{{Quote|You could be great, you know, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that.|The Sorting Hat to [[Harry Potter]]|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
{{Quote|You could be great, you know, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that.|The Sorting Hat to [[Harry Potter]]|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
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Slytherins tend to be ambitious, shrewd, cunning, strong leaders, and achievement-oriented. They also have highly developed senses of self-preservation.<ref>[http://pottercast.the-leaky-cauldron.org/transcript/show/167?ordernum=2 Interview with J.K. Rowling] on [http://pottercast.the-leaky-cauldron.org Pottercast]</ref> This means that Slytherins tend to hesitate before acting, so as to weigh all possible outcomes before deciding exactly what should be done.
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Slytherini tend to be ambitious, shrewd, cunning, strong leaders, and achievement-oriented. They also have highly developed senses of self-preservation.<ref>[http://pottercast.the-leaky-cauldron.org/transcript/show/167?ordernum=2 Interview with J.K. Rowling] on [http://pottercast.the-leaky-cauldron.org Pottercast]</ref> This means that Slytherini tend to hesitate before acting, so as to weigh all possible outcomes before deciding exactly what should be done.
According to [[Albus Dumbledore]], the qualities which Salazar valued in the students he chose included cleverness, resourcefulness, determination, and "a certain disregard for the rules." Dumbledore noted that all of these were qualities possessed by [[Harry Potter]], who was in Gryffindor.
According to [[Albus Dumbledore]], the qualities which Salazar valued in the students he chose included cleverness, resourcefulness, determination, and "a certain disregard for the rules." Dumbledore noted that all of these were qualities possessed by [[Harry Potter]], who was in Gryffindor.
The [[Sorting Hat]] claims that [[blood purity]], is a factor in selecting Slytherins. This suggests that it bases its decisions more upon the views of its members than on any accurate test of a student's lineage. [[Muggle-born]] Slytherins exist, but are very rare, as noted insultingly by [[Scabior]] the [[Snatchers|Snatcher]].<ref>''Deathly Hallows'', Chapter 23</ref> There have also been definite examples of [[half-blood]]s sorted into the house, including [[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]] and [[Severus Snape]]. [[Harry Potter]] was nearly sorted into Slytherin, but ended up in [[Gryffindor]] instead. Also, pure-bloods are not automatically placed in Slytherin. There have been various examples of pure-bloods sorted into other houses, including the Weasley family, [[Sirius Black]], [[Neville Longbottom]], and [[James Potter I]] all being sorted into [[Gryffindor]] house, [[Ernest Macmillan|Ernie Macmillan]] being sorted into [[Hufflepuff]], and [[Morag MacDougal]] and [[Stephen Cornfoot]] being sorted into [[Ravenclaw]].
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The [[Sorting Hat]] claims that [[blood purity]], is a factor in selecting Slytherini. This suggests that it bases its decisions more upon the views of its members than on any accurate test of a student's lineage. [[Muggle-born]] Slytherini exist, but are very rare, as noted insultingly by [[Scabior]] the [[Snatchers|Snatcher]].<ref>''Deathly Hallows'', Chapter 23</ref> There have also been definite examples of [[half-blood]]s sorted into the house, including [[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]] and [[Severus Snape]]. [[Harry Potter]] was nearly sorted into Slytherin, but ended up in [[Gryffindor]] instead. Also, pure-bloods are not automatically placed in Slytherin. There have been various examples of pure-bloods sorted into other houses, including the Weasley family, [[Sirius Black]], [[Neville Longbottom]], and [[James Potter I]] all being sorted into [[Gryffindor]] house, [[Ernest Macmillan|Ernie Macmillan]] being sorted into [[Hufflepuff]], and [[Morag MacDougal]] and [[Stephen Cornfoot]] being sorted into [[Ravenclaw]].
Contrary to the wishes of the other founders of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], [[Salazar Slytherin]] wanted a stricter policy of admission to the school —one limited strictly to [[pure-blood]] students. The controversy this created apparently led to him leaving the school and the [[Chamber of Secrets]] behind. A millennium later, the house's students are still considered affiliated with Salazar's reputed views, and open expression of pro-blood purity sentiment does seem to be more common in Slytherin than in other Houses.
