Hat Trick

I'm flattered that you've asked me
I have so much to tell
It's nice to sit and share with you
A tale I know so well!

Each year at Hogwarts they begin
By asking for a story
I tell of Hogwarts' founders four
But never MY own glory

You gaze upon my tattered brim
The rips, the tears, the dust
I know you wonder, what was he
Before the sweat and must?

A simple hat, upon the head
Of Godric Gryffindor?
Oh no, of course not, in my world
I've always been much more.

The wizard who first made me,
A most peculiar fellow,
Sewed magic deep into the threads
The smartest ones were yellow.

He stitched with care, his nimble hands
Creating what you see
As well as some intelligence
And personality.

This was a thousand years ago
(Plus ten, to be exact)
They say that Godric owned me
But that's not quite a fact.

I hate to boast, I daren't brag,
But I owned HIM, you see
The idea of the sorting hat?
That concept came from ME.

For years I rode atop a man
Quite brave and strong at heart
But wisdom could have used a boost
(He wasn't very smart!)

I may not look so stylish,
Or go with shades of blue,
But Godric loved to wear me
As I taught him much he knew.

But yes, you wonder, I can see
About that fateful night
When I became a symbol
Of the Hogwarts way of life.

I whispered softly in his ears
"I know what you should do"
And when the time came for a plan
He told the others, too

Rowena loved the concept,
She thought it was a hoot
Salazar and Helga sighed,
"At least it isn't boots."

They brought me to the woods outdoors
Your own Forbidden Forest
Upturned me on a hollow stump
Out where moonlight was purest.

The incantations swelled and
Filled the night with lovely song,
And when the words had faded
I was sure I wasn't wrong.

I felt them all inside my brim
Debating who they were,
And ever since, they've been with me
And helped me to be sure.

I know I've told the children
All my brains came from the four
And while it's true they added lots
I warn't half-dumb before

With this idea I found a way
Now everybody wins
The four live on and I'm forever
Out of rubbish bins!