Why wasn't Hermione sorted into Ravenclaw?

I know this will never be true...but just a thought.

Hermione, who is smart, keen on learning and has wit...I think she is more suitable to be in Ravenclaw.

What do you think?

Well you don't know what the sorting hat thought, it might have had trouble sorting her. Perhaps her Gryffindor attributes outweighed her Ravenclaw attributes. Remember that Harry has numerous attributes from all houses, especially Slytherin but he is in Gryffindor. Perhaps Hermione really wanted to be in Gryffindor, or maybe JK thought that Hermione was a bit of a cutey and decided to put her in the best house.

Hermione is brave.;) ;)

..or maybe putting her in Ravenclaw wou.d have totally killed her plot. Seeing as Hermoine is a main character, having her be in a seperate house would have been hard to work into the plot...

JK also modelled Hermione after herself so of course she was going to put "herself" in what is perceived as the best house.

if we stereotyped everyone, hermione would be in ravenclaw, neville would go to hufflepuff, and harry might possibly go to slytherin. hermione might have asked to be put in gryffindor. "choices", remember. they seem to be a big theme in these books.

or perhaps the sorting hat saw ahead and knew that harry would need a friend like hermione, and since they were already speaking, the hat placed the three of them (ron included) in the house that best suited all three :)

There is also the possibility that we have not yet seen all the attributes in Hermione that the sorting hat saw. I think Hermione also wanted to be in Gryffindor, so maybe it is the "choices affect who we are" theme again. Ron also wanted to be in Gryffindor of course since all his family have been Gryffindor.

Originally posted by Elangomatt
There is also the possibility that we have not yet seen all the attributes in Hermione that the sorting hat saw. I think Hermione also wanted to be in Gryffindor, so maybe it is the "choices affect who we are" theme again. Ron also wanted to be in Gryffindor of course since all his family have been Gryffindor.

good point. each of the weasleys really want to be in griffindor since that's where their family is, and each gets in. on the train, harry and hermione each find out about griffindor and decide that's the best, and they get in. hell, even neville really wants griffindor... what if the hat really just puts you into the house you really want to be in, rather than what you might say, and everyone is just really nervous for nothing? :wacky:

she may show more gryffindor attributes in the futur :)

Hermione is a very clever witch. However, that isn't all that is there. She also shows bavery and loyalty.

Remember, it is our actions that define who we are.

I think that the sorting hat looks at more than what your own quualities are. Hermione said, "Books and cleverness! There are more important things, like friendship and bravery!"

So it's obvious that Hermione values bravery over cleverness, and so was placed in Gryffindor, where she'd have the best chance to develop her courageous side.

This would also explain how Peter Pettigrew got in Gryffindor: coward he may have been, but he admired courage and chose brave people for his friends. "I was never brave like you" he says to Sirius and Remus. Courage was important to him, so he also ended up in Gryffindor, where his courage could be developed.

Similarly, I imagine there are Ravenclaws who aren't so bright, but who value knowledge so highly that they are put where they have the best chance to acquire it; Hufflepuffs who wish they could throw off their lazy streak; and Slytherins (like Crabbe and Goyle, for example) who aren't cunning and resourceful, but admire those qualities and associate with the people who have them.

Astute observation Madame Inkwolf!
But if you want to read about Bravery, Read The Chamber of Secrets, when the trio made the Polyjuice Potion. That is why Hermoine is in Gryffindor. Then she tried to pickle the beast by herself. There are other example but this sticks out in my mind. But there will be more examples in the future.

"Liars Prosper."
-anonymous

Exactly. It's not merely clever people who go to Ravenclaw. There are many clever people. It's people who value academic achievement over everything else. Hermione doesn't. She has different priorities at the end of the day.

Also the Sorting hat looks deeper that what is on the Surface. Remember who you really are can only be found in the deep parts of the mind, only hope floats.

"Liars Prosper."
-anonymous

She is brave. Also smart. That is why.

Just thinking....

We all know how smart she is, ever since book 1 shes been at the top of the year and gets, like, 100% in everything! so Why isnt she in Ravenclaw?!

Could it be that she is even braver than she is smart?


i dont know and its really been anoying me! :??:

im just hoping we'll find out in later books!

Might be becouse of her loyalty to hr friends. It's a Gryffindor quality and if she has more loyalty than smarts- boom, you've got yourself another Gryff

I'm guessing she is more brave than smart. I think the dominating quality gets you put in a house.

I think she has the hidden bravery. Like NEville will soon start showing. As HErmione when she slapped Draco. And hermione is very loyal.

Character goes beyond intelligence. Loyalty..yes, but loyalty can also get you into Hufflepuff. I think her bravery tips the scale and that is why she is in Gryffindor.

I always figured it was her chivalry that put her in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw. She stands up to bullies and helps out her fellow students. Examples:

- Helping Neville look for Trevor, even though they probably only just met.
- Only one to help Neville when Malfoy puts the Leg-locker curse on him (everyone else was too busy laughing).
- Took in Crookshanks, partly because (IMO) he was left there so long in the pet store and she felt sorry for him.
- Her petitioning for house elf rights.

Um...I had been thinking about that...I know she is clever girl, but she shows us the real brave in important part...doesn't she?

Yeah, but think about it....she is extremelly INTELLIGENT....if she is more brave than intelligent (reason why she is in Gryffindor)...Then, she is super brave....and we have seen her being brave, but not quite that BRAVE!! Maybe that means this same question will come out later...and then we will know..:D

Hermione is both brave and smart. Maybe we will see her show even more bravery in the future.

People are always questioning Hermione's bravery, but what about all the other students in Gryffindor...None of them have been that brave, but they are there, too. Seamus, Dean, the other Weasleys (with the exception of Ron and Ginny)--they haven't proven much bravery either.
In any event, I think that Hermione has displayed just as much courage as Ron, and no one ever questions why he was in Gryffindor--though he obviously wouldn't be a Ravenclaw :)

At the end of Sorcerer's Stone, Harry said how Hermione was smart, and she said "Books and cleverness! There are more important things. Friendship and bravery and oh Harry....." (or something like that). That sounds like a Gryffindor to me. :)

"Books! And cleverness! There are more important things, like friendship and bravery!"

I think that nails it.

Puffskein is right - she may be exceptionally clever, but she doesn't prize that above all. She, herself, values bravery over intellegence, and perhaps that is what defines her as a Gryffindor.

And I have to disagree with those who say that Hermione might have yet to prove herself! Hasn't she already? How many times has she put herself in danger for her friends, or done things that she wouldn't normally do? How many times does she stick her head up high and get on with life?

Although there are countless cases I just want to point out one to those sceptics.
Hermione stealing potion ingredients from Snape´s office.

Tell me the next step. Fighting Voldemort :) ?

Originally posted by Mr. Granger
Although there are countless cases I just want to point out one to those sceptics.
Hermione stealing potion ingredients from Snape´s office.

Tell me the next step. Fighting Voldemort :) ?
:lol:, stealing potions from Professor Snape's office would be like walking into the very jaws of hell itself. I'm sure even fighting Voldemort would be preferable - with less painful results!

Thats a goood question Muggleborn...It would make more sense imo is she was in Ravenclaaw... But hey who knows how jkr's mind works..

:p

I think that Hermione'll do something very brave in the future, to show that she is a true Gryffindor. And Neville too!

Originally posted by Fenrir
I think that Hermione'll do something very brave in the future, to show that she is a true Gryffindor. And Neville too!

Hermione has already done brave things, she doesn't need to prove the Hat right. She also admittedly openly that she values courage more than intelligence.

And Neville is a brave little thing. We now know that he's been struggling with the madness of his parents for years.

Originally posted by Cat
And Neville is a brave little thing. We now know that he's been struggling with the madness of his parents for years.

facing that kind of family history and not giving up probably requires more bravery than facing some of the creatures the wonder trio face. neville will definately "prove himself" in future books

I wondered that too.....
She is witty like a Gryffindor
But she has the smarty edge of a Ravenclaw

I think this quote will sumarize everything quite well.

Time will tell...

Originally posted by dr_strangelove
facing that kind of family history and not giving up probably requires more bravery than facing some of the creatures the wonder trio face. neville will definately "prove himself" in future books

I thought Neville displayed quite outstanding bravery when he confronted Harry, Ron and Hermione on their way down to face Fluffy in the first book. As Dumbledore said, "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."

Neville has proven himself worthy of Gryffindor; he doesn't need to confront Voldemort or battle mountain trolls to do so.

Originally posted by dr_strangelove
neville will definately "prove himself" in future books

Harry already knows what Neville's been through (as much as you CAN know something like that) but I wouldn't like Neville to prove himself to everybody else. He doesn't have to. He is brave, and he's all the better for being brave in secret. It's easier to be brave when you have a supportive audience. But maybe he should get more confidence...

I think one day Neville will prove himself as being brave, and not always forgetting everything.

Hermione probably has some qualities in her we havent seen yet that possessed her to be put into Gryffindor.

thanks cat and rotsiepots... thinking about it, i really like your perspectives and am changing my answer. you're right, neville is brave, and he doesn't NEED to prove it :)

Something i was wondering...why is Hermione in Gryffindor? Doesnt she seem more like the Hufflepuff type?

