Hogwarts Houses and Misconceptions – I

Harry Potter took the world by storm in 1997 and became a critically acclaimed commercial success worldwide, only to do it again in 2001 with the release of the movie. What began as a book, soon turned into a universe.

J. K. Rowling has further expanded the wizarding world by writing beyond the Harry Potter books and her tweeting purview. Today, the houses have become a combination of brutal judgement, stereotype and hyperbole, and the four houses have morphed into much more than their initial introductions in the Sorting Hat song.

Each house is tied to a string of stereotypes to its name and we’re going to debunk these myths in two sections. I mean each of the houses can be a lot, eh?

HUFFLEPUFF

Misconception: Hufflepuff is the boring, lame house.

Reality: Several members of the fandom have concluded that Hufflepuff is the lame house because Helga Hufflepuff declared that she would have “all the rest” instead of seeking something special in those who were sorted into her house. People often quote the line to degrade Hufflepuff, claiming it means that the house members weren’t competent enough to join any of three other houses. Additionally, Malfoy’s statement “imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?” instilled doubt in many.

Hufflepuff’s willingness to have anyone regardless of their background or skills is reflection of the values Helga Hufflepuff wanted to inculcate in her house members. Being the only founder who wasn’t swayed by favouritism or discrimination, Hufflepuff grew to be accepting of all kinds of traits, talents and backgrounds and eventually became the most diverse and inclusive house in Hogwarts.

Misconception: They are pushovers. (Even Ron said so)

Reality: If you know the traits of a Hufflepuff, you’d be a fool to think of them as pushovers. Take Nymphadora Tonks for example. She’s a metamorphmagus with bubble gum pink hair who fought Voldemort shortly after giving birth. Pushover? More like badass.

Look beyond the surface and you will also see that they are humble. While Cormac McLaggen fed into the Gyrffindor stereotype and repulsed people with his consistent bragging, Cedric Diggory was modest despite having just as much reason to brag as Cormac. Cedric was Captain of the Qudditch tem, school prefect and Hogwarts Champion. His humble demeanour and kindness attracted people to him automatically.

Moreover, majority of the members of Dumbledore’s Army came from Hufflepuff and their house traits are described as “work, dedication, patience, loyalty, and fair play” which are some useful traits to have when fighting Voldemort!

Misconception: They’re just nice hippies.

Reality: Hufflepuff is beyond a nice house. They’re known to act with a level head when confronted with difficult circumstances. A trait that came in handy during The Final Battle of Hogwarts. Additionally, Hufflepuff is known to have the fewest dark wizards of any house.

While their acceptance of everybody is perceived as niceness, it is their patience and loyalty that gives them a bad reputation. This house is the embodiment of Hogwarts; Hufflepuffs can be creative and witty like Ravenclaw, brave and chivalrous like Gryffindor and cunning and ambitious like Slytherin.

SLYTHERIN

Misconception: Slytherins are Nazis.

Reality: This comparison is beyond problematic. Is it reasonable to argue that anyone in Slytherin is inherently evil? Draco Malfoy being the entry point into Slytherin house sets that misconception in stone as we learnt to identify all of Slyhterin house with him and his posse.

It is obvious that Rowling is trying to make a Nazi connection because in the United Kingdom if you want to identify the bad guys you make Hitler connections. Despite that, the blue eyes and blonde hair relation only goes so far as not all members of Slytherin house fit into that description.

Misconception: Slytherins are consumed by money.

Reality: A common misconception, the idea that all Slytherins come from money, comes from the idea that the villains of the story are part of the gentry class, a trope that can be traced back as early as the 1850s.

The wealthiest person in the story is Finch-Fletchley and he’s in Ravenclaw. Harry and the Weasleys are constantly thinking about money for their own reasons. The twins forsake the family tradition of studying magic to make money. Safe to say, Slytherins think about money just as much as any other house.

Misconception: They are cunning and deceptive.

Reality: While they are called out for their cunning demeanor and schemes by the sorting hat, it doesn’t necessarily mean a bad thing. They are ambitious and have laser eyed focus and are willing to work to any end to achieve what they have their eye on. Their inability to give up and drive to succeed is also a motivating presence to those around them. Slytherins have the tendency to bring out the best in you. More importantly, ambition is not a bad trait, especially when a millennial’s wish to afford basic rent is considered wildly aspirational.

Furthermore, their ability to be cunning makes them quite the charmers, I mean take the Malfoys for example. As charming as they can be, it also means they are quite the pros at talking themselves out of a situation, with the exception of Snape who somehow lacked even a hint of charm.

Misconception: They are selfish and prone to secrets.

Reality: While we acknowledge that they’ve had more than a few bad eggs and have a bad reputation that many Slytherins lived up to, their decisions don’t always come from a selfish motive. Take Draco’s acceptance of Voldemort’s offer to ensure the safety of his family for example, or Snape leading a dangerous double life in the name of love.

