This Sorting Hat Theory Totally CHANGES Harry Potter

[@arinerm1331]

Neville proved himself a true Gryffindor in his fifth year, as well. He insisted that he and other members of Dumbledore's Army accompany Harry to the Department of Mysteries, finally earning himself his grandmother's pride.

[@charleslefebvre5515]

There were other times where he showed his bravery. Like in 1st year when he stood up to to Harry, Ron and Hermione before they went after the philosophers stone.

[@nopenope3056]

I feel like also in Third Year when Neville admitted to McGonagall that he had a list of all the passwords that allowed Sirius Black in the Common Room was a show of bravery as well.

[@AberrantChibi]

While I don't remember if this was only in the movie or not, being the first Gryffindor student to stand up for dancing lessons (and by his own will, no less, while all others, Harry included, hesitated), showcases a different kind of courage. I believe this was in the _Goblet of Fire_ one? If this one was movie-specific though, it may not have been so good an example as it was behaviour extrapolated from the books rather than a direct source.

[@tatalsaba]

I'm actually surprised that Dumbledore's chat with Snape from the seventh book isn't mentioned, Dumbledore: "You know, I sometimes think we Sort too soon..." as an example of the hat not being completely trusted by even older people, and students growing up to be far different from what they might seem to become when they're children.

[@dragon723.]

I think its more that an 11 year old is too young to be sorted into a house that will affect the rest of their life. Take Peter Pettigrew. Its possible he WAS fairly brave at 11 hence he got into into Gryffindor, but something happened that broke him along the way or stronger traits were uncovered as he aged, namely selfishness and cowardice. In the end Slytherin could have proven a better fit. If students were chosen in say their fourth year, that would give them time to grow and for the school to help shape them into the wizards and witches they will one day be.

[@kendraroth1276]

Personally I think it would be best if The students were sorted every single year. Since most students only associate with those in their own house and people change all of the time, especially while growing up. People are also affected by those around them and being surrounded by people with the same flaws as them, can lead to that flaw growing. Like in Gryffindor. The flaws are Arrogance, impulsiveness, hotheadedness and recklessness. (Ron’s detractors often say he should have been a Slytherin because he wants to be great and gets jealous but it’s because of those traits, that he belongs in Gryffindor. Same thing with Sirius and James.)

[@7gamex]

Honestly, sorting in general is pretty fucking stupid. The idea that Gryffindors are the brave ones? Or Ravenclaw has the dibs on all the "brightest" students? It's as dumb as saying you're star sign is what makes you have certain traits.

[@raebaby4600]

Yea I mean I took the quiz at 11 or 12 and got hufflepuff and then at age 14 my best friend was like "no way! You have to retake it!" So I did and I got slytherin that time and every time since

[@Jamesbull46]

It makes me think would snape have turned to the dark side and if James potter and his friends would have treated him differently if he had been placed in their own house.

[@davidhowell8407]

Sorting hat: Hufflepuff or Gryffindor? Neville: which house has the least amount of expectations thrust upon its students? Sorting hat: That's a gutsy question kid, Gryffindor!!!!

[@nathanpetrich7309]

That's... absolutely terrifying.

[@darthkrevan710]

Hey, the hat is never wrong, or so it claims for itself lol

[@Foolish188]

I am pretty sure that Neville is the Heir to Gryffindor. It took real bravery to let Voldemort hug him so that he could kill the last Horcrux.

[@darthkrevan710]

@Foolish188 Neville never let Tom tuch him.. Now, in the movies, Tom hugs Draco. The big connection between Tom and Neville is the torture of his parents after Tom failed his mission to kill Harry.. but this was done by Bellatrix and the Carrows. It's why they are at Saint Mongo's.. the movie leaves it out, but the trio comes across him, and Lockheart is in the same hospital.

[@joshuadawson3759]

I think in Neville’s case, he was brave but lacked confidence. This is demonstrated in the first book when he tried to stop Harry, Hermione and Ron when they were sneaking out.

[@RenegadeGamer89]

Neville was definitely brave. He stood up to the trio in the first book. He unflinchingly went to the Ministry in book five and fought against thr Death Eaters like everyone else. He took Harry's place leading Dumbledore's Army despite knowing the consequences and not only killed Nagini but didn't even flinch when Harry asked him to do so in the seventh book. McGonagall knew this as well and even told him this "There is nothing wrong with your work Longbottom aside from a lack of confidence." I think the reason the prophecy could have also meant Neville shows that he had the potential in him just like Harry, that's why he didn't back down from anything.

[@MonographicSingleheadedM-sp2wk]

Nature vs nurture, nurture won lmao

[@bostonrailfan2427]

he needed confidence and companionship to help him be the brave and strong person that he truly was, he struggles with Snape and Umbridge but stood firmly with Harry against the Death Eaters and the Carrows

[@C-Unit97]

I think Neville is a bit different, because as far as I recall he used his father's wand without being his true master and only after it breaks in the fifth book is he able to fully use his potential. He was always brave even in his first year ( courage is not having no fear but acting despite ones fear) but I would draw the comparison to Brock lee training with weights all the time and being absolutely insane once nothing else holds him back anymore.

[@MonographicSingleheadedM-sp2wk]

@@C-Unit97 just like I said, nurture won against nature.

[@maryholder3795]

I wonder how many students who would be naturally Slytherin, but didn't go there due to the reputation of the Slytherin went to another house instead.

[@Angelo-uw9eo]

They can choose a different house that aligns with different values Peter pettigrew was sorted into gryffindor because he blended in more with them Hermione was sorted into gryffindor because she valued bravery and friendship more than booksmarts and in gryffindor she would be able to learn that better

[@havvagokce1441]

That action, trying to convince the hat to sort them somewhere else, is a very syletherin thing to do too.

[@Angelo-uw9eo]

@@havvagokce1441 why do you see it that way?

