Yeah just being at Hogwarts is the best part but anyway Gryffindor rules!!
I can't wait untill the HP theme park opens so I could feel like I'm really at Hogwarts!!!

Come on Gryfindors, this thread seems to get boring...Ok then let me start a question,
What if Sirius Black was sorted as Slytherin. Will his character change? Or will he stay as friendly and good person?What do you think will be the effect of this in the HP story?

What if Sirius Black was sorted as Slytherin. Will his character change? Or will he stay as friendly and good person?What do you think will be the effect of this in the HP story?

First off, excellent question! I don't think Sirius would have acted any different if he had been in Slytherin. He wasn't a pureblood-maniac, and he wasn't a bully. He was a trouble-maker no doubt, but never evil. I'm sure he would've stayed a friendly person, but I don't think him and James would have been as good of friends. They wouldn't have shared a dorm for 7 years and become close like that. So then I think it would effect his appearance in the HP books. He wouldn't have been made Harry's godfather, and he wouldn't have been able to tell Harry who really betrayed his parents...but then again would James and Lily have made Wormtail secret-keeper still? Would Lupin have become godfather and been sent to Azkaban instead? That we will never know.

YAY for the gryffindors!!!
I am another one...

I have to say that i am soooo over the moon to be put into this house because no matter what you say:
gryffindor is just the best house with the best students in the whole harry potter bock...
its just a matter of fact to me..
(i am in the same house with Neville Longbottom and Lupin...*YAY* )

so to the question:

well I think he would be different...
the people who become your friends later can influence you in a good and bad way...you cant just be a loner or unaffected by their behaviour

Attention Deathly Hallows spoiler :


besides Sirius is coming from a family who is already well...at least interested in the dark arts...being in the house in which this is spread even more could spoil him
Or....he wasnt affected by his families influence so Slytherins wouldnt spoil him either..
but I actually think he would change in a bad way...

What if Sirius Black was sorted as Slytherin. Will his character change? Or will he stay as friendly and good person?What do you think will be the effect of this in the HP story?


There are two reasons why I can see how Sirius would have been different. First, if he was a Slytherin, then he obviously would not have been a Gryffindor. SO, he would have been different at the age of eleven. Given that he would spend the next seven years with 'the unpleasant looking lot,' his life experiences would have been very different. For starters, he may have been friends with Severus. Perhaps even more stiking, he would probably have competed with James for most popular guy. I would wager they would have been competitive. So, how would having different friends and a different life have changed him? I have no idea, but I know that he would not have been Harry's godfather.

I agree with what others have said: things would have been different. If you change one event, all of one's life would have been different.
I can't imagine Sirius being a Slytherin. I am so used to the idea of him being the black sheep of the family that him following his relatives' steps seems awkward. As After the Burial said, Sirius and James might have competed with each other, it seems quite reasonable actually. Both good looking, clever, likable... They could have competed for Lily's heart as well! Wouldn't that be weird?
Imagine... Sirius and Snape are friends. They both like Lily, but Sirius isn't aware of Snape's feelings. They both however, try to make James look bad so as to win Lily's heart. What would happen then if Sirius found out the truth? Would he moke (sp?) at Snape? Make friends with James? Or turn against both? This could make a whole new story...
I'm so glad Sirius was in Gryffindor. I like him way too much to even think of him as an evil guy.

Hey! Wow its been a long time since i've been on this site. I thought my first post since being back should be on my house's thread.......

Lots of stuff has happened since i've been gone....movie #5 and book #7.......


Nah......Sirius was just not slytherin......he would have torn that house apart or rebuilt it completely..........

As for being competitive with James....they were probably competitive anyway at least with finding new ways to make fun of snape.....

---------little side note-----Snape showed real skill at the end of the series in books 6 and 7......does anyone think that he could have beaten sirius or james in a duel?


