Wanting or presenting: Was: Snape's reaction to Harry in Slytherin

[Berit Jakobsen]

No: HPFGUIDX 93352

Siriusly Snapey Susan wrote:
continue to be slightly distressed that many people continue to say 
that the Sorting Hat **wanted** to put Harry in Slytherin.  It reads 
to me that the SH merely *presented* Harry w/ the information that he 
could do well there...

Berit replies:

I'm inclined to agree with you. But, there is also Harry's own 
interpretation of the Hat's words to consider:

Quote:"'But I'm a Gryffindor,' Harry thought. 'The Sorting Hat 
wouldn't have put me in here if I had Slytherin blood...'
'Ah,' said a nasty little voice in his brain, 'But the Sorting hat 
*wanted* (italics in the book) to put you in Slytherin, don't you 
remember?'" (CoS p. 147 UK Ed)

Of course, in the reader's eyes, it's quite possible Harry is 
excaggerating/misinterpreting the Hat a little, but it is at least 
interesting that Harry actually believes the Hat *might* have decided 
on Slytherin as its choice for Harry had he not protested... I don't 
think we can overlook the impression Harry was left with after 
hearing the Hat's words.

And, then there's the even more interesting second meeting between 
Harry and the Sorting Hat:

Quote:"Surely it couldn't hurt if he [Harry] took the hat down and 
tried again? Just to see... just to make sure it had put him in the 
right house... 'You've been wondering whether I put you in the right 
house,' said the hat smartly. 'Yes, you were particularly difficult 
to place. But I stand by what I said before – you would have done 
well in Slytherin.'" (CoS, p. 154-155 UK Ed)

To me, the whole plot of CoS is tufted on the gnawing suspicion that 
maybe, just maybe, Harry is not *only* what he seems to be, that 
there are more to the boy than meets the eye...

So yes, I'm inclined to believe the subtle hints of CoS points to the 
Hat not only suggesting Slytherin, but also *wanting* to put Harry 
there... just as much as it wanted to put him in Gryffindor! In its 
own words: Harry was particularly difficult to place! And it won't 
take back its words that he would have done well in Slytherin! Very 
odd, when what Harry *really* needed just then was a reassurance that 
he had been placed in the (only) right house, Gryffindor... He didn't 
get that reassurance, now did he? 

Berit
http://home.no.net/berjakob/snape.html