[@sofiadragon6520]

Lots of kids have great ambitions. They want to be rich, or astronaughts, or play professional sports, or any number of big dreams. It's about values, and I'm sure some kids who want to be in one house or the other are put where they would thrive better, but I'd think lots of kids are caught between two and get to 'choose' because they would thrive in either house. Harry would have done well in Slytherin, but he would become a very different person. Snape would be allowed to show him favoritism, not that he necessarily would have, and he would be surrounded by people with high motivation and standards instead of Ron's more laid-back attitude. Nature and nurture, really, and in the end it is our choices that define us.

[@DmDrae]

@@havvagokce1441 I see where you’re coming from, but you don’t freeze in the snow because you’re too proud to go inside. If you know one place is not your culture, it is reasonable to refuse that as a possibility

[@LenOnCrack]

1:49 "no one ever thinks twice about the outcome" Neville Longbottom 's left the chat

[@laurastrele]

Harry wasn't sure either at some point

[@andreykarbinovskiy430]

Harry Potter himself was doubting the hat's choice until the end of Chamber of Secrets.

[@fbibanana7884]

Haha😂

[@Maartimer]

I think it might actually be more important to the hat what the person values than what abilities they may or may not have, as them valuing a certain trait might get them to strive towards it. Peter Pettigrew was never courageous himself, but he did value bravery a lot. Similarly Crabbe and Goyle weren't particularly cunning or ambitious, but they clearly look up to and follow people who are.

[@holeeshi9959]

im just imagining a Ravenclaw who is as dumb as a bag or rocks now....

[@teague10plays70]

I interpreted the hat considering Slytherin to be because of the fact that Harry was a horcrux. Voldermort is the ultimate Slytherin and he was "in his head".

[@CobraCooKais]

Harry still acted as a leader. Hermione represented Ravenclaw. Ron represented Hufflepuff. All three were intended to represent the other houses but the importance is the choices that they made. This makes the theory much stronger.

[@rebeccaconlon9743]

And they became heroes ​@@CobraCooKais

[@catsaresocute650]

But he's not Harry

[@BillDonaldson-f2h]

don't get it twisted, Salazar Slytherin was the ultimate Slytherin. People don't think about this often enough but Salazar wouldn't have been tolerant of Voldemort simply on blood-status. By his own house's standards, Voldy was unacceptable.

[@catsaresocute650]

@@BillDonaldson-f2h purebloods don't have any problems with half-bloods, aside possibly marriage in terms of sacred 28. But they aren't prejudiced. Salazar allowed half-bloods.

[@thomasmoeller3446]

As Dumbledore clearly stated at the end of year feast, it takes great courage to stand up to your enemies, and even greater courage to stand up to your friends. He then awarded the extra points to Neville putting Gryffindor in first place for the house cup. Neville's courage shone through on many occasions. Including and especially, when he took charge in his 7th year to lead and protect other students from the Carrow's and other Death Eaters occupying Hogwarts. All this was BEFORE the final battle of Hogwarts and the destruction of Nagini.

[@jkrause365]

I think the Sorting Hat could not discern in Harry which was the true Harry, and which was the fragment of Tom Riddle's soul residing within Harry. The hat was reading Lord Voldemort, not Harry Potter.

[@imqqmi]

It's all in your head, may be referring to to horcrux residing in Harry's scar. That voldy thing was latently present and that's what the hat locked onto, though Harry had a mind of his own, as he clearly demonstrated.

[@redmage777]

Also, keep in mind Harry said "Not Slytherin" before hat even mentioned it.

[@Val.Kyrie.]

I thought that was canon

[@jkrause365]

@@Val.Kyrie. Hmmm....might be. I knew the idea was not original with me when I posted it.

[@jaucianjommel]

Dumbledore said to Harry in Chamber of Secrets that he also has traits of Slytherin House: resourcefulness and disregard of the rules.

[@dustinwashburn1283]

The theory I feel is the most likely, is that the Sorting Hat may consider where you want to be placed and what you may value most across the houses, but might also consider where you may need to be. Peter Pettigrew and Neville were both easily frightened characters, and the sorting hat may have put them into Gryffindor to put them into contact with others who would help them grow. Clearly that worked better in one instance than the other It's also suggested in the Books that the Hat might be able to see into the future a bit. so that's food for thought.

[@StarShadowPrimal]

The most impressive magic of the sorting hat might just be the fact that it never seems to cause magical lice outbreaks.

[@Stormcrow-dc3ez]

And I just imagined magical lice 😮😂

[@thescoobmaster]

the hat eats the lice

[@rustysm8080]

It reads your mind...looking for traits the student admires or finds desirable. However, it does not choose based on character traits. Neville, who is a bit shy, lacks confidence, and desperately wants to be brave like his mom and dad...makes perfect sense to be put in Gryfindor. Neville has an upright character and his desire to be brave comes to fruition. Peter Pettigrew also wanted to be brave, but has a weak character...and his fear steers him down a irredeemable path...though cutting off a finger...and then, your own hand, is a sort of courage, but one done out of fear. When a students desires are wider in scope...then the Sorting Hat has difficulties. Also, Dumbledore does state that he thinks students are sorted too soon. 😉

[@Timberwolf69]

In fact, Neville had proven the hat's decision to be right already at the end of the first year.