Welcome to the boards!

... since you've mentioned it, it's kinda true.. She could be a Hufflepuff, or even Ravenclaw... she's smart too, right?

.........

Ah, okay... my brain's not working right now... maybe someone else have better answer.. Sorry, I'm not good with words..

I would of thought she would be more Ravenclaw! Neville seems like the Hufflepuff type doesn't he?

I think they are in the right places. Both just need a chance to prove themselves a bit more. They are brave, when the need is great...

Well the Sorting Hat is pretty good at deciding, so if he wanted Hermione there, then we have to trust a talking hat...

Hermione may prove her bravery in book 5 and we will then know that she has been put in the right house. Maybe the Sorting Hat wanted to put her in Ravenclaw, but she asked to be in Gryffindor, like Harry did.

Hermione and Neville don't need to prove their bravery

We already know that they're applicable Gryffindors. Hermione says she values courage over cleverness, and Neville continues life with strength while his mum and dad are mad and unable to recognise him. What more proof do we need?

I agree with Cat. I think they've both proved their bravery enough! Hermione has faced an incredible amount of hardship these past 4 years, and has done things she often wouldn't normally do. That's bravery. Neville has faced life despite what has happened to him, and never refuses to face his fears, however many he may have. That's bravery too!

How else can theypossibly prove themselves? If you think they haven't proved themselves yet, then may I ask you what trait is is that's supported them these past years, if it wasn't bravery?

Besides, bravery is not the only characteristic of a Gryffindor. Loyalty is also one. And both Hermione and Neville are loyal. That might have been why the sorting hat put them there. I just dont get how Pettigrew got mixed up in there-- he havent got neither bravery nor loyalty.

No, loyalty is a Hufflepuff characteristic. Gryffindors are also noticed for their chivalry - which I think is what we see in Hermione helping Neville, Harry rescuing Gabrielle, etc.

Yeah I think that Hermione could definately be a Ravenclaw, with her cleverness and all. But she definitely shows Gryffindor qualities too. Neville, just to be living a normal life takes courage, especially the way his parents died. Hermione has definitely showed courage in Book 2 where she convinces Haarry and Ron to break the rules and take a risk with the whole polyjuice potion plan. At the end of book one, if you recall, Neville does stand up to the gang. Thats definitely a Gryffindor sign.
Even still, theres 3 books left, remember that. Neville and Hermione may show their Red and Gold yet.

yes but Hufflepuffs are hard workers, which is the most obvious trait in Hermione, but then I guess it wouldnt work well for the story if she were in another house. And I guess the Sorting Hat knows better than lowly old me

I think that Hermione is definately in the right house. She has shown bravery and i guess chivalry countless times. She has helped Harry in some pretty tough situations, showing a great deal of bravery, especially when she took Harry back in time to save sirius and Buckbeak. And although she is smart, she tells Harry that she values bravery more then smart bookishness.

Neville has also shown great bravery. Dumbledore even awarded Nevile for his bravery in the first book when Neville stood up to Ron, Hermione, and Harry about not wanting them to go out at night.

I think that both Neville and Hermione are in the right houses, and there are still three books to prove to all that they belong.

Originally posted by Cat
Hermione and Neville don't need to prove their bravery

We already know that they're applicable Gryffindors. Hermione says she values courage over cleverness, and Neville continues life with strength while his mum and dad are mad and unable to recognise him. What more proof do we need?

I agree Hermione and Neville both have to deal with alot of hardhips...Hermione has to deal with Snape acting like a @** to her when she is clever she has to deal with Malfoy being mad at her and cruel because of who she is and what type of blood she has... Neville has to deal with his parents not even knowing who he is and he alos has to deal with Snape treating him badly because he isnt CLEVER enough....i think that they are true Gryffindors they both show courage and are both loyal to there friends and I dont think Hermione asked to be in Gryffindor I think she was placed there on purpose not because of a flook!! Some of you may think differnetly then so be it...but if you think you can question Hermione then maybe you should start question Harry he was even more of a trouble...I know that he pulled the sword out if COS but still maybe that was a flook...so if you think that you can question Hermione then maybe you should first start to question Harry!!

Originally posted by Cat
Hermione and Neville don't need to prove their bravery

We already know that they're applicable Gryffindors. Hermione says she values courage over cleverness, and Neville continues life with strength while his mum and dad are mad and unable to recognise him. What more proof do we need?

I agree! The Sorting Hat does know best after all and it put them there! Hermione often shows bravery. I mena, even in Book three with the the Time turner, it took courage to risk going back in time to save someone. And Neville just living with the fact that his parents are barely even alive is strength enough AND proof enough to me that he should be in Gryffindor. Yes i agree that Hermione seems more like the Ravenclaw, and Neville more like a hufflepuff, but JKR put them there for a reason and we'll just have to trust her on that one!!!

Originally posted by FalconPhoenix
I agree! The Sorting Hat does know best after all and it put them there! Hermione often shows bravery. I mena, even in Book three with the the Time turner, it took courage to risk going back in time to save someone. And Neville just living with the fact that his parents are barely even alive is strength enough AND proof enough to me that he should be in Gryffindor. Yes i agree that Hermione seems more like the Ravenclaw, and Neville more like a hufflepuff, but JKR put them there for a reason and we'll just have to trust her on that one!!!

Your right JKR wouldnt put Neville or Hermione in Gryfinndor for no reason!! I mean she isnt a bad writer!! Hermione as already proven herself as a Gryffindor so i don't think we need to question her as a Gryffindor anymore I think we need to focus more on Neville Im sure he will prove himself in one of the future books...and that will be interasting to see...

Originally posted by SaRaH 23 HP
I agree Hermione and Neville both have to deal with alot of hardhips...Hermione has to deal with Snape acting like a @** to her when she is clever she has to deal with Malfoy being mad at her and cruel because of who she is and what type of blood she has... Neville has to deal with his parents not even knowing who he is and he alos has to deal with Snape treating him badly because he isnt CLEVER enough....i think that they are true Gryffindors they both show courage and are both loyal to there friends and I dont think Hermione asked to be in Gryffindor I think she was placed there on purpose not because of a flook!! Some of you may think differnetly then so be it...but if you think you can question Hermione then maybe you should start question Harry he was even more of a trouble...I know that he pulled the sword out if COS but still maybe that was a flook...so if you think that you can question Hermione then maybe you should first start to question Harry!!
You lost me with your incoherent ramblings...

She's a Gryffindor since the Sorting Hat says so. It's up to her to live up to Gryffindor's values and expectations.

Originally posted by jr119us
You lost me with your incoherent ramblings...


:angry: What do you MEAN?:angry:

I think both of them are in the right house. Nobody is defined by just one trait or characeristic. Hermione may be hard working but thats not all there is to her character. She is an extremly loyal friends and has shown incredible amounts of bravery many times during the books. Neville has been suffering practically his whole life, but he still gets on with things. He may not be the cleverest, but he is a loyal friends and showed his bravery when he stood up to the trio in PS.

Originally posted by Aoife Diggle
I think both of them are in the right house. Nobody is defined by just one trait or characeristic. Hermione may be hard working but thats not all there is to her character. She is an extremly loyal friends and has shown incredible amounts of bravery many times during the books. Neville has been suffering practically his whole life, but he still gets on with things. He may not be the cleverest, but he is a loyal friends and showed his bravery when he stood up to the trio in PS.

I agree...that is what I was trying to say but in better words:D!!

A wild theory, but I like to post it anyway.

Read this song (I got it from GoF):

By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission
And power-hungry Slytherins
Loved those of great ambition
----------------------------------
We can sort the song like this:

Brave GO TO Gryffindor
Clever GO TO Ravenclaw
Hard worker GO TO Hufflepuff
Ambitious GO TO Slytherin

Or we can give examples:

Harry is brave HE GOES TO Gryffindor
Draco is ambitious HE GOES TO Slytherin

(Note: Draco is ambitious for this reason: Lucius is very ambitious, because he wanted to be a servant of Lord Voldemort, which is a very ambitious thing to do. Draco inherited this ambitiousness, but maybe in another way, I mean, maybe Draco doesnt want to be a servant of Lord Voldemort, but he has other goals)

Cedric is a hard worker HE GOES TO Hufflepuff.

OK, now back to the main thing: Hermione. We all know that Hermione is very clever, memorizes dozens of books, and she is very very smart and clever.

Some proofs that Hermione is clever:

In Prisoner of Azkaban, when Sirius, Lupin, Wormtail, Harry, Ron, Hermione are grouped in a room (I don't remember the room's name) Sirius or Lupin make a remark that Hermione is the cleverest little witch he had ever seen.

In the Philosepher's Stone, it is Hermione who solves the potions riddle (in the end of the book)

In the GoF, when Harry meets the sphinx, and has to solve a riddle, he tells himself that it is Hermione that is good at this kind of things.

Solving riddles needs a clever person. If Hermione solved many riddles, then she is certainly clever. There are another billion proofs, but I can't say them all here.

