Cho.....She didn't seem like the smart person....She's more sensitive and alone. She seems kind of like a Hufflepuff to me. That's just my opinion, though. What do you guys think of Cho being in Ravenclaw?

Well honestly I think Collin Creevy was definately sorted into the wrong house he's alittle too bubblely to be in Gryffindor.....I think he should have been in Hufflepuff!! LOL!

Biased much, Leo? Haha just joking. Colin Creevey was bubbly yes, and just a tad over-the-top in his hero-worship of Harry. He definately shows loyalty, that is a huge trait of his, which is also a Hufflepuff trait. It's a toss-up between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, however I'm more inclined to believe he belonged in Gryffindor; he was after all incredibly brave, he was willing to, and succeeding in, dying for his cause. But your right, he does have some Hufflepuff qualities. I guess it's another one of those "Could Go Either Way" characters.

Well I happen to think, that Harry Potter himself was sorted into the wrong house. He is a parseltongue and he has certain traits of a Slytherin. I guess Gryffindor would also suit him too. I also think that Neville Longbottom was also sorted into the wrong house, but I was wrong when i read the fifth book, he is in fact brave and he does stand up to Bellatrix Lestrange. I don't really know who would be a perfect example, every one seems to be sorted in the right house, even though it might not seem like it at first.

I agree with you on that one I think by book 7 you do realise that most characters have shown why they are in their specific houses. I think it is really difficult at times as I know each house has their own 'trait' like Gryffindors being brave etc. but at times they can overlap so maybe thats why people think the sorting was wrong.
If we think of DH in the final scene when Harry is in the great hall and all the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws stand up to defend him they are all showing a great deal of bravery but it doesnt necessarily mean they should have all been Gryffindors... if that made any sense?!

Well like this was discussed in another thread, I made some similar points with Harry as well. I thought that maybe he might have been sorted wrong becuase of those things that he had and being paseltounge and what not. But then I was remembered that the reasons for that is because a part of Voldemort after the attempt to kill him when he was a baby rebounded and a small part of him is in Harry; I believe it was his soul. Which is why the sorting hat wasn't sure where to place him. He had his parents genes as I say, where the Gryffindor comes in and then Voldemort where Slytherin comes in.



And youre absolutely right. I have always said that to a friend of mine. That at first everyone seems to look perfect wherever they were placed. But then over the years there true 'colors' show and you start realizing who really belonged where. I think I even might have mentioned that as well in the beginning in this thread (:
Hmm..


Nicky<3

My view is Hermione wasn't in Ravenclaw because she wasn't naturally intelligent - whereas the Ravenclaws were rewarded for independent thought, philosophising, debating and thinking for themselves, Hermione simply regurgitated books. Did she really have true intellect or just a skill of parroting out facts she'd read and passing exams? That, for me, was the distinction.

I don't understand why Ron was in Gryffindor. He showed very little bravery... ever.

Well you make a point; She depened alot on books I will admit but when times were pressuring she worked well under pressure; She is analytical and things that she was able to figure out wasn't always found in the books. I think that Deathly Hallows really challenged her wits. And Ron is brave her just needed that inspiration. Besides you dont just have to be brave; Gryffindors are also chivlarous and more (: Good points though.

I think the reason Hermione wasn't in Ravenclaw was because she's not open-minded. Ravenclaws are pretty open to learning new things, I mean she is too, but she sticks to what's in books. She doesn't seem to want to believe things without proof. Unlike Luna, who's smart and really open-minded. Like, reaaally open-minded. She told her dad who told Hermione all that, when she refused to believe the Deathly Hallows were real. And I suppose JKR just wanted her in the same house as Harry and Ron.

That's true, Hermione was very narrow-minded when it came to things that could not be proven by books and cleverness, but to be honest, I find those qualities to be more Ravenclaw than Gryffindor! Ravenclaws are thirsty for knowledge, and there are some very open-minded people there, like Luna, but I think that her unwillingness to accept what isnt proven fact was a Ravenclaw trait of Hermione's. I could be wrong, but Gryffindors seem to be more willing to take on a far-fetched theory than your average Ravenclaw, who tend to work in facts. The Deathly Hallows is proof of this, because it wasnt proven fact, she was unwilling to believe in them. That doesnt mean she wasnt meant for Gryffindor, though. I like your viewpoints, Tanuki, and yours Nicky, I think you both have very relevant points.

