The Sorting Hat

[macfotuk at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 113510

The sorting hat appears in the very first book and, as such, I 
cannot believe it hasn't been discussed/theorised about, especially 
since it plays a key role in deciding each student's fate at 
Hogwarts house-wise and then, of course, plays a pivotal role in the 
chamber (of secrtets). Can anyone direct me to any such discussion.

Part of what I was looking for includes

(i) As Godric Gryffindor's own wizarding hat, how much of him does 
it contain (cf paintings) and is it independently magical? As far as 
we know, between sorting ceremonies it sits on the headmaster's 
office shelf and spends all year thinking up a new song for the next 
ceremony. In OotP it was a predictive song (IIRC) and Hermione noted 
the words very carefully. 

(ii) I don't recall it being able to speak in the chamber 
"....'Please help me!'
   There was no answering voice. Instead, the hat contracted, as 
though ... "

although it does converse with him, apparently independently, 
earlier in CoS, just after Harry is 'outed' (by Snape - ask me to 
explain this view if you wish) as a parselmouth and has been sent to 
DD's office. It repeats its view that Harry would have done well in 
Slytherin.

I've just noticed that although DD is 'absent' when this happens he 
soon after comes in looking sombre (meanwhile Fawkes having burst 
into flame and Harry is mortified he'll be blamed for killing DD's 
pet) but then smiles. I think DD was outside observing Harry 
(magical equivalent to a 2-way mirror in a cell) and what he sees 
causes him deep thought (hence sombre), but he actually wants to 
puit Harry at his ease so smiles after entering. In the next point 
you'll see I think it necessary that DD was nearby when the hat 
spoke to Harry. 

(iii) Just how does the hat decide which students go where house-
wise? I'll say now that this is a long point and basically a view 
that maybe DD as hat manipulator makes the choice, not the hat 
itself. Why now, because below I digress about Slytherins and want 
to keep it in while realising its on a different, if connected, 
point and may be seen as a distraction rather than an aside.

So, .... Is the hat genuinely independently magical? Choice of house 
has lasting implications - we have never heard of a student 
switching house once the hat has made its decision. What if the 
incumbent headmaster controls the hat? have we ever had a sorting 
ceremony at which he wasn't present? DD is a powerful (if not THE 
most powerful legilimens - the skill you'd need to see a student's 
innermost core/feelings/views). Students sit on a stool and yes 
there's no *all important* eye contact, but maybe the hat allows 
this not to be necessary provided DD is nearby (the hat, btw, goes 
with the pheonix as an heirloom?). This would suggest headmasters 
should be Gryffindor sympathisers, but it wasn't so when Sirius' 
Sltherin great, great grand whatever was a headmaster. Maybe they 
didn't always use the hat (there may well be cannon that they always 
have?). It does seem that after the Gryffindor/Slytherin split, 
Hogwart's would become a Gryffindor mainly place (? seems 
unfair/unlikely - though perhaps that's why Durmstrang exists?).

I don't hold bt with the view circulating recently that ALL 
Slyhterins are bad - I'm sure some are very noble - why else would 
they be tolerated? teachers don't discriminate, though often are 
appalled at their worst excesses, but no they don't dislike Slyths 
or the house wouldn't be welcome. Whenever they do well they are 
honoured and respected (if not liked) for it just as for any of the 
other three houses. If it were not so then why would anyone want to 
be in any other house than G?

Anyway, in a nutshell I think it's Dd decides the houses. I would 
say that it's too important a decision for a magical object to be 
left in charge of, but of course the goblet of fire makes a VERY 
important decision and to the complete surprise of DD so that one 
maybe won't wash. Even so, i think it's DD (or GG as the hat) who 
makes the decision?

Thoughts etc please