OK, if Hermione is clever, how is she in Gryffindor, House of the Brave? She must be in Ravenclaw, House of the Clever, right?

I'm not saying that Hermione isn't brave. She is brave. But the thing that is at a great extent in her is cleverness. She is much more clever than she is brave.

Also, I'm not saying that I wish Hermione is seperated from Harry and Ron. I'm just making a remark that if Hermione is clever, how can she go to the house which likes brave people and not go to Ravenclaw, which likes clever people?

(Sorry for blabbing on so much)

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but on the train in Book 1, Hermione said she wanted to be in Gryffindor. I do think that Ravenclaw is your immediate guess, but I do believe JK once said there was a reason she was there, and it would be revealed.

Robert

We have to look past the obvious with the characters. If all the smart students were in ravenclaw then I guess the rest of em would be a bunch of duffers right? Hermione is great for grifyndore, and she shows it, maybe not ervery day but in the times when she needs to.

sorry.

No need to be sorry. It's a learning process.

I think that Hermione does show it, pretty much every day. When there's a question that everyone else is afraid to ask, Hermione's usually the one to ask it.

No matter what people think of her audacity with the house Elves, it took a lot of courage to keep plugging on, trying to convince other people, then the elves themselves, inspite of all of the negative feedback.

Also, Hermione knows that she's unpopular with a lot of her classmates because she's a "know-it-all", yet she keeps volunteering in class, and keeps doing her best in spite of public ridicule from peers as well as Snape.

As for Neville, my favorite example of his courage was during the quidditch game in book1 when he tells Malfoy that he's worth 10 of him, then takes on Carbbe and Goyle together. :-)

On sorting, remember its also about what the person wants. Harry could have been in Slytherin, but he chose not to be He had Gryffindor traits as well, and because he didn't want Slytherin, he got Gryffindor. Perhaps Hermione simply chose to be in Gryffindor as well. She MAY have been better suited to Ravenclaw, but she also had Gryffindor traits and wanted Gryffindor, so she was sorted there instead of Ravenclaw.

I'm moving this into the Great Hall.

If another admin/mod thinks this thread should remain in the Common Room, please move it back. :)

Great points all around. I myself would like to add though, what about the bravery Muggle-born Hermione - also the smartest, most academically accomplished student of her year - will have to have in the future when people will be persecuted not only for not being on the "Dark Side", but also for not being pureblood (remember in GOF when Mr. Weasley said that the attack on the Muggles at the QWC was the death eaters idea of fun, and that half the killings of Muggles from the time of V's reign of terror were pretty much sport?)? I think the examples listed of H's bravery are but a foreshadowing of her willingness to stand for rights of others. I think she will definitely prove to be a courageous as well as smart leader in the future books.

The main reason Hermione was placed in Gryffindor because obviously she contributes to the main plot of the series and she has the characteristics of a true Gryffindor. Not only does she use her knowledge for school, but she also uses it to help Harry and Ron through their adventures. Therefore, she is displaying bravery! :)

Yeah, I think it's kind of weird that the house that prides themselves as the cleverest doesn't even have the cleverest witch of the year. So what exactly is Ravenclaw's claim to fame then?

The smallest Head of House! ;-)

I think that the qualities that hermione was put into Gryffindor for havent been shown to us yet. Thhe Sorting Hat had a reason for putting her there.

Hermione is in the right house.
She's shown bravery on countless occasions. She went to Snape's office to get the potion ingredients, she's gone through loads of hardships, her being muggle born, her standing up for what's right. She also has chivalry and alot of it (helping Neville when she just meets him and alot more!) 'Course she is clever and intellegent, but she values barvery more than cleverness. "Me! Books, cleverness! there are more important things. Like freindship and bravery and oh Harry! Just be careful okay?" I think that just proves it!

I dont know if anybody else has mentioned this, but...Hermione said that she wanted to be in Gryffindor before she got sorted. Regardless of whether she was more clever than brave, she CHOSE to be put in Gryffindor, just like Harry did. And, as many people have said, she has shown a lot of bravery anyway - the potion bit at the end of PS; and lots of other stuff. (v. good quote GryffindorSeeker )

And about Neville - he may have wanted to be put there too; but he will show his bravery in future books.

Originally posted by Hpmons (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=259095#post259095))
I dont know if anybody else has mentioned this, but...Hermione said that she wanted to be in Gryffindor before she got sorted. Regardless of whether she was more clever than brave, she CHOSE to be put in Gryffindor, just like Harry did. And, as many people have said, she has shown a lot of bravery anyway - the potion bit at the end of PS; and lots of other stuff. (v. good quote GryffindorSeeker )

And about Neville - he may have wanted to be put there too; but he will show his bravery in future books.


I was watching SS this morning and I had this exact same thought. I came to post it and hpmons beat me to it lol. Since Harry chose to be anywhere but Slytherin, the hat seems to be open to suggestions. Maybe Hermione asked the hat through her thoughts to be put into Gryffindor.
About Neville, I agree. What house were his parents in? Maybe they were in Gryffindor and he wanted to be too??

I figured there would be a discussion about this already, but didn't find anything when I searched...

Is Hermione in the wrong house? Isn't Ravenclaw for smart, clever people? In book one, Hermione describes herself with "books, and cleverness". Is she supposed to be in (sorry spelling) Griffyndor?

This seems like something that was discussed (maybe a bit of topic, but I am not too sure). Maybe the hat saw something in her head, some sort of potential that she has not shown yet. I think that she has a deep secret or two the can change how she is viewed. Just a hunch. Maybe that is the factor in why she is a Griffindor. There must be a reason she is there the hat is very assured of itself.

It's Gryffindor I believe.
And I'm not sure that there is another place for this either so..

I always thought that the house you are put in represents your underlying- deepest, most basic nature.
Hermione is a brainiac, Ron always reminds me of a Hufflepuff and even the sorting hat wanted to put Harry into Slytherin...
but when it comes down to the wire a Gryffindor will come through and do what's right. Hermione goes up and faces evil she doesn't retreat into her books: that is why she is in gryffindor not Ravenclaw.

Also there was an interesting discussion on the relationship between houses that took place on a thread abou Slytherin and Ravenclaw which I am not sure if it was replaced.

Any thoughts?

I think she may have asked to be placed in Gryffindor. She did a lot of reading on Hogwarts. She's the sort to choose for herself.

Or maybe it wasn't so much as a request as a desire. Maybe through reading she decided that she wanted most to be a Griffindor and the hat realized that.

She also has developed just as much of a tendency for rule breaking as Harry and Ron. I don't see Ravenclaws as rule breakers necessarily.

She also has shown plenty of courage and bravery. Stealing from Snapes office takes some guts (book 2). Risking breaking wizard laws regarding time travel, and helping a wanted criminal escape is pretty risky (book 3).

Like someone said before, I think it is the characters deepest quality that determines where a child is placed:

If thier greatest quality is bravery (Hermione helping Harry break the rules in PS/SS, helping find the basilisk, using her *urgh* time turner to help him free Sirius...all very brave actions that often go against what is smart) They are placed in Gryfinndor

If their greatest quality is loyalty (to the rules as well as friends)they are placed in Hufflepuff

If their greatest quality is intelligence they are placed in Ravenclaw.

If their greatest quality is amibtion they are placed in Slytherin.

I think the sorting hat figured out then when pushed came to shove, Hermione would be brave rather than smart (so would Harry, Ron and Ginny)

Great explaination Lady Greyjoy! I agree 100%

Everyone has a combination of each of the 4 characteristics of each house. Except for maybe intelligence. Some do miss out of that. :D

We do all have some loyalty, some bravey and some ambition though. What is important is the levels we have of them it in, and which we see as most important. Hufflepuffs put loyalty before bravery, learning, and ambition. Ravenclaws put intelligence first. And so on and so on. Hermione just has both intelligence and bravery in spades. Bravery won out in this case.

Well said!!! I agree - you can't expect every member of Gryffindor to be the sort who laugh in the face of danger and play with dragons, just as you can't expect every Ravenclaw to bury their nose in a big book for their entire lives, nor every Hufflepuff to be tripping over their shoelaces and thinking like a labrador puppy.

I think that if any one house has it all, then it's Slytherin. Very ambitious people are often very talented and brave as well. No wonder they were beating Gryffindor for the House Cup for all those years!!! ;D

When Hermione is being sorted i always thought of her a Gryffindor.
But since you talked about her being a smart and clever which Ravenclaw's traits, i began to think your right...

Well i think the sorting hat saw some bravery in her which Ravenclaw doesn't have. Gryffindor students are also smart. :p

"By Gryffindor the bravest were
prized far beyond the best
For Ravenclaw the cleverst
would always be the best" -GoF Sorting Hat Song

i must agree that from this it would seem hermione should have been put into ravenclaw
however the sorting hat doesnt look at the suface of a persons mind to work out where they belong it looks deep inside to places we havnt yet explored to find not what we are neccaserily but what we may become...
it is in the respect i believe that hermione was placed in gryffindor because the hat realised she had the potential to be special... look at dumbledore... he was in gryffindor (we suppose) and he is pictured as some sort of hero and yet harry doesnt understand this until GoF...

