What Do the Four Houses of Hogwarts Represent

"The four Houses are chosen Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its ain noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule breaking volition lose House points. At the end of the twelvemonth, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great award. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours."

— Minerva McGonagall to first-year students on ane September 1991, shortly before the Sorting Ceremony^[src]

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was divided into four Houses: Gryffindor, founded by Godric Gryffindor; Hufflepuff, founded by Helga Hufflepuff; Ravenclaw, founded by Rowena Ravenclaw; and Slytherin, founded past Salazar Slytherin.^[1]

Contents

• i House systems
  • 1.one Sorting
  • 1.2 Qualities
  • one.3 Firm dynamics
• 2 The four Houses of Hogwarts
  • two.1 Gryffindor
  • 2.ii Hufflepuff
  • 2.3 Ravenclaw
  • 2.4 Slytherin
• 3 Run into also
• 4 Behind the scenes
• 5 Appearances
• vi External links
• 7 Notes and references

Business firm systems

Houses at Hogwarts were both the living and learning communities for its students. Each year's grouping of students in the same House shared the same dormitory and many classes. The houses competed throughout the school year, by earning and losing points for behaviour. The Business firm with the most points won the House Cup. Each House also had its own Quidditch team that competed for the Inter-House Quidditch Cup. These two competitions bred rivalries betwixt the Houses, the greatest of which was that betwixt Gryffindor and Slytherin.^[four]

Sorting

In the early days of Hogwarts, the iv founders handpicked students for their Houses. When the founders worried how students would be selected later their deaths, Godric Gryffindor took his hat off and each "put some brains" in it, creating the Sorting Hat to cull hereafter students for each House.^[11] At the beginning of each school twelvemonth, the magical Sorting Hat was placed on each new student'south head during the Sorting Ceremony.^[4]

The Sorting Anniversary

The Sorting Lid announced the House the student was to bring together. Earlier starting time the Sorting Anniversary, it sang a short song nigh the founding of the school and the four Houses; the Sorting Lid's songs were different every year, and the Chapeau was said to take all yr composing the adjacent i (co-ordinate to Ronald Weasley).^[4] Every and then often information technology would sing of mortal peril at the school.^[12] The students said that information technology picked upward tips from Dumbledore'south office.^[10]

Qualities

"It is our choices, Harry, that prove us who we truly are, far more than our abilities."

— Albus Dumbledore^[src]

It is unclear if the Sorting Lid tended to place students based on qualities they valued or rather qualities they exhibited. One example of the former is Peter Pettigrew, who was sorted into Gryffindor but ultimately turned out to be quite cowardly, cocky-serving and corruptible. He may take been placed at that place because, at the time, he admired potent, brave individuals like James Potter and Sirius Black. Other examples include Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, who despite being stupid and rather lazy, were placed in Slytherin, the Firm of the cunning and ambitious. They flocked around Draco Malfoy, who they admired and who exhibited the traits of Slytherin. Hermione Granger, while more clever enough for Ravenclaw, valued courage higher up all, and was sorted into Gryffindor, a House she said sounded "by far the best".

The Sorting Hat could detect nascent qualities in a educatee and place them in the Firm that would challenge them and put their character to the test. Case in indicate, Neville Longbottom was sorted into Gryffindor because the Lid sensed that he was capable of demonstrating bravery and leadership during his time at Hogwarts.^{[4] [thirteen]} However, these qualities did not fully surface until Neville learned to believe in himself.

The Hat too appeared to accept the students' wishes into account, considering how ane'southward personal choices are very much of a reflection of the qualities that they valued in themselves.^[4] Just because someone was placed in a certain House did not hateful that they could not display characteristics of other Houses. Harry Potter, for instance, embodied many of the traits that were canonical and appreciated by Salazar Slytherin. He was clever, resourceful and cunning, yet the Sorting Hat made him a Gryffindor because the very fact that he asked non to be in Slytherin showed that he did not belong there. A true Slytherin would not take had any doubts near whether or not it was the right House for them.^[14]

One of the biggest examples of this was Severus Snape. At one betoken, Albus Dumbledore observed that his loyal, mettlesome nature was much more befitted to Gryffindor. Withal, every bit a child, Snape's sadism, disdain for Muggles, and sheer cunning and ambition may have led to his beingness sorted into Slytherin when he first came to Hogwarts.^[15]

