h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A suggested correction to this very nice article... the description of the houses does not really convey their nature as I understand it. For one thing some of the descriptions are a bit off (and a bit biased), for another I think a better description might focus on the positive aspects of the houses (as Hoggwarts itself does).
In that light one would say:

The four houses are each named for one of the four founding wizards/witches of the school. It is typical of the books that their names and characters also match. The houses are:

Griffindor, symbol: a griffin, character: bravery
notes: Harry Potter is a Griffindor, as are most of his close friends. A certain foolhardiness seems to go with the bravery.

Ravenclaw, symbol: a raven, character: intelligence (NOT necessarily wisdom)
notes: Ravenclaws show up less than any of the other houses in the stories so far. One (very appealing) minor character is of this house.

Hufflepuff, symbol: a badger, character: hard work
notes: Hard work and decency have a bad rep and Hufflepuffs seem to be taken for uninteresting and stupid. Note, however, that the school's champion is of this house.

Slytherin, symbol: a snake, character: ambition
notes: Along with ambition comes a certain slyness and willingness to do whatever it takes. Most of Harry's enemies at the school are of this house... though Harry himself is almost placed there at the beginning.

I think harry Potter is so cool!

That says it all, really. Other than this supplementary info about a few important people and the Hat's Words of Wisdom (1st book)

(Godric) Gryffindor: House of.......the Weasleys, Harry's parents, Harry (duh), Lee Jordan, his mate he turned into a badger once, Dumbledore (?), Hermione, um, Peter Pettigrew (?), Lupin (?). Head - McGonagall. According to the Sorting Hat, 'where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve and chivalry, set Gryffindors apart'.

(Helga) Hufflepuff: Er......Cedric Diggory, Ernie McMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Moaning Myrtle (?). Head - Sprout. Hat - I can't remember!

(Rowena) Ravenclaw: Penelope Clearwater (Percy's girlfriend), help, erm, Cho Chang, that's about it. Head - never stated. Hat - ditto that.

(Salazar) Slytherin: Everyone evil ever, the Malfoys, Crabbe n' Goyle, Tom Riddle, some fifth year who ended up with leeks sprouting from his ears after a fight. Head - Snape (boo, hiss). Hat - 'you'll make your real friends, those Slytherins will use any means, to achieve their ends'

I take no responsibility for misquoting the Hat.

The fourth book has a different song, however.

"By Griffindor, 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 Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition."

~~A~~

According to Goblet of Fire the hat makes up a different song each year, as someone says it's got to pass the time.
Harry of course wouldn't know this at the start of HP4 as he had only managed to make his own sorting so far.

Although apparently the Sorting Hat is set for a big character development in the remaining books.

A big character development? For a hat?
Cool!

Maybe it's tired of just sitting around composing songs all year.

~~A~~

Well that's not all it does - it does whisper in your ear if you put it on, as it does to Harry in 'Chamber of Secrets'.
And I think that's the line its supposed to take.

Maybe Dumbledore will turn to it for advice - it does sing that Gryffindor gave it brains

Hmm... Maybe!

~~A~~

but what i want to know is who is going to play the sorting hat in the movie?

can i have the job?

or what about Rowen Atkinson?

FABT

Apparently it is the voice of Leslie Phillips
though I can't remember what else he's been in.

Has anyone read the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman. "The Amber Spyglass", the third book, came out a few days ago, and it's brilliant!

~~A~~

Try reading this:
http://www.h2g2.com/A470792

Have you read the third one yet?

~~A~~

Yeppers.

Good, innit?

~~A~~

Damn straight.

Ok then...

~~A~~

The first song goes like this:

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge by what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You cat keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
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 may belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs 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 Slythrin
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!

You either have an eidetic memory...or are just a sad git. Or you're reading it out of the book...

I think that, if he were still with us, Peter Jones would compliment the Hat perfectly, but I'm biased