[@ninjalectualx]

How do you explain the fact that all the houses consistently have about the same number of students? The hat seems to keep from filling up one while leaving another empty

[@jaredjadlowski2433]

It’s magic

[@peaceandloveusa6656]

This could have been solved with a preliminary round. The hat does a 'vibe check' on all of the students it will be sorting, then goes back through to make it's verdict. For the official round, the hat could then deliberately fill the houses with an equal number of students by sorting the 'least' Hufflepuff of the Hufflepuffs (for example) into the house they are second most suited for. This ensures the 'ideal' candidates end up in the correct house, everyone ends up in a house relatively suited to them, and the houses are similarly populated. As is, my 'head canon' answer to your question is the hat is not as focused on finding the "perfect" house for each student as is assumed. Basically, like with the above scenario, the hat is paying attention to how many students it has placed in each house throughout the process, and students will be placed in their secondary (or even tertiary) house if their primary house is receiving too many students AND they are not an 'ideal' candidate for any house. This would also help explain why anyone who asks to go to Gryffindor is placed there. Children are not exactly known for their bravery (reckless abandon, yes, bravery, no) though ambition, loyalty and a pursuit of knowledge are more common. This would leave a strong deficit in Gryffindor, so the hat would need to be more liberal with placements there. As stated in the video, just asking to be in the bravery house, especially when told something else by an authority figure, is a sign of bravery above those who did not, so they are at least somewhat brave by comparison. This means they are probably at least secondary Gryffindor candidates.

[@informedconsumer5293]

The universe is balanced, duhhhhh lololol

[@Allen-j2k]

*fiction, not fact. Like the Bible but more relatable with better character development

[@Elwood128]

They use affirmative action to make sure everything's ok with the DEI cult.

[@daa589]

Wouldve been interesting if harry went to slytherin, hermione went to ravenclaw, ron to gryffindor and neveille to hufflepuff ... harry would have to overcome being in slytherin and unite the houses (the three wouldve still became acquainted through the train ride )

[@Lion09887]

Hermione was a ravenclaw in the robot chicken skits

[@Masterjediwizard]

@@Lion09887 WDYM

[@Samp50]

For Ron they will have to create a new house. Ron won't be in Graffindor being scared of spiders. No way inRavenclaw for obvious reasons not in Hufflepuff as he wasn't loyal twice or is it thrice he abondend Harry. No ambition so no Slytherin...😢

[@ninjalectualx]

Would be a good fanfic

[@AustynSN]

@@Samp50 The thing with Ron is that he did value loyalty, but it's a two way street. The first time he abandoned Harry was when he thought Harry had gotten into the triwizard tournament intentionally without sharing the strategy he used with him. He saw this as a betrayal of their friendship, even though he was wrong, it was disloyal to his point of view. Similarly when he left Harry and Hermione during the horcrux hunt, his mind had been twisted by the locket to think the two of them were more than friends and that he was the "third wheel" in their relationship. He was jealous of the two, but there was also a part of him that wanted them to be happy together, no matter how much it broke his heart that Hermione "chose" Harry over him. Once free of the locket's influence, he started to somewhat come to his senses, allowing him to return and for Harry to learn from Ron's battle with the locket what Ron's true insecurities were.

[@sethb1059]

It’s quite obvious: the hat is a Horcrux made in secret by GG, which puts the favorites into his house, the “baddies” into Slytherin, and the NPC/extras into the other two. GG secretly runs Hogwarts even from the grave. It explains countless plot holes.

[@coug1998]

I always suspected that the hat tried to put Harry in Slytherin house because he could sense the piece of Voldemorts soul within him.

[@diamondz104]

Can you do a video where the Potters survived? The scenario I'll make up is when Voldemort breaks in, Instead of killing James, he tortures and used the paralyzing spell on him and makes him pass out and plans to finish him off later when Harry and Lily are dead because as Dumbledore said, he likes waiting for his enemies to beg for death before killing them. Upstairs with Lily, the same thing basically happens except Lily misses the curse and falls on the ground. Harry still gets the love protection and Voldemort still loses his body because Lily was prepared to sacrifice herself for Harry. We saw this in Deathly Hallows when Harry's protection from sacrificing himself stopped Voldemort from torturing Neville when he stood up, Even though Harry didn't die.

[@TbV-st8ef]

that will be wild

[@MrReganomics1]

Poor Weasley had no choice but to be a Gryffindor, the hat recognized him from the hair alone 😂 and with no deliberation placed him in Gryffindor 😂😂

[@logannichols5848]

Ambition is a want, an obsession. Smarts is something your born with. You can hone it but bravery. Thats a choice. I think one of the tests for griffendor and Hufflepuff is that you have to choose it.

[@thewetzelsixx9009]

Harry mentions Slytherin first, so maybe he never planned on putting him into Slytherin at all, but when Harry said, "Not Slytherin," the hat decided to mess with him about it for a second, maybe try to show him something, but still planned on Gryffindor the while time.

[@NotsilYmerej]

That’s what I’ve thought, just didn’t remember if that was a movie thing or in the books as well

[@wariodude128]

I think the actual reason Hermione and Neville ended up in Gryffindor is because it would be much harder to have them in the same room to sneak off on late night adventures with Harry and Ron if each character was in a different house.

[@EllisR.]

The Sorting Hat knows family history. Whether that is independent knowledge or that is from learning from the wearer's knowledge of their family is debatable because no one discusses it. Neville comes from a family that is very proud of opposing Voldemort, a brave and courageous stance in the British wizarding community. Hermione demonstrated her bravery by forthrightly embracing being a witch despite being born into and brought up in a Muggle family and society. And while Harry doesn't realize it, the Hat can sense the presence of a portion of Voldemort's soul using Harry as a horcrux. That unconscious portion makes Harry perfect as a candidate for Slytherin. So, the Hat has a tough role to fulfill since it can take potential such as Neville's into consideration just as it can respond to requests like Harry's.

[@Netherwolf6100]

I think after a certain point, a student should be allowed to switch houses if they feel they don't belong. People develop, change and have nuances to their growing personalities. Being locked to one house for 7-8 years just feels kinda wrong

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

I suspect that students are a little bit of everything, (eg; 85% Gryffindor and 5% each of the others), and the hat can easily and quickly name your house if you are strongly inclined to one in particular. But some students may be equally suited to more than one house, and the hat might feel the need to prompt them to see which they would prefer.