"at that moment Harry fully understood why people said Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldermort ever feared. The look upon Dumbledores face as he looked down at the unconsious form of mad-eye moodywas more terrible than Harry could have imagined. There was no benign smileupon Dumbledores face, no twinkle in the eyes behind the spectacles. There was cold fury in every line of the ancient face; a sense of power radiated from Dumbledore as though he was giving of a burning heat" (sorry but that is SO my fav. bit)

and so i believe that we can 'expect great things' from hermione because the sorting hat saw something we have not yet seen but we shall... we soon shall

JKR seems to link Hermione to McGonagall - head of Gryffindor house -several times in the books as a mentor and in terms of character.
Also it seems Hermione herself admires bravery. It's one of the first things she notices about Viktor Krum. She says something like "he was very brave wasn't he" at the quidditch world cup. And of course the trio became friends after an act of bravery on the boys' part, saving her from the troll.

Originally posted by TheRealSlugger (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=307689#post307689))
I figured there would be a discussion about this already, but didn't find anything when I searched...

Is Hermione in the wrong house? Isn't Ravenclaw for smart, clever people? In book one, Hermione describes herself with "books, and cleverness". Is she supposed to be in (sorry spelling) Griffyndor?


Well, she is smart and clever, and the best student of the whole school, it seems. So yes, she would have done well in Ravenclaw. But she is also clearly very brave, and although she had a high regard for rules, that regard vanishes completely when anybody is in trouble, so th typical Gryffindorian disregard for rules are there too.

So, she probably would have been happy in both houses, but she *wanted* to go to Gryffindor, so the hat put her there.

I'm going to merge this with an existing topic on Hermione's house credentials, which has just been restored to the Common Room. :)

This question was brought up in the 5th book and it got me thinking "Why IS she in Gryfindor?" Maybe I'm reading too much into it because when I went back to the first book the Sorting hat didn't seem to take a long time sorting her. What are your thoughts?

Well, she is very smart, but she's also brave. And perhaps, that bravery put her in Gryffindor. She also has a little tendency to brake rules . . . maybe that's another gryffindor quality.

She probably chose to be...just like Harry did.

She probably chose to be...just like Harry did.

I was thinking of that. But it doesn't make any scence. She didn't have any grudges against Ravenclaw, and she didn't have any friends she'd be trying to be with.

yeah..I think she chose that....for what she said,, she had a bit of a conversation with the sorting hat... Like Harry, she was difficult to place....

Also, she is very intelligent, but she is also very brave, and if she needs to break the rules or trick someone, she'll do it (Umbrige)....Yeah, I think she deserved to be placed in gryffindor...

But it doesn't make any scence. She didn't have any grudges against Ravenclaw, and she didn't have any friends she'd be trying to be with.

That's what we think....I don't know but I always thought that hermione knew so many things even before she got to Hogwarts that she wasn't supposed to know because she is a muggle...We might be surprised with hermione....

Also..she had memorized Hogwarts, A History, even before she took any class....she might have read about the houses there..

Also, there could be something that comes up... where she shows her 'true' Gryffindor-ness. Who knows...

Didn't she say something about wanting to be in Gryffindor when they were talking about the houses? The sorting hat may have seen that she would do well in both, and since she pretty much chose to be in Gryffindor, that's where the sorting hat put her.

She is very brave in my opinoin... she always sticks by harry's side wherever he goes.. Ravenclaw doesnt get ALL the smart people.. she has bravery and cleverness so i guess it was a split ravenclaw/gryffindor, and her choice stuck her in there.. idunno.. DD said your choice means alot...

May be Hermoine was sorted into Gryffindor because the Sorting Hat sensed that she would do very well in Transfiguration .

Gryffindors are famous to do well in Transfiguration .
Dumbledore was a Transfiguration teacher before the headship .. so is McGonagall .
James Potter also I assume was good at Transfiguration , sence Mr.Ollivander has kindley pointed out to Harry that his father's wand was good for Transfiguration .

Dumbledore, McGonagall and James Potter are all Gryffindors .

and in many places throughout the books Prof. McGonagall always praises Hermoine's good work in Transfiguration ............ :)

that's why Hermione is in Gryffindor ........... :)



P.S: OLLIVANDER ........................ :angry:
HOW DARE YOU TAKE MY NAME ........................... :angry:

hey , I'm just kidding ................ ;D
why don't you call yourself Ollivander jr ............ :D


.

Interesting thoughts, but a bit tenuous - there's no obvious connection between bravery and Transfiguration. Maybe Godric had a fondness for that branch of magic.

It's rather intriguing that Hermione ended up in Gryffindor after the hat wanted to put her in Ravenclaw, which she said on the train that she wouldn't mind being in. She does think bravery more important than cleverness, though.

By the way, a possible mistake in PS: When the students were waiting to be sorted, Hermione was wondering what spell she would need. But surely the hat is mentioned in Hogwarts: a History? (I don't think there's much use discussing that point further!)

I think Hermione desplayed incredible bravery at the end of book five, when she insisted on going to the Department of Mysteries with Harry. 1.) She was breaking the rules. 2.) She was headed into something that certainly spelled danger. And once she got there she fought as well as Harry.
Bravery is a funny sort of trait. For some (like Neville---before book five), just getting out of bed in the morning is an act of courage. For others, like Hermione, breaking the rules takes guts. It all depends on the person.

i don't think breaking the rules has anything to do with it if u remember correctly breaking the rules is a slytherin thing not a gryffindor thing as dumbledore said in book 2

:welcome: to the boards, Rosie B.!

This topic is currently being discussed in a thread entitled Why wasn't Hermione sorted into Ravenclaw? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4815).

If you're ever unsure whether a topic has been discussed previously, please use the search (http://www.cosforums.com/a/search.php) function located at the top left-hand corner of your screen.

Thanks -- I'll merge these two. :)

Breaking the rules may be a Slytherin thing, but Slytherins do it to benefit themselves; Gryffindors do it to benefit others. As far as I'm concerned, Hermione's shown herself to be a true Gryffindor since she stood up for Ron and Harry after the troll attack on Halloween. In CoS, she pushed the Polyjuice Potion because she felt it was their best hope of catching the Heir of Slytherin; in PoA, she helped rescue a wanted criminal because she knew him to be innocent; in GoF, she stood up to the nasty gossip surrounding her; and in this book, she organized Dumbledore's Army so the other students would stand a chance of defending themselves, concocted a plan on the spur of the moment to get rid of Professor Umbridge that could have seriously backfired on her, and went off to the Ministry to stop Voldemort. What more does she have to do to prove herself?

And does anyone read my signature? :(

Originally posted by FatalBeauty (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=140153#post140153))
At the end of Sorcerer's Stone, Harry said how Hermione was smart, and she said "Books and cleverness! There are more important things. Friendship and bravery and oh Harry....." (or something like that). That sounds like a Gryffindor to me. :)

I agree. There's a lot more to Hermione than meets the eye... ;)

ok, i did a search and did not find this topic yet...does anyone else think there might be a significance to hermoine almost being placed in ravenclaw (besides just being smart?) i mean, harry almost being in slytherin was important...

Actually, yes. I believe that it is quite significant. Especially with the new Sorting Hat song. It is funny that both Harry and Hermione before book five have never disclosed the fact to each other that they were both almost put in another house. Harry has many of the qualities that Salazzar Slytherin chose in his pupils. I never thought about it but considering what qualities defined the Ravenclaw house, Hermione also shares many of them. Very interesting that they both chose to go into Gryffindor.

i think that, even as eleven year olds, harry and hermione both knew that doing the right thing (bravery) was more important than knowledge or personal ambition, and this was why they both wound up in gryffindor even though they would have done well in other houses.

Originally posted by Rowena Ravenclaw (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=397979#post397979))
Breaking the rules may be a Slytherin thing, but Slytherins do it to benefit themselves; Gryffindors do it to benefit others. As far as I'm concerned, Hermione's shown herself to be a true Gryffindor since she stood up for Ron and Harry after the troll attack on Halloween. In CoS, she pushed the Polyjuice Potion because she felt it was their best hope of catching the Heir of Slytherin; in PoA, she helped rescue a wanted criminal because she knew him to be innocent; in GoF, she stood up to the nasty gossip surrounding her; and in this book, she organized Dumbledore's Army so the other students would stand a chance of defending themselves, concocted a plan on the spur of the moment to get rid of Professor Umbridge that could have seriously backfired on her, and went off to the Ministry to stop Voldemort. What more does she have to do to prove herself?

And does anyone read my signature?


COMPLETELY RIGHT.! Why should we question Hermione's right to be in Gryffindor ANYMORE? She's obviously proven HERSELF.! :D If you can't accept, TO BAD FOR YOU.! :p


Originally posted by rotsiepots (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=142303#post142303))
I thought Neville displayed quite outstanding bravery when he confronted Harry, Ron and Hermione on their way down to face Fluffy in the first book. As Dumbledore said, "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."