A question that I think fits in with the topic, but please tell me if you disagree: If Draco had not immediately demanded to be in Slytherin, and instead had let the Hat probe his mind to find where he belonged, what do you think the result would have been?

If Draco had not immediately demanded to be in Slytherin, and instead had let the Hat probe his mind to find where he belonged, what do you think the result would have been?

When you look at someone like Draco you of course think to yourself Slytherin. But I'm not going to biased but realistic here. There are only two possible house choices for the kid; Slytherin and Gryffindor. I mean he's smart but not Ravenclaw smart. And Draco his qualities just don't match up with Hufflepuff. Now the screaming out Slytherin well it's also possible that the sorting hat was able to 'sense' his blood. I mean it took Harry a bit becuase he had what it takes to be Gryffindor but having a part of Voldemort [Slytherin] tampered with that a bit. So the hat was able to see that Draco came from a long line of Slytherins AND they were all pure blood. Now if you put that all to the side to me personally the only possible clear choice of another house would be Gryffindor. No offense but although both houses do things differently I feel like both houses have the same driven adrenaline to do whatever it takes to get what they want. Which is why they are more alike than they think(:

Your definately right Nicky, Gryffindor and Slytherin are a lot more alike than they think, both so stubborn and determined. The reason they clash is because although they both have these qualities, their values are so different, and go about handling these qualitites in ways that go against what its rival stand for. If one house wasnt so stubborn, it really wouldnt be much of a problem. If Slytherin was meek and shy, but still had nasty values (Im drawing from the books here, nothing against the Slytherins on VTM, you're lovely people!), Gryffindor would go on 'ruling the school', and there would be no confrontation.

Moving onto Draco, you have a point there, Nicky, and I agree with you. I guess it all boils down to choice. Draco had a choice of two houses that would have suited him, he made his choice that basically decided his destiny. If Draco had chosen Gryffindor, his life would have been so much different. Imagine the possibilities.....

First of all, I believe that Peter Pettigrew was sorted into the wrong house. I think he should have been in Slytherin. As for Hermione, I agree that the only reason that she wasn't in Ravenclaw was that she wasn't open-minded.
After I finished DH I thought for a while about Neville, and how he has qualities for both Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. He was brave by standing up to the Carrows, continuing Dumbledore's Army, and standing up to Voldemort himself. He continued to be loyal to Dumbledore even after he was gone and he continued to be loyal to Harry after his supposed "death". He doesn't start showing both of these qualities until the seventh book.

I always thought that Harry had qualities from all four houses. Maybe that's why the Sorting Hat took a long time to decide with him just like with Neville. Harry is brave, obviously, and that's a Gryffindor quality. He is very loyal, to his friends and to the people he loves, and that would be a Hufflepuff quality. He can be stubborn and a bit proud, plus he had a part of Voldemort's soul in him, and the Hat could see it inside him, if he hadn't asked the hat to place him in Gryffindor, he most likely would have gone to Slytherin. Harry is also very smart, but not in the same way as Hermione. He has always excelled at DADA without ever having to study it so much. It's just an ability that comes naturally to him, so in a way he could be in Ravenclaw, since Ravenclaws are intelligent. Reading DH made me realize that Harry was sorted into the right house, the forest scene is what convinced me about it.

I would definitely agree that Hermione is NOT very open-minded, and that might be why she was not placed in Ravenclaw (remember her and her ill-fated bit of taking Divination?).

Anyway, I think that you could make a case for just about ANY character not being put in the right House. Everyone has just about all of those traits; it's just that they start balancing out so that some are stronger. You could put Harry in almost any of them; you could even probably put Hermione in almost any of them...I mean, she's loyal to her friends, too, so she could be a Hufflepuff in that regard!