[@Joreel]

The hat knows which house to sort them into, but i think to an extent what house they want is also taken into consideration whether its concous or subconscious.

[@kendraroth1276]

I think the hat only takes a person’s choice into consideration if it’s having difficulty since it admitted that Harry was difficult to sort since he could have fit anywhere. For example Snape could have tried asking the hat to take him into Gryffindor after Lily was sorted. (This was before Lupin and Peter became friends with James and Sirius, so the bullying would be two vs two.) Meanwhile Lily was canonically upset with her sorting because she knew Snape wanted Slytherin and she got sorted in less than a second. (Clearly the hat couldn’t care less what she thought.) Neville was sorted into Gryffindor despite begging to be placed in Hufflepuff. Same thing happened with Albus Severus Potter who begged to be placed in Gryffindor but was instead placed in Slytherin. A lot of people overestimate the hat taking a person’s choice into consideration. While it will know what they want, It only seems to act on it if it can’t make a choice on its own.

[@bboops23]

I've always believed that Neville was the only descendant of Godric Gryffindor and that was why he was sorted into Gryffindor.

[@Foolish188]

Me too. His actions at the end, letting Voldemort hug him yuck, so he could get to the last Horcrux, is what the true Heir to Gryffindor would do.

[@craxd1]

I don't know if I'd call Draco cunning. I always thought that he was the most un-Slytherin of any Slytherin. A true Slytherin, with true cunning, would have kept their mouth shut and worked behind the scene to achieve their ends without being caught. You see Slytherin's values more in those that're either hardly mentioned, or not mentioned, such as Nott, Greengrass, and Davis.

[@christal2641]

Draco was a "poor little rich boy," who always had everything he needed, and always expected to be SUPERIOR, as a birthright. Hermione NEVER SLACKED! She knew she was smart, but slSHE EARNED HER SMARTS WITH FOCUS AND HARD WORK. Of course, she LOVED her work, but that didn't mean that it was easy.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

consider all of what Draco actually did: manipulated people, utilized others for what he needed done, was forced to improvise and adapt his plans when they failed, found workarounds for what he had to do so as to not break rules all of that is cunning in many forms

[@loganshaw4527]

Look up the light novel called hogwarts wisard in marvel the Mc is a true Slytherin.

[@loganshaw4527]

He wanted in to any house thinking it would be Gryffindor it was Slytherin.

[@bronsjefjer]

I think that have more with Rowling originally having planned to have another slythering be like a true slythering, and doing far more behind their backs, but ended up scrapping that idea, but having already written Draco with that in mind, hence he ended up not looking to slythering.

[@Mr.supergamer20]

Really cool theory, I never thought about that! I have one, Which of the founders had Ancient Magic? Hogwarts Legacy says Hogwarts was made by and is a stronghold of Ancient Magic. Was it all of them? Ravenclaw? Another founder?

[@iris.holmes]

I've always thought Gryffindor was the least well-defined house in Harry Potter, despite being centre-stage for most of its main characters. Like, being brave? We're talking about children and teenagers, it's absurd, and Hermione is constantely squeaking about danger and not doing this and going to the teachers for that... I think you also used only a handful of the main characters for this theory, and to me it doesn't work because J. K. R. chose to put these characters in their houses because it was convenient for her story-telling, not because it was completely coherent with their personalities. Overall, I'm not sure this theory works, mosty because when you remove the 'I-want-to-be-in-the-same-house-as-famous-Harry-Potter', Gryffindor isn't that much of a great house to be in... Look at how so many people are happy and proud to be sorted in Hufflepuff on Pottermore/Wizarding Wold, while it's the most laughed at and looked down to house in the books!!

[@Emyawardbut1m]

Your comment reminded me of a few things…. I am a Gryffindor through and through but when I was young…. When Harry Potter just came out I was afraid mentioning it to my friends because I was afraid being judged that I’m only a Gryffindor because of the book. But years passed and I took many quizzes for fun on many sites and I’m always Gryffindor and never any other houses. I didn’t take it seriously, you know it’s just for fun all these sites, but recently something happened and it got me thinking…. I’m diagnosed with depression and PTSD it sounded like something a Gryffindor would never go through because they’re so brave but looking back on my journey… the way I challenged myself and all difficulties, the way I held myself and my team when I worked as an advocate for mental health… if that wasn’t bravery I don’t know what that would be. How I functioned comparing to my teammate who’s a Hufflepuff was very different, she was always herself and I always put on a mask to perform my job, I thought it was a bad thing to mask myself but then I realized it was a sort of bravery reaction when me and my team needed. At my work, we have all Slytherin and Ravenclaw as well, majority ofc as a health care field were full of Ravenclaws but we do have a few Slytherins and Hufflepuff like I mention, I thought of how we all function and our working styles and it be came clear why were in the houses we are. Mind you, most of us are older and took the tests when Harry just came out and the thought of the houses we were sorted into when we were younger would have been the same house as we are now are amazing. Honestly I just discovered that there aren’t that many Gryffindors as I thought there would be. I thought everyone would love to be in the same house as the main characters but surprisingly I met a lot of Slytherin who are very proud to be in their house. I also have a thought…. What if the hat didn’t sort the houses for you based on your best attributes as we understand ? What if it sorts you as it see you’re fit into as in…. what house would you belong or not belong to the best…. That would explained a lot of cases…. I knew I belong to Gryffindor and not other houses that was one of the facts I’d feel completely out of place with my personality with other houses, even in real life I often hang out with a wilder group of people and I’ll be the mildest one but I feel belong more than when I’m with a bunch of Hufflepuffs and turn out to be the crazy one there. Imagine if Naville was sorted into other houses, his growth would be different. Peter needed Gryffindor not because he belong there but he won’t belong or fit in any other houses, he needed peers like true Gryffindors to shape him into a better person, sadly he chose a dark path. Hermione shouldn’t be in Ravenclaw because she already a bookworm but what she wanted the most was to learn everything about magical world… what good would that be if she stuck with Ravenclaw ? I believe in sorting hat… we can’t dismissed the fact that it gave Godric’s sword to Harry and Naville when they needed it most. The hat knows… not only your best but your worst characteristic so it knows what you need the most and how to gain it.

