CHAP. DISCUSSION: CHAP 11 The Sorting Hat's New Song

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No: HPFGUIDX 90827

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...>
wrote:
> 
> Chap. 11 – The Sorting Hat's New Song

> The first years enter and the Sorting Hat sings a song that is much 
> different than its past efforts. The song alludes to the original 
> unity of the four houses.  [...]  It finishes by warning of dangers
outside 
> Hogwarts and advising that all must untie inside the school or it 
> will crumble from within.

Interesting that both the Sorting Hat, and Dumbledore at the end of
GoF, emphasise the importance of unity in the face of danger and
Voldemort's talent for discord and division.  On the other hand, by
the end of OoP Harry feels like the "marked man," the One alone on
whom the fate of the Wizarding World, at least, rests.  I have to
wonder how hard it will be, not only to unite the people of Hogwarts,
but also to convince Harry that he should not be going it alone.  It
seems that he will have to be a part of a united front, even if he is
the vanguard.

<snip>

> Questions:
> 1.	How *does* the Hat get its information?  Is it unbiased or is 
> it a Headmaster mouthpiece?

My only strong feeling here is that it is not the Headmaster's
mouthpiece.  I imagine NHN would recognise if it took on the
personallities of individual headmasters, but the way he talks about
it after the song it seems to keep its own characteristics.

> 
> 3.	What does the Hat do with a pureblood child who is brave, 
> cunning and intelligent?  Is this child a Hufflepuff?

It's hard to say.  I'm wondering if we'll ever really be told how the
Sorting Hat sorts.  Cedric Diggory was certainly brave, noble and
intelligent, and he may well have been cunning, too, and he was a
Hufflepuff.  I'm thinking there's more to this that we haven't found
out yet.

> 6.	Some of the teachers are clearly annoyed, perturbed or 
> irritated at Umbridge.  What do you suppose Snape's reaction was, 
> whether it reflected in his expression or not?

I'll bet Snape knew exactly why Umbridge was there, and I believe he
would have worn his usual closed, but sour expression.  
> 
> 7.	Was Harry naïve to think that he would not be the target of 
> gossip and suspicion?

Well, that's Harry.  He was naive enough not to read beyond the front
page of the Daily Prophet all summer, so that's why he was unprepared.    

> 
> 8.	Was there anything Harry could have said to Seamus to ease 
> his discomfort without making an already tense situation worse?

The hard part about that is I bet Seamus was feeling a bit guilty or
disloyal to Harry at the same time he was showing loyalty to his Mum.
 What could Harry do to help?  All Harry said at first was that he had
seen Voldemort, and Seamus asked if he was calling his Mum a liar. 
What's Harry supposed to do about that?  Harry could really only wait
for Seamus to come around.

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