Harry stepping up to the plate. Was Harry heir of Slytherin?

[Mandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 97993

> -Hawk
> <snip> It would be an interesting and dark twist to have 
> these two powerful opposing wizards connected through 
> Salazar's bloodline.
> Alas, my hopes were dashed when rereading Chamber of 
> Secrets last week. In chapter 18 `Dobby's Reward'
> Dumbledore  tells Harry,"You can speak Parseltongue, Harry, because
Lord Voldemort- who is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar 
> Slytherin- can speak Parseltongue." 
> *sigh* My theory dashed. I figure if anyone is to know such things 
> it would be Dumbledore.  But I am still holding out for Harry 
> being the heir of Gryffindor.


Mandy here:
I admire your faith in DD being not only right, but honest.  I don't
think he is either when it suites him.

DD will tell Harry whatever DD thinks Harry wants, and needs to hear
to keep Harry in the 'dark' about his destiny for as long a possible.
 Remember DD is fighting the urge to tell Harry the truth all through
Harry's first year right up to the end of year 5, when DD finally sits
Harry down to tell him what he should have told him years earlier.

At the end of CoS, where DD tells Harry that he can speak Parseltongue
because of LV's curse, Harry is having serous doubts about his own
character and intentions, and thinks he may really belong in Slytherin
House.  This is dangerous thinking in DD opinion, as he has to keep
Harry on the side of right, justice and good, away from 'bad'
influences.  The last thing DD needs if for a young Harry (and Harry
was only 14) to begin to entertain thoughts of belonging in Slytherin.
 Especially as it is the House he really belongs in imo. (The Sorting
Hat was going to put Harry in Slytherin before he asked not to be.) 
If Harry was in Slytherin House he would be far more difficult to
control and more likely to be seduced by the Dark side. 

The transference of LV powers to Harry is a very convenient way for DD
to let Harry think he's not really bad but was 'made' that way. 'Oh,
it's not you fault' excuse.  Well, no one is born bad, and
circumstances help influence our choices.  Whether Harry likes it or
not, he has Dark as well as Good Magic in him, in large amounts, and
if he doesn't learn to embrace the Dark (as well as the Good) and
learn to control it, it will begin to control him. As we grow we being
to understand that 'It's not my fault' just doesn't cut it any longer
and we have to step up and take responsibility for who we are, and
what we do. I think DD is just beginning to realize the mistakes he
has made in keeping Harry in the Dark for too long.

So DD is telling Harry what her needs to hear, and I wouldn't, if I
were you, discount your theory just yet.  I for one think Harry is the
heir of both Slytherin and Gryiffindor.  He was able to open the
Chamber of Secrets and pull the Gryffindor Sword from the
Stone...er..sorry, hat.

Cheers Mandy