Slytherin House again. Was: Re: Problem with OotP? (was: Pampering)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 119029


> Carol responds:
> Neither am I. and the Sorting Hat, which seems to have a 
conscience,probably wouldn't put children in Slytherin if it thought 
that placement would make them evil.

Alla:

The question is why then? We are trying to find compelling reason 
for the existence of Slytherin House and honestly, I don't see one 
right now. It is a given that majority of Slytherin students becomes 
DE. Not only Slytherins become DE, but Slytherins do.

There should be a reason why the House with racist ideology exists 
for 1000 years. There should be a reason why WW seems content to 
give up on some of the kids and be content with them growing up as 
future DE. As Del said no help seems to be given to those kids, 
since gang of Slytherins ALL became DE

 
Carol:
The hat isn't looking for an interest in the Dark Arts as a 
criterion for placement, as far as we know. And there has to be a 
place for the cunning and ambitious types to feel at home, doesn't 
there? 

Alla:

No, but Hat sure does look for Purebloods. Unfortunately, cunning 
and ambition seems to be only secondary search criteria.


Carol:
In addition, Slytherin House is part of the
> Hogwarts tradition, honoring one of the four founders, and certain
> students, notably those from certain pureblood families, expect and
> *want* to be placed there. Imagine Draco as a Ravenclaw and his 
thuggy friends as Hufflepuffs. Would any of them be happy with that
placement? Would their Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff housemates be happy 
to have them there?


Alla:

Actually, I think it would have done Draco A LOT of good to be 
placed in Ravenclaw, or even better in Hufflepuff. He would have a 
chance to learn different values. Placing all those kids together 
and making them contage each other with the same poisonous ideas 
seems very strange to me.


Carol:
>> How JKR can unite the houses and end the Slytherin vs. everyone 
else antagonism by the end of the seventh book, I don't know, but I 
don't think that eliminating *only* Slytherin is the answer. (Snape 
wouldn'tlike it, either. ;-) )
>

Alla:

LOL! I was not suggesting eliminating only Slytherin, by all means. 
I think she is going towards elimination of the House system 
alltogether. We'll see.