The Case for Slytherin

[Ebony Elizabeth Thomas]

No: HPFGUIDX 19982

Jami wrote:

"Hagrid did say in PS/SS that every Dark witch and wizard had come out of 
that house. Which makes me wonder ... why doesn't Dumbledore just abolish 
the house of Slytherin completely? Let the Sorting Hat identify those 
Slytherinish students, and boot them out the back door. Why give those with 
the propensity toward evil, the tools they need to become better and 
stronger wizards and witches?"

I can't *believe* I'm writing this post.  I'm one of those unsophisticated 
readers who, in canon, doesn't find much to love in the House of Slytherin.  
Upon first reading the series, I wanted to be a Ravenclaw (and still do!), 
but I have the feeling I'm more of a Gryffindor type.

Yet without the personality traits valued by Slytherin, the wizarding world 
would be greatly diminished.  Both ambition and nationalism are great things 
in healthy, measured doses.  I'm using "nationalism" here in a loose, 
improper sense because I'm not sure what other term would fit.  I can't 
believe that all Slyths are the magical equivalent of Nazis.  I do believe 
that a Slytherin characteristic that *could* be construed as positive is 
that they seem to greatly esteem their magical heritage.  That's no worse 
than valuing your Scottish or Korean or Zapotec or Bantu or Maltese 
heritage, right?  (All right, I'm reaching here... I know that these kids 
seem to value the so-called purity of blood above all else.)

Even if the House of Slytherin contained ALL the bad apples in the wizarding 
world, I'd rather they be educated at Hogwarts under Dumbledore than shipped 
off to Durmstrang and educated by the likes of Karkaroff.  Or worse, can you 
*imagine* Lucius Malfoy homeschooling?  Or establishing a private academy 
for the slimy-minded only?  I'm glad that kids like Draco Malfoy are forced 
to sit in classes with kids like Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley... it's 
amazing, but getting to know individuals from a group that you are used to 
forming stereotypes about can be quite iconoclastic... which is why I don't 
find Draco-redemption in some form before canon's end ridiculous.  Quite the 
contrary.  If Draco follows in Lucius Malfoy's footsteps with no sign of 
remorse, he is no better than Wormtail... knowing what is right, but due to 
fear and the desire for self-preservation at all costs, refusing to act on 
what he knows.

The Slytherin kids provide a needed balance for the rest of the students.  
In real life there are many Slytherins... best to learn how to deal with 
them in one's formative years, and not attempt to establish a pedagogical 
utopia which is ultimately doomed to fail.

Other thoughts?

--Ebony AKA AngieJ
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