Neville has proven himself worthy of Gryffindor; he doesn't need to confront Voldemort or battle mountain trolls to do so.



SAME WITH NEVILLE.! He has proven himself.! NOT ONLY with that...... But also Neville has braved through having parents in a Mental Institution... He also showed IMMENSE bravery in book #5 in the battle facing up to Bellatrix, which I'm SURE he'll do AGAIN.!

Neville is *GREAT*.! And... GRYFFINDOR.!

<center><img src="http://pages.prodigy.net/hpdevo/quiz/neville.jpg"><br><a href="http://pages.prodigy.net/hpdevo/quiz"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Which HP Kid Are You?</font></a></center>

I think it's significant that Hermione was considered for Ravenclaw but put in Gryffindor and Harry was considered for Slytherin but put in Gryffindor. And loyalty - the feature of Hufflepuff - is a major characteristic of both of them. Symbolically, together they combine the qualities of the four houses and inter-house harmony and standing together are book themes.

Hermione proved herself to be a true Gryffindor. Maybe she chose to be in Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat probably thought that yes, she is right for Ravenclaw but she will definitely grow into a person if she is put in Gryffindor.

The sorting hat doesn't just look at the "top parts" of the mind, it sort of looks through everything, so even though Hermione might seem like a Ravenclaw through and through at a first glance, there is a lot of things that people can't see, things that get proven later.

I mean, think of Percy, he has enough ambition for the whole Slytherin house put together, and yet he was put in Gryffindor. Same thing with Hermione. In the 5th book she definately proves herself worthy of wearing the red and gold colours, as she has in almost all the other books. A person is not made up of one trait, but several different ones. Ron would probably have been put in Hufflepuff if he hadn't been in Gryffindor, together with Neville. Harry would have been a Slytherin (with Percy), Hermione a Ravenclaw...

The sorting hat pt Hermione into Gryffindor because it knew that if she ever came to a place where she either had to use her bravery (and chivalry) or her cleverness, she'd use her bravery.

Originally posted by Muggleborn (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=136217#post136217))
I know this will never be true...but just a thought.

Hermione, who is smart, keen on learning and has wit...I think she is more suitable to be in Ravenclaw.

What do you think?


Firstly, Hermione has shown bravery, as she has often helped Haryy. Secondly, the books would be pretty boring if all Harry's friends were prertty brave. A combination of different skills produces the best result.

The Sorting Hat put Hermione and Harry in Gryffindor because they wanted it to.

May be she had more bravery than cleverness.

Well, I'm not sure. She always seemed liked a Ravenclaw to me.
She is brave, I guess the Gryffindor qualities outweigh her Ravenclaw ones, but her intelligence does seem to shine through very strongly.

Remember ,when we first met Hermione,she was talking about the houses (among other things) and said she'd been asking around and hoped she'd be put in Gryffindor,it sounded by far the best,and Dumbledore himself(whom she somewhat hero-worshipped) was one.She WANTED to be in Gryffindor,saying only this of Ravenclaw;it wouldn't be too bad.I suppose the Sorting Hat saw inside her head and put her where she really wanted (and deserved) to be.And this serves to reinforce more than ever Albus Dumbledore's statement in CoS that it is our choices,not our abilities,that make us who we are.Now there really shouldn't be any more doubt about where she belongs.

I agree with Drusilla.

Good point Drusilla. And isn't that another link to Harry's situation where he asked, it was his choice, not to go to Slytherin.

Originally posted by go_anna40 (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=430658#post430658))
Well, I'm not sure. She always seemed liked a Ravenclaw to me.
She is brave, I guess the Gryffindor qualities outweigh her Ravenclaw ones, but her intelligence does seem to shine through very strongly.


In the book, she says that the hat almost put her in Ravenclaw.

I took this to mean that the situation was very much like Harry's - where the hat was going to put them in one house, but they wanted to go into a different house, so the hat put them there.

I thought I'd heard Hermione say that the hat almost put her in Ravenclaw, but as no-one mentioned it before, I thought I was getting mixed up with fan fiction of something. I couldn't find a page reference but I'm sure it's in Ootp.

Exactly, Katze. Remember, on the very first train before the start of the first year, she went around saying that Gryffindor sounded like the best choice? Well, as she asked the hat not to put her in Ravenclaw, it put her to the next best choice.

Makes a lot of sense. I am almost surprised that we have neither heard from other people who have had the same discussion with the sorting hat or another explanation from DD to another student (inadvertently to Harry) about that choice.

Hermione wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw because she chose Gryffindor. Plain and simple. She definitely has the brains of a Ravenclaw but her bravery out matches that. Also, look to Percy Weasley. He's smart and everything and probably would have done good in Ravenclaw but was sorted into Gryffindor. I don't think that was becasue of the Weasley genes but the factthat he chose to be in Gryffindor. Like JK said, it is your choices that define who you are and Hermione chose Gryffindor. It's a good thing, too, otherwise she might not have ever gotten to know Ron and then where would Ron and Hermione be? LOL

Hermione is so much more than just her intellect, and she's proved that throughout the series. Her intellect is what allows her to be herioc and brave. I think we should expect a lot more from Hermione in the future. She has a lot she still wants to prove to us, I think.

I think she was sorted into Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw because she considers courage more important than an ability you are just born with.

In the last reunion of DA,Hermione tells to a Ravenclaw that the Sorting Hat considered to sort her in Ravenclaw....well do you think the hat made a mistake?even with Percy I think the Hat did....

No. She has a lot of bravery which is one of the major points of Gryffindors isn't it? She's a swotty git but that's just who she is. I think despite such different personalities, all the Gryffindors have shown bravery and courage (barring Percy) at one point or another throughout the books.

Ron daesn't seem very brave,though,even Neville...he should have been in Hufflepuff

I don't think it made a mistake... Hermione has a unique kind of courage, she has confidence. She isn't afraid to ask questions, and will do anything to get a response. Remember her continually questioning Umbridge?!? AND she came up with a way to rebel.

She's definitely a Gryffindor.

Yeah, and although Ron can be a wus at times, He still went into the forest with Harry in CoS to see Aragog despite his fear of spiders. Something which took courage to get over so he could be with Harry and support him if anything happened. I'm still working on something for Neville...
.
.
.
.
.
...Well, the fact he went to the Ministry despite him knowing what was instore says quite a courageous bit about him I think. Yeah, I think Gryffindors are more courageous than anything else.

No, none of them are in the wrong house by mistake. Accept it.

Hermione values courage over intellectual pursuits, in case you hadn't noticed. With many characters, their driving trait is hard to see.

I think the Hat has a good idea about where people should, but remeber it's also open to suggestions. Hermione did say in the first book she hopes she is put in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw wouldn't be bad. I took that as Ravenclaw being a second choice. I say this in a lot of posts because I think people forget that JKR wants us to know that it is the CHOICES we make that make us who we are. If a person chooses to be brave, then doesn't it make them brave? I think Hermione chose Gryffindor over Ravenclaw and that's why she was put there. Not to mention that she is very brave, and bravery isn't necessarily always running straight into mortal peril.

You also might to check out this thread about the same topic http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4815&highlight=hermione+in+ravenclaw

Yeah, and although Ron can be a wus at times, He still went into the forest with Harry in CoS to see Aragog despite his fear of spiders.

I don't think any of the charcters could be called wuses for showing fear. You can be brave and fearful at the same time. I think Ron would be a wus if he didn't follow the spiders in the forrest or if he ran away without Harry.

Neville's want for revenge on Bella is giving him his courage/bravery. And no matter what you say, Percy should be in Slytherin. Pure-blood and extremely ambitious. Is that not what they look for.

I won't hear a word said against Ron. Yes he's slightly wussy (and in OotP he hardly ever stood up to Hermione) But he does have bags of courage. Going back to play QUidditch again and again took determination and he's always been prepared to involve himself in anything that Harry has done (yes he was a bit scaredy in the forest but they're acromantula more heaven's sake)
Does anybody else find it funny that Hermione was considered for the Ravenclaw in the same way that Harry was considered for Slytherin. Isn't it ironic that Harry was beating himself up about this in the 2nd book, when all along Hermione would have been able to console him if he had told her about it!

being brave doesn't mean that you will jump at the chance to do something dangerous just because you canor that you aren't afarid of anything. it means that you do something you believe in or think is right, no matter how scared you may be or what anyone else thinks. Ron has definately demonstrated this. So has Hermoine. AND Neville. Remember SS/PS? He tried to stop them? :) And i think we'll see more of that in the future. And Percy was put into griffindor for a reason, which i think will be revealed later.

to the original question, hermoine is as brave as she is smart, so maybe it was her choice just as it was harry's. dumbledore did say it our choice, not our abilities, that make us who we are.

Neville's want for revenge on Bella is giving him his courage/bravery. And no matter what you say, Percy should be in Slytherin. Pure-blood and extremely ambitious. Is that not what they look for.

I agree Neville is being driven to bravery. However, I don't think Percy should have been in Slytherin. I think he is just a little blind to the facts.

