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Sorting Harry Into A House



When the sorting hat was placed on Ronald Weasley's head, it instantly decided Gryffindor, just because he was another Weasley.


On the other hand, the Black family were all Slytherins, except Sirius.
I'm guessing Sirius pleaded to be a Gryffindor.


If Harry pleaded not to be a Slytherin, why didn't the sorting hat go:



Not Slytherin... OK, that's easy to arrange. Ah, another Potter. Gryffindor!



The sorting hat thought for a while.
At one point, it considered sorting Harry into Slytherin.


Maybe to increase the suspense.




Answer



There are 3 issues with the assumptions in the question, which should explain away the confusion when addressed:




  1. The hat does not always decide quickly (as it would if it was merely ancestry based).


    Harry wasn't the lone exception for deliberations:



    Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat shouted out the house at once, but at others it took a little while to decide. 'Finnigan, Seamus', the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.



    ...




    When Neville Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his toad, was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted 'GRYFFINDOR'...



    Also, covered in this SFF question or this.




  2. Ron being placed into Gryffindor wasn't about being a Weasley (the Hat was basically jesting) - there are examples of people NOT being placed in same house as their families (Sirius Black, as you yourself noted. Or Andromeda Tonks. Or Patil sisters who got split between houses):



    “Oh no, not necessarily,” said Hermione. “Parvati Patil’s twin’s in Ravenclaw, and they’re identical. You’d think they’d be together, wouldn’t you?” (GoF, Ch 12, The Triwizard Tournament)




    The hat's main reason for placing you in the house is how well suited your potential is to the house.


    Ron - with his straightforwardness and bravery - would be a no-brainer for Gryffindor.




  3. I'm not sure where you got the idea that the Hat - after Harry asked not to be in Slytherin - dithered for a while about other houses. It considered other houses before Harry stated his "not Slytherin" preference:



    'Hmm,' said a small voice in his ear. 'Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see {{ Gryffindor - DVK }}. Not a bad mind, either {{ Ravenclaw - the Hat was clearly off its rocker there - DVK }}. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?'



    ... and placed him in Gryffindor right away after rejecting Slytherin by his request:




    Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, 'Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.'


    'Not Slytherin, eh?' said the small voice. '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, no doubt about that – no? Well, if you're sure – better be GRYFFINDOR!'





All unattributed quotes are from "Harry Potter and Philosopher's Stone", Chapter 7, The Sorting Hat


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