[@jimcalhoun361]

It depends on how you define "brave". Confidence and fearlessness are not the same as bravery. If that were the case Malfoy would have been in Gryffindor. IMHO bravery is being scared right down to your toenails about something that has to be done and having the courage to do it anyway. This is why Ron and Neville were sorted into Gryffindor.

[@tiredeyes759]

I think you underestimate the amount of situations that require bravery that young people go through even through their teen years.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

My Mum got sorted into Hufflepuff and was very pleased. I believe that the Pottermore test is essentially random. (One of the questions is literally "Left or Right?" Might as well just flip a coin!) I took the test twice, (years apart) and got two different results. First Slytherin, then Hufflepuff, neither of which is a good fit. (I'm not ambitious or hardworking!) I'm a Ravenclaw through and through.

[@Princess_Celestia_]

Iris.holmes, your comment betrays your lack of understanding on what bravery is. Bravery isn't the lack of fear, it's courageous behavior. Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyways. Is Hermione scared of breaking rules? Yes. Does she break those rules? Yes. That's bravery by its very definition.

[@thedisconnect5769]

Its believed the hat was an enchanment from ALL of the founders I thought.

[@peaceandloveusa6656]

Correct. That is what they said in the video. It was Gryffindor's idea to combine all of their magics to make the hat.

[@arthurfontes7326]

I think that in 4th year or something student should have the option to do the sorting again, to see if the sorting hat changes its opinion and if the student is more fitting into other house

[@ninjalectualx]

"What house were you in?" "I was Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw, but my friend was double Gryffondor"

[@LisaBeta-42]

The hat will never admit a mistake, so the sorting stands😂

[@arthurfontes7326]

@@ninjalectualx should be like that tbh

[@rowanjoy419]

I have come to conclude no long ago after watching the movies and getting into the fandom that the sorting hat, sort base on the 7 years they are going to be there ( Neville show his corage in the 5th year, and Pettigrew betray their friend after school years) and other reason: 1. the blood status, being slytherin mostly pure bloods. 2. If the person insist to want to go into one like Harry.

[@jackscrivens9520]

Peter Pettigrew had basically no bravery, and he still ended up in Gryffindor. Maybe the other Mauraders were sorted into Gryffindor and he wanted to join his friends.

[@darthhauler9947]

Only works if he was initially friends with Lupin or Sirius. They were supposed to go alphabetically, as they did in the book, so James Potter would have been last to be sorted

[@kendraroth1276]

No. James and Sirius were only with each other and Snape and Lily while on the train. (If any others were there, Harry would have noticed.) It’s possible that other students joined later but it’s pure speculation.) According to JK Rowling, Peter joined the marauders because Lupin asked Sirius and James to accept him into the group since he felt sorry for Peter due to Peter possibly not having friends. (Similar to How Neville became closer to Harry through Hermione. The first couple books were even building a sort of friendship between Hermione and Neville.)

[@francisgrizzlysmit4715]

but Pettigrew just didn't belong in any of the other houses and he may have had some slight potential for bravery but he never chose to be brave

[@stevegallo8483]

Pettigrew was a coward who probably wished he was brave. That could be why the hat put him in Gryffindor.

[@darthhauler9947]

@@stevegallo8483I can see it. It'd be like a coward buying a gun thinking they can stand and fight but when the time comes they run with everyone else

[@frankzaffuto3670]

I love the part where you mentioned the theory that Changes Harry Potter entirely. This should have been entitled the sorting hat: a disambiguation. Or better yet: What an LLM told me about the sorting hat

[@ChrstphreCampbell]

Those two goons that hung out with Malfoy certainly lacked The ambition & talent for slitherine ?

[@antionettekidd9749]

But they valued blood purity and would if presented the opportunity, they would throw someone under the bus if it benefited them. Remember, in Hallows, they didn't listen to Malfoy anymore. It didn't suit them to have good connections with Draco any longer. It was either Crabbe or Goyle that told him that he and his father "were done".

[@hackman669]

Should have been Hufflepuff. They are coming relief.😂

[@christal2641]

They were from Vassal families to the Malfoys. Such students were something like servants to the scion of that Lord.

[@frankbauerful]

I think the Hat sorted Neville into Gryffindor because of his tragic backstory and what Slytherin's crowd did to his parents. Godric Gryffindor would have picked Neville to put him on the path to get revenge.

[@gmoneyced557]

I can just imagine the hat having multiple different voices in his head its probably having like 7 conversations at once

[@DefileOdds]

That would explain why the hat says I'm Never wrong, it takes each individuals wishes into consideration. Like Hey! Don't blame me, in the end it was Their choice.

[@liberalenextrema]

I'm confused. Dumbledore was killed before Harry was an adult, so how could he have told Dumbledore as an adult.

