The Sorting Hat!
Well, here we have the three poems of the Sorting Hat that Harry has heard so far, having missed the sorting of his second year because he and Ron had come to school in a flying car, for which they were quite busy getting in major trouble as the sorting was occuring, and the sorting of his third year because he had to see Professor McGonagall about his recent dementor run-in, and Hermione had to obtain her time-turner. Once again, I compiled this with no idea of how it can be used, so if you do find a use for it, be sure to let me know what it was at dragonfyre52@hotmail.com (Just make sure to ask me before you take it...) Have fun!
In times of old when I was new
A thousand years or more ago,
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The Sorting Hat has more functions than we know know, and we'll find out about them in the fifth book, J. K. Rowling promises. They could include striking you down if you use anything from this site without permission from October. Have a nice day!
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the self-same yearning,
To make the world’s best magic school
And pass along their learning.
“Together we will build an teach!”
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For where were such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, “We’ll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest.”
Said Ravenclaw, “We’ll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest.”
Said Gryffindor, “We’ll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name,”
Said Hufflepuff, “I’ll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same.”
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships good and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that. Like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that it what I’m for,
But this year I’ll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it’s wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we’ll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you….
Let the Sorting now begin.
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan,
To educate young sorcerers,
Thus Hogwarts school began.
Now each of these four Founders,
Formed their own house, for each,
Did value different virtues,
In the ones they had to teach.
In Gryffindor the bravest were,
Prized far beyond the rest.
In Ravenclaw, the cleverest,
Would always be the best.
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were,
Most worthy of admission,
And power-hungry Slytherin ,
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide,
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head.
The Founders put some brains in me,
So I could choose instead.
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong.
I'll have a look inside your mind,
And tell where you belong.
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see.
There's nothing hidden in your head,
The Sorting Hat can't see.
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry,
Set Gryffindor apart.
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuff are true,
And unafraid of toil.
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind.
Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap!
