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harry potter - How far can a Hogwarts student persuade the Sorting Hat?


Several times, in the Harry Potter series, we are led to believe the sortee has some control over the House they are sorted into. Most famously, Harry Potter turns down his chance at being in Slytherin House, as suggested by the Sorting Hat to be in Gryffindor.



Harry: Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin.


Sorting Hat: Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, there's no doubt about that. No?


Harry: Please, please. Anything but Slytherin, anything but Slytherin.


Sorting Hat: Well if you're sure, better be... GRYFFINDOR!




Retrospectively, he fits in Gryffindor House better, but it begs the question:


How far can you persuade the hat away from the House it wants to sort you into? The Hat is quite adamant that Harry would do well in Slytherin. Could a student convince it to sort into the 'wrong' house entirely?



Answer



As you say in your question, if you choose a particular House to be Sorted into, the Hat will respect that.



“But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."


"Really?"


"It did for me," said Harry.



I think the preferred location of the sortee plays the deciding factor in the sorting. A student that is sorted into a House that they do not wish to be sorted into would be unhappy and unpleasant experience, probably for both the student and the House. However given the Hat effectively considers that person's mind it should be able to determine whether or not the child's request is honest and heartfelt, and hence only take into account those who are honest.



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