The one person I do kind of think was put in the wrong House was Peter Pettigrew...unless he had some qualities we just didn't see very well. He wasn't very brave, he wasn't very courageous, he didn't stand up for what he believed in...maybe I'm just not seeing it, but I really don't see how he could be a Gryffindor.

Although again, I hate to boil any of the Houses down to just bare-bones black-and-white "this is what you are if you are a..." because you can't just say that someone is a Hufflepuff because they're loyal and hard-working, and act like they're not also intelligent/brave/ambitious. That doesn't mean they're not, and it seems like people kind of forget that, if you know what I mean! Or like you can't say that you're not courageous just because you're a Ravenclaw. I think a lot of the characters are more like bi- or even tri-Houses, technically. Maybe the Sorting Hat had to go by what traits it thought would be predominant, since you can't really judge without knowing what life experiences someone's going to go through.

I don't know, just a few of my thoughts!

QUOTE

Although again, I hate to boil any of the Houses down to just bare-bones black-and-white "this is what you are if you are a..." because you can't just say that someone is a Hufflepuff because they're loyal and hard-working, and act like they're not also intelligent/brave/ambitious. That doesn't mean they're not, and it seems like people kind of forget that, if you know what I mean!

I definately know what you mean Eisa, and I agree with you. People do seem to forget that a person has many traits, and not just the ones belonging to their house. Hermione, of course, is the ideal example of this. She has the Gryffindor courage, but noone can deny her Ravenclaw intelligence. I think that there is only one clear student that the Hat sorted wrongly, and that was Peter Pettigrew, aka Wormtail, aka total scum.
Apart from the whole Choice thing we were talking about, I really cannot see a case for his being in Gryffindor. He belonged in Slytherin, no doubt in my mind about that.
Do you think that choice overrules all ability? If someone was destined for a house, but wanted to be in another, would the hat go with the choice? For example, if Tom Riddle had a burning desire to be in Hufflepuff, is that where he would have been Sorted?

Do you think that choice overrules all ability? If someone was destined for a house, but wanted to be in another, would the hat go with the choice?

I don't think the Hat would just go with whatever you wanted to be in. Otherwise, what would be the point of the Sorting Hat? If you could just choose what House you wanted to be in, regardless of your abilities and predominant traits, then there would be no point to being Sorted. You could just sign up for whatever House you wanted and that would be that. I think the Hat takes your choice into account, yes, like when Harry was going "not Slytherin, anything but Slytherin," but I don't think the Hat ever takes ONLY your choice into account. It has to go off your predominant traits and abilities, too.

You may be right about Draco but I stand by what i said about him. He chose to be in Slytherin much like Harry who chose to be in Gyffindor but that doesn't make him bad just smothered by his fathers shadow.

Ron shows plenty of bravery thank you very much. When he follows Harry for one thing. When he jumps into the pool after Harry in the DH. When he lets himself be taken in the Chess Game in SS. Ron is rather brave. If you are not convinced, I can prove more to you.

About Peter, I think that they just ran out of places to put him. He wasn't very loyal so Hufflepuff is out. He isn't exactly smart so Ravenclaw gets chucked. Slytherin is out because he doesn't really show any ambition. And since he has no bravery Gyffindor craoks as well. However because he was needed in the plot and Sirus, bless his soul, James, may he rest in peace, and Remus, rest his soul, would not have accepted him if he was in any other house so he was stuck in Gyffindor.

Tamuki, your very right about Hermione, she wasn't naturally smart. But she had the guts to learn. that shows just as much bravery as standing up to some one.

Umm... that's all?

I've just seen this topic, very interesting topic and insightful comments, so I thought I'd add my "two bits"!

I think the Sorting Hat makes its decisions based both on the person's abilities as well as their values, i.e. what traits they value the most but not just on their wishes, as Eisa points out, otherwise wjy not just enrol in yopur preferred house (Eisa again). Don't forget, Dumbledore was a Griff and he was tres[i] smart!! (he was a Griff, wasn't he?? )

Therefore, anyone may have strong traits valued by a particular house, e.g. Hermione's intelligence, but as someone (sorry, I forget who) else said, she valued other things more than "books and cleverness" when it came to the crunch. Cedric was pretty clever too but he was in Hufflepuff (I think that was to give the Huffs someone to be proud of, poor buggers ) I do also think that Hermione was open minded - just look at the amount of times that she had to tell Ron to give someone the benefit of the doubt.

