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

[Arya]

No: HPFGUIDX 84921


bboy_mn wrote:
I think it's time to go back to the exact details
of what happened during the sorting ceremony.

-HP and the Sorcerer's Stone; Am PB Pg 130-

Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited.

"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 thrist 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'.

- end this part -


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? ...

- end this part -

In a sense, the Hat is saying, 'why not Slytherin?'. It will help you
fulfill your greatness, and help you prove to the world that you are a
great and powerful wizard. It will help you realize your ambition of
proving to people that you are someone.

- Book Quote Continues -

"Well, if your sure --- better be GRYFFINDOR!"

- End Quote -

Harry brings up Slytherin, not the Sorting Hat, and the Sorting Hat
never tries to force or advocate Slytherin. It simple wants to be
clear why Harry doesn't want to be in Slytherin, and wants to make
sure Harry understands that Slytherin could work to his advantage.

In the end, the Hat goes with the very first characteristic it saw in
Harry; plenty of courage.

-----------------------------------
ARYA NOW:
I've always looked at the actual words the Sorting Hat said as being 
a test for whether Harry really belonged in Slytherin.  The Hat 
tempts him with "greatness" and even recognizes a "thirst to prove 
yourself" as well as tempts further with "you gcould be great, you 
know".  All these things, to someone with Slytherin ambition, are 
tempting and would lure a true Slytherin to think that would be the 
House for them.  But rather, Harry is NOT tempted by the possibility 
of "help you on your way to greatness", greatness is not his 
ambition.  His thirst to prove himself is then reattributed from a 
wish to be great but to a much more noble (Gryffindor) ideal of 
perhaps, just being with the friend he has just made and not in the 
house with some kid who reminded him of Dudley. 

I say the Sorting Hat's words were a test.  If Harry would have truly 
had all the ideals of a Slytherin, he would have been tempted by the 
Hat's words and would have been glad to be placed there.  Even in CoS 
then, the Hat only says "I stand by what I said, you would have done 
well in slytherin."  Harry kind of cuts it off and I belive the 
unspoken last part of the Sorting Hat's explanation is "...if you 
would have aspired to greatness when I presented you with the 
opportunity."

Arya