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.
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