Hermione in Gryffindor?

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 108788

Alla: 

"As we know, Hat wanted to put Hermione in Ravenclaw. G-d knows, this 
girl is smart enough for that House. :o)
So, to answer your question, I think Hermione's sorting was similar 
to Harry's (as I think was Neville's). They both chose Gryffindor 
over other houses emphasizing once again the importance of our 
choices."


DuffyPoo:

Harry never, in canon, 'chose' Gryffindor.  All he said to the hat was "not Slytherin, not Slytherin" based on what Hagrid had said "There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one," and the conversation on the train with Hermione 'hoping' to be in Gryffindor (a good reason to not want to be), and with Ron about Slytherin House and "whatever house *she's* in, I hope I'm not in it."  The Sorting Hat knew enough not to put HP in Ravenclaw, when he said 'not Slytherin.'  It must have seen that he was more 'brave at heart, daring, chivalrous, than just, loyal, patient, true and unafraid of toil.'

The Sorting Hat's song first year says "You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart. You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil"  What, in that, would make Neville, choose Gryffindor over Hufflepuff?  His Grandmother would wet herself laughing if she ever found out Neville 'chose' Gryffindor.  The only thing that could possibly make him decide on Gryffindor was that Hermione, who helped him look for Trevor, was sorted there ahead of him.  

I only have one problem with the kid choosing the house theory.  What about the Muggle-borns who, unlike Hermione, didn't read every blessed thing they could lay their hand to, and thus already have made up their minds?  They barely have time to make an informed choice about what house to go into from the Sorting Hat's song before they're in the processes of being sorted.  Particularly poor Hannah Abbott who was first in line that year.(I'm not saying she's Muggle-born, just that she would, most likely, be under stress at the moment as well.)  I'm sure a lot of the kids felt just like Harry did while waiting his turn to be sorted "The hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; Harry didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment.  If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for him....He was starting to feel definitely sick now.  He remembered being picked for teams during sports lessons at his old school....What if he wasn't chosen at all? What if he just sat there with the hat over his eyes for ages..."  Also "...then it was Ron's turn.  He was pale geen by now."  We also see the Sorting Hat taking it's own good time with some choices "Seamus, the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor."  If it had been Seamus' decision to go to Gryffindor, it should have been on and off like Draco Malfoy's. And the hat certainly seemed to be trying to come to some kind of decision when HP heard it say "Hmm. Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see.  Not a bad mind, either.  There's talent, oh my goodness, yes - and a nice thrist to prove yourself, now that's interesting.....So where shall I put you?" Then it seemed to be trying to convince him he may be wrong in deciding against Slytherin, before it decided to put him in Gryffindor.  

The Sorting Hat is there to sort.  To do the job that GG, SS, HH, RR, all did when they were at the school to do the choosing themselves.  They didn't ask the kid what house they wanted to go to (I'm quite sure).  OotP "For each of the four founders had a house in which they might take only those they wanted, so, for instance, Slytherin took only pure-blood wizards of great cunning, just like him, and only those of sharpest mind were taught by Ravenclaw while the bravest and the boldest went to daring Griffindor.  Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest, and taught them all she knew."  Now sorting and separating is the Sorting Hat's job. GoF "While still alive they did divide their favourites from the throng, yet how to pick the worthy ones when they were dead and gone? 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, he whipped me off his head. The founders put some brains in me so *I* could choose instead! Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I'll have a look inside your mind and tell where you belong!" Why would the Sorting Hat need brains to simply sing out what house the student chose to be in?

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