Didn't Dumbledore state that Snape may have been placed in the wrong house......i'm assuming he meant gryffindor.....although with that thirst for knowledge maybe ravenclaw

~Yes, but to play devils advocate here, if Sirius had been sorted into Slytherin at age 11, he would have exhibited the character qualities best suited to him at that time. Severus too, he had Slytherin qualities at age 11 and developed Gryffindor qualities as he got older. He would not have had that same bond with James because they would not have been inseparable. It is possible though that as they both got older they could have developed a friendship if Sirius truly didnt believe in the pure blood drama of his parents. If not, could you imagine the duels that James and Sirius would have had over the course of 7 years at Hogwarts? Do you think that perhaps James would have been the outcast instead of Severus? Interesting


~I have always felt that Severus would have beaten Sirius in a duel. I am not sure about James because we know that James was a very accomplished wizard even while in school and I have felt that Severus' power greatly increased after James was already gone. In my opinion, Severus was up there with great and powerful wizards like Dumbledore and Voldemort.

Yeah i agree and you know spending time with the Order....dumbledore...and voldemort you know he picked up a few things lol

Well I think that yes it would change because Sirius loathed Slytherins because of his family and stuff and because they were all Slytherins..if he wanted to go in Slytherin, he would have but then that would mean he was exactly like his parents and being an exceptional wizard would probably end up being a Death Eater....so I do think the story would have changed lol.

Well the story would probably have changed drastically! Here's a question for ya:

If Sirius had been sorted into Slytherin would James and Lily have made Lupin their secret keeper or stuck with Wormtail?

If Sirius had been sorted into Slytherin would James and Lily have made Lupin their secret keeper or stuck with Wormtail?

I wonder...if Sirius had been in Slytherin, would James be friends with Wormtail, Peter? He was like their pity friend. No one really liked Peter the way they liked each other. They wouldn't be whole without Sirius. Also, would James end up with Lily in the end, or would she marry someone else? It's what I've said, if you change one thing, you change everything.

Considering the whole Secret Keeper thing, i can't remember this: had they asked from Lupin to be their Secret Keeper or was it just Sirius? Well, i thought of something. Sirius in Slytherin=Follower of Voldemort. Peter=Follower of Voldemort and thus, "friends" with Sirius. Sirius would be competitive with James (i think we've already agreed on that) and so, he would have tried to make Peter the Secret Keeper in order to get back at James. So, i think they would end up making Peter their Secret Keeper. And maybe Lupin would have ended in jail, instead of Sirius. Who knows?...

I think they would have stucked with Wormtail
Its just very simple if you think of it:
They had chosen Peter because he was the last person anyone expect of being the secret keeper...it was obvious for everyone that Sirius would be the Secret Keeper wasnt it? so they wanted to fool LV by picking the most inconsidereable among his friends which is indeed Wormtail
IF Sirius was a Slytherin then James would have probably been closest to Remus and everyone would have thought he - the very best mate- would be the Secret keeper and again they would want them to fool and pick nontheless Wormtail...
I think its quite logical isnt it?

Its been a long time I have not visiting the forums..sorry guys...
Well for my question What if Sirius Black was sorted as Slytherin. Will his character change? Or will he stay as friendly and good person?What do you think will be the effect of this in the HP story?
All you guys has a briliant ideas...you could be writers...uh
Well as for me this is what I can share...
If Sirius in Slytherin House probably because he is much like of his family (Remember how JKR sorted the Weaslye's?). Which for me this theory is correct because of the basis I just mentioned.

If this is so, Sirius will definitely be great in Slytherin as James was great in his house, Gryfindor. They could be the one competing for excellence and for the quiditch cup maybe. I kinda compare sirius to Draco Malfoy, bullying the messers (moony, prongs and wormtail). But ofcourse more better than Draco. Draco got less talent and courage while Sirius' brilliant mind, talent and great courage will qualified him on the top general of Voldemort. Remember in HPPA? He was typecast as the number one follower of you-know-who. Yeah... I believe so. Because the sorting hat sorted each students for them to excell and increase their tallent in their respective houses.

