[HPforGrownups] ontongeny recapitulates philogeny?

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 170393

Rebecca M wrote:
> On page 399 (US hardback) Hermione is asked why she isn't in
> Ravenclaw (after doing the protean charm on the coins).  At the
> beginning we know that Harry is considered for Slytherin.  Ron is the
> prototypical Gryfindor, from a whole family of the same.  Neville 
> certainly seems more of a Hufflepuff.
> 
> So are the four somehow recreating the dynamic of the founders?  Will
> something about their interaction play in the way the whole thing
> gets resolved?

Bart:
	I have two theories; the second is based on the first.

	The first theory, better backed in canon, is based on Harry's 
experiences with the Sorting Hat, and Dumbledore's comments. The Sorting 
Hat APPEARED to want to sort Harry into Slytherin (at least it made a 
half-hearted attempt to convince Harry), but ultimately went with 
Harry's choice. My conclusion from the evidence is that, among the 
factors the Sorting Hat considers, the student's preference is one. More 
precisely, if the student has a strong preference, and there is no 
reason NOT to put the student into the house (for example, Hermione in 
Slytherin, or Neville in Ravenclaw), they get put into their house of 
choice. This would also explain why Cedric got into Hufflepuff; he 
probably would have been a Gryffindor, but had some reason to choose 
Hufflepuff (maybe his father told him, "I hope you get into Hufflepuff, 
son; that will give you an opportunity to really stand out!").

	The second theory has to do with Hermione, in particular. As was 
pointed out, all told, she seemed to be more of a Ravenclaw type than a 
Gryffindor type. Mind you, she is certainly brave enough, but she has a 
belief in studying, learning, THEN acting; having a plan before going 
ahead, and that is more of a Ravenclaw trait as we know it than the 
foolhardy Gryffindors. As a Muggle-born, there was no obvious reason for 
her to WANT to get into Gryffindor. So, we have to take a look at less 
than obvious reasons.

	Consider, in PS/SS, the Trio happened to have just the right set of 
skills to get through the traps (also note that the most difficult trap 
for them was a plant trap). Also note the evidence that has been pointed 
out in the past that Dumbledore was trying to prepare Harry for the 
tasks ahead of him, and the training could not always be safe, or nice, 
or even fair.

	I suspect that Dumbledore ARRANGED for Harry to get the friends he did. 
He hoped that, being brought up in the Dursley home, Harry would develop 
a personality which would identify with victims, and against bullies. 
Timing things so that he would meet the Weasleys at the platform would 
be easy enough (based on their personalities, I don't think Molly was in 
on it, although Arthur might have been, even unknowingly; "Arthur, could 
you see that your family gets to the platform at 8:55 AM on the dot? I 
have something on my mind, and may want to meet you there." Molly is 
both too sharp to be fooled easily, but not good at hiding her 
emotions). According to the theory, Dumbledore figured that nature would 
take its course, and Harry, exposed to Ron, would make friends and end 
up getting into Gryffindor. I also believe that he expected Harry to 
identify with Neville, and become friends, and, once again given this 
theory, was a bit disappointed that they didn't become better friends.

	Now, here was this Muggle-born student (Hermione), accepted by 
Hogwarts, who, from the interview process and Dumbledore's observations, 
was an information sponge. Even at age 10, Hermione showed herself to be 
highly intelligent, and quite capable of doing research (how many 
purebloods and half-bloods knew as much as she did, coming in?). Also, a 
shrewd observer. And, she knew a bit too much about Harold and Mort (oh, 
dear, I do hope that Harry doesn't stage a fake death in TDH), even 
based on her summer studies.

	In any case, from here on, it's pure guesswork, stemming from a single 
clue: In OOP, Minnie the Cat, when told by Harry his analysis of the 
Pink Dolly's opening lecture, remarks, approvingly, that he's been 
listening to Hermione.

	My guess is that Hermione was specifically asked to befriend Harry. Her 
initial attempts were clumsy, so much so that, in the incident of the 
troll in PS/SS, she runs away to the euphemism to cry. Luckily, that 
succeeds in cementing the friendship. Now, don't get me wrong, Hermione 
DOES become a genuine friend of Harry's. That she kept the origin of the 
friendship a secret for so long may well have been why she was entrusted 
with a time-turner. But, to me, the only explanation that makes sense to 
me about Hermione getting into Gryffindor is so that she could become a 
friend of Harry's. Of course, the master manipulator could have been JKR 
and not Dumbledore, but that would be a shame.

	Bart