Damn Sorting Hat

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 180140

---  "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> wrote:
>
>  "dillgravy" <monalila662@> wrote:
> >
> > Perhaps this has been discussed, please don't egg me, but
> > I can seem to figure out how in the heck Peter Pettigrew 
> > was sorted into Gryffindor. I don't think he showed an 
> > ounce of bravery- exemplifying cowardice in every situation
> > he was in. If you go just by his student life, it would 
> > seem even then he was a clear cut Slytherin. Any thoughts
> > on this? Anyone have any real objections to some of the 
> > sorting that went on? I, personally, thought maybe Percy 
> > and Luna may have been sorted incorrectly as well.
> 
> 
> 
> Potioncat:
> Well, of course it's been discussed, but what hasn't? ;-)
> It used to be a fun topic try to determine House-type for
> adult witches and wizards. Just seeing how much we disagreed
> show what a difficult job the Hat has.
> 
> Now that Harry tells Sevvie, I mean Al, that he can pick---
> well, why do they bother with the Sorting Hat at all!
> 

bboyminn:

Well, I think you are misconstruing what Harry said to Albus.
The Hat didn't let Harry choose, and I suspect it will not
let other students choose, but it will take into 
consideration that fact that you chose to try and influence
the Hat, it will consider that you do have a preference. Having
a preference, in an of itself, says something about your 
character. 

I really don't see the Hat as accommodating. I think it tries
to see the true Self, even if you can't see the same in yourself,
and places you in the House you match. But that process weighs
a lot of factors, and one of those factors might be your
preference. But your preference could simply be that your
friend is Gryffindor and so you want to be Gryffindor too.
Yet, that shows an element of loyalty and friendship, elements
that are important to you, and are therefore relevant to the
Hat. 

But I flatly refuse to believe you can tell the Hat which 
House you want to be in, and it will comply, even if that
goes against what it see in your mind. 

> Potioncat:
>
> As for Pettigrew. He doesn't have ambition, but he may be 
> cunning, can't say. He's most likely pureblood. He isn't 
> hard working or smart---yet he managed to brew a tricky 
> potion and carried out some complex dark magic. Bravery 
> doesn't seem to enter in at all! Maybe he asked for it?
>

bboyminn:

I will remind you what I said when we discussed this before;
that there are all kinds of courage. Usually when we say
'courage' what we really mean is 'Heroic Courage', but I
think there is a darker and far less heroic kind of courage.

To some extent, Peter draws his courage from the 'group 
mentality' or in another sense, 'the mob mentality'. Peter is
courageous when he has courageous people with him. He was
brave enough to be come an animagus, and to use that skill
to break tons of school rules and go sneaking off on 
dangerous adventures.

Again, if we think of 'mob mentality' we see people who are
caught up in the moment, feeding of the mob frenzy, who do
exceptionally brave, though usually foolish things. I see
Peter in gross and subtle ways feeding off the courage of
the group.

Also, keep in mind that courage is not the absents of fear,
it is action even in the presences of fear. Peter takes 
action. Peter does things even when he is filled with fear.
If fact, sometime because he is filled with fear. Peter
returned to find Voldemort in Albania. That was not a
fearless task. Just traveling to Albania would be scary and
dangerous enough. Then wandering around the dark and rugged
forest for the specter of the darkest wizard in a century,
is no task for the faint of heart. 

So, Peter does display, time and time again, his own brand of
dark cowardly courage. His actions are never heroic, but he
does overcome great fear, and is motivated into action because
of that fear; and that is an odd off-brand of courage. 

If Peter were really a coward totally lacking in courage, I
think he would be paralyzed. I would be too afraid to act. 
Too afraid to ever do anything but cower in fear. But Peter
does take action, and that is a mark of his own dark courage.

Just my opinion.

Steve/bboyminn