Just a few days ago, Pottermore held the House Pride week. The determined and ambitious Slytherins conquered the world on September 2 while the intelligent and creative Ravenclaws celebrated their individuality on September 3. The bold and daring Gryffindors painted the online community red…and gold on September 4. Finally, the just and humble Hufflepuffs showed their pride on September 5.
The House Pride week has likely inspired the Pottermore members (a.k.a Hogwarts students) to help make their respective houses win the 4th House Cup which will be awarded on September 12.
While everyone is in competition mode, I will take on a different route by remembering that, at the end of the day, the four houses must act as one.
We’ve seen it in the Battle of Hogwarts in The Deathly Hallows. Even non-Gryffindors had to be brave. Non-Ravenclaws had to muster all their wits and talents to outsmart their foes. Slytherins had to find their inner Hufflepuff and realize that they had to side on what’s fair and good.
To celebrate the greatness of each house and how the ideals of each make one a better wizard and contribute to a better Hogwarts, I will list down 10 characters who exemplified their house traits well at critical moments and another 5 who embodied not only the virtues of their house but also of other houses. Enjoy reading!
10 characters who exemplified their house traits well:
1. Cedric Diggory (Hufflepuff)
Cedric has shown his fairness many times during the Triwizard Tournament. While some students joined Draco in his campaign against Harry’s being an extra Hogwarts champion, Cedric remained nice to Harry. He gave Harry a tip on how to figure out the second task and, instead of taking the Triwizard Cup for himself, preferred to take it with Harry.
2. Molly Weasley (Gryffindor)
“Not my daughter, you B****!”
The epic line she said to Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort’s most obsessed and, in my opinion, one of the scariest and toughest Death Eaters.
Bellatrix has done a lot of damage: tortured Neville’s parents to madness, killed Sirius, tortured Hermione (good thing she escaped!), killed Dobby…
Mrs. Weasley must be really brave and bold to end this Death Eater’s life and call her – in her face – a b****.
3. Luna Lovegood (Ravenclaw)
If not for her, Harry may not have found Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem on time. This girl does know things that most do not.
4. Garrick Ollivander (Ravenclaw)
Every student must know Mr. Ollivander, the maker of fine wands. His passion for the art of wand-making reveals his being a Ravenclaw. He can tell the owner of a wand by examing it and seems to have memorized who has which.
This knowledge may have been abused by Voldemort, but Mr. Ollivander redeems himself by telling Harry that the allegiance of Draco’s wand has changed. This info will help Harry figure out that he is the master of the elder wand.
5. Minerva McGonagall (Gryffindor)
In the final movie, she protects Harry from Snape and duels with the latter. In the absence of a headmaster, she takes charge.
6. Ron Weasley (Gryffindor)
Who will ever forget his sacrifice during the living wizard’s chess? Ron proves that age doesn’t hinder one from being brave.
7. Severus Snape (Slytherin)
This half-blood truly did everything to prove his worth. His old Advanced Potion-Making book is a proof of his determination to be a great wizard. Plus, we’ve seen him work to land his dream job, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Post, after many disappointments.
8. Remus Lupin (Gryffindor)
He takes on a dangerous mission which leads him to face Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf who bit him. Facing the reason for your sad predicament is already difficult. Even more so when you have to spy on him and eventually ask him and his pack to ally with the good side.
9. Neville Longbottom (Gryffindor)
From standing up to his friends in the first book/movie to standing up to the Dark Lord. Remembering his moment in the final movie and in the 7th book still makes me feel high and giddy. I think no one needs any more convincing why it’s so courageous.
10. Harry Potter (Gryffindor)
This entry is so obvious. I really hope you are not disappointed, but I feel the need to acknowledge Harry’s bravery. Just because he’s the protagonist does not mean we have to exempt him from lists like this. Anyway, walking towards your death for the good of all really takes a huge amount of courage.
5 characters who also embody the virtues of other houses:
1. Intelligence: Hermione Granger
“It’s Wingardium LeviOsa, not Wingardium LevioSA!”
Hermione is the only one to execute that charm correctly at first try. Also, the only student to raise her hand for Snape’s every question during their first class. Intelligent and always prepared, Hermione is the brains of almost all of the trios plans. She may be in Gryffindor, but she can easily pass off as a Ravenclaw. No wonder the Sorting Hat had a hard time deciding where to place her.
2. Bravery: Severus Snape
Pretending to Voldermort that he’s spying on Dumbledore while really spying on the Dark Lord for the Order of the Phoenix is not a job for the fearful and the weak. I think Harry is right in telling his son that Severus Snape is probably the bravest man he has ever known.
3. Fairness and humility: Remus Lupin
His shabby robes and demeanor may conceal the intelligence that Remus Lupin has. But check his description in Pottermore and you’ll learn how brilliant he has been even as a child. He has been called a competent teacher by no less than Prof. McGonagall. Yet despite his ability, he has remained humble.
In his class, he reassures and encourages the underdogs to do better. Sometimes he even goes out of his way to teach them. Prof. Lupin will surely not brag about it, but we have to credit him for teaching Harry the Patronus Charm which has become the boy’s most mastered spell ever.
4. Ambition: Cedric Diggory
This may come as a surprise, but, after much reflection, I think it is not wrong to say that the fair and humble Cedric has ambition and determination. He is a prefect, a seeker, and one of the Hogwarts champions for the Triwizard Tournament.
That he has qualified or tried out for all these positions means that he does have some ambition for himself. Cedric proves that having ambition does not always go with being aggressive and sly.
5. Everything: Albus Dumbledore
Dare disagree? Dumbledore’s wisdom had been Harry’s guide for most of his growing years. He was the reason why a werewolf like Remus had the chance to enroll in school. He acknowledged Neville’s bravery even when it was not yet that obvious. When he was younger, he had been fascinated with Grindelwald who may have mirrored a secret thirst to show his brilliance to the world. But, as an older man, he sacrificed his life in order to prevent Voldermort from realizing his dark plans. Indeed, no one represents Hogwarts better than a famous headmaster.
There you go! I’m sure you have other ideas in mind, too. Feel free to share them by commenting on this post.
Stay magical,
A. Featherquill
P.S. Continue showing your house pride by adding more points to your house in Pottermore.
Reliving the Magic 