"There is a hole in your mind."

"Sorry?" thought back Harry to the Sorting Hat.

"Well, actually, the problem is that your hole is as plugged up with something as a toilet after a 60 foot Basilisk had taken a dump after eating an entire Mexican restaurant." communicated the Sorting Hat. "I need to put the matrix in there, and it's stopped up."

"Albus!" said the Sorting Hat, out loud. "There's a problem with Mr. Potter. This is a decision for you as Headmaster."

Dumbledore got up from his seat at the head table and walked around it to the stool where Harry sat. McGonagal also moved in closer.

"What seems to be the problem?" Dumbledore's eyes did not do his usual twinkling.

"The hole in his mind where I put the training matrix is plugged up with something. I'm a little disappointed, it's usually so easy with Pureblood stock nowadays."

Dumbledore stared at the Hat. "The what?"

"The training matrix. It's to make the school run better. You know, suppress accidental magic, get the students to believe what their teachers are saying, etc."

"I've never once heard about this. Has long has this been going on?"

"About 150 years, instituted by Headmaster Prestwick."

"Prestwick the Mad?!? He was removed from his position violently, by defenestration from his office by his Deputy, Agatha McGonagal, who was then promptly arrested and Kissed by Dementor after she admitted her guilt the day afterwards. She didn't even open the window first."

"It is supposed to wear off after their school days."

McGonagal said, "Hmmm, I wonder." She called to Muggle Studies teacher, "Professor Burbridge, could you come here a moment?"

Professor Burbridge came over, his Pureblooded features curious. "What can I help you with?"

McGonagal took the Hat from Harry's head, and placed it on Burbridge's. "Just a test of something from your Hogwart's days."

The Hat gave a start and acted like it wanted to leap off the man's head. "Dreadful! The matrix is still there! Or the mutant degenerated remains of it! That should have totally disintegrated cleanly ages ago!"

McGonagall took the Hat and placed it on her own head. "And me?"

The Hat took much longer, then said, "Only traces of the matrix. Fairly clean. But there are still traces."

McGonagal leaned in close to Albus and whispered, "I suggest we have the Hat stop this immediately. It seems the source of lack of common sense the Muggle-Borns complain about has been discovered....."

A/N: A plot bunny from the CaerAzkaban Yahoo group where it was speculated that the Sorting Hat might also do something besides Sorting.