Chapter 07: The Sorting Hat

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Chapter 7
The Sorting Hat
Scholastic Press, US
Chapter starts on page 113
Summarized by Phoenix Feather
Project initiated and supervised by theclarebear


Main Events:
- The Sorting Ceremony and Welcoming Feast.

Characters Featured:

Characters Mentioned:
Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Neville, Ron, Harry, Fred, Hermione, the Fat Friar, Peeves, Nearly Headless Nick, Aunt Petunia, the Sorting Hat, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, Mandy Brocklehurst, Lavender Brown, Millicent Bulstrode, Dudley, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Seamus Finnigan, Morag MacDougal, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Moon, Nott, Parkinson, Patil twins, Sally-Anne Perks, Percy, Dumbledore, Quirrell, Dean Thomas, Lisa Turpin, Blaise Zabini, The Dursleys, the Bloody Baron, Seamus’ parents, Neville’s gran and great-aunts and -uncles, Snape, Filch, Madame Hooch, Scabbers

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Spells and Magic:

Magical Items/Creatures Featured or Mentioned:

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Summary:
The first years are escorted inside the castle by Professor McGonagall, who explains the house system and how the house cup is awarded. She then informs them that the Sorting Ceremony will take place in front of the whole school and leaves them alone, waiting nervously. The ghosts stream through the room arguing about Peeves, startling the first years, but the Fat Friar talks to them cheerfully. Professor McGonagall returns and leads them into the Great Hall.

The Sorting Hat sings its song describing the Sorting Ceremony and the different characteristics of each house. Ron is relieved he only has to try the Hat on, but Harry wishes he could do it without the whole school watching. The Sorting Hat considers putting Harry in Slytherin, but decides on Gryffindor when Harry thinks, not Slytherin. Harry gets a enthusiastic welcome from the Gryffindor table.

Dumbledore welcomes the students and the feast begins. Harry is delighted to be able to eat his fill from all the delicious dishes that magically appear on the table. Nearly Headless Nick demonstrates where he got his nickname and tells the new first years that Slytherin has won the house cup six years in a row. During dessert, the new first years discuss their families.

When Harry is watching Professor Quirrell in his turban talking to Snape, Snape gives Harry a look of dislike, and Harry's scar suddenly throbs with pain. Percy tells Harry that Snape knows a lot about the Dark Arts and wants Quirrell's job. Dumbledore gives out start of term notices and declares the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side to be strictly out of bounds, but gives no reason why.

The school sings the school song to different tunes and Percy leads the Gryffindor first years along the many passages and stairways to Gryffindor tower. On the way they meet Peeves. They reach the portrait of the fat lady who swings forward when Percy gives the password and they all scramble into the common room. The five first year boys climb up to their dormitory at the top of the tower, and get into bed, too sleepy to talk. Harry has a strange dream with Professor Quirrell's turban, Snape and Malfoy, ending in a burst of green light before Harry wakes, sweating and shaking. He falls back asleep and in the morning does not remember the dream.

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Quotable Quotes:

- Hermione quotes her favorite book for the first time about the Great Hall's ceiling:
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

- The Sorting Hat decides:
"Not Slytherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? Your could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that - no? Well, if you're sure - better be GRYFFINDOR!"

- Dumbledore welcomes the school:
"Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

- Percy on Dumbledore:
"Mad?" said Percy airily. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?"

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All summaries are © 2005 Immeritus, and are not to be reproduced without permission.
All Harry Potter characters and references are property of J.K. Rowling and © Warner Bros.

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