Phoenix fire?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 154192

> >>houyhnhnm:
> <snip>
> Below I have compiled a list of positive and negative 
> traits associated with the four elements.  I started 
> with fire this time and left water for last.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Thanks for doing this, houyhnhnm.  I'd been wondering how the 
elements broke down.

And I love what we've got for Slytherin (the most fascinating house, 
IMO).

> >>houyhnhnm:
> *****
> Water:
> Positive--prudent, compassionate, understanding, artistic,
> protective, sensitive, reserved, seeking to help others.
> Negative--suspicious, self-repressed, hysterical, 
> self-indulgent, seeking to gain control over others, 
> exaggerating feelings all out of proportion.
> *****
> <snip>
> The last set makes you go, "Huh?" Compassionate?  Protective?  
> Sensitive?  Seeking to help others? Slytherins?
> <snip>

> >>Carol:
> <snip>
> If you want a Slytherin embodying both the best and the worst of  
> the Scorpio/water sign traits, I'd say that Snape (or at least DDM!
> Snape) is your man. Just remember Healer!Snape crooning a songlike
> counterspell over the wounded and erring Draco. Compassionate,
> protective, seeking to help others--even artistic, if he invented 
> that countercurse himself, as he must have done since he invented 
> the spell.

> >>houyhnhnm:
> I agree that Snape exhibits some of the positive traits of water. 
> In fact, I think he is the *only* Slytherin character we have seen 
> who does.

Betsy Hp:
Ooh, wait, hang on.  I don't agree with that.  *Harry* only 
acknowledges the negative aspects of Slytherin, but once you decide 
that one quarter of the student body of Hogwarts is *not* actually 
evil, there are some positive traits waiting to be plucked out of 
canon, IMO.

Pansy has often shown compassion for Draco.  The suggestion that 
several people visited the injured Montague* also shows us a house 
compassionate with its own.  Narcissa shows compassion, prudence and 
protectiveness for her son in HBP.  Draco shows protectiveness for 
his family.  The Slytherins as a whole express prudence when they 
become Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad in OotP.  "Weasley is Our 
King" is an example of both poetic and musical artistry. Draco 
understands exactly how Harry feels in PoA when Harry finds out 
about Black.  And while Draco's verbal attacks are generally pretty 
childish, he does manage to get under his victim's skin.  Which 
suggests a certain amount of sensitivity.

That leaves "reserved" and "seeking to help others".  Crabbe and 
Goyle in a nutshell. <g>  Seriously, we've *never* heard them speak, 
and they put up with a *lot* in order to help Draco.  Actually, as a 
house, I get the feeling that Slytherin prides itself on looking 
after its own.  What happens in Slytherin stays in Slytherin, but 
also Slytherin's help each other out.  I don't think Slytherin is as 
Darwinian as fandom likes to think it is.  Draco was not turned on 
in HBP, after all.  And he was certainly at his weakest. 

> >>houyhnhnm:
> <snip>
> The reason Snape (and others of that House) have not succeeded in
> evolving into the Good Slytherin yet is that Voldemort is still out
> there and Hogwarts is still divided against itself. Hogwarts and   
> the WW have to become united and whole before the full potential  
> of Slytherin can come into its own.

Betsy Hp:
I think a big reason is Slytherin's status as Hogwarts scapegoat.  A 
status it's held since Salazar left the school, I'd imagine.  We've 
seen newly sorted Slytherins hissed to their seats, so it's not like 
the Slytherins don't quickly realize that it's them againt the 
rest.  No wonder Voldemort found Slytherin so ripe for the 
plucking.  And no wonder the sensitive and prudent Slytherins keep 
their light carefully hidden under a bushel.

At least, that's how I see it.

Betsy Hp

* "*Everyone* thought it was a really good story..." [HBP scholastic 
p. 587] emphasis mine