House dynamics

The four Houses were rather separate entities. Each had its own mutual room and dormitory, its own table in the Dandy Hall, and students mostly shared lessons with classmates of their same House. There was no rule against students from different houses mingling, only in practice, a good majority of social interactions occurred within the aforementioned house. Each house had 1 teacher who acted as its Head of House. Each Firm also had a House ghost. The part they served (if whatever) was unknown, although they may have been like Business firm mascots. Each Head of Firm and Firm ghost was previously a pupil within that Business firm.^{[16] [4]}

A great deal of rivalry existed between the Houses, non always friendly. This rivalry was demonstrated in the Quidditch matches and the annual schoolhouse competition for the Firm Cup, which was determined by the number of points earned or lost by each member of the rival Houses.^{[four] [17]} These points were awarded or taken based on students' conduct throughout the schoolhouse year. All members of the faculty, Prefects, Head Boys and Girls had the authorization to grant and deduct points every bit they saw fit in each instance.^[xviii] Some, like Severus Snape, the former Potions principal, tended to favour their ain house,^[v] just that did not seem to be confronting the rules. He was despised by many students, other than those in Slytherin, where he was very pop.^{[nineteen] [xx]}

It was not known how much favouritism the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Heads showed, although it can be deduced that it was minimal or non-existent, as both Professor Filius Flitwick, Caput of Ravenclaw, and Professor Pomona Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff, were kind, lighthearted people, who obviously wanted to win the House and Quidditch Cups but were not equally vindictive as Snape in going most information technology. It is known that Professor Minerva McGonagall, the stern head of Gryffindor, did not show much favouritism towards her House.^[5] In fact, she deducted 50 points apiece and awarded detentions to three students in her House (Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom when they were caught out of bed afterward hours in Harry'due south outset twelvemonth),^[21] and supported Professor Snape wholeheartedly in giving Harry detentions for the rest of the school year, even on overlapping Quidditch matches, after Harry used the Sectumsempra curse on Draco Malfoy in Harry's sixth year.^[22]

Co-ordinate to Rubeus Hagrid, "there'southward not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin",^[23] (though this was, for the virtually office correct, there were a few exceptions, sometime Gryffindor Peter Pettigrew the about notable of them). None of this necessarily meant, still, that all Slytherins were evil, such every bit Horace Slughorn,^[8] Regulus Black,^[24] Andromeda Black,^[8] Leta Lestrange, Merlin and Narcissa Malfoy^[25] for case. Slytherins were chosen for their cunning and ambition.^[four] Although founder Salazar Slytherin favoured pure-claret students,^{[1] [12]} it was not a status of beingness sorted into Slytherin Business firm every bit Tom Riddle^[26], Dolores Umbridge and Snape^[27] were half-blood Slytherins. And there were pure-bloods in other houses such as Sirius Black, the Weasleys, James Potter I, Neville Longbottom (Gryffindor) and Ernest Macmillan (Hufflepuff).

Information technology had also been said that all four Houses must band together and fight every bit ane if Hogwarts was to stand.^{[12] [28]} It must be remembered that all of the Houses had their virtues and flaws; none were inherently expert or evil. Slytherins may take earned their reputation as evil, selfish and malicious, because they showed such antipathy towards Gryffindor, the often protagonist House. They also did not show much generosity towards other Houses either, whether those in them were pure-blood or not.

House rivalry was more often than not seen between Slytherin and Gryffindor,^[1] and were said to "loathe each other on principle".^[29] This rivalry likely goes back to the days of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin after they founded Hogwarts because the Sorting Hat said that they were the best of friends earlier they founded the school.^[12] While it is not articulate if there was a similar rivalry between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, it seemed fairly unlikely due to the cheerful disposition of the Heads for said Houses, as opposed to the contempt of Professor Snape and the passion of Professor McGonagall. Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff, however, once great friends, were documented as having had a severe falling out at some indicate by the Sorting Hat's song in 1995.^[12]

It was sometimes thought that at that place was some dislike between the members of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff due to the Ravenclaw students' reputation for boasting about their intelligence, which often annoyed Hufflepuffs, who were known for being modest, gentle and kind. As a whole, Gryffindors were idea to get on best with Hufflepuffs, whereas Ravenclaws were idea to be quite friendly with Slytherins. There were certain exceptions, notwithstanding, such every bit Harry's friendliness with Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood, both from Ravenclaw, as well every bit Cho'south relationship with Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff.

