I thinkkkk it depends Like for Harry, and potentially Dumbledore *eyes the other discussion* the choice had an impact but it's also probably really to do for the sake of Harry at least, where the hat was able to see the horcrux and bit of Tom Riddle's soul which likely helped to contribute to the fact that Slytherin would help him on the way to greatness.

So the hat knew that there was a piece of soul in Harry that wasn't his, which I think made it weigh more heavily on the fact that he didn't want to be Slytherin and that hat could see it was Harry genuinely asking this.

Whereas Harry's middle child or Neville, there wasn't a genuine reason behind the choice. Neville was intimidated by Gryffindor's reputation, but as Dumbledore said at the end of year one about standing up for one's friends ... this was what the hat saw in Neville. Potential.

Hmmm those are v interesting thoughts, Jess. I'm also wondering whether it's one of those things where they say the hat takes your choices into consideration, but really it's kind of like your choice actually reveals more information about who you are which in turn helps the hat choose so really it is still the hats choice at the end of the day #meta.

I also wonder whether the hat sorts based on where a person has the most potential for growth? So like, with Neville he asked for Hufflepuff but the hat might've seen more potential for growth in Hufflepuff and therefore overrode the request. Whereas for Harry, Gryffindor would've aided in his process for growth and therefore the hat was like "i mean i guess you can have it"

Whenever the Hat is considering more than one house, I think you can have some influence on it ... if the traits you truly value more match with the house you think you belong in. But I do also think that the potential that the Hat can see also has quite a bit of significance in the final decision that is made.

In the example of Harry, I felt he exhibited Gryffindor traits in that moment without second thought. He definitely the nerve to deny the Hat's consideration of Slytherin because he dubbed those in Slytherin as the "wrong sort" after not being impressed at all with Draco and not wanting to be in the same house Voldemort and other "bad" witches and wizards (plus I'm sure he wanted to be in the same house as his newfound BFF Ron). But it should be noted that he displayed no interest and not a single ounce of ambition or cunning when the Hat said Slytherin would help him on the way to greatness, which is probably what made the Hat go with Gryffindor in the end.

Hermione is an interesting sort, and I can totally see why the Hat spend a bit of time between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Instantly it probably considered Ravenclaw as she is incredibly intelligent and values knowledge, but this statement made by Hermione in PS/SS on the train helps solidify the Gryffindor sort: "... I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad." This, to me, shows that she values the traits of Gryffindor a bit more than that of Ravenclaw. This is again confirmed later in the book when she tells Harry "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things -- friendship and bravery..." (I can see McGonagall and Flitwick's sortings going a similar way -- the Hat made it's final decision based on the traits each individual valued more.)

In the case of Albus Potter, he wound up in Slytherin even though he didn't want to be there. I do wish the play-that-shall-not-be-named had gone a little more in depth with his sorting to better show us how the final decision came to be. I'm not questioning the Slytherin placement though as I assumed Albus would be sorted there before it was revealed (I was on board with the theory all those years ago that assumed his initials, ASP, was a hint to where he'd be sorted) and can definitely see that his wants/desires/values tend to align more with Slytherin (his interest in his Harry's fame and past, the need to prove himself, his determination to distance himself from Harry's shadow, etc.).

As for Neville, the fact that he was arguing with the Hat "for a long time" about where he belonged ... gives me Gryffindor vibes for some reason? Like, he's determined to challenge the Hat's decision rather than accepting it like a Hufflepuff probably would? It's hard to say as we don't know word-for-word how that conversation went. But, in this instance, I would agree that the Hat saw potential in Neville as a Gryffindor and knows that he values those traits even though he doesn't think he exhibits those traits himself. (Maybe this is the case with Peter Pettigrew; the Hat saw potential and knew that young Peter valued bravery but, unlike Neville, ended up not living up to that potential.)

Gilderoy Lockhart, though -- Sorting Hat, what were you thinking?! Lockhart's Ravenclaw/Slytherin Hatstall is something that I am incredibly fascinated by. I want to know how he "narrowly escaped into Ravenclaw" when it seems that his ambition and desire for fame, popularity, being the best, etc. was always his priority. Maybe this is just a case of the Hat seeing more potential in Ravenclaw than Slytherin for him and that it could influence him not be so self-centred?

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.