What the Sorting Hat REALLY Said, and The Good Slytherin.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 84904

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, nymphadoraotonks at a... wrote:
> Hello bboy_mn at y...,
> 
> In reference to your comment:
> 
> Between this and discovering good Slytherins via the
> DA Club, Harry's attitude will completely change. I also
> think that one Slytherin in particular will stand out. We
> have frequently discussed this person, labeling them
> "The Good Slytherin", and have speculated that it could
> be the mysterious Blaise Zambini. So, while the
> students at the school will not be united down to the
> last witch and wizard, the members of the four houses
> will be working together toward a common goal; the
> defeat of Voldemort.
> 



> Tonks:
> 
> Obviously, it is very late and my mind is fading because on first
> reading this, I jumped to my book screaming that there were no 
> Slytherin names mentioned as of yet.... and of course you meant as 
> of yet. 

bboy_mn:

Actually, Blaise Zambini is named during the sorting ceremony in PS/SS
and sorted into Slytherin. In GoF, Malcolm Baddock and Graham
Pritchard are sorted into Slytherin. 

These names are mentioned but so far, other than sorting, have never
been used in the story. Blaise Zambini's name is sneaked in at the
very end of the PS/SS sorting ceremony. The casual way that it was
slipped into the story makes this character very suspicious, and many
of us are convinced he will play a larger role later in the story.



> Tonks:
>
> ...We have yet to see any Slytherin interest in the D.A., ...
>  

bboy_mn:

Remember that my theory on this is based on the belief that when
school starts again for the 6th year, the DA Club will become an
official school club. In becoming an officially recognised school
club, the membership must then be open to the entire school.
Otherwise, it's not a school club, but a private club. 

I believe that Dumbledore will see this as first a good way for the
students to get training; certainly a million times better than
Lockharts worthless dueling club. And, Dumbledore will see it as a way
to get the houses all working together, even if it does result in a
little conflict. Dumbledore has never seemed the type to actively
avoid a little chaos when it comes his way, so chaos and conflict in
the DA Club will not be enough to dissuade him.

> Tonks:
> 
> I think to prove this point to the readers, Harry will encounter the
> 'Good Slytherin' as you noted. It needs to be proven. JKR is not as 
> black and white as Good House/Bad House.  Somewhere in there, there 
> must be someone who is not evil....
> 

bboy_mn:

I've never accepted the belief that all Slytherins are bad, or for
that matter, even saw the logic of interpreting statements in the book
in that fashion. People make generalizations all the time. 

Certainly, Gryffindor's are brave heroes but let's face it, most
Gryffindors that we see in Harry's class are just students going to
school. Perhaps brave if tested, but unlike Harry, they live normal
lives and are never tested. Just kids going to school, nothing more.

Same with Slytherins; Draco is the most obvious because he makes all
the noise and causes all the trouble, but what about all those
Slytherins that we never hear about? Thoroughly evil or just a bunch
of kids going to school? My vote is for, just kids going to school.

Sure, they are very ambitious, but I can see a ruthlessly ambitious
Slytherin being against Voldemort because they see that Voldemort is
incapable of running a stable country. No stability = no prosperity,
and no prosperity means the ambitions of these students are shot to
hell (pardon the French). 

Proceeding through life with an absolute ingrained desire to become
successful and wealthy are not the automatic hallmarks of evil.


> Tonks:
>
> However, in Oop, the Sorting Hat's new song says that Slytherin only
> wanted to teach those whose blood was the purest. In that one 
> statement alone, how could Riddle OR Harry have ever been placed in 
> Slytherin? 
> 
> I have even confused myself.
> -Tonks

bboy_mn:

Mr. Slytherin WANTED to teach those who's blood was pure, but he
didn't get it. The other founders overruled him, and that's why he left. 

I don't see the fact that Slytherin had a preference for pure blood a
thousand years ago, and given the fact that he left the school
disgruntled, as in anyway preventing less than pure bloods from being
sorted into Slytherin house today. 

Certainly if you are cunning and ambitious, and driven to succeed, you
meet enough of the qualifications to be sorted into Slytherin house.
The sorting seems to be based on personality characteristics. I can't
see the Sorting Hat carrying Mr. Slytherin preference for pure blood a
thousand years into the future, not when it also has the combined
characteristics of the other three founders in it.

Of course, that's just a thought.

bboy_mn