Slytherin Traits

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 116424


Potioncat wrote: (snip)
> 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?)  
> 

Ginger butts in:

It's in the GoF sorting song:
(US paperback, ch. 12, p. 177)
"And powerhungry Slytherin loved those of great ambition."

Potioncat quotes:
> 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
"
(snip Potioncat's analyses)

Ginger's take on things:
Ambition, cunning, resourcefulness, determination:  It sounds like it 
will lead to a career in politics.  

Those seem to be the qualities of leaders, although not necessarily 
good ones.  They definately don't fit Crabbe and Goyle.  Perhaps the 
hat puts in that sort so that the Malfoy types have someone to follow 
them.  A houseful of Dracos would result in a lot of in-fighting.  
Teamwork is the key, and Slytherins could probably be team players if 
it meant meeting the set goal.  

Mostly it sounds like Slytherin wanted the "movers and shakers" of 
the world.  He wanted to educate those who would find themselves in 
positions of power and influence.  Maybe this is why there is still 
such a high regard for pureblood status among the higher circles 
despite Dumbledore and others like him.

As Potioncat pointed out, any of these traits can be used for good, 
and even a combination of them could be a strong asset in someone 
working towards the good of the world.  Throw in the "disregard for 
the rules" and "use any means to achieve their ends" and you have a 
loose cannon (the 2n kind).  Lots of evil has been done by those who 
think they are above the law, or are a law unto themselves.

In summary, I don't think this pegs all Slytherins as bad, but it 
certainly attracts those who could easily be turned.  When I rule the 
world, I will kill them all.  Just so everyone will be safe.  

Ginger, who really isn't going to rule the world or kill anyone.