[HPforGrownups] Re: Neville's choice (was: ghosts, ...etc... - Minor Point)

[Vivamus]

No: HPFGUIDX 119252

> bboyminn:
> 
> Ask yourself this, with his definite overriding lack of 
> selfconfidence, what are the odds that Neville choose 'not 
> Gryffindor'? 
> 
> I would speculate that it would be possible for Neville to 
> argue with the Hat and say 'I'm not good enough for 
> Gryffindor, I should be in Hufflepuff'. I furthur speculate 
> that the Hat overrode Neville's objections, and placed him in 
> Gryffindor anyway, seeing in him things that were impossible 
> in that moment for Neville to see in himself.
> 
> Yes, is all speculation, but if we can speculate, with some 
> foundation, that the Sorting Hat considers a students choice, 
> isn't it reasonable that the Hat would disregard a student's 
> choice when it knows that choice goes against the student's 
> true nature?

Vivamus:
I would agree that it is reasonable, but so is the SH going entirely on the
student's choice.  JKR has not given us enough information to lean too far
in either direction, I think, except that she *has* shown us that Harry's
choice was respected by the hat, AND that Harry also fit the qualifications
for the hat.  To support your contention that the hat really is in control,
it was only after the hat essentially said to Harry, "you could be in all
four houses, so where should I put you?" that Harry started thinking, "not
Slytherin".

I would disagree that Neville would ever say that he is not good enough for
Gryffindor.  I think that is a matter of family pride, and I suspect his
grandmother in particular would be disappointed if he weren't put there.  I
further suspect he would know this.  

Vivamus