[@Delicious.Meiloorun]

i see the sorting hat having the abilty to see glimpses of the future and did what the hat did to make those small glimpses come true in the end either that or the sorting hat wanted to put students from a house that was meant for them and put them into another, like, if your smart and meant for Ravenclaw the hat puts you into Gryffendor, making you realize at some point there's more to being brains, a balance between brains and bravery and steeping out of that comfort zone

[@emilrobyn4216]

the sorting hat never explicitly said it was gonna put Harry in Slytherin. It simply said Harry COULD do well there. so it’s not even sure about that. And it’s certainly not the same as saying “Oh I was gonna put you in Slytherin but now I’ve changed my mind”. Plus: the Sorting Hat only mentions Slytherin because Harry does so first. It’s completely possible that even without Harrys’ “Not Slytherin” wish, he still would have ended up in Gryffindor. Actually I think it’s most likely. Just look at what the Sorting Hat is mentioning before Harry brings up Slytherin: courage, a good mind, a lot of talent and a thirst to prove yourself. To me this sounds like the blueprint for a Gryffindor. And just to be clear “a thirst to prove yourself" is not the same as ambition. it comes closer to Harrys “playing the hero” side, which is the opposite of what any self-respecting Slytherin would do. So no, I don’t think there’s any scenario that would have ended with Harry in Slytherin. Which is not to say the Sorting Hat doesn’t consider your wishes. But that’s not the same as following those wishes blindly. More importantly, I think the hat also considers the reasons for those wishes. In Nevilles case it was lack of confidence and fear of embarrassment that led him to wish for Hufflepuff, in part due to living in the shadow of his hero parents. something he needed to get over no matter which house he ended up in. But still a tricky question which house would be best suited to help with that, which is why it took so long. Last but not least: just because Sprout happens to be head of Hufflepuff AND a Herbology professor does not mean Herbology is connected to Hufflepuff.

[@usefulprogrammer9880]

Somehow or another the hat has to take into account distribution. Say a particular class is particularly skewed to the ambitious or intelligent. There’d be an overpopulous of slytherins and ravenclaws. And for house cup and quidditch I think it would be unfair not to have such distribution. So to a certain extent it might just infer qualities that may or may not be present for the sanctity of splitting things up equally.

[@DrToonhattan]

Honestly, they should have just been sorted at random. That's how my school did it. Unless you had an older sibling, then you automatically got put in the same house.

[@josephgrace5955]

“The sorting hat has a ability you analyze the mind deeper than we can ever imagine” I love this quote because in one of the hats yearly songs it outright says that perhaps sorting them and dividing them has done more harm than good. And given all the minds it has looked into, is it right? Is the hat stuck doing a job that it knows causes inevitable strife?

[@pieterpuk7684]

I always had headcanon that the hat also uses divination magic. Even if it's far in the future, Neville after all directly refused Voldemort in his face and destroyed a basilisk (using the Gryffindor relic no less). He also routinely stands up for what is right throughout the series, including getting petrified in the common room and joining any major battle he can.

[@harknerd1775]

I understand it to be that the houses are separated by what an individual "values" and not necessarily by what characteristics an individual has or displays. It is often the case that your values will be supported by your own actions, but I think in Neville's case, he strongly admires and values bravery BECAUSE he struggled to have it when he was young. But being surrounded by strong and brave people encouraged him over time to develop the characteristic and become the man he wanted to be. The same can be said of Petter Pettigrew. He valued bravery because he lacked it, and in the end, his fear won out, leading him to abandon his values and live in misery for the rest of his life.

[@JesusFreak89]

Just want tto say, i really enjoy your videos

[@HarryPotterTheory]

I appreciate that!

[@leafwhite6376]

3:49 "Once the hat is placed upon a head, there's nothing it won't know about you" Me: "Uhh... I can explain"

[@saswataroy4099]

The Hat clearly realised the hidden potential in Neville and sensed that how great he could be in life . And also one of your videos mentioned that his grandmother probably placed some charms on him to keep him out of trouble , given what happened to his parents . So the Hat probably realised that Neville's outward nervousness was not a part of his true nature and sorted him into Gryffindor to help him prove himself.

[@LFTRnow]

I actually thought it worked this way from the start. Completely agree with your theory, and makes the most sense. Nice to see it all reasoned and laid out clearly though, complete with all of the examples one would wonder about.

[@LoveShaysloco]

When you said the bravery to ask. Kinda made me think. Bravery/curage is not the lack of fear, but what you do with that fear

[@sergent40]

I think it had to do with the horcrux in Harry's case. Also Trelawny red that Harry was born in mid winter and was shocked when he said no it was mid summer. Tom Riddle was born in mid winter.

[@Hogg342]

I think that was Trelawny being dumb I never got the sense she was worth it at all Dumbledore says as much he only hired her because of the Prophicy but 2 things I want to know 1I want to know what made her give the two Prophicys she's dose and 2 how did she know Snape interrupted the 1st one I thought it she had no idea what happened because after the 2nd Prophicy about Peter she seems to be her normal ditsy self any one have an idea or actual answer

[@tommoore2012]

Another instance that should be considered when arguing that the hat always makes the right call is Peter Pettigrew. I believe it was Harry who asked the hat why it placed someone like Wormtail into Gryffindor when he betrayed everyone he knew the instant he thought it was for his own benefit when such an action would be much more in line with Slytherin house. The hat counters thought citing Peter's death as proof he was a Gryffindor. That moment of hesitation that caused his silver hand to strangle him in response to not immediately following Voldemort's orders is evidence that Peter always had the qualities of a Gryffindor student. By taking that brief infinitesimal amount of time to wonder if he should kill Harry, Peter showed that just because he was a coward, he in fact did not truly embody the ambition and cunning of always seeking the next opportunity to enrich himself.

[@DarthArtoo4]

Great video. Thanks for the awesome content on this channel. Looking forward to following during the show!

[@aldingess1248]

My running theory on the sorting has is it runs through your mind and identifies your core traits as you grew that didn’t change and based on those values it determines which house they would most flourish in. Slytherin would’ve pushed Harry’s natural talents to their extreme while Gryffindor pushes both his talents and his heart which is what he needed to beat Voldemort. Nevel grew to be someone worth fearing by being but in Gryffindor and the rest grew into what they needed to be for their lifetime since it was destined that Harry’s battle with Voldemort was gonna happen

[@laggishsmiles4744]

to add, I believe the hat may also place you based on your needs to help you grow it is a school after all. As the decision is essentially over the environment you grow in, Nevil is still a great example - he was already kind, a little courage did him good I think

[@tootsiequilt]

I think the mere fact of Neville arguing with The Sorting Hat was a very Gryffindor thing to do. Neville was always brave, but lacked confidence in himself. His Gran made Neville feel like he had to be exactly like his parents, particularly his dad. Gran didn't get Neville his own wand, she gave him his dad's wand. Child Neville had some big shoes to fill. The Sorting Hat understood this, and knew Neville would be up to the task when the time was right.