Contrary to the wishes of the other founders of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], [[Salazar Slytherin]] wanted a stricter policy of admission to the school —one limited strictly to [[pure-blood]] students. The controversy this created apparently led to him leaving the school and the [[Chamber of Secrets]] behind. A millennium later, the house's students are still considered affiliated with Salazar's reputed views, and open expression of pro-blood purity sentiment does seem to be more common in Slytherin than in other Houses.
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This disagreement over blood purity, which caused Salazar Slytherin's friendship with [[Godric Gryffindor]] to break, is the origin of the feud between Slytherin and [[Gryffindor]], the two most competitive of the houses. Slytherin and Gryffindor are generally rivals in [[Quidditch]] and for the [[House Cup]], which the former had won seven years in a row prior to [[Harry Potter]]'s arrival at Hogwarts in [[1991]]. It is also rare for Slytherin and Gryffindor students to be friendly with one another, and common for them to share animosity. This was particularly the case during the [[First Wizarding War|First]] and [[Second Wizarding War]]s. During the latter conflict, no Slytherin students joined an association known as [[Dumbledore's Army]]; however, this could be explained by the fact that only those [[Hermione Granger]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], and [[Harry Potter]] trusted were invited. Some Slytherins declined to defend their school in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], with some joining the Death Eaters. However, there are exceptions, such as Slytherin [[Severus Snape]] and Gryffindor [[Lily Evans]], who were best friends until Snape's use of the slur "[[Mudblood]]" and his aspirations to be a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]] caused Lily to sever their ties.
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This disagreement over blood purity, which caused Salazar Slytherin's friendship with [[Godric Gryffindor]] to break, is the origin of the feud between Slytherin and [[Gryffindor]], the two most competitive of the houses. Slytherin and Gryffindor are generally rivals in [[Quidditch]] and for the [[House Cup]], which the former had won seven years in a row prior to [[Harry Potter]]'s arrival at Hogwarts in [[1991]]. It is also rare for Slytherin and Gryffindor students to be friendly with one another, and common for them to share animosity. This was particularly the case during the [[First Wizarding War|First]] and [[Second Wizarding War]]s. During the latter conflict, no Slytherin students joined an association known as [[Dumbledore's Army]]; however, this could be explained by the fact that only those [[Hermione Granger]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], and [[Harry Potter]] trusted were invited. Some Slytherini declined to defend their school in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], with some joining the Death Eaters. However, there are exceptions, such as Slytherin [[Severus Snape]] and Gryffindor [[Lily Evans]], who were best friends until Snape's use of the slur "[[Mudblood]]" and his aspirations to be a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]] caused Lily to sever their ties.
==Reputation==
==Reputation==
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It might also be possible (though unlikely) that the Sorting Hat simply sorts anyone with ill intentions into Slytherin, regardless of whether they possess cunning and ambition. [[Vincent Crabbe]] and [[Gregory Goyle]] were both incredibly stupid and did not have that clever, cunning mind, but were still sorted into Slytherin.
It might also be possible (though unlikely) that the Sorting Hat simply sorts anyone with ill intentions into Slytherin, regardless of whether they possess cunning and ambition. [[Vincent Crabbe]] and [[Gregory Goyle]] were both incredibly stupid and did not have that clever, cunning mind, but were still sorted into Slytherin.
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However, it must be noted that Slytherins who oppose use of the [[Dark Arts]] and discrimination based on [[blood purity]] do exist, such as [[Horace Slughorn]] and [[Andromeda Tonks]]; the latter was related to many different Dark wizards and witches (most notably her sister [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], her brother-in-law [[Lucius Malfoy]], and her nephew [[Draco Malfoy]]), but chose to forsake the loyalty to her [[House of Black|family]] in marrying the Muggle-born [[Ted Tonks]]. Also, the allegiance of [[Severus Snape]] was found to be ultimately towards [[Albus Dumbledore]], serving as a triple agent for the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Furthermore, there have been Dark wizards from other houses; [[Peter Pettigrew]], who betrayed [[James and Lily Potter]] to Voldemort, was a [[Gryffindor]].