Does anybody else find it funny that Hermione was considered for the Ravenclaw in the same way that Harry was considered for Slytherin. Isn't it ironic that Harry was beating himself up about this in the 2nd book, when all along Hermione would have been able to console him if he had told her about it!
I don't think it's ironic; Hermione couldn't have consoled him because the Hat wanted to put her in a decent house. Everyone knows Slytherin is pretty much bad news whereas Ravenclaws are just know for being brainy. It wasn't that Harry didn't want them to know that the Hat considered him for an alternative House, it was that he didn't want them to know that the Hat considered him for Slytherin. He didn't want anyone to think that he was or would become a dark wizard.

being brave doesn't mean that you will jump at the chance to do something dangerous just because you canor that you aren't afarid of anything. it means that you do something you believe in or think is right, no matter how scared you may be or what anyone else thinks. Ron has definately demonstrated this. So has Hermoine. AND Neville. Remember SS/PS? He tried to stop them? And i think we'll see more of that in the future. And Percy was put into griffindor for a reason, which i think will be revealed later.

to the original question, hermoine is as brave as she is smart, so maybe it was her choice just as it was harry's. dumbledore did say it our choice, not our abilities, that make us who we are.

Exactly the points I made earlier. :)

Percy a little blind???????he's a complete jerk!he's father was in danger of life and he did nothing!

ravstardeluxe called Hermoine a swotty git...please forgive my ignorance (i'm from u.s.) but what exactly is a swotty git because that may end up being my new favorite phrase

A swot is a teacher's pet.

Lord_Chatterley, sometimes even Gryffindors can be complete jerks.

Thanks Cat!

Just because Percy is heading down a path that alienates him form his family doesn't make him a bad guy. Yeah, he's acted like a jerk, but I don't think he is a jerk. I think he is trying to suck up to Fudge for the sake of his career. Now that the truth is out, do you think he's going to continue to be the estranged Weasley son? We don't know yet. Maybe Percy will turn out okay.

Also I believe that hat is looking at a persons potential. It is your choices that make you who you are. You can still make bad choices(Percy, to put it mildly), but still have certian ablilities that place you in a particular house without the hat making a mistake. For that reason, actions may make a person seem as if they are in the wrong house even if they possess the ability to follow the characteristics of that particular house.

Bravery isn't the lack of fear, but the ability to cope with them. Ron was petrified of spiders, but he still went into the forest and faced off against spiders of monsterous sizes. Also in PS, Ron took the risk of being beaten to death by sacrificing himself on the chess board so Harry and Hermione could continue. If he did that during a war, he'd get a medal.

As for Hermione, how many girls do you know who'd face almost certain death to save her friend's godfather?

Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all very brave in their own right. They have the ability to suppress their fears when it really matters. Quite often, people who have no fear, don't know bravery.

Bringing back this thread,i made a new one and it was closed (but not merged:() si i'll post my 2 replies here;

.
.
.

Well i couldn't find any similar thread even tho i looked (but every word i used came back with hundreds of threads! LOL)

So anyway, this thread is here in "predictions" rather than "book 5 dicsussion" because i feel there are certain repercusiions to the fact that Hermoine is in Griffindor, because JK it's just SO not JK to contraditc herself and i feel in Order she hinted very stringoly at seemingly erronious presence of Hermoine in Griffindor rather than Ravenclaw...

Ok, so lets get to basics... the houses basically work as follows: Each house has a criterion for which it's members must fulfill in order to be in it, furthermore, this aspect of the student must be stronger than any of the other three... well that last bit has never been said but it's pretty obvious, right? Example: Some slytherins are brave and some smart, but their overbearing quality is that they are ambitious and will do anything to achieve their goal; Similarily, some Ravenclaws are brave and ambitious too, but their intelligence is more a part of them... the way i like to think of it is that it's like percentages. (sorry for not mentioning the Hufflepuff qualities but i dnt really know what they are! LOL kindness?)

Anyway, so taking that view of the way in which someone is put into a house, by the sorting hat of course (who i may add never gets it wrong) why IS hermoine in Griffindor? In book 5 thsi is brought up by some ravenclaw in a DA meeting when she says something in her usually smart way, and she comments that the sorting hat had considered it but decided to put her in Griffindor... now, see this is where i started thinking; So far the sorting hat seems to have shown the ability to see not only what a persons current qualities are, but what potential they have, and although i imagine it doesn't necesarily look into the future, in a way it kinda does, the future of that persons potential, right? confusing, i know...

So... why DID the sorting hat put Hermoine in griffindor? I mean she is the smartest girl in school by FAR... and the hat is *never* wrong, right? So what does this mean? If she is THAT intelligent, and yet the Hat felt that her overbearing quality, that of the 4 "available" her bravery was the strongest in her (even if only slightly more than her intelligence), how brave must she be? have we seen this bravery in full throtle!? does this mean that we are gonna see Hermoine's bravery really come thru in the next 2 books? I know people are gonna say she has already proven herself very brave, but not, nothing to the level of he intelligence, i mean at the beginning she was even holding back what with her caution and even now she still is skeptical about running off and being all heroic... the fact that JK points out that hermoine is in griffindor and NOT ravenclaw in such a passing-comment type of manner makes me think that it's even more important, she is trying to make it look unimportant, but still have it be there... JK is a very smart author and stuff like this is just so her style.

So, anyway, i've rambled without really getting anywehre, but basically what i'm getting at is that big things (i hope) lie ahead for Hermoine, JK has said continually she feel hermoine is what she was like, and yet i have always felt she has held back in using H to her full potenial... could this be why? All thru the 5 book i have felt like there has been a Hermoine build up and, and that when the time comes she will really shine... but how? Could she play a fundamental part in the downfall of Voldemort? I dunno, but i'm just hoping that this little *hinT* on JK's part means as much as i'm hyping it up to be...

.
.
.

He chose it, but he was a true griffindor, what with the sword in the hat. The situation with Harry and Slytherin is similar to Hermoine's in the sense that they both posses strong qualities belonging to different houses (but we imagine that the slytherin that the hat saw in harry was mor evoldermort than harry right?); And did Hermoine actually choose griffindor? I mean did it say that? I havent got my book w/ me at the minute...

And yes, she has been TREMENDOUSLY brave, but i cant help but thing that book five is just LITTERED with hints of what's to come for hermoine: calling Voldermot by his name, the whole set up with Ron, the otter (which i personally think is more important that we can see), setting up DA... and these are the more obvious ones, there's probably more that escape me along the lines of the one we are discussing... i dunno, it just seems like a sub-objective of book five is to serve as a build up to hermoine, or maybe it's wishful thinking, because i feels she's been tremedously underused? But seriously, if you were writing a character in ur book who mirrored youself, wouldn't you use that character more? I have always had a feeling of holding back with H from JK, at first i thought she ddnt like her much... but now maybe she lieks her TOO much and decided to save her for the end?

Well as i was syin, although Hermoine has been really brave when compared to the average kid, using the "rule" that i set out before, in order for her to be in Griffindor, her bravery must be of at least equal (or very close) magnitude as her intelligence... and i just dnt feel we have seen a display of such huge bravery and heroism from her in order to warrent a place in griffindor over ravenclaw (the hat wouldnt put someone i a house for simply asking)... and the fact that JK POINTS this irregularity (or so its seems) out to us, along with all the otehr hints, just seems like she wants the lightbulbs to go *bing* and for us to put 2 and 2 together, something big is coming up for hermoine where we will prove that for however smart she is, she is even braver... and i just dnt think we have seen anything like that yet ...

Could this great feat of bravery that she is hinting at (a display of bravery larger than any display of intelligence) be to sacrifice herself for the greater good? Yes it would be very buffy season 5, but i dnt think JK watches it so she would be none the wiser

Man i seriously hope i aint over speculating (whic h i KNOW i am)

.
.
.

And i'd like to add yto this rather HUGE post that i am trying to look at it from en external perspective aswell as an internal one, more along the lines of what JK intended when she wrote those lines, i mean after reading 5 books i feel quite confidant in being abel to spot a huge hint, i mean the way it all happened, it's all there, the question coming out of the blue, not given importance, but just out of no where it interrupts the flow of the conversation, giving it the spotlinght but no further importnac,e she wouldn't do that for no reason... it's just not her style:) This means something...

k.

I know this will never be true...but just a thought.

Hermione, who is smart, keen on learning and has wit...I think she is more suitable to be in Ravenclaw.

What do you think?
Hermione is in Gryffindor maybe even though she is smart she had Gryffindor qualities like braverly and royality.

It says in the fifth book that the sorting hat did consider putting her in Ravenclaw. But her bravery or daring must have overpowered her undoubtably brilliant mind. I think the sorting hat just takes your strongest characteristic and puts you in the house that suits it.

It says in the fifth book that the sorting hat did consider putting her in Ravenclaw. But her bravery or daring must have overpowered her undoubtably brilliant mind. I think the sorting hat just takes your strongest characteristic and puts you in the house that suits it.