[@robertmarks9017]

I always personally thought that there was a lot of factors that went into it because obviously each house can only let so many people in each year it's not even houses or houses that have no students at all plus four most students what are the ones that are not muggle-born the hat knew their parents

[@Hlaford29]

It's one of those inconsistencies which the book is full of. It's not about plot holes, just plot convenience. If we follow the line of character development, many people should have been sorted to different houses. I think it would have been better as it would have shown the unity of all the school in such dark times. I think that Nevill was the only one who was sorted correctly: to challenge, not to please. Ron and Hermione should have been placed in Hufflepuff, and Harry - to Slytherin. Hermione is very clever, but actually clever people and good students are everywhere. What is important is that she is extremely hardworking (too much so, I would say). It's absolutely Hufflepuff. And this choice would have motivated her to work even harder, to prove herself. Actually, what we can see in the end is exactly the result of such a choice (although it is ascribed to Gryffindor). Ron would have been challenged by this choice too, and he would have become a good student, which is important for what he was up to - it's too unrealistic to see 2 worst students succeeding entirely through the help of one good one. And Harry's constant fighting with Malfoy can only be explained by them being near each other all the time. Moreover, Harry would have been really motivated to study well, to learn combat magic and all sorts of tricks which he had to use later. He would have become a much more interesting character, not a dummy to show off Snape and Dumbledor. And the house would have been shown more realistically - not as the heart of all evil. There are some others who should have been sorted to a different house: the Weasely twins ought to have been in Ravenclaw - this is what they do there: creative thinking, and style (and a lot of self-promotion). All in all, this list goes on and on.

[@VincentWeasleyPotter]

Wow fantastic video, so insightful. I think perhaps due also to the effects of the prophecy it is divined that Neville would become a Gryffindor, the potential chosen one, an instrument of light in the battle against the dark Lord, a weapon of Fate, willed to Gryffindor to become a man of courage and an integral colour upon the bristles of the grand creators brush

[@kspayton]

rowling controversies aside i would love an alternate version of the books where he gets into slytherin and actually does become friends with draco. just to see. i wonder if draco would have been a bad influence on harry or if harry would have been a good influence on draco. draco might have turned harry into a bully by helping him get revenge on dudley and using his fathers influence to make sure harry stays out of trouble for it. and thats not even getting into the potential for harry to become even worse then voldemort over time. image a version of the series where harry becomes a death eater and both voldemort and harry make the unbreakable vow not the harm each other to try and defeat the prophecy. Harry Potter What Ifs when? :)

[@av6728]

kid: "I'm a villain" hat: "Slytherin"

[@PlagueOfGripes]

Seems more like it acknowledges what you're best at but strongly considers what the kid wants. The idea of the hat stalling to try to force kids to ask for a house filled with no one except people who ask for it is ridiculous.

[@brucetheloon]

Consider that the Hat has access to the school leadership files in Dumbledore's office. It hangs around all year listening into conversations, being fed the various staff members' thoughts about the new enrollments coming at the start of the next year. While it might not know everything about all the first years, it certainly has significant knowledge ahead of time about the most talked about of them.

[@GigaTyGuy]

I think a more likely consideration with Nevel is that he wanted to be like his parents. Deep down he wanted to stand up against the Beatrixs of the world like mom and dad.

[@Rwnds7967]

Would be interesting to see an alternate universe story where the sorting hat doesn't consider your choices and puts Harry in Slytheryn. Could be so different, Harry's darker side gets nourished, he doesn't have close friends, hates Ron and Hermione, cant stop Voldemort from entering his mind in the 5th book and eventually loses to him, Voldemort wins and the world falls in to darkness. All because the soting hat did not value an individual's choice over its own evaluation. It's probably already been done tbh..

[@Trelitty11]

I think it’s due to Harry being a Voldemort horcrux is why the hat was so set on slytherin at first

[@auntieclara1811]

Remember, Neville won points for Griffendor for standing up to his friends. He was brave.

[@justincase3230]

I'd steal the hat and take it on an adventure around the world blackmailing wizards. "Gimme two grand or the hat tells me about your weird sex habits, he has those yeah hat?" (Hat nods vigorously) "Real weird, he's friends with Dumbledore's brother"

[@countluke2334]

Neville has one of the best character developments of all times. He starts out insecure, self-conscious and fearful. But he overcomes his insecurity in year 5 the moment he learns Bellatrix has escaped from Azkaban. He proves himself in the battle at the ministry. After that, he gets his own wand, a wand that chose him (instead of re-using his father's wand, which is destroyed in the battle). Then he is really improving and becomes kind of badass by year 7. The hat knew he was held back by his father's wand and by being told that he lacked talent and bravery.

[@AlexKlindt]

I mean, of the students in the series, I think Neville MOST personifies Griffindor. He's unsure of himself and his abilities but despite that steps up and put himself at risk for what he believes in.

[@demoncore5342]

I do think it sorts you where ever you want to go. Like why would the hat be stalling at times, if it can make own decisions? It just states your choice out loud once you decide, consciously or not.

[@caligulawellington3171]

Considering that it takes a lot of strength to carry the burden of having both your parents hospitalized due to being victims of the crusio curse it makes perfect sense to put Nevil in Gryffindor. Courage does not mean that you lack fear. It means that you can confront it. Also, he confronted his friends who were about to cause troubles in his first year of school.

