chapter discussions, SS/PS, chapter 5, Diagon Alley

[rhkennerly]

No: HPFGUIDX 187900

> > Rick:
> > Of course there is the problem of Narcissa Black Malfoy.  I can't find any evidence that she was a Slytherin
>
> Joeydebs:
> Slughorn mentioned that all the Blacks save Sirius were in his house suggesting that Narcissa was a Slytherin. I don't have time to find the exact book quote but it was in HBP.
>

Of course.  Thanks.

I've always read a minor theme in the books, particularly the end of DH, of the house system being somewhat detrimental and overly deterministic: you ARE what your house represents.  This is good for, say, Neville, who gains courage and confidence as G, but bad for most Slytherins and HW since it reinforces undesirable traits and gang activity.

In the lull before the final battle and after the final battle JKR makes a point of writing about how everyone was mixed sitting in the great hall, among the houses and the generations, brought together in the greater cause.

Rick