The Sorting Hat doesn't sort /WAS The sorting hat seems to think Harry...

[happybean98]

No: HPFGUIDX 105839

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "delwynmarch" 
<delwynmarch at y...> wrote:
> happybean98 wrote:
> > I think the sorting hat is simply "sorting" students by reading 
their 
> > thoughts and placing them where they want to be placed.
> 
> Del replies :
> Could be, but then there would be no need for the Hat at all. All 
that
> would be necessary would be to ask the first-years in which House 
they
> want to go, and put them there.

happybean98:

I still think there is a need for the hat. The reason is because it 
takes the pressure off of the first years saying what they really 
want. No one else can question "their" decision because it appears 
that it was the "hat's" decision. 

Just think of how some of the Gryffindor's might have laughed at 
Neville for wanting to be in Gryffindor. It's also possible that the 
students would always be second guessing themselves even after they 
chose.  By reading their minds and saying what they want out loud, 
the Sorting Hat removes the risk of the first years expressing what 
they want.

Another scenerio: Maybe one of the Patil twins didn't want to be in 
the same house as the other twin, but the risk of expressing that 
outright would lead to hurt feelings. If it appears that the Sorting 
Hat is doing it, nobody gets hurt. Same as if a student's parent 
wants them to be in the same house they were in. No chance of them 
being mis-placed because they want to please mom and dad.   

Del wrote:
> Moreover, considering the reputation of Hufflepuff House (a load of
> duffers, if I'm not mistaken), I doubt many people would *want* to 
be
> Sorted there.

happybean98:
Well, we are reading the story primarily from Harry's point of view, 
so I wouldn't dismiss the house simply because Harry thinks it would 
be embarrassing to be there. Remember, Cedric Diggory was in 
Hufflepuff and got selected school champion in book 4. He also had 
the admiration of both Cho and Fleur at different times. Harry was 
even jealous of him.

But let's suppose someone wanted to be "sorted" into Hufflepuff, but 
was worried about the stereotype that went along with the house. If 
the only thing keeping the student from choosing Hufflepuff was the 
stereotype, the Hat would use it's legilimancy powers to see through 
that and put them in Hufflepuff anyway.

Del wrote:
> And finally there's of course the problem of the Muggle-borns : how
> are they supposed to make their choice ? Just by talking with other
> students, like Harry did ? Sounds quite risky and downright
> irresponsible to me : what if a perfect Gryffindor ended up in a
> compartment full of enthusiastic Slytherins (not all of them are 
bad)
> ? Then he would choose Slytherin, even if his natural place was in
> Gryffindor.

happybean98:
But I think most eleven year olds have more ability to choose their 
friends than you think. Remember, Harry met Draco Malfoy in the robes 
shop well before he met Ron and Hermione, and even though Draco was 
keen to befriend Harry, Harry didn't reciprocate. 

Also, Harry was an exceptional case because the Dursley's should have 
told him about Hogwarts, and the WW, but they chose not to. Hermione 
was muggle born, but she figured out the house system by 
reading "Hogwarts a History". 

Del wrote: 
> At least, if it's really what the students want that counts, I would
> expect the first-years to receive an additional leaflet in their
> Hogwarts letter, presenting them each of the four Houses, so they
> could make up their mind in peace.

happybean98:

I'd have to agree with you somewhat here, a leaflet would be nice, 
but I still say that if Harry knew nothing about the WW, let alone 
Hogwarts until a day or so before he was sorted, and he still managed 
to figure out where he wanted to be, why couldn't anyone else?

-happybean98