The Sorting Hat Theory That Changes Everything About Harry Potter

In "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," Harry is nearly sorted into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor. The Boy Who Lived manages to persuade the hat to sort him into the latter house, though, simply by requesting and choosing to be. It's a decision that changes the course of Harry's life forever, and in the epilogue of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," it's a moment that he specifically recalls during a conversation with his son. It's not just a formative moment in Harry's life, however. It's also one that establishes and foreshadows how important a role choice plays in the series' overall story.

Expanding on that, one fan theory posted to Reddit argues that Harry wasn't the only one who chose his house in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The theory suggests that Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley may have chosen to be sorted into Gryffindor as well. 

It's an interesting theory, and one that makes a fair amount of sense too. On paper, Hermione and Ron seem more suited for other Hogwarts houses – Ravenclaw for Hermione and Hufflepuff for Ron — which makes it seem highly plausible that they may have silently requested to be put in Gryffindor instead. The two characters never quite confirm in the series that they did do that, which means this is simply fan speculation, but it is an idea that holds some weight given what the "Harry Potter" series ultimately says about the power of free will and choice.