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However, it must be noted that Slytherini who oppose use of the [[Dark Arts]] and discrimination based on [[blood purity]] do exist, such as [[Horace Slughorn]] and [[Andromeda Tonks]]; the latter was related to many different Dark wizards and witches (most notably her sister [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], her brother-in-law [[Lucius Malfoy]], and her nephew [[Draco Malfoy]]), but chose to forsake the loyalty to her [[House of Black|family]] in marrying the Muggle-born [[Ted Tonks]]. Also, the allegiance of [[Severus Snape]] was found to be ultimately towards [[Albus Dumbledore]], serving as a triple agent for the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Furthermore, there have been Dark wizards from other houses; [[Peter Pettigrew]], who betrayed [[James and Lily Potter]] to Voldemort, was a [[Gryffindor]].
Cunning and ambition are easily turned towards ill purposes, but are not inherently negative; furthermore, daring, intelligence, and loyalty can as easily become negative. A reason Slytherins may be thought less of by people is perhaps because many of them seem to value their own lives more than the lives of others. When Harry was trying to run away, because he was afraid that his presence was putting his friends in danger, [[Phineas Nigellus]] saw him and said, "''We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, when given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks''." There are exceptions to this rule however, such as Snape, who Harry said was a ''"Slytherin and...probably the bravest man I ever knew"'' and [[Regulus Black]], who gave his life in an attempt to destroy one of the [[Horcrux]]esofLord Voldemort.
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Cunning and ambition are easily turned towards ill purposes, but are not inherently negative; furthermore, daring, intelligence, and loyalty can as easily become negative. A reason Slytherini may be thought less of by people is perhaps because many of them seem to value their own lives more than the lives of others. When Harry was trying to run away, because he was afraid that his presence was putting his friends in danger, [[Phineas Nigellus]] saw him and said, "''We Slytherini are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, when given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks''." There are exceptions to this rule however, such as Snape, who Harry said was a ''"Slytherin and...probably the bravest man I ever knew"'' and [[Regulus Black]], who gave his life in an attempt to destroy one of the [[Horcrux]]esofLord Voldemort.
[[File:Slytherinbg1600x1200.png|thumb|200px|Slytherin common room]]
[[File:Slytherinbg1600x1200.png|thumb|200px|Slytherin common room]]
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The truth is that while most Dark wizards are Slytherins, most Slytherins are not Dark, and smaller groups of Voldemort's supporters are aligned with other Houses. During the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], while all of the Slytherin students left the school before the fighting started, several of them did return with the [[Hogsmeade]] reinforcements to join the fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters; Furthermore, it should be noted that the acting head at the time ''ordered'' the entire house to leave due to a [[Pansy Parkinson|single Slytherin student suggesting]] the student body hand Harry Potter to Voldemort (although none of the Slytherins present moved to defend Harry from the suggestion, as the other three houses did).<ref>[[J.K. Rowling PotterCast Interview]]</ref>
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The truth is that while most Dark wizards are Slytherini, most Slytherini are not Dark, and smaller groups of Voldemort's supporters are aligned with other Houses. During the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], while all of the Slytherin students left the school before the fighting started, several of them did return with the [[Hogsmeade]] reinforcements to join the fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters; Furthermore, it should be noted that the acting head at the time ''ordered'' the entire house to leave due to a [[Pansy Parkinson|single Slytherin student suggesting]] the student body hand Harry Potter to Voldemort (although none of the Slytherini present moved to defend Harry from the suggestion, as the other three houses did).<ref>[[J.K. Rowling PotterCast Interview]]</ref>
==Common room==
==Common room==
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Slytherin's head of house for Harry's first six years of school was [[Severus Snape]]; however, as he fled with the [[Death Eaters]] in [[1997]], [[Potions (class)|Potions]] [[Potions master|master]] [[Horace Slughorn]] became the head of Slytherin House. Upon Snape's return as [[Headmaster]] later that year, he apparently approved of Slughorn's appointment, or at least did not assign any [[Death Eaters]] as a new head of house.