Now there's a good example - Ron Weasley - a Huff thru and thru if you ask me. That's another thing, how many of you (readers) have all of your friends with the same traits as yourselves? Isn't the whole setup of friends only bonding with others in the same house a bit unrealistic?

Anyway, what do you think about these Clickable Smilies as representative of each house?:

= Slytherin

= Hufflepuff

= Ravenclaw

= Gryffindoor (did I spell that right?)

Please post your preferred Smilies for Houses - I would love to see them.

Not very many of my friends have the same traits as me. I mean, we all share common ones, but not in the same fashion, and definitely not the same traits or abilities predominant! I always thought that, too, that it seemed a bit unrealistic. I always kind of wanted her to have each of the trio in a different House, although I realized that that would make them bonding so much and being able to be together so much a lot harder! I still thought it would be neat. Because I don't think you really end up best friends with people exactly like you...or even a LOT like you. Not where that's your best friends.

And I think the Smilies could be like this:

Hufflepuff:
Ravenclaw:
Gryffindor:
Slytherin:

They would be interesting like that, anyway!

I agree with you Eisa, I can be a bit of a "bossy boots", well, more of an "organiser" really, and I do get a "crowded" feeling if someone else is doing the same thing in my group of friends. There is a great book on people's different personalities, called "Personality Plus by Florence Littauer" if anyone is interested. There are 4 main personality types and these were invented by the ancient Greek - Hypocrates (father of medicine) and ity is really interesting to analyse everyone you know and see what personality type they are (everyone is really different percentages of each type). In a way, the 4 houses of Hogwarts can, to a degree, represent the 4 main traits.



LOL, I love your choices !!!

More House Smilies Please!!!

Um, guys? We're getting a bit off topic here, we're supposed to be discussing the Harry Potter characters rightful houses, not our friends personality traits. I think I'll start a another discussion to get the ball rolling....

I've read many, many fanfictions about Harry becoming evil, like a Dark Prince kind of thing, and changing house to where he 'belonged', Slytherin. Do you think this is possible, to change your house under extreme circumstances? And if so, what extreme circumstances would be appropriate?

I think Snape should have been sorted into Gryffindor, becuase he was actually very brave and strong and good at heart.

I've read many, many fanfictions about Harry becoming evil, like a Dark Prince kind of thing, and changing house to where he 'belonged', Slytherin. Do you think this is possible, to change your house under extreme circumstances? And if so, what extreme circumstances would be appropriate?

I just read a fanfiction about Draco changing his House to Gryffindor myself...

Hmm, under extreme circumstances, I bet that it would actually be possible to change your House. I'm just not sure what extreme circumstances would make that happen. Maybe if something happened in your life that completely changed your personality so that you didn't really fit in your own House anymore? Or maybe if something like...say you're in Slytherin, a classmate's parent hurts or kills one of your family members, the classmate looks just like his or her parent, you're traumatized...maybe in that case, you could change Houses? I mean, I'm pretty sure no one is so one-dimensional that they would just fit into one House. So maybe in extreme circumstances, you could change your House to the second best one, if you know what I mean. The one you would fit the second best into.

I don't know, just a thought.

I've read many, many fanfictions about Harry becoming evil, like a Dark Prince kind of thing, and changing house to where he 'belonged', Slytherin. Do you think this is possible, to change your house under extreme circumstances? And if so, what extreme circumstances would be appropriate?
I see your point Eisa and I reckon that is a very extreme case but I dont know I just dont think you could change houses, I reckon your more likely to leave Hogwarts then get moved. Students are sorted into their houses for a reason and I doubt you can just move into another house if its not somewhere you belong
Look at what Harry had to go through and other students when their parents were being targeted by death eaters, Harry was disliked by his own house at times but it didnt mean he didnt belong there or that he should have moved house
Obviously like you said no one is one-dimensional and im sure each student can possess a trait from another house but in my opinion I just dont think moving into another house would work..

