Hatstall

Harry Potter experienced a hat stall when the Sorting Hat found he could do well in either Slytherin or Gryffindor.

A hat stall was a situation in which the Sorting Hat found a young wizard or witch to have a personality equally suited to two different Hogwarts Houses and took their personal preference into consideration in order to break the tie.

Known hat stalls

• Hermione Granger — the Sorting Hat "seriously consider[ed]" Ravenclaw, but ultimately chose Gryffindor
• Neville Longbottom — the Sorting Hat initially considered Hufflepuff, but ultimately chose Gryffindor
• Minerva McGonagall — tied between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor; Sorted into Gryffindor she chose to be
• Harry Potter — tied between Slytherin and Gryffindor; Sorted into Gryffindor because he chose to be