What the Sorting Hat REALLY Said, and The Good Slytherin.

[Berit Jakobsen]

No: HPFGUIDX 84903

bboy_mn wrote:
 
> "Hmmmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very Difficult.
> Plenty of Courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh 
my goodness, yes -- a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's
> interesting. ...So where shall I put you?"
Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, 'Not Slyterin, not
> Slytherin'. 

> Notice that it is HARRY who brings up Slytherin, not the Sorting 
Hat. As you will see as the quote continues, the Sorting Hat merely
> interogates him as to 'why not Slytherin'. My observations on the 
Sorting Hat's observation. The very first thing
> that catches the 'eye' of the Sorting Hat is 'plenty of courage'. I
> take that to mean that the Hat sees Gryffindor characteristics in
> Harry first. Then 'not a bad mind', a reference to possible 
Ravenclaw placement. Next, 'a nice thirst to prove yourself' which I 
take to reflect ambition amoung other things and relates to possible 
Slytherin placement.
> 
> - Book Quote Continues -
"Not Slyetherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could
> be great, you know, it's all here in our head, and Slytherin will 
help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that -- no? ...

Me:

I agree! It was Harry and not the Hat who brought up Slytherin, and I 
also notice that the first thing the Hat observes is Harry's courage, 
a Gryffindor trait. So it's logical to deduce that the Hat might in 
fact have placed Harry in Gryffindor anyway. But notice also the 
Hat's reaction when it discovers Harry's "thirst to prove himself" 
(even though it is the last virtue it sees), which is: "..."now, 
that's interesting." And, "it's all there in Harry's head"...

Based on the Sorting Hat's sorting in book 1 alone, there is really 
not much to suggest the Sorting Hat seriously considered placing 
Harry in Slytherin. But, then you can't overlook Harry's encounter 
with the Sorting Hat in book 2, which puts the whole sorting in a new 
light... Harry, it turns out, is very worried the Hat really wanted 
him in Slytherin (hm, why?). The Hat answers something like 
this: "So, you have been wondering whether I put you in the right 
house." And what answer does it give Harry? "You WOULD have done well 
in Slytherin." (In the book the capital letters are in italics). I 
find it very intriguing that the Hat refuses to say "Don't worry 
Harry, I wanted you in Gryffindor." Instead it insists he would have 
done great in Slytherin. This is NOT what Harry wanted or needed to 
hear at the time! I'm not saying the Hat was wrong about putting him 
in Gryffindor. What I am saying is that I think Rowling is trying to 
tell the reader something here :-) She denies Harry any assurance of 
being placed right. Now, why is that? True, Dumbledore assures him at 
the end of the book that he is a true Gryffindor. But still I wonder 
why the Hat didn't bother to do it. According to the Hat itself, it 
has never been wrong. But, it seemingly can't make up its mind on 
Harry's house... Or, maybe it HAS made up its mind and IS right: 
Maybe, in some way or another, Harry belongs as much to the Slytherin 
house as to the Gryffindor house. That way it was really Harry's 
choice that landed him in Gryffindor since his characteristics alone 
could have landed him in either one.

Berit