Slytherin Traits

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 116409



Not long ago there was or perhaps still is a thread about Slytherin 
relationships.  Could a Slytherin love?  Who would/would not make a 
good mate?  Slytherin/Hufflepuff,  S/Ravenclaw, etc. It seemed that 
answers often depended on the poster's personal view of what an 
individual from a particular House would be like.   Ravenclaws were 
sometimes referred to as Nerds
although I don't picture Ravenclaw as 
a House of Nerds. I realized that we don't all see the Houses in the 
same way.

But then I started thinking, based on the traits we're given by 
reliable sources in the books, do the House members really fit the 
description?  Not on the level of  "Does Peter really belong in 
Gryffindor?" but more, do the students in general fit the 
description of their House?  I was thinking mainly of the 
Slytherins, because of the thread that inspired this idea, but it 
could be any House. 

So I pulled up the quotes I could recall just about Slytherin 
House.  I ignored the students on the train and Hagrid as sources.  
And this is what I found for Slytherin traits. (BTW, ambition wasn't 
one that I came across.  Does anyone know where that one is 
mentioned in canon?)  

Pretend for a moment that you haven't met any Slytherins or heard 
the rumors about Dark Wizards and see what you think.
*********************************************************************
SS/PS
The Sorting Hat:
The Sorting Hat is speaking,
Or perhaps in Slytherin you'll make your real friends, 
These cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends."


CoS Dobby's Reward: 
Dumbledore is speaking,
"You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his 
hand-picked students.  His own very rare gift, Parseltounge – 
resourcefulness – determination – a certain disregard for rules." He 
added
"


OoP, The Sorting Hat's New Song:
The Sorting Hat is speaking,
"Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those whose ancestry is purest"



"For instance, Slytherin took only pure-blood wizards of great 
cunning, just like him
"
*********************************************************************
Now, as far as I can tell, resourcefulness, and determination are 
both good traits for anyone to have.  Cunning is a tricky one, it's 
good if the Hero has a bit of cunning when he needs to foil the bad 
guys
 and disregard for the rules can go either way.  "Make your 
real friends" sounds good
a nice supportive group of people, those 
Slytherins.  "Use any means to achieve their ends"
that's a bit too 
dangerous for me, but to a point it's not too bad. 

"
just those whose ancestry is purest"  On a positive note that 
sounds a little like the Daughters of the American Revolution. (DAR) 
or perhaps like those who can trace family back to the Mayflower
but 
it also sounds like some pretty wicked organizations.

You could certainly come up with a fairly nice individual who had 
these traits.  Someone who would make a nice spouse/parent/child.  
Now, do the Slytherins we know really fit this mold?