Snape the Gryffindor or Ravenclaw?!

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 93332

>snipping<
Carol wrote:
> I also agree that no one but a Slytherin would be appointed Head of
> Slytherin (or a Gryffindor as Head of Gryffindor). Can you imagine
> Draco's attitude toward Snape if he suspected him of being a former
> Gryffindor, or Snape being able to maintain his connections with
> Lucius Malfoy if he were a former Gryffindor? His reference to
> Slytherin as "my own house" (can't remember where that comes from,
> sorry!) suggests that Slytherin has always been his house, as does 
his
> support for the Slytherin quidditch team (matched by McGonagall's
> loyalty to hers). 
> 
> One more point. Except for his unusual courage, Snape is the
> quintessential Slytherin: ambitious, cunning, and not altogether
> scrupulous. Multiple Slytherin traits would probably outweight 
single
> traits suggesting other houses (intelligence for Ravenclaw and 
courage
> for Gryffindor). The very fact that he was once a loyal DE suggests
> that he was in Slytherin. And his early interest in the Dark Arts
> would certainly have been best served and perpetuated by placement 
in
> Slytherin.


Potiocat:
OK, we both agree that Snape was in Slytherin.  In the sorting 
process multiple traits for one house would outweigh a few traits 
for another house. Or a strong trait for one house would outweigh a 
weaker trait for another.
 
I'll agree with your Slytherin traits, except for one: interst in 
Dark Arts. I think anyone from any of the houses could have an 
interest in the Dark Arts and persue them. (Ravenclaws for 
intellectual reasons, Gryffindors out of bravery, Hufflepuffs to 
help a friend.)  Hermione seems to have a knowledge of it herself, 
and I'm reasonably certain Polyjuice Potion came from a Dark Arts 
book.  The real trick is to learn enough about them, without giving 
into them and that would take strength.

As to the Head of House, yes, I think maybe a former house member 
might be a better choice for a house, but I'm not sure how often 
that option comes up. And I think McGonagall could head any house 
she needed to. I'm not sure how important house actually is once you 
get into the real wizarding world. But, I'm off topic, the whole 
reason that came up is because it was considered a clue to Snape's 
house as a student.

But I am sorry to say, that the wonderful line "Someone from my own 
house, perhaps?" is movie contamination. I double checked to make 
sure.  Snape just suggests Malfoy and Potter as a deuling pair in 
CoS.

Potioncat