Let's burn down the houses

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 106942

xtremesk8ergurl2 wrote:
> I don't get the impression that Slytherin favors the Dark Arts, it's 
> just that the nature of the type of student tends to be attracted to 
> the Dark Arts (cunning, ambitious, I even view Slytherins as a tad 
> impulsive).

Del replies :
Slytherin House might not *officially* favour the Dark Arts, but it
certainly doesn't refrain them either, unlike the other Houses. And it
was always associated with the darker side of magic, right back from
Salazar Slytherin, who was famous for being a Parselmouth.

If I were Headmistress of a school where one House is reputed for
spawning large numbers of dark wizards, and where many students of
said House came from families that don't exactly mind the Dark Arts, I
would make sure that the students of that House receive special
instruction about why the Dark Arts are not the way to go. But we
don't see that the Slytherins are discouraged *in any way* from
choosing the Dark Arts if they wish (which too many of them do as a
result of their natural ambition). In fact, I'd say that appointing as
their Head of House someone who was always neck-deep in the Dark Arts
throughout his youth, and who ended up being accused of being a DE,
might actually be considered as an *encouragement* for the kids to
pursue the Dark Arts. Unless said Head of House actively worked at
convincing his students that he had been wrong and that they must not
follow in his footsteps. But we don't see that happening, and I have a
feeling that if Snape was doing that, Lucius Malfoy would not be so
taken with him.

But still I sure hope he does.

Del