The only changes that could happen maybe are..
1. He cannot be Harry's godfather (whoever will it be I don't know)
2. He cannot be the secret keeper (I like the idea that it could be Remus. If any of you thought it will be Dumbeldore..then it will ruin the HP series. Why? Jame and Lily aould still be alive if he is the secreet keeper).

But as we al know...I wasn't the case. I am happy that Sirius was sorted in Gryfindor. Nobidy knows how he was sorted but I think he chose to be in Gryfindor like Harry....

To join the cool discussion being held here, these are my point of views:

What if Sirius Black was sorted as Slytherin. Will his character change? Or will he stay as friendly and good person?What do you think will be the effect of this in the HP story?

I partly agree with SeverusBlack in that Sirius would be great in Slytherin and that he might play Draco's role: bugging the marauders and being James's nemesis in quidditch games. He would have probably been Voldemort's number 1 because of his brains. But now that we know so much from DH, we can see the difference between him and Regulus and Sirius should have been LV's follower since before he started school just like Regulus, to be sorted into Slytherin.
James and Sirius would have been enemies because of how alike they were.

If Sirius had been sorted into Slytherin would James and Lily have made Lupin their secret keeper or stuck with Wormtail?

In this one, I totally agree with Gwenog:

This is so true! It was so unlikely for Peter to be the secret keeper, that's why they chose him: he was last person someone would think of, it just backfired on them.

Thanks for your answers and interest in my questions fellow Gryfindors.

I have here something to let you know guys and I would like some reactions from you.
Veritaserum has posted news about the book reading and signing of JKR in US. One of the students asked a question about Dumbeldore. She thought that Dumbeldore is gay. What are your reactions on this issue?

I know that Dumbledore is generally considered to have been in Gryffindor, but I would personally like to avoid that discussion in this thread. There is a thread in the News Section concerning it. The Dumbledore Fan Club is talking about it. I don't think we need three threads to talk about the same thing. We do have other Gryffindor related topics we could discuss.

I understand. But I think we have the right to discuss it here since this is a Gryfindor House thread and Albus is one of the great man Gryfindor has ever produce. What do you think?

Oh, of course it is a valid topic. If you want to talk about it here, feel free. I simply believe that having one thread is preferable to three. Since the other two threads require you to discuss Dumbledore, I thought it preferable for those threads to be used instead. It is just my opinion.

Well James and Sirius were friends before they entered Hogwarts, at least that's what I understand. Following that lead, the fact that they were sorted into diffrent houses wouldn't have an effect on their friendship in the slightest, after all it wouldn't change who they were or what they meant to one another. And Lily doesn't seem the type of person the not trust someone based on which House they were sorted into (look at her towards Snape) so I don't think that they would've changed their Secret Keeper... well not until Sirius asked them to that is...

I agree with Lord Jak here. I don't think it would have made a difference since it was Sirius who asked them to change their secret keeper to wormtail *hands clenching as I type!!* The question is would that friendship have remained as strong as it did had both boys been in Gryffindor? I mean even the strongest friendships (Lily and Severus) suffered because of house prejudices. Isn't it possible that Sirius and James could have suffered the same fate?

Speaking of Severus and Lily, what do you think caused Snape to call her a mudblood? It was probably the greatest mistake in his entire life (or certainly ranks near the top). So, what would cause a person to want to hurt the person they love that way?

he was in a very vulnerable state in that moment....like he was being humiliated and harrassed...and in that moment some he loves comes around and well sees how you hang upside down with your shorst at the open air...
I know that when my "guy" is around I dont like to be embarassed either and go bright red and feel like hitting him for just being around and witnessing this
and he felt probably the same...
additionally I suspect that the Slytherin guys he wanted to impress where at least around and could have seen that so that Snape didnt want them to think he was very close with Lily and well...did that...poor bloke...but I feel worse for Lily

