Gryffindor versus Slytherin

[Tamee Livingston]

No: HPFGUIDX 78470

In reading various discussions about whether Harry could have been
Slytherin's heir or whether Percy should have been a Slytherin and whether
we will ever see that rare and almost mythical creature a good Slytherin who
is neither the ambiguous Snape or the portrait Phineas, it's made me think
about the differences between how Slytherins and Gryffindors operate and the
hostility between them.

Slytherin House, speaking generally, is not only about ambition but also
about subtlety and protecting their backs, leaving a way out if possible.
For good and bad you see that in the way Lucius slips Ginny Riddle's diary
and the way Snape reacts in Umbridge's office, as well as how he deals with
Quirrel and the sideswipes he takes at Lupin (i.e. the Werewolf essay).

Gryffindors, on the other hand, have a tendency to jump into things directly
and bluntly.  Subtle they are not.  Harry's a perfect example.  He does keep
things to himself; however, on his own, his basic idea is charge straight
ahead, and he generally relies on his instincts and first impressions.  His
most reckless example is of course in OOTP, where he ends up running
headlong into an obvious trap, but he also decides to face Voldemort
directly in the graveyard, when common sense would have told him to keep
using his cover.  Percy also, I think, represents Gryffindor well, in a more
negative sense perhaps.  I believe someone recently said something along the
linesthat Percy could have been more devious with his parents, pretending to
be in with them and spying for the Ministry, but it's obvious that he
disdained such behavior, preferring to loudly and angrily break relations
with them because he didn't approve of their siding with Dumbledore over
Fudge.

Personal animosity aside, I think the real reason Harry and Snape can't come
to an understanding is because they react to things so differently.  I think
the key scene between them is the one in Umbridge's office where Harry tells
Snape obliquely what he's on about and Snape does his usual sneer reaction,
and Harry thinks he either can't or won't understand or do anything about
it, when in fact Snape immediately heads off to find out what is going on.
I think that Harry expected Snape to do a Dumbledore and take out Umbridge
and her inquisitorial squad and then go charging to the rescue.  That's the
Gryffindor way, but it's not the Slytherin way.  I hope what I've said makes
some sense, and as this seems to be getting long, I'd better stop and let
others draw what conclusions they may, or at least, help me untangle my own
thoughts.

Tamee