Misconception: They hate muggles.

Reality: Slytherin is commonly known to hate muggles and by connection, muggle-borns. The real reason behind this is that at the time, witches and wizards were being prosecuted by muggles. Therefore, Salazar Slytherin thought to protect themselves by prohibiting them from learning of the wizarding world.

Misconception: All Slytherins are evil.

Reality: While members of this house are proud and drawn to power, the house is perhaps the most traditional of them all. Let’s be honest, we all possess a few Slytherin traits and no Hogwarts house takes better advantage of the dichotomy between outward presentation and inward truth than the serpent. The house adopts a little something from every house.

While the house has had its bad eggs, not all Slytherins can be categorized as evil. Some of the biggest contributors to the Final Battle were from Slytherin. Take Horace Slughorn for example, not only does he discourage Tom Riddle from exploring horcruxes, he comes back in the Battle of Hogwarts to protect the school.

Other examples are: Regulous Black, who died attempting to destroy the Dark Lord, Severus Snape, who was a double agent for the Order of Phoenix and Merlin who opposed Morgana and created the Oder of Merlin to protect muggles.

Since the famous falling out of the four; the cause of which we still don’t know, the Sorting Hat speaks of the need for the houses to unite within Hogwarts or crumble from within.

Perhaps, if we overcome the stereotypes and misconceptions we associate with each house, we can find this unity, and grow to be the multidimensional witches and wizards we are supposed to be, continuing the rich history of Hogwarts to bring true honour, and greatness to each house’s reputations.

Looking for Gryffindor or Ravenclaw? Watch out for our next piece to learn more about the wizarding world. Additionally, tell us what you think of the houses and the myths surrounding them.

Hogwarts Houses and Misconceptions – II

                                                

The Sorting Hat is famous in the wizarding world for a variety of reasons. Initially, the four founders handpicked students for their houses but were concerned about how students would be selected after their deaths. Today we know the Sorting Hat is responsible for reading a student’s core and determining their house and automatically family, and also sings its own songs to the student body to share the history of Hogwarts during the Welcome Feast.

Every Harry Potter fan knows about the Hogwarts houses, including which one they would want to be sorted into if they had the chance. We’ve all heard the Sorting Hat’s song and learned about the houses traits, only to discover there is so much more to the houses than their initial introductions. From the founders to the house ghosts, the rivalries and symbols, each house has a rich and complex history and with it a string of misconceptions surrounding it that only got stronger with time. While we love Hogwarts, our houses may have divided us along the way, making us hostile and discriminatory towards one another.

As promised, we’re here to dispel some of these myths and bring the truth about these houses to light.

RAVENCLAW

Misconception: Their house colours are blue and silver.

Reality: While it is made abundantly clear in the books that Ravenclaws colours are blue and bronze, its representation in the movies baffled many Potterheads. While all the other houses bear their original hues, Ravenclaw was the only house to have its colours tampered with for the movie, the reason behind which is still a mystery.

This inaccurate representation also led to loads of Ravenclaw merchandise being made in the wrong colours. Talk about a colossal mess up, huh?

Misconception: The house bird is a raven.

Another debate caused by the movies; many believe the Ravenclaw’s house bird to be a raven. Ravenclaw’s bird is actually an eagle. While the first few movies showed us ravens on the crest, the eagle finally made an appearance towards the end of the series.

Misconception: Ravenclaw is a house for the boring dictionary-definition nerds

Ravenclaws love for knowledge and learning earned its students a bad reputation somewhere along the line. The idea that they are boring nerds is wildly inaccurate. Known as the house for the witty, clever and wise, members of this house are naturally curious and encourage sharing of knowledge.

Above all, Ravenclaw is a house for the eccentric and free thinkers. They prize individuality and would be the last people to dismiss someone for being different. Ravenclaw is the most artistic, individually intellectual house at Hogwarts. Their good judgement and tendency to speak their minds makes them stand out amongst the houses, often adding to their bad rep.

Misconception: They are all honest to a fault.

While this may hold true for many members of the house, let’s remember that this house prizes individuality which often results in varying personalities being clubbed together.

While they are known for honesty, Gilderoy Lockhart proved to be an exception who used his power and blatantly lied to the entire wizarding community.

Misconception: They are all smart, boring, studious and exacting.

While Ravenclaw is known for its wit, they aren’t the only smart characters we meet. Hermione, for example, is perhaps the wisest witch of her time and she isn’t in Ravenclaw due to the missing drive to break down traditional thought categories.

Furthermore, those in Ravenclaw don’t always come off the clever in the most obvious ways. Their intelligence stems from the knowledge that the smartest people are the most open-minded and that thinking in alternative ways could lead you to new discoveries. One can observe that while they may not be smooth on the surface (we’re looking at you Moaning Myrtle), you can observe an emotional intelligence among them.

Misconception: They are a bunch of weirdos.

