Lack of sorting hat scenes in CoS & PoA

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 115670


Is there a reason (something plot-related? something sinister?) why 
there are no Sorting Hat scenes in books 2 & 3?  Is there something 
about the Sorting those years that Harry [and/or we] aren't supposed 
to see or hear?

The CoS one is fairly understandable, given the brouhaha over the 
Ford Anglia in the Whomping Willow which needed to be dealt with, 
and which took some time to sort out [pardon the pun], but 
the "excuse" for missing it in PoA -- McG talking to Harry to make 
sure he's OK after the Dementor-induced faint and chatting briefly 
w/ Hermione about her "course schedule" -- feels a little contrived 
*and* would have taken a much shorter time.  Would it really have 
equated to the entire Sorting?  

Does anybody think there could be something to this?  Or was JKR 
just having trouble coming up with a new Sorting Hat song for every 
single year?  

Siriusly Snapey Susan