This is my favorite thing ever. With Hermione, it has to sit and think because she’s a genius so the obvious pick is Ravenclaw, but it can tell she is going to be so brave and save so many lives. With Draco, it doesn’t hesitate. He’s a weasely little jack-ass, so he is in Slytherin, but he has the potential to change and be good, depending on events (just like Snape). With Ron, it doesn’t have to think long. He may be afraid of many things (spiders, Voldemort, his mother), but when it counts, he’s is brave enough to make a difference. With Harry, I like to think that the Sorting hat wasn’t really even considering Slytherin for him. I mean, the Sorting Hat sits in Dumbledore’s office year round, except for the sorting. He must know what’s going on. So he muses in Harry’s ear about Gryffindor and Slytherin. The Sorting Hat knows he belongs in Gryffindor, he just doesn’t choose right away so Harry also realises that’s where he belongs. The Hat wavered so Harry would pick being brave, even though he didn’t have to pick. The Sorting Hat gave Harry that little shove he needed to accept that even though he was inexperienced and young, he would be strong and brave enough to face what’s coming.