I've read many, many fanfictions about Harry becoming evil, like a Dark Prince kind of thing, and changing house to where he 'belonged', Slytherin. Do you think this is possible, to change your house under extreme circumstances? And if so, what extreme circumstances would be appropriate?

I think the process of changing your house would be a big deal, and would require careful consideration by yourself, your headmaster or headmistress, and Head of House. It would not be a decision allowed on a mere whim, eg. if a housemate was annoying you. In most circumstances, I think another compromise would work best, to help fix the problem without resorting to drastic measures. But I do think there are some cirsumstances that I think changing house would be allowed in. For example, if you were sorted into say, Ravenclaw, becuase your family was there and you were scared to be on your own. You werent actually very intelligent, but you demanded the Hat to Sort you in Ravenclaw, and it reluctantly agreed. After a while, your fellows discover that you arent as clever as they, and they begin to torment you. Night and day, you are a victim of their bullying. It traumatizes you so that after while you snap, and have some sort of breakdown. You finally resort to asking your headmaster to allow you to be sorted once more, and, with your kind, friendly, loyal nature, you are sorted into Hufflepuff. I think that situations like that, as well as more dramatic ones, would result in the possibility of being sorted again.

I've read many, many fanfictions about Harry becoming evil, like a Dark Prince kind of thing, and changing house to where he 'belonged', Slytherin. Do you think this is possible, to change your house under extreme circumstances? And if so, what extreme circumstances would be appropriate?

I find it hard to imagine a scenerio where this need might arise. The Sorting Hat said himself he had not been wrong yet as of Harry's fourth year (of course thats a biased opinion, he could have been wrong seeing as we all have our opinions on certain people ) but lets just go along with he hasn't been wrong yet.



I don't think the Hat would put you in a house that you wouldn't belong to in such an extreme manner. It seems like bullying would be something that would happen in Slytherin not Ravenclaw. I mean you could also apply this situation to any house by another house. We all know Hufflepuff isn't the most popular house. What if Draco bullied a Hufflepuff all the time to the point of madness, could that said Hufflepuff ask to change houses? Maybe. But it seems to me that any situation such as this would be worked out between the students, head of house and the head master. I would think that none of the Head of Houses would allow (except maybe Snape-he liked to pick on people himself) bullying or anything of that degree to continue in their houses. The perpetrators should be warned about getting kicked out of school or something of that sort. Anyways that's my opinion. I don't think its possible to switch houses, you were put in that house for a reason. The hat saw something in you, deep within you, that made him place you there.

I've often thought about this. Hermoine, while very brave is also extremely smart and, I believe, would normally belong in Ravenclaw; the same with Percy. We're talking seriiously smart students, getting top scores in all their classes!

So I believe the hat is infallible, no. Just as Dumbledore, himself, said, "I sometimes think we sort too soon." and I agree with him.

QUOTE

Just as Dumbledore, himself, said, "I sometimes think we sort too soon." and I agree with him.

You bring up a good point there, IaPotterLvr. I've been pondering that quote of Dumbledore's of some time, but you beinging it up in this context reveals another question (Yes, another Ali question.... I like to keep things rolling )

In Snape's memories in DH, Dumbledore comments "Sometimes I think we Sort too soon....". Do you agree with him? Do you think that the Sorting would be more accurate if the students were Sorted later than they were?

I find Pettigrew a key example of this; surely his true nature would have been revealed as he grew older?

Actually you know..that's my biggest doubt..

Which house should peter have been in?
He didn't have much brains for Ravenclaw..
He wasn't brave as much for Gryffindor...
He wasn't loyal and hardworking for Hufflepuff...
And how on earth could he have been in Slytherin?

just lemme know..