[@bwy553]

I would love to see the look on Lucius’ face when Draco gets placed in Gryfinndor. 😂😂😂

[@TsukabuNosoratori2]

In his final year at Hogwarts Neville also stood up against the Carrows and their tyrannical rule over the students. That took bravery in and of itself. He stood up because he saw that it gave people hope when Harry did it. "Blimey Neville, there's a time and a place for developing a smart mouth-" Ron Weasley, impressed and in awe in their reunion, through the tunnel from Mr Aberforth's pub to the Room of Requirement in Book 7.

[@zaodacrusher7498]

One thing to note, Harry had voldamort, or at least a part of him in his head. Hence the confusion. The scar Harry bears is or was, a failed hororcrux. Meaning the traits the hat seen that said slitherin were not actually Harry's, but voldamort's.

[@thetragicschoolbuspodcast]

6:11 Yeah Luna didn't come off as clever at first. People thought that she was a weirdo, maybe on the spectrum. It wasn't until the Trio had gotten to know her, where they realized oohhhhh she's rather brilliant just a bit eccentric.

[@Carrm3ist3r]

Yay!! Another awesome video :)

[@mxyzptlk1616]

I don't think the hat decides for you. I think the hat by means of magic is capable of discerning your true choice. Even if at the moment you are unsure. I think everyone ultimately chooses their own house whether or not they realize it. I don't think the hat is truly measuring your abilities or character. It's more like that coin flip decision trick where it isn't about which side the coin lands on but how you feel about it. That better explains the stalls and the easy decisions. Malfoy's mind was made up. Neville, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were all unsure.

[@blackholetl]

My personal head conon. It is known that the prophecy could have been either Harry or Neville, and Riddle basically chose Harry to be the recipient. However, what if the prophecy actually intended for both Harry and Neville even after Riddle chose it to be Harry. A lot of the events in the books could not happen without Neville there in the background. The prophecy never truly stopped referring to both of them.

[@jimmyg3835]

i love that the had looked at Draco with a hostle look like it was able to see who Draco was with out being put on his head and even before being put on Dracos help it put him in his house that is something I love

[@Harry-Hartmann]

A very Good Video 👍🏻

[@AdMiKa]

Dumbledore in The Chamber of Secrets: “Only a true Gryffindor would be able to pull the sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat.” Neville is The Deathly Hallows: Pulls the sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat.

[@cisio64123]

The sorting hat takes the students preferences into account as Dumbledore told Harry but that doesn't mean it doesn't or can't fight if it feels very strongly about it's own preference. If the hat feels so strongly about a house it will fight the student about it but it will eventually stop fighting if the student is firm enough or has enough reasoning in their choice . In Hermione and Neville's cases she had good reasoning and didn't give in but he neither had good reasoning and gave in thus both ended up in Gryffindor. With Harry the hat knew either Slytherin or Gryffindor were the best options for him so it wasn't absolutely firm on Slytherin . In the end it let Harry's preference prevail because he was truly so firm in not going to Slytherin the hat knew ..better be GRYFFINDOR !

[@water4fire4]

The houses always seem to end up even in students each year. I theorize part of the hat's duty is keeping them even # wise, and needs to take that into account too sometimes making kids later in the sorting take longer to sort or possibly even end up in less fitting houses.

[@Splashstar216]

JKR actually said that originally Hermione was supposed to be Ravenclaw and Ron was supposed to be Hufflepuff but she ended up putting them all in the same House bc if they weren't, they couldn't become bffs! 😱

[@soxpeewee]

Better theory is that it doesn't actually matter what house you get sorted into as far as what kind of person you will become. The qualities the hat "reads" in the kids are generic and it just evenly sorts out the number of students while appearing random.

[@jonlannister345]

Neville reminds me of Godfrey in Dad's Army. Godfrey who was so soft spoken, polite and seemingly simple that nobody expected that he'd have thrown himself unarmed into the battlefields of the first world war and earned medals for bravery despite being a pacifist.

[@mythical___Jinx]

in teh case of neville, he displays bravery in the 1st movie by standing up to his fellow peers harry rona dn hermonie despite being outn umbered and out skilled. he demonstrates this in several instances throughout the series.

[@ZodyZody]

I love the fact that we are all so invested in a fictional world we're still discussing theoretical ideas!

[@jjj-q2g]

I like the idea that you get sorted by what you admire or want/lack.

[@seanmalloy0528]

Someone should tell Slytherin that ambition without knowledge is like a boat on dry land

[@sbatou87]

Imagine being placed in a house which you find out you do not like your peers, or even find them insufferable. It must be goddamn hell for at least those students.

[@FelixBrewerDahrknessInTheLight]

Bravery is not the lack of fear, but the ability to act in spite of how scared you are

[@darkwolve114]

Another scenario... The hat only primarily sorts into 3 houses. The student themself choose to be in Gryffindor, which is the only way the hat will assign them to that house. They have to will it.

[@cherokee43v6]

I still find it highly amusing that the movie Minerva McGonnagal, head of Gryfindor, is dressed from the get-go in Slytherin colors.

[@ScottLafray-dd2fp]

I'm just wondering about something. Harry had a horcrux in him and a horcrux defends itself. If the sorting hat uses legilimens to delve into the deepest depths of the mind, why didn't the horcrux cause a backlash like the locket did when anyone used a spell against it? Everybody talks about how the hat could detect it and that's why it wanted to put him in Slytherin. Wouldn't the horcrux take being discovered as a threat? And another thing. If Harry was a horcrux, why didn't any harmful spells cast against him not create a backlash? It seemed like only Voldemorts spells ever backfired from the horcrux. Why wouldn't it do that with stupefy or duelling spells used by Malfoy and others? These questions have been stuck in my head for years and only get reinforced every time I watch the movies or reread the books.

[@MSheen-ef3ly]

I always thought that Harry made the choice proving that you have choices. Oh and "Great" has a dual connotation can be good or bad. Its not just an elevation of good.