Harry Potter Lessons Learned, Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat

welcome back to Hogwarts in more ways than one. We are on Chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and it's time for the Sorting. It's our introduction to the general culture of a magic school and there is so much to enjoy here, but also so much to think about.

"Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap!"

Everything about this chapter seems to bewelcoming young witches and wizards into a place where the unusual is acceptable. Some of them probably haven't quite made peace with the fact that not only are they different, but that's why they are chosen for admission here. Seamus Finnigan describes his dad's discovery of magical influence as "bit of a nasty shock for him" and Harry can definitely relate to his powers not being immediately welcome on the home front. Others have expectations placed on them, such as Neville, whose family was so worried that he wasn't a wizard they repeatedly endangered his life.

The Sorting Hat's song is both comical and slightly misleading. It describes its function and methodology, but leaves out the agency of the student in the process. Neville is considered to be similar to a "hatstall," someone who is so well-suited to more than one house that the Sorting is an extremely difficult task for the Hat. On the site formerly known as Pottermore, J.K. Rowling identified Professor McGonagall and Peter Pettigrew as known Hatstalls, while also considering Neville, Harry, and Hermione to have given the Sorting Hat pause. Harry and Neville both ask to be put in a specific house, though Neville's wish was not granted and the Hat placed Harry in Gryffindor according to his fervent wish.

Let's pause for a second to revisit Draco Malfoy. We've met him a couple of times by now, first as the sneering snob in Madam Malkin's who hated Hagrid. Then, he tried to recruit Harry to his cadre or at least associate himsef as an influence on The Boy Who Lived. His has been a life of privilege and the way in which he exercises his will is so forceful that the Sorting Hat almost renders its verdict before he pts it on. It says it can see what's in your mind and with Draco Malfoy, it foresees his commitment to self-interest.

Outside the ceremony, the residents of the castle go about their slightly-startling business. I don't believe that the ghosts intentionally discussed castle politics within earshot of the first years, but they probably made a habit of attending the feast and the topic of Peeves came up as they were making their way to the Great Hall. Peeves turns up to complicate life and this sets the stage for his unexpected interferences throughout the books. Percy blithely introduces Harry both to Dumbledore''s penchant for strange behavior and the magic of food materializing on plates without explanation.

My favorite moment is the school song. The words are conjured easily,, but Dumbledore only tells everyone to pick their favorite tune as a guideline for singing. I would have loved to hear the selections of each student since we have a wealth of backrounds. Maybe Seamus sang it to a tune introduced to him by his Muggle dad. Maybe someone knew no music except for the occasional lullaby or folk song. I suspect someone in the crowd might have been a Beatles fan or channeled Celestina Warbeck.

Lesson Learned: Let it be

We saw on the Hogwarts Express a variety of ways in which people tried to prove themselves. There's nothing wrong with that, but Hogwarts on a daily basis requires something more prosaic. It's a difficult life that each of these students has chosen, but they will learn that magic responds to each of them in an unique way and it's best for them to strip back their need to fit in and learn who they are.

There is no one way to be a Hogwarts student and there is no one way to be yourself in the world, magical or Muggle. Chapter 7 encourages us to look at where we belong and act on it.