As hard as this may be to accept to an obsesser like me, I think that Peter Pettigrew is simply one of those questions that JKR never answered, and we'll be hoping will be answered in that much-antinipated encyclopedia of hers. I honestly don't know where Wormtail belonged, we only know enough to speculate and repeat facts. The only logical explanation I can think of is that Wormtail's being in Gryffindor was essential to the plot, as was his being a Marauder, even if the readers don't think he belonged there. If anyone has ANY ideas on where Peter belonged, and why, please let us know! Wow, it's a little sad that I'm so frustrated about this

In Snape's memories in DH, Dumbledore comments "Sometimes I think we Sort too soon....". Do you agree with him? Do you think that the Sorting would be more accurate if the students were Sorted later than they were?

I don't know if the Sorting would be more accurate, or even if it would be possible/feasible to Sort later, but I can agree with Dumbledore about sometimes they Sort too soon. Sometimes people's personalities aren't even close to being developed when they're 11...and sometimes you can't even realize what their potential might be. Also, people can change a lot in the tween years, and maybe even change so much, that they shouldn't really be in whatever House they're Sorted in, because another trait has become predominant. So I think in general, it's fine that they Sort at 11, but maybe sometimes it's not always the best thing...like maybe sometimes people should be allowed to change Houses if their personality and who they are really doesn't fit their House anymore.

In Snape's memories in DH, Dumbledore comments "Sometimes I think we Sort too soon....". Do you agree with him? Do you think that the Sorting would be more accurate if the students were Sorted later than they were?

I think part of what Dumbledore meant was the severance caused by the Sorting. I think Dumbledore remembers the strong bonds of friendship between Lily and Snape, between Slughorn and himself, and others we don't know about. I think he also believes many friendships are crushed because house ties prevent them. Not everyone is willing to stand up to their freinds to be a friend to someone unexpected. If you are already friends when you get sorted, your friendship is more likely to last through the Sorting (as Snape and Lily showed for a while).

Oooh, that's a good point, After the Burial! If people get Sorted then, then they don't really make friends with anyone in the other Houses. It's like (and I never thought I'd be using concepts I learned in my Political Psych class to describe HP, but oh well! ), you have to stay in your in-group. Your in-group would be the people in your House and anyone not in your House is the out-group, and thus they're not as good as you are.

Of course, that natural division happens anyway; it doesn't matter if you're Sorted at 11 or 18. But I think it probably does strengthen the division a bit more that it happens so young. You don't get a chance to make friends with students in other Houses for fear that other people will kind of look down on you, or that you'll be yelled at for talking to someone of another House...particularly if it's someone from a House that's your rival!

In Snape's memories in DH, Dumbledore comments "Sometimes I think we Sort too soon....". Do you agree with him? Do you think that the Sorting would be more accurate if the students were Sorted later than they were?
I dont know if sorting them later would help either as like people have mentioned your teenage years are the most confusing/awkward times therefore we act differently and its only really at the end of it that we dicover who we are (wow i sound too old for my age!) so maybe all the students are sorted into the right houses as, at that age (when we are still young and 'innocent') our natural traits are most noticeable? (i slightly confused myself on that one) - it may explain wormtail?

Okay,time to get this thread going again with a new question, similar to the last one:

If the students of Hogwarts entered wizarding school when they were a bit older, eg. 13 or 14, would this have changed the outcome of their sorting? For which characters would a later sorting have changed their situation, and why?

If the students of Hogwarts entered wizarding school when they were a bit older, eg. 13 or 14, would this have changed the outcome of their sorting? For which characters would a later sorting have changed their situation, and why?

I think in some cases it might have changed the outcome of their Sorting. Particularly for those students who seem to be on the cusp between two Houses. You know, where they seem to be almost split between two? Kind of like Harry with Gryffindor and Slytherin. I think maybe Neville might have ended up in Hufflepuff if he'd been Sorted later and that's just because I don't think his family situation was really geared towards letting his brave side come out. It was more like "oh Neville you did something wrong again" almost. And not necessarily in a bad way, just...oh, I don't know how to explain it. But like his Gran getting him a Remembrall and stuff. So maybe if he'd been Sorted later, his personality would have been more molded towards 'Puffian traits.

Also, I think Hermione might have ended up in Ravenclaw, depending on how her upbringing went from eleven to thirteen/fourteen. Just because she's one of those characters who seems kind of on the cusp. Maybe her bravery would have won out, or maybe her thirst for knowledge. I don't know.

