If I were a sorting hat...

[Shanoah Alkire]

No: HPFGUIDX 132147

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "davenclaw" <daveshardell at y...>
wrote:
> Hi everyone, I was looking at the Database and saw a post which was 
> lamenting (among other things) the fact that all of the "good guys" 
> seem to be in Gryffindor, which seems a bit lazy on the part of 
> JKR.  Surely there are some prominent members of Ravenclaw and 
> Hufflepuff in the Order?  But it got me thinking about how some 
> people really don't seem to belong in their house.  So I'd like to 
> start a thread to discuss where we think some characters could or 
> should have been sorted differently, based on what we know so far.  
> Here's my list so far:
> 
> - Hermione: She says (I think in OotP) that she was considered for 
> Ravenclaw.  And while she's no coward (and I have a feeling that
HBP 
> is going to showcase a particularly brave action), let's face it: 
> her over-riding personality characteristics are intelligence and 
> studiousness. I say, put her in Ravenclaw.
> 

She has distict Ravenclaw tendencies, but when it comes down to it,
she values bravery more then knowledge:

    "I'm not as good as you," said Harry, very embarrassed, as she

let go of him.



    "Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are more

important things -- friendship and bravery and -- oh Harry --

be careful!"
-- PS

She is also brave enough to brew a restricted potion, and steal
ingredients to do so, turn Harry's Firebolt into McGonagall, knowing
what Harry & Rons reaction would be, hit Malfoy, hex Snape, and lure
Umbridge into a pack of angry centaurs...


> 
> - Percy: His priorities in life are:
> 1. Percy
> 2. Percy
> 3. Percy
> 4. Ministry of Magic
> 5. Percy
> 
> Not only have we never seen him act bravely, we've never seen a
boot 
> that he wouldn't lick or a back he wouldn't stab to get ahead.  How 
> he got into Gryffindor, I've no idea, other than being a Weasely.  
> To me, Percy is all Slytherin.
> 

It takes a lot of courage to go against your whole family, tell them
they are wrong, and not give in. He may not have been right, but it
still took a lot of guts...

> 
> - Peter Pettigrew: I don't think we are ever told what house he was 
> in, but it was probably Gryffindor, given the crowd he hung out 
> with.  And it almost definitely wasn't Slytherin, which means that 
> whatever it was, it was a mistake: clearly, the Rat is a Snake.
> 
> 

Could you cut off your finger, and hide it behind your back while
yelling at someone who has every reason to kill you? Or cut your arm
off? He has guts. The whole "hide as a rat for 12 years" doesn't
really fit in though, though to be fair, he did bite Goyle on the
finger...

> - Neville: Neville is certainly developing into a strong character, 
> and I'm confident that the next two books will dispel any doubts 
> that he should be in Gryffindor.  But from what we know from books 
> 1 - 5, I'd say the preponderance of evidence suggests that 
> Hufflepuff is a better fit.
> 

Give him credit: he tried to take out Crabbe and Goyle in a fist-fight
singlehanded in the first book, and also stood up to the trio when
they went to the PS. What he's been lacking is confidence, and he is
starting to gain that back.


> - Tom Riddle: Tom was such a friendly, noble young man, surely he 
> should have been in Hufflepuff?  Haha, just kidding.
> 

Probably not, but if I were a dark lord, being loyal & hardworking are
right near the top of what I'd look for in minions...

I've always wondered about Crabbe and Goyle, though. How exactly are
they cunning and ambitious? Their main trait is loyalty to Malfoy,
which suggests Hefflepuff, really...

--Shanoah