The Sorting Hat is famous at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy for many reasons. It holds the important responsibility of determining a new student's House, and also creates its own songs that it sings to the whole student body at the beginning of each Sorting Ceremony that takes place during the Welcome Feast. Although Harry did miss out on the sortings in his second and third year, he did manage to hear the others. Read on to find them all!



Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can top 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 might 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 steady mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin 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!

Chamber of Secrets

Harry wasn't the only one to miss the sorting in Chamber of Secrets. He and Ron flew the Weasleys' car to Hogwarts after Dobby had sealed the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, then crashed it into the Whomping Willow that sits on the school grounds. Lucky for the both of them, Professor McGonagall didn't find it necessary to expell them!

Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry missed the sorting his third year because a dementor had crawled into the trio's compartment on the Hogwarts Express, and the very presence of the dementor made Harry pass out. Harry was taken to the hospital wing once the train reached Hogwarts.

Goblet of Fire

A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly sewn, There lived four wizards of renown, Whose names are still well known: Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw, from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin, from fen. They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan To educate young sorcerers Thus Hogwarts School began. Now each of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value different virtues In the ones they had to teach. 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 Slytherin Loved those of great ambition. While still alive they did divide Their favourites from the throng, Yet how to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone? 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, He whipped me off his head The founders put some brains in me So I could choose instead! Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I'll have a look inside your mind And tell where you belong!

Order of the Phoenix

In times of old when I was new And Hogwarts barely started The Founders of our noble school Thought never to be parted: nited by a common goal, They had the selfsame yearning To make the world's best magic school And pass along their learning. "Together we will build and teach!" The Four good friends decided And never did they dream that they Might someday be divided, For were there such friends anywhere As Slytherin and Gryffindor? Unless it was the second pair Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw? So how could it have gone so wrong? How could such friendships fail? Why, I was there and so can tell The whole sad, sorry tale. Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those Whose ancestry is purest." Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose Intelligence is surest." Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those With brave deeds to their name," Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, And treat them just the same." These differences caused little strife When first they came to light, For each of the four founders had A House in which they might Take only those they wanted, so, For instance, Slytherin Took only pure-blood wizards Of great cunning, just like him, And only those of sharpest mind Were taught by Ravenclaw While the bravest and the boldest Went to daring Gryffindor, Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest, And taught them all she knew, Thus the Houses and their founders Retained friendships firm and true. So Hogwarts worked in harmony For several happy years, But the discord crept among us Feeding on our faults and fears. The Houses that, like pillars four, Had once held up our school, Now turned upon each other and, Divided, sought to rule. And for a while it seemed the school Must meet an early end, What with dueling and with fighting And the clash of friend on friend And at last there came a morning When old Slytherin departed And though the fighting then died out He left us quite downhearted. And never since the founders four Were whittled down to three Have the Houses been united And they once were meant to be. And now the Sorting Hat is here And you all know the score: I sort you into Houses Because that is what I'm for, But this year I'll go further, Listen closely to my song: Though condemned I am to split you Still I worry that it's wrong, Though I must fulfill my duty And must quarter every year Still I wonder whether sorting May not bring the end I fear. Oh, know the perils, read the signs, The warning history shows, For our Hogwarts is in danger From external, deadly foes And we must unite inside her Or we'll crumble from within I have told you, I have warned you.. Let the sorting now begin

Half-Blood Prince

After Harry's meeting with the "Slug Club" on the train towards Hogwarts, Harry decided to follow Slytherin Blaise Zabini as he entered into a Slytherin compartment containing Malfoy. However, when done 'spying' on him, Malfoy cast the body-binding spell and Harry couldn't move a muscle, especially after Malfoy completely stomped all over his face. However, Tonks came to the train and healed Harry, but he arrived late, and missed the Sorting Ceremony.