Slytherins: selfish, not evil + Ariana raped?

[patrick.jarrett]

No: HPFGUIDX 172773

Erin: 
...Snip...
> The criteria for being Sorted into Slytherin (as best I can
remember, not having my books on hand at work) is to put self first.
To look out for number one. And given what we know now, we can see
that selfishness is the greatest sin in JKR's world.
...Snip...

Patrick:
I completely agree, but I think many of us are overlooking the most
obvious place to check this. Harry. It always vexed me why Harry would
be put into Slytherin, yes we're given the obvious "seek power" as a
response from Harry for his upbringing, but it seems quite obvious
through every book all he wants to do is shed this title as "special"
and lead a normal WW life.

So if, rather than saying Slytherins seek power, we instead say that
Slytherins are not seeking power, but are instead putting themselves
forward, we're now facing a paradox for someone to both be possibly
Gryffindor and Slytherin. Gryffindors are brave, yes, but their
bravery seems largely motivated by putting others before themselves.

So how can someone, Harry in this case, be both self-centered and
selfless?

Harry's only real contact with the world before he entered the WW was
with the Dursley family. He's using Uncle Vernon, Dudley and Petunia
as his models for people in the world around him. He's been the only
selfless person in the house, trying to make others happy - not by
choice, but by requirement. So when he is pulled from that world and
given freedom, his soul is given a very real tug - does he do for
himself or for others?

Given that it was the first book, JKR drew the line in an "evil"
and "not evil" sort of way for children to more easily understand; a
lesson in sharing would be a bit out of place I suppose; but obviously
the evil and not evil monikers are meant to blur and fade away as the
story progresses. Something she shows us in the epilogue where Harry
tells his son that it is okay to be in Slytherin.

So we see Harry make the choice to do for others through the
simplified view of being good or evil.

I'm struck by the darkness of the alternative. That if he had chosen
selfishly the WW would have been doomed and he would have fallen into
league with the Malfoys and possibly (or likely) with LV. But then,
would Neville, the alternative have risen to stardom as the savior?
We'll perhaps never know, but it is interesting to consider.

-- Patrick