Slytherin's head of house for Harry's first six years of school was [[Severus Snape]]; however, as he fled with the [[Death Eaters]] in [[1997]], [[Potions (class)|Potions]] [[Potions master|master]] [[Horace Slughorn]] became the head of Slytherin House. Upon Snape's return as [[Headmaster]] later that year, he apparently approved of Slughorn's appointment, or at least did not assign any [[Death Eaters]] as a new head of house.
|Has her [[Portraits|portrait]] hanging at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], and tells Slytherins to be ''"Nasty to [[Mudbloods]]"''.
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|Has her [[Portraits|portrait]] hanging at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], and tells Slytherini to be ''"Nasty to [[Mudbloods]]"''.
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|-
|[[Phineas Nigellus Black]]
|[[Phineas Nigellus Black]]
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*Slytherin students also seem to be gifted in [[Occlumency]]. Most of the known Occlumens in the books come from Slytherin (namely [[Voldemort]], [[Severus Snape]], [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], [[Draco Malfoy]], and [[Horace Slughorn]]).
*Slytherin students also seem to be gifted in [[Occlumency]]. Most of the known Occlumens in the books come from Slytherin (namely [[Voldemort]], [[Severus Snape]], [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], [[Draco Malfoy]], and [[Horace Slughorn]]).
*[[Elizabeth Burke]] was most likely a Slytherin.
*[[Elizabeth Burke]] was most likely a Slytherin.
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*[[J. K. Rowling]] stated in a [[J.K. Rowling PotterCast Interview|PotterCast interview]] that some Slytherins were among the reinforcements brought by Slughorn during the Battle of Hogwarts.
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*[[J. K. Rowling]] stated in a [[J.K. Rowling PotterCast Interview|PotterCast interview]] that some Slytherini were among the reinforcements brought by Slughorn during the Battle of Hogwarts.
*[[J. K. Rowling]] stated that by 2017, Slytherin is no longer the pure-blood bastion that it once was. However, its dark reputation still lingers, hence Albus Potter's fears.<ref>http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript</ref>
*[[J. K. Rowling]] stated that by 2017, Slytherin is no longer the pure-blood bastion that it once was. However, its dark reputation still lingers, hence Albus Potter's fears.<ref>http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript</ref>
*It is interesting to note that Slytherin is both the first Hogwarts house mentioned in the series (by [[Draco Malfoy]]), as well as the last mentioned in the series (by [[Albus Potter]]).
*It is interesting to note that Slytherin is both the first Hogwarts house mentioned in the series (by [[Draco Malfoy]]), as well as the last mentioned in the series (by [[Albus Potter]]).
Revision as of 11:44, November 23, 2012
"Well, I think we should put it back in order for them, don't you?"
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Slytherin is one of the four Houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is traditionally home to students who exhibit such traits as cunning, resourcefulness and ambition. Its emblematic animal is the snake and its colours are green and silver. The house ghost is the Bloody Baron. Founded by Salazar Slytherin, the house is composed mostly of pure-blood students, due to its founder's mistrust of Muggle-born witches and wizards. Slytherin house has a negative reputation, with many claiming that it is the source of most Dark Wizards in Britain, notably Tom Marvolo Riddle, a.k.a. Lord Voldemort, as well as many of his Death Eaters (followers). It has a traditional rivalry with Gryffindor. The great wizard Merlin was in Slytherin.
Slytherin corresponds roughly with the element of water.[7]
Slytherini tend to be ambitious, shrewd, cunning, strong leaders, and achievement-oriented. They also have highly developed senses of self-preservation.[8] This means that Slytherini tend to hesitate before acting, so as to weigh all possible outcomes before deciding exactly what should be done.
According to Albus Dumbledore, the qualities which Salazar valued in the students he chose included cleverness, resourcefulness, determination, and "a certain disregard for the rules." Dumbledore noted that all of these were qualities possessed by Harry Potter, who was in Gryffindor.
Blood purity
"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony, but I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his house if you paid me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home..."
Contrary to the wishes of the other founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salazar Slytherin wanted a stricter policy of admission to the school —one limited strictly to pure-blood students. The controversy this created apparently led to him leaving the school and the Chamber of Secrets behind. A millennium later, the house's students are still considered affiliated with Salazar's reputed views, and open expression of pro-blood purity sentiment does seem to be more common in Slytherin than in other Houses.
