Pansy/ Re: House characteristics

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 150651


> Betsy Hp:
> Is that the direction of the shift, though?  The Sorting Hat gives
> us the *history* of the Founder's ideals, <snip>

a_svirn:
A propos of the history. Have we discussed the meaning of
the "geographical background", so to speak, of the four founders? If
there is any meaning, that is? I got the feeling that that Slytherin
was even geographically alien of some sort. Both ladies are
obviously from Scotland, from "glen" and from the "valley broad" –
Highlands and Midland Valley, I take it. "Wild moor" can be
anywhere, of course, but the most likely choice is North Yorkshire.
And "fen" is obviously Fen Country, which makes him the only
southerner among the northerners. That would have made a huge
difference a millennium ago.

> Betsy Hp:
but how the Sorting Hat
> ends up sorting the students is up to the Sorting Hat.  And the
> Sorting Hat looks for ambition and cunning for Slytherin, and
> hardwork and loyalty for Hufflpuff.  Never mind that Ms.
Hufflepuff
> stated that she didn't want to weed *any* students out, and never
> mind that Mr. Slytherin said that pure-bloods only need apply.
(Mr.
> Gryffindor had "chivalry" added to his request for the brave
> students, and Ms. Ravenclaw had "wit" added to her request for
> intelligence.)

a_svirn:
I think the Hat uses *wit* and *intelligence* as synonyms.

> Betsy Hp:
>
> We already know that Slytherin house is not made up of those with
> purest blood, and we know that Hufflepuff is not a catch-all.  So
I
> think the Sorting Hat has been shifting the houses'
characteristics
> a tad as the years have gone by.

a_svirn:
Then why all that harping about pure blood in its song? Or does it
shifts characteristics on a whim from year to year? Applies less
rigid standards every other year and then goes back to the most
stringent of principles?

> > >>Lupinlore:
> > The exception to this is, to an extent, Slytherin.  I think
this
> > is in part due to honest reservations JKR herself has with
regard
> > to Slytherin's symbolic house traits -- whether pure blood
or
> > ambition.
> > <snip>
> > True, we've seen McClaggen and Pettigrew in Gryffindor
and
> > Marietta in Ravenclaw -- now we need to see a truly good
character
> > in Slytherin (and I don't mean a DDM!Snape, who doesn't qualify
as
> > good in any case).
> > <snip>
>
> Betsy Hp:
> That'll be Draco, I'm sure.  <snip>

a_svirn:
That'll be a rare example of transfiguration indeed! But then, maybe 
he'll transfer to Gryffindor...