Usually, though not always, the other two Houses appeared (in Harry's optics) to support Gryffindor in its rivalry with Slytherin,^{[21] [30]} which again is reminiscent of how Slytherin was in the finish opposed by all three of the other founders.^[i] One exception to this occurred when Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin all initially supported Hufflepuff's Cedric Diggory instead of Gryffindor'due south Harry Potter in the Triwizard Tournament.^[vi] Also in the offset Quidditch match of 1996, it was said that many of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had "taken sides" in the Gryffindor vs Slytherin match, just information technology was unclear as to what sides they took.

The four Houses of Hogwarts

Gryffindor

Gryffindor valued bravery, daring, nerve, and chivalry.^[4] Its emblematic beast was the lion,^[3] and its colours were scarlet and gold.^[2] Minerva McGonagall was the near contempo Head of Gryffindor.^[v] Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, besides known equally "Nearly Headless Nick", was the House Ghost. The founder of the House was Godric Gryffindor. Gryffindor corresponded to the element of Burn. The common room was located in i of the highest towers at Hogwarts, the entrance was situated on the seventh floor in the east wing of the castle and was guarded past a portrait of The Fat Lady. She permitted entrance if given the right password, which was inverse numerous times throughout the schoolhouse year.^[4] Famous Gryffindors included Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter,^[iv] and Minerva McGonagall.^[five]

Hufflepuff

Hufflepuff valued difficult piece of work, dedication, patience, loyalty, and fair play.^[four] Its allegorical beast was the badger,^[three] and yellow and blackness were its colours. Pomona Sprout was the Head of Hufflepuff during 1991–1998,^[6] Sprout left the postal service of Head of Hufflepuff and Herbology Professor sometime before 2022 and her successor for the position of Head of Hufflepuff was currently unknown. The Fat Friar was its ghost.^[iv] The founder of the House was Helga Hufflepuff.^[i]

Hufflepuff corresponded to the element of globe. The Hufflepuff dormitories and mutual room were located somewhere in the basement, near the castle'due south kitchens. It could be accessed by tapping the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row in the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff" and was described as existence a cosy and welcoming place with yellow hangings, fat armchairs, and cloak-and-dagger tunnels that led to the dormitories, which had perfectly round doors, similar to barrel tops.^[two] Famous Hufflepuffs included Hengist of Woodcroft (founder of Hogsmeade), Newt Scamander (writer of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Discover Them), and Artemisia Lufkin (get-go female government minister for magic).^[2]

Ravenclaw

Ravenclaw valued intelligence, knowledge, curiosity, creativity and wit.^[4] Its emblematic animal was the eagle,^[3] and its colours were blue and bronze. The Ravenclaw Caput of House in the 1990s was Filius Flitwick.^[vii] The ghost of Ravenclaw was the Grey Lady,^[4] who was the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw, the Firm's founder.^[31] Ravenclaw corresponded to the element of air. The Ravenclaw common room and dormitories were located in a tower on the west side of the castle. Ravenclaw students must answer a riddle every bit opposed to giving a password to enter their dormitories.^[9] This riddle, even so, could be answered by non-Ravenclaws. Famous Ravenclaws included Luna Lovegood, Gilderoy Lockhart, Ignatia Wildsmith (inventor of Floo pulverization), and Garrick Ollivander.^[2]

Slytherin

Slytherin valued ambition, leadership, cocky-preservation, cunning and resourcefulness^[4] and was founded past Salazar Slytherin.^[1] Its emblematic brute was the serpent,^[3] and its colours were emerald green and argent.^[2] Professor Horace Slughorn was the Head of Slytherin during the 1997–1998 school year, replacing Severus Snape, who besides replaced Slughorn as Potions Professor when he retired for the start fourth dimension several years prior.^{[8] [7]} Slytherin had produced the most Death Eaters and Night Wizards,^{[23] [32] [33]} including Tom Riddle,^[26] Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy, for example. But that does non mean that other Houses hadn't produced any; Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor, and Quirinus Quirrell was a Ravenclaw.