Yes and she also states in ss/ps that brains and cleverness are not everything, that there is more to life, love, friendship and bravery are much more important. So I think I agree with you on this one. That Hermione would have gone into Ravenclaw if it was not for her bravery and defience of the sorting hat. The one thing that struck me though, was that the sorting hat seemed shocked at Harrys defience of being placed in Slytherin. So the sorting hat should be equally shocked at Hermione defience, yes or no?

If that is the case then this must be the first time the sorting hat has come across students asking and defieing its choose for them to be placed. Wonder why?

What is so special about Harry and Hermione?

Hermione certainly suits Gryffindor, since she values bravery over books and cleverness. I have a bit of trouble believing that she would have made an active choice against Ravenclaw, like Harry did against Slytherin. I see two possibilities:

1) The hat wanted to put Hermione in Ravenclaw, but she wanted to be in Gryffindor because of things she'd read about it. Being in Gryffindor taught her that bravery is more important than cleverness (the troll incident?)

2) She always valued chivalry over swottiness, but the hat took a while to notice her Gryffindor tendency.

I think you all have picked up on something here. She doesn't necessarily need to speak her choice to the hat for the hat to eventually sift through her value system and see what is really important to her. She does claim to value courage over cleverness, and i think that the hat, which might have initially recognized her obvious intelligence, discovered that she esteemed more Gryffindorian traits. So much so, it decided that she would be better off among people she could really admire.

Hermione said:
"Me!Books and cleverness! There are more important things. Friendship and bravery and- oh Harry Be careful!"

that's sound like a Gryffindor

Hermione is A Gryffndor.
She puts herself in danger to follow Harry(In Sorcer's stone, in Prisoner of Azkaban in Ootp!)
Harry also notice that she is loyal to him-That's mean she's a Gryffindor!She bravery in the fight in Dom!
yes she's also very intelligent but she's more than a Ravenclaw: She's a Gryffindor!

:tu:

I agree with Mirtilla.

If she hadn't pointed that out, I would have.

;)

I know this very farfetched, but it had crossed my mind that maybe Hermoine had been placed in Griffendor to befriend Harry and to watch over him because maybe she is his sister. Maybe when Voldemort went to the Potter house to kill ALL of the Potters, she had already been spirited away to a safe place, the Grangers. Maybe they aren't what they seem either as was Mrs. Figg. Hermione seemed to already know an awful lot about the wizarding world for a muggle and had tried some simple spells. She sought out Harry's friendship and was nearly annoying to him. He hardly welcomed her attentions and she seemed very overprotective. Also, it seemed very odd to me that after the first year she always spent her Christmas holiday at school. Maybe like Harry, she only has to spend a short while at her place of home to cement her concealment from the Deatheaters and enemies. It wasn't the first time she has kept a secret. I think she is related to Harry and knows it and a lot more, but is bound by a secret with Dumbledore. Any thoughts?

The sorting hat put her there instead of Ravenclaw for a reason. I can't really find anything extremely daring that she's done. Maybe I'm missing something?

Please post some examples, if there are any.

Could she have wanted to end up in the same house as Harry and Ron? Hardly, since they weren't friends then... But she maybe thought that it was the best house. Dumbledore was a Gryffindor.

She's in Gryffindor because she is brave, and values her friends above anything else. She is very clever, but her Gryffindor qualities obviously outweigh that, otherwise she might have been put in Ravenclaw.

Perhaps we will find out more about her bravery in book six or seven.

You don't think she's shown herself to be brave?

She's fought with Death Eaters in the middle of the night at the deserted Ministry of Magic building, she's got revenge on two over-powering women (Umbridge and Rita Skeeter), she gave what she thought was an escaped mass-murderer a good booting, she followed Harry to the Philosopher's Stone, she's given Malfoy a slap, she daringly breaks school rules despite it being part of her better judgement, and often enjoys it ... she's faced so much and faced it well.

And, as Mrs Padfoot says, her bravery shines above her intelligence. When it comes down to it, she'll ditch common sense and will just act boldly. Sometimes I think what defines your House is what personality trait comes to your aid when you face difficult circumstances, not what you display most of the time. And she herself said she'd take bravery over cleverness any day.

Hey cinnamon822, :welcome: to CoSForums. There is already a thread on this topic here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=4815). Please remember to use the search function (http://www.cosforums.com/search.php) when starting threads to ensure the topic isn't already being discussed. Thankyou.

I agree with Dedalus. Hermione already has proven beyond doubt to be worthy of Gryffindor house. What do you mean, you 'can't find anything extremely daring she's done'? She's done something extremely daring in every book, I'm sure!

I think a lot of people have it in mind that only certain types of personality should belong in the certain houses: Gryffindor - cocky, Ravenclaw - swotty, Hufflepuff- 'duffers' and Slytherin - cruel. I don't think this is true. Any kind of personality can fall into any house, but some personlities are more likely to crop up based on their defining trait.

And just because she's intelligent doesn't mean she belongs in Ravenclaw.

Molly50 said that perhaps Hermione is Harry's sister and was kept away from him for safety... this could be a possibility but is a lot like star wars!

Might be becouse of her loyalty to hr friends. It's a Gryffindor quality and if she has more loyalty than smarts- boom, you've got yourself another Gryff

I thought loyalty was Hufflepuff?

I think she belongs in Gryffindor, I mean Lily was like her too? Muggleborn, smart...I agree with everyone else. Where would Harry be without Hermione? Where would Hermione be without Harry? Remember the sorting hat knows things....

Even though I just replied...I thought of something else!

Maybe it has to with house intergration? The sorting hat says that we must be united...So if you notice some people fit certain houses that they are not in. Maybe the hat did that to try and keep the school strong?

Well, as Dumbledore said (and jennymac down there): It is our choices, not our abilities that make us who we are.

Harry chose Gryffindor over Slytherin; Hermione chose Gryffindor over Ravenclaw.

It seems to me that sometimes we are getting stuck in the thinking that only ONE trait can apply to a House. If so, what flat characters we would have. Each character has many wonderful traits and I think the ones that they have in abundance or ones they have the most potential to grow with, help place them. It is totally exceptable for a person to be the smartest in their year and not be in Ravenclaw. I think Vigilance and Mirtilla have hit the nail on the head. We can't get stuck thinking that each person can only show the trait that is most associated with each House: Gryffindor = only brave/courage; Slythrerin = only evil; Hufflepuff = only loyal/just; Ravenclaw = only Brains. It isn't just a basis of abilites, it looks at the person as a whole and what makes them who they are.


Oh, alright! Lets just get this over with and state the truth! JK had to put her in Gryffindor or the story would have taken some very different route!! Yeah, just look through JK's trash pile of discarded story ideas.... :rotfl:

Because she was brave, and it was probally meant to be with Harry and Ron becase all those moments in the comon room where hermione helped harry figure out things , ya nkow, which makes me think what would harry and ron do with out her.LOL

I think it has a lot to do with what you value as well. Hermione clearly values bravery (and it could be argued that Peter Pettigrew did as well). Being in Gryffindor doesn't mean that you're only brave and nothing else. Hermione's incredibly hard-working, too. Ron is extremely loyal. Bravery is what stands out the most in Gryffindors.

OT, but I was wondering about Seamus Finnegan and how the Sorting Hat took quite along time deciding which house to put him in. Hm.

I think she belongs in Gryffindor because you have to admit she is brave and sticks up for Harry just because she is clever doesn't mean she can't be in Gryffindor.

Yeah, she probably got sorted into Gryffindor because not only is she intelligent, she's brave too. But the first time I was reading PS/SS, I thought "Oh no, Harry, Ron, and Hermione won't see each other all that much because she's going to get sorted into Ravenclaw!" She wouldn't make a bad Ravenclaw at all, though.

obviously her braveness surpasses her smarts.

perhaps she will do somethign REALLY heroic in the 6th or 7th book...

this is one of the weirdest things about Harry Potter. first, Harry should be in Slytherin, Hermione should be in Ravenclaw, Neville should be in Hufflepuff, and Ron, well, he should be in Gryffindor, but they all ended up in Gryffindor! there is a reason behind it, which tells us that they all are going to have their own special roles in the future books which can prove that they deserve to be in Gryffindor.

ok, i did a search and did not find this topic yet...does anyone else think there might be a significance to hermoine almost being placed in ravenclaw (besides just being smart?) i mean, harry almost being in slytherin was important...

What an interesting point, pshycofan! :tu: I wonder if this will play a role later on. As we know, Harry was almost placed in Slytherin, while Hermione was almost placed in Ravenclaw. (She says so when answering Terry Boot in Order of the Phoenix: "Well, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw during my sorting,"...) Sure, Hermione is clever and hard working, but we have seen her being very, very brave and showing other Grryffindor qualities. Either way, JK Rowling hasn't had her final say.

Well, as Dumbledore said (and jennymac down there): It is our choices, not our abilities that make us who we are.

Harry chose Gryffindor over Slytherin; Hermione chose Gryffindor over Ravenclaw.

This is exactly what I think. If Hermione had wanted to be in Ravenclaw and not Gryffindor (assuming that's what she did think/want, in some state of mind), she probably would've gotten into Ravenclaw. Also, I think perhaps the Sorting Hat knew that deep down she was extremely brave and would be a good asset to Gryffindor. I think it will be interesting to see if the issue of Hermione's house will come up later, as Harry's has in CoS.