QUOTE

I think maybe Neville might have ended up in Hufflepuff if he'd been Sorted later and that's just because I don't think his family situation was really geared towards letting his brave side come out. It was more like "oh Neville you did something wrong again" almost. And not necessarily in a bad way, just...oh, I don't know how to explain it. But like his Gran getting him a Remembrall and stuff. So maybe if he'd been Sorted later, his personality would have been more molded towards 'Puffian traits.

See that's the thing, I don't know if Neville was best suited for HUfflepuff. His bravery and Gryffindor traits became more defined as he got older, so I think a later sorting would have put him in Gryffindor more definately. You know, we've mentioned Neville several times in this thread, some thinking he was a better 'Puff than 'Griff, and vice versa. But I'd love to see everyones's views on this. Was Neville in the right house? Should he have been sorted into Hufflepuff? And what are the reasons for your views? I'd love to see some debate on this start!

I think I would have to agree with some that Percy, and Hermione were certainly smart enough to be in Ravenclaw. However, I think that Hermione was also brave enough to be a mix between the two. Percy not so sure. lol And I do certainly agree with Dumbledore's accesment that the school sorts far too soon. Not just for the kids, but for Snape as well. I mean I don't know if he really would have been anything but what he was, but perhaps if he had been given time to be sorted, perhaps he would have made friends with a totally different group. And in so doing, have a different point of veiw on everything.

Who really knows for certain. But there is my long winded, and silly answer. lol

I agree with everybody! Hermione and Percy were definitely smart enough to be sorted in Ravenclaw! However, Hermione's brave side, could've been stronger than her want to learn, hard as that might be to believe. I think if you were sorted in your second year, so that you could have some time to adjust and see how and where you fit in at Hogwarts. Then you could be sorted, maybe more accurately.

If the students of Hogwarts entered wizarding school when they were a bit older, eg. 13 or 14, would this have changed the outcome of their sorting? For which characters would a later sorting have changed their situation, and why?

I think it would've affected their sorting. They would've lived life longer, had more experiences, and grown deeper in their knowledge of themselves, and who they really are. It might've changed Hermione's sorting, because if Hermione had lived her muggle life longer, grades would've gotten more and more important to her, and she might not have been so brave.

To be honest i would have tought Neville but after the last two books he definately deserves to be in gryffindor he was amazing!

Pettigrew deserves to have been in Slytherin he was just the type of personality thats in that house.

Im also unsure about Snape because his character had aspects of every hogwarts house.

Plus i know this is a little off topic but ive always wonder why the patil twins were in different houses? why? what different qualities did they have?

Well I've always thought that Hermione maybe should have been in Ravenclaw!! She is a little too smart for her own good!

I think Neville should have been in Hufflepuff because is the male version of my cousin. He is very dingy!

Luna (ME) she should have been in Hufflepuff or even Gryffindor not Raveclaw. She is smart in her own wierd way, however I don't think she is really all that book smart. However, to be in Ravenclaw you don't that to be book smart you need more of common sence.

Hey I just realized I started page 7! Help me find my shoes!

The thing is though, that we cannot judge whether Luna was book-smart or not, because, as with many of the characters, we do not know how clever Luna was in lessons. We do not know her grades, although it could be assumed that she daydreamed throughout most of the lessons she considered unimportant. Even if Luna was not incredibly good in lessons though, which I assume she was, Luna showed a definate cleverness in other ways. She was extremely wise, for instance, and she knew a lot about life and people's behaviour. She was odd, yes, but that does not mean she wasnt clever. Dumbledore was utterly mad, and he was a genius! So even if Luna was a bit loony (no pun intended), it does not mean she did not belong in Ravenclaw.

To respond to xForeverxLoyalxToxDumbledorex's question, which was completely in keeping with this topic by the way, we cannot be sure as to why they were sorted into different houses. They probably simply had very different personalities; siblings and twins very rarely have the same personality. Perhaps Padma was a lot cleverer than Parvati, or Parvati had a more courageous spirit. The good thing is, though, that they still are very close, even if they're in different houses.