~Honestly I know that Gwenog said it was his vulnerable state, but realistically speaking I think it was a slip of the tongue. Severus had been hanging around a group of Slytherins that nearly all became death eaters so he would have been influenced by their patters of speech and had their belief system ingrained into his mind even if it wasn't something he was doing purposefully. I must have gotten progressively harder to hang out with Lily as best friends as the years past and they got older and especially with James always around trying to win her "love". I think that Severus lashed out at Lily unfairly in a moment where his worst enemy was torturing him publicly and the first word out of his mouth was something that maybe he had just heard Avery or some other Slytherin say in regards to muggleborns. It is just sad that this one act seems to sway Lily into cutting loose Severus though she knew him long before anyone else and should have known the kind of man he was capable of being had he not been abandoned.

I'm sorry if this topic has already come up, but i was wondering what you guys think about Snape possibly being put in the wrong house to begin with. I mean as a teacher he was a stickler for rules, which generally goes against slytherins - he had unbelievable skill - he showed the ability to truly love some one - and finally he showed outstanding courage and loyalty.

nah I dont agree he was definetly not a gryffindor if you want to say this...
nobody said that Slytherins cant love...look at Bellatrix who love LV or NArcissa and Lucius who love each other and their son etc etc..so this is not an argument

okay he was maybe loyal but when he was a child he actually wasnt..at the time when he came to hogwarts he was not Snape as we know Snape..I think in a way he desired to be in Slytherin too and due to Harrys sorting we know that the Hat considers your choice

Thats a really good point about the whole "choice" issue. I suppose as Snape matured he realized what was more important. However, the only problem was it was way to late for him to fix the situations publically.

He showed outstanding courage and loyalty to go through what he did and both characteristics are staples of Gryffindor though. I can definitely see the argument about his youth though. You are definitely right about that one.

I think that younger Snape is definitely a Slytherin. He loved the Dark Arts, he wanted to be a Death Eater, and thats just the house he wanted to be in. He wasn't very brave or courageous when he was younger I don't think. Now older Snape is a different story. He was loyal to Dumbledore and very brave for everything he did in DH. So i definitely think an older Snape would have been a Gryffindor.

I am just reading the Princes Tale in German and there dumbledore and Snape talk about Karkaroff planning to flee when the Dark Mark burns...and DD asks if Snape will do so too and he replies something like he is not a coward...and DD says yes you are right...sometimes we let the Hat choose to early...lol...so DD would agree

I think I talked about this before... I just can't remember where....

Anyway, just like most of you guys have said, I think Snape was very enthusiastic when he was young, to be in Slytherin. The hat lets students choose, and probably, he chose. He was a good representation of his house, he even became the head of that house, and maybe Lily didn't even follow Snape into Slytherin because she didn't know she could choose, and therefore, her most representative traits of a Gryffindor were seen by the hat. That's my theory as to why they were sorted differently.

I think Snape was placed in the right house because nobody says that the students who belong in other houses lack the traits most representative of the houses they were sorted into. So I think not only that Snape was brave, but maybe, he was more cunning than brave, and therefore, sorted into Slytherin.

i think this is a tricky one but generally i think its down to (like people have mentioned) the choices he made in his later life that changed him. he probably was right to be in slytherin when he was younger, like we said he liked the dark arts and all that so maybe he was put into the right house at the start

however was he to be sorted again i think there would be some doubt as to whether to put him in slytherin rather than gryffindor, as to do what he did for so long is very brave and loyal and theres no denying that

despite courage and bravery being the 'trademark' of gryffindor, i think its easy for people (im not accusing anyone here, iv done it many times myself) to forget that slytherins arnt all necessarily bad and evil. they too show a lot of bravery at times - malfoy for example and what he had to do
sometimes people get stereotyped when they are put into certain situations and i think thats what happened to snape, he got put into slytherin and maybe forgot he had a choice and went along with the general expectation (but luckily in his case he redeemed himself in the end) and i also think this is again sort of true for malfoy