Being among the clever doesn’t always guarantee that standardised test methods will assess your true intelligence efficiently. If anything, Ravenclaw tells us what it really means to be smart and that true intelligence means being a non-conformist.

Known for being quirky, imaginative and original, their philosophy is to think outside the box. Unafraid of being different, their priority is to get the truth underneath surface appearances.

Admittedly, their fascination with knowledge can often feel detached or lacking in warmth, but the house is an accurate representation of what Harry Potter is really about: expanding your mind to explore things others would find outlandish. Take Professor Trelawny, Garrick Ollivander or Luna Lovegood for example. All oddballs, yet brilliant in their own ways.

Misconception: They will never turn towards evil.

Intelligence doesn’t have a moral alignment. It can be used for good or bad and some morally suspect Ravenclaws prove this point. The first two stories featured devious Ravenclaw professors who turned away from doing the right thing for their gain.

GRYFFINDOR

Misconception: They are chivalrous.

Known as the house of the brave at heart, their strong personalities often earn them a bad reputation. While chivalry in modern context means gallant toward women, originally the word had a broader meaning and referred to a knightly code of honour. Hence, Gryffindors hold themselves to a moral standard and code of conduct that others may find unnecessary. 

As a matter of fact, Gryffindor’s often come off as rude, brash, self-righteous and often short-tempered. They can be accused of egotism and acting like the rules don’t apply to them, which most people don’t find charming. Even James and Sirius were known for their arrogance.

Misconception: They are too proud.

Far from proud, they are welcoming of people from all backgrounds or social importance; which was also the reason behind Godric Gryffindor’s rift with Salazar Slytherin.

While they do take pride in the strength of their community, calling them a proud group would be uncalled for. They are known to form close bonds and know they are more powerful when they team up and protect each other; a trait that stems from their belief in making sacrifices for others.

Misconception: Gryffindor’s love being the centre of attention.

Several of our favourite characters from Gryffindor admittedly do enjoy the limelight. Even so, there are many Gryffindors who can be chivalrous in their own ways whilst remaining introverted, shy and socially awkward. Above all, fellow Gryffindors know that they need to be called out at times, which observable in Hermoine’s addressing Harry on his saving-people thing.

Misconception: They have an idiotic tendency for pointless heroics.

Popularly known for their tendency for glamour and recklessness, their bravery has often resulted in stupidity. There were instances when even Harry made his situation worse.

It is not their desire for fame, rather their need to protect the weak drives them to engage in “pointless heroics”. Take McGonogall for example. While her exasperation with Harry’s presence amidst every scandal is made obvious throughout the series, it is she who comes to the rescue of her students time and time again. She took on Umbridge and Snape, proving that she is the embodiment of Gryffindor.

Moreover, their recklessness can make them the most fun group to befriend. Their tendency to be risk takers of the highest degree earns them a fairly bad reputation but proves hilarious in hindsight. Additionally, this trait adds to their “unpredictable and bad” appeal, making them nearly irresistible to their fellow witches and wizards. Gryffindor doesn’t symbolize inherent heroism so much as a state of being we can aspire towards.

Misconception: All members of Gryffindor have the same personalities.

Wildly untrue, the essence of being a Gryffindor is having the ability to overcome your natural instincts that may keep you from being truly brave.

This is why several of our favourite Gryffindors seem like better fits in other houses. While we all know Harry was almost in Slytherin, Hermione comes across as a brainy Ravenclaw, so much so that the house even considered putting her there. Professor McGonagall also caused a hatstall during her sorting ceremony and too, was almost placed in Ravenclaw.

Loyal and fair Ron could be in Hufflepuff and Neville even asked the Sorting Hat to place him in Hufflepuff because he doesn’t believe he has what it takes to be in Gryffindor.  One would think that was true judging by his initially shy and cowardly nature, but upon closer inspection, you see that Neville is modest, talented and often sceptical and unafraid to say so. Proving that, beyond all traits, the Sorting Hat detects nascent qualities and places them in the House that would put their character to the test.

This is why we are most impressed by the characters who overcame their non-Gryffindor traits to give in to their fears and instead prove the Sorting Hat right. I mean, even Hermione learnt to love breaking the rules.

All different personalities and talents, what they do share is the will to be brave and do what they determine right, which may not always actually be the right thing to do. While they are known for their desire to fight evil, there is evidence of several members joining the Dark Lord. Take Peter Pettigrew for example, he was sorted into Gryffindor but grew to be a loyal servant of Voldemort

More recent songs by the Sorting Hat speak of the dire need for the houses to come together or watch Hogwarts crumble from within. The stereotypes and misconceptions we associate each house with comes in the way of us being able to view each other beyond our houses. Perhaps, if we worked together we could bring honour to Hogwarts and greatness to each house.

Looking for Hufflepuff or Slytherin? Read Hogwarts Houses and Misconceptions – I to learn more about the world created by JK Rowling. Also, let us know in the comments what your opinions on the houses and their myths are.