I think that Neville was always best suited for Gryffindor, even from the start. He was brave, but it may not have been as obvious as Harry. In book one, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sneaking to the third floor, Neville tried to stop them, which is pretty brave because they were his friends. That's what earned him the ten points at the end of the book, bravery in standing up to his friends.

I think Marietta, Cho's friend, was sorted wrong. She should have been a Slytherin.
But I think Neville was right. The Sorting Hat saw he had courage. Snape was also right.
I wonder if Justin Finch-Fletchley should a´have been in Ravenclaw, though since he was clearly very clever and seemed to be one of these logical thinking types

I don't really think the sorting hat makes mistakes. Just saying, I think it can see all. Potential of a person and somethings they may not know they even had in them.

Now, harryjpotter, I have to disagree with what you said about Marietta. Not because of what I said above, but because Marietta is definitely not Slytherin material. Marietta got bullied by Cho into going to the first DA meeting and then she got bullied by Umbridge! A Slytherin wouldn't be bullied like that. Slytherins know what they want and do it. Marietta could have slithered her way out of going to the DA meeting if she was more Slytherin.

Actually, I have to disagree with you as well, harryjpotter, I don't think Marietta was necessarily in the wrong house. I mean, think about it, all we really know about Marietta is that she was a reluctant member of the DA, and that she eventually ratted them out due to fear. This is all we know, and one mistake so many people make is assuming that because someone is sorted into a House, everything about them is based on the qualities of that house. Just because Marietta did something that was not very nice, it doesnt mean that she was meant for Slytherin. Not all Slytherins are mean, after all. Also, as acidpop said, I dont think a Slytherin would have caved in so easily if it was something they believed in. Marietta was a coward (definately not Gryffindor), but she would have been clever, and in this case, I dont think we can make an accurate judgement as to whether she was in the wrong house, because we know so little about her.

You know I have never figured out why Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff. I know they get the rest and he had qualities from all the other houses. I guess he was just too kind. I don't know but I think he would have made a better Gryffindor. That's how I see him. It's speculation on my part but I have wondered about him. Anyone else have an opinion on Cedric?

I think Cedric was Sorted into the right House. He had the other qualities of, say, a Gryffindor, of course, but in my opinion, the qualities of Hufflepuff were stronger. It's like the bravery etc. were tempered by the loyalty and kindness that seem to epitomize a Hufflepuff. He really was like that. And yes, he was brave and smart and all of those things, even ambitious like wanting to be the Hogwarts Champion for the Triwizard Tournament, but I don't think those traits ever dominated him, you know what I mean? They were never really stronger than the other important qualities that make him a Hufflepuff.

So while I'm sure that he would have done fine in Gryffindor or maybe even Ravenclaw, I think that Hufflepuff was the perfect House for him.

I always thought that Luna Lovegood should have been in Hufflepuff. Yes, she was definitely smart but I don't think Ravenclaw particularly suited her very well. I think she had more Hufflepuff qualities. She was so kind and understanding, it just always made me think she was in Hufflepuff, and then I would have to remind myself that she wasn't.

I've read many, many fanfictions about Harry becoming evil, like a Dark Prince kind of thing, and changing house to where he 'belonged', Slytherin. Do you think this is possible, to change your house under extreme circumstances? And if so, what extreme circumstances would be appropriate?

This was mention quite a while ago I know but there is something I think that should be added. I think this topic has been discussed in great depth and I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been discussed and rebutted by someone except this. I can think of one circumstance in which it would be possible to have someone sorted into a different house. That someone is Snape. The 'extreme circumstances' that Snape experienced is of course the murder of his one and only love, Lilly Evans, by Lord Voldermort. I think that is a pivotal moment in his personality. After that, his alliances changed to Dumbledore and he developed some Gryffindor characteristics because of his loss. Courage, Bravery and Loyalty (although he still retains his Slytherin qualities as well). Perhaps he would be sorted again into Slytherin (although he is an adult) but I think of anyone in the books, he is the most likely to be resorted from Slytherin into Gryffindor.