Phoenix fire?

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 154212

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.


houyhnhnm:

I agree about protectiveness toward each other.  I think 
there is abundant evidence in canon that Slytherins stand 
together and look out for each other.  I've always had the 
feeling, too, that Draco's love for his parents is absolutely 
genuine.  The most innocent quality Draco has IMO is his 
desire to please, both his father and his parens in loco.  
(His defiant behavior toward Snape in HBP is probably a 
reflection of the conflicting feelings he has toward his father.)

I don't know about compassion.  That word was bandied 
about quite a bit recently.  I've always thought of compassion 
as an internal sort of thing.  My grandmother used to say "always 
look at other people as if they are doing the best they can."  
That is my idea of true compassion.  I think Harry shows it on 
a few occasions, but we don't see into anyone else's head the 
way we do into Harry's, so it's hard to say whether other 
characters show compassion or not.  A seeming kind or sympathic 
*act* can have all kinds of motives behind it that have nothing 
to do with compassion.

I'm glad I finally got off my duff and compiled that list, too.  
I'm not a "water" person, myself (fire and air), but I'm starting 
to see Slytherin House as /sui generis/ and it's kind of interesting