Thoughts on Houses

[joeblackish]

No: HPFGUIDX 39950



In message 39857, Felicia said:

Much detailed discussion has taken place about The Prank and 
if there was
something earlier e.g. The Incident, say, a house move *might* 
not be out of
the question, given Snape's gift for potions. There may be no 
canonical
evidence for house changing but it can't be completely unknown 
- just out of
Harry's sphere of knowledge. (I am always puzzled why Neville - 
a gifted
herbology student - was placed in Gryffindor. I know his Mum 
and Dad were
attached but.....)


I don't think that houses have anything to do with your particular 
magical talents. Perhaps students placed in particular houses 
tend to gravitate towards the subjects taught by their house 
master, but I don't really think there's any evidence that house 
placement is linked to skill in a particular subject. 

Assuming so much also implies that the head of each house 
would always have to focus in the same discipline (i.e. when 
Professor Sprout retires, no other Hufflepuff professor could take 
over as head of house. Rather, they would have to find a new 
herbology professor who had attended Hogwarts AND had been 
a member of Hufflepuff. That seems like a bit too much to 
handle, as Hogwarts doesn't seem to have a surplus of 
teaching applicants).

Canon dictates that students are sorted into their houses based 
on their personal qualities, not academic strengths. 

I see no reason why bravery would equate to skill in 
transfiguration or loyalty to a green thumb.

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In message 39888, natalka57 said:

(Though I do wonder, why would oh-so-studious Hermione not 
have been instantly attracted to Ravenclaw and what makes her 
think that Gryffindor "sounds by far the best"?) 

I think that Hermione wants to be in Gryffindor for a few reasons. 
First, because Dumbledore was in it, and second, because of it 
is generally held in high regard. I think these are both suggested 
by the full version of the quote used above:

PS/SS (US edition, pg 106) Do either of you know what house 
you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in 
Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself 
was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad.

Also, I assume that Hogwarts, A History features bios of each 
house's most notable graduates, which may have also helped 
her make her choice.

Third, I believe that while Hermione's greatest strength is in her 
cleverness, that is not the characteristic she values most highly 
in herself or others. She says as much to Harry when they're 
after the stone:

PS/SS (US edition, pg 287)  "Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And 
cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and 
bravery."



Joe, who wishes he were a Gryffindor, but knows he's a 
Slytherin at heart. A good one, though.


Speaking of which, it really bothers me that we have yet to see a 
good Slytherin student. They're all so terrible. Can't we have 
some example of a young person having ambition and using it 
for purposes of good? 

Also, aside from Draco, none of the Slytherins we've seen so far 
seem to exhibit any ambition. They all just seem to be mean, 
dumb clods. My picture of the ideal Slytherin is much closer to a 
Lucius Malfoy or young Tom Riddle than a Crabbe or Goyle. You 
know – evil to the core, but also charming, sneaky, and oh-so-
intelligent. Does this bother anyone else?

Joe, who promises to shut up now. At least on the subject of 
houses.