The Bloody Businesswoman was the Firm ghost.^[4] The founder of the House was Salazar Slytherin.^[i] Slytherin corresponded roughly to the element of h2o. The Slytherin dormitories and common room were reached through a bare stone wall in the Dungeons. The Slytherin common room lay beneath the Black Lake. It was a long, depression cloak-and-dagger room with rough stone walls and silver lamps hanging from the ceiling.^[ten] Famous Slytherins included Merlin, Tom Riddle, Draco Malfoy, and Dolores Umbridge.^[2]

Encounter besides

• Hogwarts founders

Behind the scenes

• Each House represents one of the four classical elements: Fire (Gryffindor), World (Hufflepuff), Air (Ravenclaw), and Water (Slytherin). Each of these also represents one of the four states of matter: Plasma (Fire, Gryffindor), Gas (Air, Ravenclaw), Liquid (Water, Slytherin), and Solid (Earth, Hufflepuff).

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher'south Stone (First advent)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher'southward Stone (flick)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Rock (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Bedroom of Secrets (picture show)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Burn down (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Burn down (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Gild of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Guild of the Phoenix (motion picture)
• Harry Potter and the Lodge of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the One-half-Claret Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Claret Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part ii
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Kid
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (Seen on house scarf)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Observe Them (motion-picture show) (Seen on house scarf)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• J. K. Rowling's official site (Mentioned merely)
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Loving cup
• Harry Potter Trading Carte du jour Game
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical Globe
• LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
• Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• LEGO Dimensions
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years five-seven
• Harry Potter: The Grapheme Vault
• Wonderbook: Volume of Spells
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World (Seen on business firm scarf)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy

External links

• Interview with J. M. Rowling

Notes and references

1. ↑ ^{ane.00 one.01 one.02 one.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 one.09 1.ten} Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 ii.10} Pottermore
3. ↑ ^{3.0 three.ane 3.ii 3.iii 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Affiliate 3 (The Messages from No Ane)
4. ↑ ^{four.00 iv.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 four.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 iv.09 4.x 4.11 4.12 iv.13 four.14 iv.15 4.xvi 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 four.21 4.22 4.23 four.24 4.25} Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 7 (The Sorting Chapeau)
5. ↑ ^{v.0 5.1 5.2 5.three 5.4 5.5} Harry Potter and the Philosopher'southward Rock, Chapter viii (The Potions Master)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.i 6.two} Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 18 (The Weighing of the Wands)
7. ↑ ^{vii.0 7.i 7.ii} Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 29 (The Phoenix Complaining)
8. ↑ ^{eight.0 8.1 8.2 8.three} Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Affiliate four (Horace Slughorn)
9. ↑ ^{ix.0 9.1} Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 29 (The Lost Diadem)
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.i x.2} Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Affiliate 12 (The Polyjuice Potion)
11. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Sorting Hat" atWizarding World
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4} Harry Potter and the Gild of the Phoenix, Affiliate 11 (The Sorting Hat'due south New Song)
13. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher'south Rock, Chapter 13 (Nicolas Flamel)
14. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Affiliate 18 (Dobby's Reward)
15. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33 (The Prince'southward Tale)
16. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Hogwarts Ghosts" atWizarding World
17. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter xi (Quidditch)
18. ↑ JK Rowling'due south Official Site (Archived)
19. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter v (The Whomping Willow)
20. ↑ Harry Potter and the One-half-Blood Prince, Chapter viii (Snape Victorious)
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Harry Potter and the Philosopher'due south Stone, Chapter xv (The Forbidden Forest)
22. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 24 (Sectumsempra)
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} Harry Potter and the Philosopher'south Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Aisle)
24. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter ten (Kreacher's Tale)
25. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Programme)
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1} Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13 (The Very Surreptitious Diary)
27. ↑ Harry Potter and the One-half-Blood Prince, Affiliate 28 (Flight of the Prince)
28. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter thirty (The Sacking of Severus Snape)
29. ↑ Harry Potter and the One-half-Blood Prince, Chapter seven (The Slug Social club) - "Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principle."
30. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Rock, Chapter 17 (The Man with Two Faces)
31. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
32. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Burn, Chapter 27 (Padfoot Returns)
33. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 17 (A Sluggish Memory)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hogwarts Houses
Namesake Founders Godric Gryffindor · Helga Hufflepuff · Rowena Ravenclaw · Salazar Slytherin
Heads of House Minerva McGonagall · Pomona Sprout · Filius Flitwick · Horace Slughorn
House Ghosts Nearly Headless Nick · Fatty Friar · Grayness Lady · Bloody Baron

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Source: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Hogwarts_Houses

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