I love when Dumbledore is just looking at Snape. And says along the lines of "Maybe we sort too soon". I completely agree with this statement, plus yours. Snape as a child, was more into following the family tradition and listening to what others had to say. Oh, he could have chosen to be in Gryffindor but he did not because of this.

now later on in his life, Snape proves that even by being in Slytherin, doesn't mean that you can't have qualites from the other house. I am still unsure if Snape would switch houses, because his entire life would be different, and he might not have been nearly as loyal to Dumbledore. Though I am sure, i wouldnt argue if Snape had become an honorary member of Gryffindor.

I would just like to say that I am very proud to have been sorted to Gryiffindor!!!

Go Lions!!! MAY THE BRAVE LIVE LONG

I have been sorted into gryffindor where dwell the brave at heart....pleased to be a proud Gryffindor well anyways hi guys glad to meet you

]I have a question , if anyone has the answer...how did Nevill in Book 7 pull Gryffindor's Sword from the Sorting Hat to kill Nagini? Did'nt Griphook take it? Or did it come out of the hat because he is "a true Gryffindor," and "only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat?" Please Write Back!

That really makes you think. I had completely forgotten about that. Wow. I think it might have been because he was a Gryffindor at heart.

I agree with you harry_potter_luvr_4life. I think it was because he was a "true gryffindor". This scene resembled the one where Harry pulled the sword out of the hat in the Chamber of Secrets. He was a true gryffindor and he needed help so the sword appeared in the hat. And if I remember correctly Dumbledore said something along the lines " You will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." and I am pretty sure everyone, including Neville and Harry had been secretly asking for a miracle to happen. The sword must have been bewitched to appear in dire need and so it disappeared from where ever griphook had it and appeared in the hat. I guess that means the sword never really did belonged to the goblins

Hi guys! It's very long time I don't write here, but I'm really busy!
Well, I agree with you. I think that this event underlines the fact the Neville is a true gryffindor. In effect, even if at the beginning of the story, in the first book, he did'nt seem particularly brave, at the end he shows to be really a gryffindor.Maybe this event also could underline the connection between Harry and Neville...What do you think?

This is a very important issue. Thanks to PotterFan007 for bringing it up. As many of us agree that 'help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it' and 'only a true gryffindor can pull the sword out of the hat'. Considering these facts it's obvious that at that particular moment every body wanted help and it was from the depth of their hearts, hence help came. Also on Neville pulling out the sword I would like to mention that there should be no question, whatsoever that he belongs to Gryffindor. His sorting was already justified in the first book by JKR. 'It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, and just as much to stand up to our friends'- (first book, said by Dumbledore during the end of term feast) Hence, it's justified that Neville can pull the sword out as he's a true gryffindor. The fact that it did come out in spite of Griphook taking it away proves that it doesn't belong to the goblins. I think that's that to it.
There's one thing I'd like to say though. Dumbledore left the sword in Harry's possession. It means that Dumbledore owns the sword. However, in the second book it says, any true gryffindor can take the sword. This should mean that any grffindor is the owner of the sword. So, how is it that Dumbledore can leave it in Harry's possession? Could this mean that DD is the heir of Gryffindor and the sword was inherited by him? (I know this point about the heir of gryffiondor has already been discussed, but i'd like to know it in relation to this issue. Hope the Mods won't mind )

The point is that DD is omost probably just A gryffindor...therefore refering to his own explanation he could own it just like any other gryffi...so.. I dont think it really means he is the heir...as much as I am concerned Harry is distantly related to the heir...so yeah...DD is most probably just a gryffindor who was trustworthy and powerful enough to keep it all those years
and yes Neville indeed proved that he is a true gryffi and pulled the sword out of the hat
that also shows that Godric Gryffindor didnt steal it as claimed... it really just belongs to all gryffindors and appears when mostly needed

God its been months since I have been on this thread. Sorry fellow Griffindors I haven't had the internet for a while so I am using my sister's computer.

