Salazar & Slytherin - Quality of Qualities.

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 121889


Bboyminn wrote: 
"I don't agree with the 50/50:Gryf/Slyth idea. I think the Sorting 
Hat knew well where Harry truly belong, but it wanted to make sure 
Harry knew. In a sense, the Hat tempted Harry with Slytherin, first 
to see if he would be tempted, and second, to see if he had the 
courage,scared as he was, to argue with a powerful magical object. "

Alla: 

I tend to agree for now.


Del replies:
To me, when the Hat confirmed in CoS that Harry had been hard to
place, it sure didn't sound like the Hat had known all along where he
was going to place him. 

snip.

 Personally, I'd rather think that the Hat has been honest all 
along, and that Harry was a very good candidate for Slytherin as 
well as Gryffindor.


Alla:

Here is my speculation, which I am not sure I will keep for the 
future. If as JKR said the Hat is certainly sincere, then it indeed 
possible that it was hard to place Harry, BUT as someone else said - 
Harry's Slytherin qualities could be mainly Voldemort's induced and 
Hat may have not realised it. THAT was the difficulty, I SPECULATE.

I think that "hat is sincere" does not necessarily mean that Hat is 
correct in all of its assumptions.

Bboyminn wrote:
"Slytherins disregard the rules, Gryffindors know WHEN to disregard
the rules. Those are functionally similar, both are willing to break 
the rules, but they are founded in much different motivations. "
 
Del replies:
I disagree.
In PoA, for example, Harry bent the rules for his own very private
profit when he went to Hogsmeade without authorisation. In GoF, he
went roaming the castle at night for his own interest, when he went 
to the Prefects' bathroom. In OoP, he broke into Umbridge's office 
for his own interest. I think that Harry is a true Slytherin *on that
matter* : he disregards the rules in general.
And as Potioncat already mentioned, the Twins spend A LOT of time
breaking the rules for their own interest.
As for the Slytherins, apart from Draco and his two buddies, we 
rarely see any of them breaking rules that the other Houses 
(especially Gryffindor) don't break just as much, like fighting in 
the corridors.



Alla:

Unsurprisingly, I am with Steve with one. I think that instances 
when Harry selfishly breaks the rules are MUCH more limited than 
those when he breaks them of good purpose.

In fact, I think Hogsmead is the only one which can be cited as the 
example of selfishness in PoA and even that I would not cite as pure 
selfishness, but as "stress relief". Of course though it was for 
Harry's own benefit though.

Breaking into Umbridge office, I would not agree as pure selfishness 
either.

Regardless, I can give you very long list of Harry's breaking the 
rules for noble purpose, as I said MUCH longer than the one you 
gave. :o)

So, I disagree that Harry is a "true Slytherin" in that aspect. JMO, 
of course.

I think to compare "rule breaking" we should pick the Slytherin who 
actually  has "lines" to speak and so far it has been Draco mainly, 
unfortunately.


Let's look at some examples of his of rule breaking :

went to spy on Trio to tell on them in PS/SS;

dresses as Dementor with his buddies to make sure Harry falls off 
the broom in PoA.


I think Slytherins know how to break rules quite well mainly for 
selfish purposes.


I give you Twins though. I love them and don't doubt for a second 
that they are good guys, but they sure break rules a lot for their 
own gain.


You know what I realised? I am still not sure which house is more 
guilty of breaking the rules in general.

I guess I still place Gryffs and especially Trio on significantly 
more unselfish rule breaking scale.

Just my opinion,

Alla