what the sorting hat means in OotP

[Hagger 9003]

hey guys, this is my first new topic, and ive just been thinkin...

what does the sorting hats speech at the beginning of OotP mean? will it affect how the story ends, maybe, or bond the houses together? any theories?

[Phinea Rogue]

I don't remember the exact words, but I suppose the meaning was clear: "Keep together against Voldemort". Only united they'll be strong.

[carsten]

I don't remember the exact words, but I suppose the meaning was clear: "Keep together against Voldemort". Only united they'll be strong.

And at the same time it tells: Apart you are weak. And that's the probable outcome in a story like this.

[Nobby]

it basically warns the students that they should not fight amongst themselves, but to stand together against the bigger evil aka voldemort! therefore the school houses i.e slytherin and gryffindor should not waste time bickering

[Hagger 9003]

yes, i think so. but how will this come about? will there be fights between the houses, like the sorting hat mentions? will the slytherins and gryffindors start fighting, or maybe be forced to work together? i read an interesting editorial on the "battle of hogwarts" on mugglenet, and maybe the houses will have to band together to win the battle. this would be an interesting concept, as it would cause big conflicts, between people who have friends in other houses, and their friends in their own house. i can just imagine Ron talking about "fraternising with the enemy" again to hermione, and them bickering about her having friends in another house . i reckon that this may be a way that rowling shows that not all slytherins are evil, but that they are just ambitious. harry needs to realise this by the end of the book.
anyway, any other ideas of how the unity thing will affect the series?

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Well I've been thinking, only a really powerful curse could destroy Voldemort, so maybe every wizard available casts a death curse on him, including the students, to destroy him. The more students there the more powerful. United we are strong.
That's reading too deep into it and I doubt that'll happen but it's an idea.
What I want to know is what happens to Drace at the end of the series?
Any ideas?

[Athena Appleton]

To wonder if the four houses will fight, or even disagree, is kind of short-sided.

From day one, everyone has hated the people from Slytherin.
In Chamber of Secrets, the various Gryffindor friends of Harry's (and, of course, Harry himself) was disliked and looked upon with suspicion because of the attacks.
In the Goblet of Fire, the competition, while it promoted harmony among the students of various schools, it created a wedge between even the two friendly houses of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and even Ravenclaw got involved.

Because the students are encouraged to socialize almost entirely with their own houses, simply by having seperated towers, tables, classes and teams, Hogwarts is a breeding ground for hostility among supposed friends.

When the Sorting Hat issues forth its warning in OotP, it also sets the tone for the unofficial "official" stance the school is taking in the fight against Voldemort. The vast majority of the staff are already fighting against Voldemort and his forces (even the "evil" Snape), so the Sorting Hat is the first time it's really brought into the open.

I also feel like the songs, this one in particular, serve to prove the point of the lasting influence the founders have in the school. The hat was (if I remember correctly) Gryffindor's, so this song in particular is a way for the wisdom of Gryffindor to speak directly to the impressionable minds of the students.

Ask yourself this: after the events of GoF, isn't it obvious that the subject would have had to have been raised early on about Voldemort and his danger to the entire wizarding race? And if the subject had to be broached (after all, look back at Dumbledore's final speech in GoF), who would have been the one to do that and still stay on as a person in the position of power in the school. Considering what happened to Dumbledore, McGonagall and anyone else who actively speaks out against Voldemort, the safest way to keep these characters in the story is to have an "inanimate" object, particularly one that is an important part of Voldemortless tradition, speak up.

Lastly, over the first several books, there has been a buildup of realizing that sometimes the enemy isn't who you think it is, and for the well-being of everyone, it's important to put petty differences aside and stand together. Sirius and Harry have to accept Snape. Molly has to accept Mundungus. Small personality conflicts, even some very real and very deep hurts, must be put aside. In OotP, things come to a head with this idea, and because of people thinking the way the Sorting Hat says they should, both the Order and the DA are formed, even with conflicting people. It is this uniting that will eventually defeat Voldemort.

[Tanuki]

I tend to agree, but for the fact that so many Slytherin youth in the limelight are actively supporting Voldermort, save for actually admitting it and losing their power of the ministry. An old teacher or my fathers once sorted out the danger within the school with one quote "The problem with steriotypes is that oftentimes, theres a Kernel of truth in them."

[carsten]

There is no point in saying all Slytherins are evil or things like that. Life isn't that simple and thanks to JKR her books aren't either. My prediction on that topic is, that we will learn much more about some of the students. Some Gryffindors will turn bad and unexpected help may come from Slytherin side. Theodore Nott e.g. doesn't seem to be in the Malfoy gang. Even though he is not from a respected family, he might chose sides on his own. My point is: The individual decision matters. It may be harder to decide for Harry when you are in Slytherin, but nevertheless: It is an individual statement.

By the way: Was there anyone from Slythering in DA? I cannot remember.

[Tanuki]

No Slytherin's. It's too hard to talk to any since you don't know who is a spy for Voldermort. I mean, they were betrayed by Cho's friend. Imagine how much more likely it would be for Draco to slip a spy in or for him to manipulate one into telling. It's too much of a risk

As for Nott; JKR admits she wanted to write a scene where Nott and Draco were talking while their father did Death Eater things. However, she couldn't find a good place for it. So, Nott isn't likely to not join the Death Eaters