Sorting Hat, a Forgotten Relic

[Alon van Dam]

No: HPFGUIDX 133255

Hey guys,

I was happy to see that on this site, at least, I wasn't the only one 
thinking of the Sorting Hat when reading the lines

"'I am confident, however, that the only known relic of Gryffindor 
remains safe.' Dumbledore pointed his blackened fingers to the wall 
behind him, where a ruby-encrusted sword reposed within a small 
case". (HBP, pg. 472 UK)

After all, didn't the Sorting Hat himself say that he was once Godric 
Gryffindor's hat, at least it would sure seem that way:

"'Twas Gryffindor who found the way / He whipped me off his head / 
The founders put some brains in me / So I could choose instead" (GoF, 
pg. 177 US)

Now, I know that the case for the Sorting Hat being a Horcrux is a 
very slim one: After all, it doesn't exhibit any of Voldemort's 
personality-traits and even warns the school for danger, reminding 
them to be strong and united. The four founders enchanted it together
(see quote above) and it would thus seem really hard to hoodwink. 

All this notwithstanding, it /would/ make quite a prize. What other 
item is more central to Hogwarts and has been for the entire duration 
of its existance? None whatsoever. But what worries me is that DD 
doesn't mention it when talking about relics. I can think of several 
explanations:

1) DD overlooks it - unlikely, seeing as he's, well, Dumbledore.
2) DD doesn't consider the Sorting Hat a Gryffindor artefact - 
possible, seeing as it's more of a Hogwarts relic by now, but 
Voldemort seemingly just wanted items that had belonged to the 
founders, as the Sorting Hat did to Godric Gryffindor
3) JKR forgot that the Sorting Hat is Gryffindor's - possible, after 
all she did claim that her readers know the books far better than she 
does and the Gryffindor-link is one mentioned sideways in 
some 'unimportant' spot. Still, it would seem unlikely for her to 
forget.

I'm wondering what y'all's take is on all this :)

Cheers,
Alon