Things that you wish were in the Harry Potter novels

[willsonteam]

No: HPFGUIDX 192049

 
> Pat:
> 
> First, I want to make certain you understand that I feel there are definitely "good" Slytherins. Having said that, I'd like to address Geoff's question. I have always felt that the Sorting Hat wanted to put Harry in Slytherin because it sensed what no one knew at that point - that Harry's scar was a repository for part of Voldemort's soul. 

snip
> "Hmmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes -- and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting. . . . So where shall I put you?"
> 
> Whereupon Harry thinks, "Not Slytherin. . . " and the Sorting Hat continues -
> 
> "Not Slytherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that -- no? Well, if you're sure -- better be GRYFFINDOR!" (PS/SS Ch. 7, The Sorting Hat, p. 131, American edition)
> 

> So there are no "Slytherin" traits mentioned, at least not the things the Sorting Hat mentions later in its songs in subsequent books. 

Potioncat:
I know I should snip more, but wanted the whole quote as well as Pat's points.

As far as Slytherin traits go-- "a nice thirst to prove yourself," --sounds like ambition to me. And ambition is the key word for Slytherin. I'm not so sure there are any Hufflepuff traits mentioned.

Harry is the one who brings up Slytherin--all he knows about Slytherin he learned from his only friend Ron and he knows the one kid he doesn't like is in Slytherin. The Sorting Hat then expands the conversation and seems to be saying that Harry would do very well in Slytherin. If you think about it, the Hat saw courage and ambition in Harry and tempted Harry with greatness. Harry didn't go for it, and he was placed in Gryffindor. (courage over ambition).



I do agree with Pat, I think the Sorting Hat sensed the LV soul bit "It's right here in your head" is too good a pun to pass up. And, I can't really see how Slytherin House would help Harry be great. Unless he combined the soul bit in his head with the soul bit in the diary and become Potter!Mort and became the next great Dark Lord.

As a side note, I think Trelawney sensed the soul bit as well, and thus some of her very confused predictions were closer to the truth than was obvious.

I often find myself defending Slytherin House. Based on the Sorting Hat's description of Slytherin, I don't think it should necessarily be the house of evil it seems to be. It ought to be the house of the very clean-cut, dressed-for-success future successful this-and-thats. The dark side of ambition is doing whatever it takes which the Hat does refer to--that would make a Slytherin "bad." But by the same token, the dark side of any House trait is bad.

What really nails Slytherin isn't its traits, but one political view that follows it down the ages---anti-Muggle bigotry.