Woah I'm a tad confused about the conversation here How on Earth do you all come up for reasons for all these questions. Well Done I can never think of good explanations for anything in Harry Potter but like in this thread when someone gives a possible explanation for something happening I'm like yeah that right I just realise it to start with lol Anyway it's good to be back lol.

Hey there fellow Gryffindors!
I've just been on the Ravenclaw thread and you know it's so active over there, the discussions i mean. Come on let's wake up.

Ok, I've got a question.
Nymphadora Tonks, I believe was of Ravenclaw. How would it be if she belonged to Gryffindor. With all her humour, wits, nerve and she was very brave too.
What do you think?

I agree with you people that the reason neville got the sword out of the hat was that Neville was a true gryffindor who was really brave at heart, So in the same way that Harry got the sword from the hat in Harry Potter and the COS (second book) Neville also managed to pull it out
I also agree that the sword must have disappeared from the place where Griphook had it just the same way it disappeared from the sorting hat when harry direly needed it
and i think it is a known fact that the sword was bought from the goblins so it doesnt belong to them it belongs to The Gryffindors. not the heir of gryffindor (whoever that it is) but to every single true gryffindor who lived up to the gryffindor name. Bill already said that Goblins means of Buying and selling is not the same as wizards they think when wizards buy it it is sort of hired.
So there.
And Weaslette...Ginny Potter i didnt get your question well

Ps: you know what this means. sword belongs to us too

~I guess my only question about this would be why then did Dumbledore leave the sword to Harry in his will? Is is simply because Harry is suppose to be the caretaker of it and it will just loan itself out to any Gryffindor who needs it and then return into Harry's care? Or is it supposed to stay in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts next to the Sorting Hat?

The other question I have is this. Everyone seems to think the Gryffindors are superior to the other houses, especially Slytherins. Whenever there is a disagreement between houses, usually it was Slytherin and Gryffindor involved. Does anyone think that Gryffindors did there part to keep the tension between houses alive? I don't seem to remember any instances in the books where they were trying to be peace keepers.

Discuss!!!

~nevillesgirl

Tonks would have made a great Gryffindor; smart, intellegent, and yes, very brave. Would her involvment in the story been any different? I don't think so, Tonks is a firery person( look how angry she get if anyone calls her Nymphadora), maybe she would've come into the story a little earlier if she'd been a Gryffindor.

Maybe some of the Gryffindor's were peace makers, but none of the ones in the story are. Slytherins' seemed to rub eveyone the wrong way. Pansy wanted to give Harry to Voldemort at the final battle, and I'm sure other Slytherins' did as well, even though Voldemort would have killed anyone not a pure blood .



House: Ravenclaw
Wand: 12" Willow, Unicorn Hair
Patronus: Unicorn
Animangus: Werewolf

I think the best example for Slythering vs. Gryffindor was Snape vs The Marauders
I think that the Marauders had their reasons for loathing Snape..I dont think that they disliked him just because of his looks or anything...it was more the fact that he was such a contrast to them...but I think that the marauders also used every oppurtunity to tease him...just take Snape's worst memory..he didnt do anything actually and you felt sorry for him until he did what the marauders loathe..he called Lily a mudblood...
so you cant really say that Gryffindors are really peace makers...some like Hermione defintely are peace makers but Gryffindors symbol is a lion for a reason...and red is also their colour for a reason...both symoblize a heated temper, fierce to me...
they Gryffindor are known for their bravery...somebody who is brave isnt neccessarily a peace maker but someone who is showing his dislike openly without fearing the reaction of his "enemy"

I think the reason Dumbledore left the Sword of Gryffindor to Harry in his will was more of a clue to the Horcruxes than for him to actually own it. I tend to agree that the sword will appear to any true Gryffindor who is in need of it.

