CHAP. DISCUSSION: CHAP 11 Questn 1

[lizvega2]

No: HPFGUIDX 90867

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Hagrid" <aussie_lol at y...> 
wrote:

> 
> AUSSIE_LOL:
> The source of its info to form opinions about unity in this time 
is 
> from:
> - it's 1000 years of experience
> - eaves dropping on portraits in Headmaster's office
> - discussions with the headmaster, but makes it's own opinion
> 
> To decide on which house for the student:
> - Mind reading ("it's all here in your head" SS Chap 7) 
> - The Hat's own agenda ... 
> Why didn't it put Hermoine in Ravenclaw? Or Neville in Hufflepuff? 
or 
> any other strange sorting ... because it is trying to unite the 
> school with cross sortings. For a while they have to put up with 
(SS 
> Chap 10) "It's no wonder no one can stand her,"+"she's a 
nightmare, 
> honestly." ... but can help be the source of respect and unity 
with 
> that other Hogwarts house.   ~aussie~

LizVega here:

The sorting hat decides where the students will go. The sorting hat 
also has knowledge about the past and future that the reader doesn't 
know about yet. In OOP the sorting hat's new song talked about being 
forced to 'quarter' the students. I love the idea of the sorting hat 
making the decision to place students in houses that aren't 
necessarily conducive to the founder's requirements. If the students 
were sorted based solely on their aptitude for bravery, 
intelligence, ambition, and loyalty it would seem that there would 
definitely be a problem with some houses receiving fewer and fewer 
students. And, I'm sure that the first years that come from 
wizarding families already know which house they want to be sorted 
into. Ron and Draco were both worried about which house they would 
go to. Even though Hermione isn't from a magical family, she read 
about Hogwarts before coming to the school, so she probably had an 
idea about where she wanted to go. Harry asked the hat not to place 
him in Slytherin, I wonder if the hat listened to any of the other 
requests that were surely made? Also, there are a few students that 
show different personalities than the stereotypical traits assigned 
to the houses.

Cedric Diggory brought 'acclaim' to the hufflepuff's when he was 
made tri-wizard champion. At the Hog's Head all of the DA members 
were astounded with Hermione's intelligence and asked her why she 
wasn't in Ravenclaw. Neville probably thinks he should've gone to 
hufflepuff. 

Here's a thought: If the sorting hat put people where they requested 
to go/or where there was room- how many 'nice, brave, intelligent' 
students went to slytherin? Has Harry had any contact with 
Slytherin's like this yet?