The secret 5th House, It might be called Gryflepraverein Options

[Harry Riddle]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the Sorting Hat could not decide where to put someone.
Say, they where a bit brave, a bit loyal, a bit of wit and a bit cunning. Thats all 4 houses right there.
If there is is a fifth house, what would it be called, what would the person be like.
If there is not one, Why did it die out, what went wrong?

I want your opinion

If you think it died out, say why
If you think it still lives, what would it be like, why was it secret.
Create a day in the 5th House

[McGonagall's Cat]

Since the site is a bit slow at the moment, it doesn't look like anyone else is up for replying. The sad part about that is I'm a fan of canon (what JKR wrote) so it never occured to to me to think about the possibility of another House.

Basically, Hufflepuff said she'd "take the rest", so I assumed that any that didn't quite fit elsewhere, ended up in Yellow and Black.


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[Dancing-pony]

I don't think a 5th House would work within canon . . . but, even so, the sorting hat COULD make a mistake, or someone could change over time so that their assigned house no longer "fits."

Consider Peter Pettigrew, for instance. He's not really brilliant (the obvious requirement for Ravenclaw); he's not loyal and hard-working (the qualities that are emphasized for Hufflepuff). We don't know why he wasn't placed in Slytherin (blood status or not cunning enough??) . . . so he ends up in Gryffindor. Did the hat THINK (mistakenly) that he was brave -- or did he turn into a snivelling coward later?? The hat had to place him somewhere, but none of the houses seem to fit.

And what about Snape? Dumbledore expressed the idea that Snape might have been sorted too early. Did the hat just look at the surface prejudices and ignore Snape's courage -- or did the courage develop over time?

If a person is sorted into the 'wrong' house -- canon would suggest he/she would have to stay there or quit school. But I suppose there COULD be a refuge of sorts for 'missorted' students that isn't addressed in canon because everything is from Harry's POV and he wouldn't necessarily be familiar with such a refuge.

How's that for taking all sides of the issue?

[McGonagall's Cat]

I think your assessment is a good one, Pony. We do see quite a few House-members who seem to exhibit odd characteristics for that particular House. ie:
Cedric seems to have a lot more courage and intelligence than most Hufflepuffs.
Cho seems fairly agressive for Ravenclaw.
Peter does certainly seem more suited for Slytherin than any of the other Houses.


And then there is the aspect of Founders. One of the backstories that is fairly important to the larger story is that the school was founded a thousand years ago by the four best witches and wizards of their time. There's no mention of another founder, so that fairly well lets out the possibility.


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[Dancing-pony]

Peter honestly doesn't seem to fit anywhere. Slytherins are supposed to be strong, and Peter is weak, both physically and mentally. Of course, Malfoy's two cohorts aren't mentally strong, but they at least have pure blood status to fall back on. I suspect Peter must be half-blood: we can surmise from canon that his mother is a witch, but I don't recall any mention of his father. If he were pure blood, I can't imagine why (other than for purposes of plot) he was sorted into Gryffindor.

Hmmm . . . interesting question: Hufflepuff said she would "take the rest" after Ravenclaw selected the brightest, Slythering the strongest and most cunning, and Gryffindor the bravest. But Hufflepuff valued hard work and loyalty. Would even she have wanted Peter -- who didn't have much of either quality??

As far as a 5th house (as opposed to some kind of refuge for misfits), the sorting ceremony also pretty much negates the idea. For there to be a 5th house, either (1) some first years would have to vanish from the line-up before the sorting (which someone would have to notice), (2) some first years would be standing in line, unsorted, after the sorting ceremony (which would be rather conspicuous), or (3) the hat would have to announce that some of the first years had been sorted into other houses . . . and then find a way to detach them from those housemates to reassign them (which, again, someone would have to notice).

And the 5th house wouldn't even have a Quidditch team . . . .


***On a totally unrelated note -- none of the buttons above the reply box (italics, underline, wap in quote, etc) will work today.

[McGonagall's Cat]

I sort of wonder if something happened to Peter like happened to Ariana. It would explain his wanting to hang around with ones that could protect him, and to fear pain thus falling under TDL's dominion. He has to be half-blood or Muggle Born, just because he doesn't seem to have a very strong knowledge about how to use magic when he gets to Hogwarts.


"Sometimes I think we sort too soon."


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[Harry Riddle]

You know, I just realized that I put this whole thing in "solo works" by mistake.

You may call me a "Ninnyhammer" (What my Gaffer used to call to me)