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To Rufus: "No one really knows what goes on the the mind of the Hat, what its motivations are for what it does. It could very well be that, with the fall of Voldemort, the hat felt that it was time for a change, and to leave those ideals behind. Five points to Ravenclaw for posing a very interesting question."

To Steele: "You're quite right; the hat seems to waver on its primary motivation for why it places a person where. For instance, I've had people remark that my being a former Gryffindor astounds them, because I seem more like a Ravenclaw. However, at the time of my sorting, I was quite the brash and outgoing child. In my case, the traits that would have prospered in Ravenclaw did so despite my being placed in another house, while those that made me a Gryffindor calmed. Why, then, put me in Gryffindor? I've always thought it was because, when I went to be sorted, I was so very sure that I'd be a Gryffindor, that the hat knew placing me anywhere else would cause me to try and prove that I'd deserved to be a lion all along. By giving me what I wanted, it confirmed my own beliefs on who I was, and allowed me the security to prove myself in other areas. Perhaps what the hat saw in you was that, had you been a Gryffindor, you would have become overconfident and perhaps even anti-social because of your confidence. Placing you in Hufflepuff might have taught you to be humble and kind... Fifteen points to Hufflepuff, then, Mister Thompson, for sharing your experience and thoughts."

Amata Harlowe was, for once, seated behind her desk, rather than atop it. It was a rather unusual sight, one that was a perfect indication of how very down she felt. She didn't have much of a social life, and what little time she did spend with others was typically a conversation with Grayson when they passed in the halls, or at dinner in the evening. But with his sleeping form laying in the Hospital Wing, she was distraught and alone. The only light penetrating the dark cloud that hovered over her of late was the news that her friend Ciaran Lowery and his husband were planning on adopting. It was about the only thing that brought a smile to her face. She really needed to ask Ciaran to meet her for drinks so they could catch up. She'd heard his nephew was a first year this year; she needed to talk him into convincing the boy to take her lesson.

She sighed a bit, waiting for her students to arrive and settle in before beginning the lesson. "Afternoon, class. Today we'll be talking about a very interesting artifact, the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. As always, the notes on this subject are on the board for you to copy. The sword is, of course, not a legend itself, since we know very well that it exists. But, its history is something of a mystery. Being 1,000 years old tends to do that to an artifact, after all. It's hard to know the true history of anything that old. Some versions say that Gryffindor won the sword in a bet, some say he stole it from Goblins. The most common, however, says that he commissioned the sword from goblin craftsmen. Now, the reason for the discrepancy could be that, in goblin culture, when something is made by them for a non-goblin, once that person dies, the object then reverts back to goblin ownership. Of course, the sword was enchanted by Gryffindor to be summoned through the Sorting Hat so that, should a true Gryffindor ever be in need of it, it was there for them. So, whether or not the sword was returned to the goblins by Gryffindor or not, it eventually ended up back in the hands of wizards. This is considered theft by the goblins." She paused, her hand going to her forehead. She had a horrible headache today. Actually, she had a horrible headache most days of late. Worrying constantly tended to do that to a person, after all. "Are there any questions, or thoughts, on the lesson?"


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'Under covers staying safe and warm,
You give me feelings that I adore.'

To Marina: "As far as we know, there are no other artifacts that can be summoned through the hat. The theory is that, because the hat belonged to Gryffindor, he would have had time to enchant it to share a connection with the sword. Gryffindor was a duelist, both with wands and weapons, so it makes sense that he would have a thought to ensure that those who were worthy of his house would always have a weapon at hand... just like Slytherin thought it was only proper to leave the Chamber of Secrets so that his own heir could one day purge the school. Fifteen points to Slytherin, Marina."

Damien entered the room, surprised to see that he was literally the first one there... including their professor. The notes for this lesson were already on the board, but Professor Harlowe was no where to be found. He took a seat, frowning, and started copying the notes down, but it was slow going. He was too distracted; he rather liked Professor Harlowe, she was wonderful and smart and she'd literally saved his life... and now, there was something wrong with her. She was normally so bubbly and energetic and fun, and this whole year, she'd seemed moody and depressed... he hoped it was nothing serious, but surely if it weren't, she'd be back to normal by now? He finished copying the notes, waiting patiently, expecting her to, at any moment, come through the door with a smile on her face, her hands moving in wide, dramatic gestures. A small smile quirked onto his face. It'd be nice, wouldn't it? But he had a feeling it wasn't going to happen. Whatever was going on... he just didn't feel like it was better.


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'It's natural for a thing like me...'