So if the sword of Gryffindor actually belongs to the "house" of Gryffindor, why was there a will stating it belonged to Dumbledore, then Harry?

As most of you are aware, a will determines who will possess belongings. This implies that the sword belonged not to the "house" but to Dumbledore and now to Harry. Now if this is true, then Harry "owns" the sword but any Gryffindor who is in need of it can summon it as Neville did in the final book to kill Nagini.

Am I making any sense here or just spinning my wheels?

And perhaps a new question...

For as long as I have been a member and posting in this house, I haven't seen a character discussion on Hermione Granger yet. So my question is how do you see Hermione Granger as a character? What are her strengths and weaknesses? Does she truly belong in Gryffindor or perhaps is Ravenclaw more suited to her character?
Feel free to discuss anything else good, bad, or indifferent in regards to Miss Granger.

Oh Amanda, I really like your question! And I'll move on to it as soon as I'm done with the last one!

So if the sword of Gryffindor actually belongs to the "house" of Gryffindor, why was there a will stating it belonged to Dumbledore, then Harry?

I believe that the whole sword issue was actually a way for Dumbledore to remind Harry that he could use it to destroy Horcruxes, as he had done in the past with the diary. I don't really think that this implied that Dumbledore was the owner of the sword itself, but only a means of communicating with Harry, because if he had put a tiny piece of parchment with the instructions inside the Snitch, Harry would never had found out until the "close". I think of it like, for example, leaving my neighbor's house to a son or daughter of mine on my will: simply not possible, but maybe that could give either the hint that I would have liked him or her to own it in the future... If Dumbledore had tried a different way of communicating this to Harry, like writing it on Hermione's book, the Ministry would have found out after the revision of the objects and the will.

How do you see Hermione Granger as a character? What are her strengths and weaknesses? Does she truly belong in Gryffindor or perhaps is Ravenclaw more suited to her character?
Feel free to discuss anything else good, bad, or indifferent in regards to Miss Granger.

I love this question, especially since Hermione is one of my favorite characters. I'll stick my answer to her relationship to the House traits, though, then I'll come back later for more discussion.

I think Hermione could have been a good candidate for the Ravenclaw House, but she proved herself a Gryffindor when she lied to the professors after the Troll attack on their first year. Then, on their second by not fearing to go through the halls to investigate on the Basilisk with the mirror, only to corroborate her suspicions, and so on. The creation of the DA is another great example of her courage, and so, even if she was a huge bookworm, her courage was very close to her brains. Maybe the Sorting Hat thought that it was a more defining trait of hers, even if it was not so obvious, as her cleverness was.

~*gulp* I know I'm in for it when I post this but I am definitely in the minority when I say that Hermione's character bugs me. *ducks from all the stunners being sent my way*

I too will comment just on house traits and talk about the nitty gritty of it all later. I think that Hermione would have been a perfect Ravenclaw. It matters not to me that lying about the troll attack helped prove that she was a Gryffindor. I mean, everyone who "lied" when they signed that piece of parchment to become members of Dumbledores Army showed incredible courage in defying Umbridge. I have a hard time finding the distinction that Hermione's courage was more of a defining trait then her brains. Through out the series all we see is how obssessed she is with grades and school work, how disappointed she is when she "forgets" to go to class in PoA or when exams are cancelled in CoS. I mean she completely freaks out when she is waiting for her OWL results and just look at her boggart...McGonagall saying she failed everything. I think Ravenclaw is a better place for her.
It isn't to say that she couldn't have been a main character while in that house either. Luna was from Ravenclaw and she interacted well enough with the trio. I think JKR could have used Hermione being a Ravenclaw to promote inter-house relations.

Why is it do you suppose that Hermione seems to show Ron such a lack of respect? Actually, there is not really any student whom Hermione shows respect too except for Harry and that is just in the subject of DADA. I find it annoying that she seems to have a superior attitude all the time.

I'm sorry if I upset a few of my house mates here...I would love to hear how you all see Hermione.