As a child psychologist, I have to agree with David...
But wizards are odd... I always wondered why McGonagall (and Dumbledore - who knew everything) sent Harry to fulfil his first detention at the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night when he was eleven. They knew something bad was going on in the forest, yet they allowed Hagrid to take kids there... I don't know, it sounds odd to me. I live in a world where adults protect children.

I agree with you, Ivana. However; after I got over my initial shock that they would allow such a dangerous Detention I worked out a theory that Dumbledore more than likely had to convince McGonagall to allow the Detention. In fact I think it was probably Dumbledore who suggested to Hagrid to take them into the Forrest. Dumbledore said that he trusts Hagrid with his life, so I'm sure he trusts him with the kids lives as well. And I think the reason he set this up is because Harry or possibly Neville, because of the Prophesy, was going to end up facing Lord Voldemort later and he wanted to see if they had any courage to build on. I'm sure he thought it as Harry, but he had to assume it could be either one and he needed to test them to see how much help they would need as far as making sure they learned how to retain knowledge and use appropriate magic for when whichever one faced Voldemort. Dumbledore knew Hagrid could handle the kids, but he probably wasn't counting on Hagrid splitting them up leaving two kids without his protection.

And as far as Slytherin House being evil; it is only the students who claim that. In fairness to the kids though, history did tend to prove that to be so, but it didn't have to be that way if they weren't defined that way. All the Professors treat them as equals, with the exception of Hagrid. It has always been Dumbledore's ideology to unite the Houses and have the students to be what they want to be in whichever House they end up in instead of just letting the Sorting Hat define who they are. Of course he wanted the competition in Quidditch because it is a healthy learning tool.

I agree with you both Ivana an Connie. The detention was most likely something Dumbledore conjured up, some sort of test with the solemn purpose to see how Harry would behave in face of danger and probably to give him a "reality check" since he wasn't brought up in this world. He had no idea what sorts of dangers that forest might hide, and with that he knew.

I also agree with Tenant, in part. But I also believe that the had being a magic object could see deeper into the mind of the children, and see what they would develop to be like. And being in Slytherin wasn't and isn't synonym to being condemned to a life of bad. That's a stereotype. We know not all Slytherins are bad. Look at Snape!

Interesting debate. I know that I am very different than how I was when I was 11, and the same can be said for everyone. Our personality has not truly been set. He makes good points but one thing that is not being mentioned is that Slytherin house is no longer considered the "baddie" house. I've read the introduction message for each of the house and can safely say that most Slytherins are good people just like the other houses. Jo has said this multiple times in recent interviews. Being an ambitious Slytherin is nothing to be ashamed of.

That being said, I'm not entirely happy with the quiz either. I know based on the introduction note that I'm a Ravenclaw, but I get sorted into Gryffindor. Gryffindor? I'm terrified to drive a car on the freeway but somehow I get sorted into the house of lions. I'm actually planning to retake that quiz with a different account to land in Ravenclaw.

That's cute, Goblinfrog. The thing is, I believe that as long as you don't let your fear no matter how severe it is, cripple you by keeping you from doing what needs to be done then you are truly courageous. If you drive on the freeway any at all, then you deserve to be a Gryffindor. Just my opinion anyway.

I have been sorted several times.....the original Pottermore sorting, here on Snitchseeker, and TWO different Harry Potter: The Exhibition visits (Chicago and Boston) and each time I was sorted into Ravenclaw - how weird is that?!

I guess our view of the Slytherins is that they are all brats or baddies, but I am very sure they are many good and nice ones. It was founded as a pure blood house, but several bad eggs tainted them all.

This debate is becoming very interesting.
I agree with you, Jojogali.

Well, my youngest was sorted into Slytherin when he was 4 (by the original Pottermore - which we loved and missed so much!). He is a cunning boy, audacious and courageous. At the time he had found out that life as we know has an end and he was a bit insecure, afraid of dark rooms and other things.

When he was replying to the test, I knew he was going to be sorted into Slytherin and I knew how much he wanted to be sorted into Gryffindor like his older brother. Several times I asked him if he was sure he would take this alternative and not other and he replied me "I'm sure!" Well, when the green screen appeared his eyes watered and he said: "I'll never play in this site anymore! It's wrong! I'm not bad!"

It was very disconcerting. I had to tell him how many Slytherin students were good guys and that Albus Severus Potter was named in memory of Snape who was a hero. And that the Sorting Hat had found out how much he loved snakes (yes, he always loved snakes to my great regret).

He was not convinced yet and asked me: "but if Harry's son becomes a bad boy when he's old? Nobody knows if a baby will be good or not." have I told you how smart he is?

Then I said: "look, I am a Slytherin and I'm not bad, am I?"

He shook his head "no".

"We can try it again and check if there's something wrong with your sorting process," I said.

He replied: "no, mom. I'm happy I'm Slytherin like you. I love snakes and I love green color just like you. That's why we are Slytherin."

That's the true about why I became a Slytherin.

Yet, I would never send 11 years-old kids to a forest when I knew it could be dangerous.