When Hogwarts founders Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin first formed Hogwarts, they personally selected the students who would go to each of their houses. After a certain point, they realized that they weren’t going to live forever, and that they needed to find a way to sort the students once they were gone. According to legend, Godric Gryffindor, struck by a moment of genius, removed the wizard’s hat from his head and he and the other four founders ‘put some brains in its head,’ which has long been believed to be a reference to enchanting it to both become sentient and gifting it with the ability of read minds. As few wizards have ever worn the hat more than once, its selection process has remained shrouded in mystery, despite the fact that every wizard or witch to attend Hogwarts was sorted by it, and thus subjected to that process. According to every source, it is supposed to place students as the founders would have, that is, by placing brave students in Gryffindor, kind students in Hufflepuff, smart students in Ravenclaw and ambitious students in Slytherin. However, evidence suggests that there is more to the process than this. Examples include the sorting of Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. Both students were sorted into Gryffindor, despite little evidence that either of them possessed the traits that would have led Gryffindor to covet either of them at the time. Granger, well known for being the smartest witch in her year, was quiet and bookish, almost certainly better suited for Ravenclaw. Longbottom was shy and clumsy, and most likely would have been chosen by Hufflepuff, and indeed is believed to have requested the hat place him there. In both cases, later in life they would come to exemplify those qualities which Gryffindor valued in his students. This would suggest that perhaps the Hat sorts students, not for the traits they possess, but those that they have potential for, which must be nurtured. It can be argued that perhaps, had Granger been sorted into Ravenclaw, she would have remained quiet and bookish, and never risen to her potential in the areas of bravery. Similarly, Longbottom, without the influence of the stigma of Gryffindor house, might have remained shy and unsure of himself. As both students played important roles in the defeat of the Dark Lord Voldemort, one reasons that perhaps the Hat was aware that the cultivation of these traits, they would have never lived up to their full potential, and leads one to question what might have happened in that fateful era without their presence in Gryffindor House. On the inverse, it seems that you need not possess those traits at all, as Peter Pettigrew was sorted into Gryffindor. In later years, he would show to be quite the coward, selling out friends James and Lily Potter to the Dark Lord Voldemort out of fear for his own life. Perhaps this is because the hat placed him for his own preference, as he is known to have admired Potter and his friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. It might also be surmised that the hat placed him in the hopes that his weakness would be overcome and he would grow out of his cowardice. Unfortunately, we know this was not the case. The hat’s assessment of Pettigrew seems to have been one of its rare misjudgments.

Homework: Recount your own sorting, and discuss what traits you believe contributed to your placement.

First Lesson Survey:

When Hogwarts founders Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin first formed Hogwarts, they personally selected the students who would go to each of their houses. After a certain point, they realized that they weren’t going to live forever, and that they needed to find a way to sort the students once they were gone. According to legend, Godric Gryffindor, struck by a moment of genius, removed the wizard’s hat from his head and he and the other four founders ‘put some brains in its head,’ which has long been believed to be a reference to enchanting it to both become sentient and gifting it with the ability of read minds. As few wizards have ever worn the hat more than once, its selection process has remained shrouded in mystery, despite the fact that every wizard or witch to attend Hogwarts was sorted by it, and thus subjected to that process. According to every source, it is supposed to place students as the founders would have, that is, by placing brave students in Gryffindor, kind students in Hufflepuff, smart students in Ravenclaw and ambitious students in Slytherin. However, evidence suggests that there is more to the process than this. Examples include the sorting of Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. Both students were sorted into Gryffindor, despite little evidence that either of them possessed the traits that would have led Gryffindor to covet either of them at the time. Granger, well known for being the smartest witch in her year, was quiet and bookish, almost certainly better suited for Ravenclaw. Longbottom was shy and clumsy, and most likely would have been chosen by Hufflepuff, and indeed is believed to have requested the hat place him there. In both cases, later in life they would come to exemplify those qualities which Gryffindor valued in his students. This would suggest that perhaps the Hat sorts students, not for the traits they possess, but those that they have potential for, which must be nurtured. It can be argued that perhaps, had Granger been sorted into Ravenclaw, she would have remained quiet and bookish, and never risen to her potential in the areas of bravery. Similarly, Longbottom, without the influence of the stigma of Gryffindor house, might have remained shy and unsure of himself. As both students played important roles in the defeat of the Dark Lord Voldemort, one reasons that perhaps the Hat was aware that the cultivation of these traits, they would have never lived up to their full potential, and leads one to question what might have happened in that fateful era without their presence in Gryffindor House. On the inverse, it seems that you need not possess those traits at all, as Peter Pettigrew was sorted into Gryffindor. In later years, he would show to be quite the coward, selling out friends James and Lily Potter to the Dark Lord Voldemort out of fear for his own life. Perhaps this is because the hat placed him for his own preference, as he is known to have admired Potter and his friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. It might also be surmised that the hat placed him in the hopes that his weakness would be overcome and he would grow out of his cowardice. Unfortunately, we know this was not the case. The hat’s assessment of Pettigrew seems to have been one of its rare misjudgments.

Homework: Recount your own sorting, and discuss what traits you believe contributed to your placement.

First Lesson Survey: