Racist Gryffindor?

[pippin_999]

Something I noticed while researching the Hat's songs for my 
previous post:

'Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those with brave deeds to their name"'
--Hat Song, OOP ch 11.

I  used to wonder how many eleven year olds had brave deeds to their name.
But perhaps I was taking it a little too figuratively. Names, after all, are
inherited. Perhaps Gryffindor considered courage in the same way
as Slytherin considered magical power -- passed down in families.

When accused of cowardice, NH Nick defends himself thusly:
"Terrifed? I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, have never been
guilty of cowardice in my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins--"
--OOP ch 11

So it seems that Nicholas thinks his brave ancestors speak for his
courage and maybe the Hat does too. 

Pippin