greatelderone]

No: HPFGUIDX 84787

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hermowninny719" 
<hermowninny719 at y...> wrote:
> Didn't Hermione mention that the sorting hat considered putting her 
> in Ravenclaw?  Can't remember where I heard that.  She has the 
> qualities to be a Ravenclaw, but maybe from reading "Hogwarts-A 
> History" she decided she wanted to be in Gryffindor. 

GEO

Actually I recall in PS/SS, during the train to the school she says 
that she hopes to get into Gryffindor since all the best wizards like 
Dumbledore were sorted into it.

> The sorting hat 
> had a brief conversation with her (as it did with Harry) just to be 
> sure she was certain and then went with Hermoine's choice.

Or it dug that conversation out of her head and used it to determine 
her house.

> What if the sorting hat doesn't really sort you by your abilities, 
> but confirms your choice. 

I agree. Afterall Rowling and the books are really big on free choice 
and will over pre-destination, class, genetics and all that other 
stuff. Afterall if it sorted people into their houses by their 
qualities then Harry would have been a Slytherin, Hermione a 
Ravenclaw and Neville a Hufflepuff.