I agree with Mickey. Hermione stands up for the underdog and is willing to take the chances for her friends ie taking the fall for Harry and Ron in book 1 etc. Those are Gryffindor characteristics.

For the storyline to be interesting u also need conflicting characters.. i mean wats the point of having 3 extremely brave Harry-like people? It would be the worlds worst book. So even though Hermione has Ravenclaw characteristics she needed to be in Griffindor with Harry for the trio to work.

her bravery is greater than her mind, and that's saying something

If I recall right its bravery and loyalty that Gryffindors pride on. In SS/PS at the end when thier down in the chamber harry had just told her that he thought she was a better wizard than he was, and she repliead "books and cleverness is what I am, but there are more important thing like bravery and loyalty." So that shows that even though she is smart like Ravenclaws she still values what makes a person a Gyffindor.

If I recall right its bravery and loyalty that Gryffindors pride on. In SS/PS at the end when thier down in the chamber harry had just told her that he thought she was a better wizard than he was, and she repliead "books and cleverness is what I am, but there are more important thing like bravery and loyalty." So that shows that even though she is smart like Ravenclaws she still values what makes a person a Gyffindor.

That's right... that's the quote in my signature. "It's our choices, not our abilities"... here Hermione is showing that she values friendship and bravery over books and cleverness. That's why she's a Gryffindor.

Hermione is brave, she may be braver than Harry.Leaving the muggle world and her friends was brave in and of itself.

Ravenclaw would not have helped Hermione grow as a person as much.

They had to have someone to help Harry and Ron; left to their own devices there wouldn't have been a COS and PS/SS would have been way shorter.

Hermione was probably put there, more so to help her build her own charactor, the hat would have seen the potential in her, and was just helping her on her way to being a better wizard :D

As seen in the sorting hat song in OotP, the sorting hat wants not only whats best for the individual sorted but whats best for wizardkind. Hermione certainly has the trait of bravery and values it above book smarts ... But the hat might have put her in Gryffindor because of what she could do in the fight against Voldemort by close proximity to Harry.
Furthermore, the hats desire for unity might also be a motivation for placing people. Perhaps Harry has the ability (although he'd certainly have to change his mindset) to be an bridgeway between Slytherins and Gryffindor and Hermione can do the same between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. I wonder if the same goes for Ron and Hufflepuff (although he'd never admit it) although I can't see the sorting hat being that cruel to Ron.

This probably goes back to the point of 'choices' that have been heavily explicated in the series. I think Hermione said she wouldn't mind Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, but ultimately it looks like she wanted Gryffindor more. Sometimes, I get the nasty feeling that the Sorting Hat can look into the future of the wearer, which helps its decison on who goes where...

I certainly think that Hermione is brave. And I don't think that it's just "hidden" or whatever and will come out later. Frankly, I think that it was pretty brave for her to come to Hogwarts in the first place. Think about it, she came from a Muggle family who most likely knew nothing at all about wizardry. She just started reading all of the books and everything about magic because she didn't want to have the disadvantage because others had been immersed in magic their whole lives. A Ravenclaw may be very clever and smart...but she's braver in the way that she uses her brain...the polyjuice potion, blackmailing Rita Skeeter, the fake Galleons for the DA, leading Umbridge out into the forbidden forest (maybe that last one was just crazy)

I used to think that Hermione would have been better off sorted in Ravenclaw aswell, until we get to know her character better. I think as the years go by her bravery is shown better. For example, hermione, just like the others, was always too scared to say voldys name until recently in book 5 she conqured her fear and obviously got over saying He Who Must Not Be Named...that is bravery. Standing up against the rules which lead to expelltion is bravery (she didnt back off the DA....infact she says that being able to stand up against voldy, when encountered by him, should be the number one thing on your list....now how many Ravenclaws are willing to even think about that...yah not so many)

I'm fairly sure I read...somewhere...that Rowling said she'd be in Ravenclaw.
I can't prove it though.

I think her personality is more in braveness than cleverness...
Or like Harry, she asks to be in Gryffindor and not in Ravenclaw...

I see she's a very brave girl..... :eyebrows: maybe it weighs more than her cleverness

Well, that answers a question I have had for a long time.
Hermiones mind is in sync with her heart and her thoughts are brought out into action despite all odds. Its a mighty brave thing to act on your beliefs in the face of adversity.

Our dear hermy is very brave ..... slapping malfoy and all ....

Hermione shows a fierce loyalty to her friends, and knows that learning comes second to true friendship. She has proved herself to be trusting, trustworthy, brave, caring and understanding - basically everything that makes up a great friend. In my opinion, the two people that Harry needs most are Ron and Hermione. They are most valuable to Harry - he needs them... I can't see Harry coping without them. Hermione is fiercely committed to the cause of justice, and will fight for what is right, even if it isn't easy. These admirable qualities are that 'something else' that makes her a true Gryffindor. :D

Well, I do believe Hermione really does belong to Gryffindor. Sure, she loves her books. She is really intelligent and loves to do 'the right thing.' But she also prefers friendship over her books. She prefer loyalty, and she would fight for what's right. We've already seen Hermione standing along Harry, and she will help him 'til the end. To me, this is a great deal of bravery, and that is why I think Hermione truly is a Gryffindor.

While she is so smart, she is also brave. The hat knew that she would do well in both. Perhaps she, like Harry, had preferred to be in Gryffindor. Our decisions do shape us, after all.

I think Mione wanted to be in the same house as Dumbledore was in when he went and/or she prolly thought Harry Potter might be get in Gryffindor so she like Harry prolly convinced the hate to put her in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw...Altough I do wonder what it would be like if Ron was in Gryffindor,Harry in Slytherin,& Hermione in Ravenclaw..

She said that she chose to be in Gryffindor rather than go in Rvenclaw. But she also shows quilties that Gryffindors have as well as Ravenclaw like bravery and loyalty. She also said in the Philosophers Stone that she thought that Gryffindor was "by far the best" so thats probably why too.

She's probably got more courage than intelligence. .. or theyre equally her best qualities and since Ravenclaw doesnt have much on bravery, she was put into Gryffindor~

First thought, Hermione probably desired Gryffindor over Ravenclaw. However, I think its odd how Hermione and Harry were suited for more than one house. What are the odds of being that happening? Well, Harry chose Gryffindor. Thus, I wonder if the Hat chose the right house for Hermione or did the hat place a true "Ravenclaw" in another house to prove a point. Who controlls the Sorting Hat, DD?

I believe Hermione is in Gryffindor rather than Ravenclaw due to the fact that she values loyalty, friendship and bravery over her cleverness. From the very beginning, though Hermione was disinclined to break any rules, we can see how much importance she placed on making friends. The incident with the Troll really confirms the fact that she valued Ron and Harry’s friendship over cleverness and following the rules.

It seems to me that sometimes we are getting stuck in the thinking that only ONE trait can apply to a House. If so, what flat characters we would have.This is so true! Everybody is bound to have traits from all four Houses, but the thing that allows the Sorting Hat to choose which House to place students in is (a) the degree to which they possess these traits, and (b) the degree to which they value them. I’ve also argued on a few threads that the traits for each House tend to overlap quite a bit as well. For instance, we know that Slytherin takes students who are cunning and shrewd. However, a synonym for “cunning” is “cleverness”, which is the very trait valued by Ravenclaw. Thus, I really think there is a fine line between many of the traits prized by the Founders of each House.

Therefore, in Hermione’s case, the Sorting Hat likely saw that she possessed a sufficient amount of cleverness for Hermione to be in Ravenclaw (she possessed the trait to the right degree), however, the Hat also saw that she did not value this trait as much as she valued bravery and friendship, even if Hermione did not see this right away in herself (later on, she does come to realize that there are more important things than books and cleverness). Thus, the Hat put her in Gryffindor.

I think Hermione charcter is going to become more important in books 6th and 7th cause of her not going into Ravenclaw like Harry with Slytherin...That has to mean something.

I had actually posted this question under Divination, and one of the replies was for me to post it here:

I am not sure if this is even a legitimate question or not. It has to do with Harry, Hermione and Ron being sorted into Gryffindor together. We all know that Harry got put into Gryffindor becuase he asked the Sorting Hat to do that. I am curious though as to why Ron got sorted in...In GoF, the Sorting Hats song states that Gryffindor is for the courageous. Well, in my opinion, in SS, Ron is not courageous. I would have thought he would have wound up in Hufflepuff. It cant have been because his brothers were all in Gryffindor either. (In GoF, when Colin Creevy's brother is getting sorted, Harry says something along the lines of, he will be put in Gryffindor because his brother is in there. And Hermione says that isnt true...it is based on each person). Then there is Hermione...she definately should have wound up in Ravenclaw (for the smarter people) because she was not that courageous to begin with. She definately has the brains though. No, I think JK put them together for a reason. Think about it, Harry would not have been able to get past some obsticles that he has overcome without the two of them at his side.

Sorry, I had just been thinking about this for a while and wanted to see what other people out there thought too!!!