This disagreement over blood purity, which caused Salazar Slytherin's friendship with Godric Gryffindor to break, is the origin of the feud between Slytherin and Gryffindor, the two most competitive of the houses. Slytherin and Gryffindor are generally rivals in Quidditch and for the House Cup, which the former had won seven years in a row prior to Harry Potter's arrival at Hogwarts in 1991. It is also rare for Slytherin and Gryffindor students to be friendly with one another, and common for them to share animosity. This was particularly the case during the First and Second Wizarding Wars. During the latter conflict, no Slytherin students joined an association known as Dumbledore's Army; however, this could be explained by the fact that only those Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter trusted were invited. Some Slytherini declined to defend their school in the Battle of Hogwarts, with some joining the Death Eaters. However, there are exceptions, such as Slytherin Severus Snape and Gryffindor Lily Evans, who were best friends until Snape's use of the slur "Mudblood" and his aspirations to be a Death Eater caused Lily to sever their ties.
It is said that all Dark Wizards were in Slytherin (though it is untrue, as Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor and Quirinus Quirrell was a Ravenclaw), though how many were from this house before Tom Marvolo Riddle began recruiting Death Eaters there is unstated. As Slytherin was his own House, it was certainly most easy for him to recruit there.
It might also be possible (though unlikely) that the Sorting Hat simply sorts anyone with ill intentions into Slytherin, regardless of whether they possess cunning and ambition. Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were both incredibly stupid and did not have that clever, cunning mind, but were still sorted into Slytherin.
Cunning and ambition are easily turned towards ill purposes, but are not inherently negative; furthermore, daring, intelligence, and loyalty can as easily become negative. A reason Slytherini may be thought less of by people is perhaps because many of them seem to value their own lives more than the lives of others. When Harry was trying to run away, because he was afraid that his presence was putting his friends in danger, Phineas Nigellus saw him and said, "We Slytherini are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, when given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks." There are exceptions to this rule however, such as Snape, who Harry said was a "Slytherin and...probably the bravest man I ever knew" and Regulus Black, who gave his life in an attempt to destroy one of the HorcruxesofLord Voldemort.
The truth is that while most Dark wizards are Slytherini, most Slytherini are not Dark, and smaller groups of Voldemort's supporters are aligned with other Houses. During the Battle of Hogwarts, while all of the Slytherin students left the school before the fighting started, several of them did return with the Hogsmeade reinforcements to join the fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters; Furthermore, it should be noted that the acting head at the time ordered the entire house to leave due to a single Slytherin student suggesting the student body hand Harry Potter to Voldemort (although none of the Slytherini present moved to defend Harry from the suggestion, as the other three houses did).[10]
Slytherin's head of house for Harry's first six years of school was Severus Snape; however, as he fled with the Death Eaters in 1997, PotionsmasterHorace Slughorn became the head of Slytherin House. Upon Snape's return as Headmaster later that year, he apparently approved of Slughorn's appointment, or at least did not assign any Death Eaters as a new head of house.
The same name is used for the Arabic, Croatian, German, Hebrew, Swedish, Spanish, Danish, Turkish, Icelandic, Irish, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), and Indonesia languages.
The fact that J. K. Rowling intended to place a character named Mafalda, a half-blood who was the daughter of a Squib and a Muggle, in Slytherin, suggests that Rowling at least does not view the Slytherin House desire for blood-purity as particularly influential upon the Sorting Hat. Also as Voldemort and Snape are both half-bloods there seems no reason to suspect a racially pure Slytherin.[15]
Slytherin students might possess a certain skill in Potions. Harry's two Potions masters, Severus Snape and Horace Slughorn, both belonged to the Slytherin house. However, it is possible that this talent in Slytherin students could merely be a coincidence, as students from other houses at Hogwarts also shared this talent, such as Harry Potter's mother, Lily Potter (nee Evans) (whose skills were shown through Slughorn's many references to her skill in the subject throughout most of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and Hermione Granger who were both Gryffindors.
J. K. Rowling stated in a PotterCast interview that some Slytherini were among the reinforcements brought by Slughorn during the Battle of Hogwarts.
J. K. Rowling stated that by 2017, Slytherin is no longer the pure-blood bastion that it once was. However, its dark reputation still lingers, hence Albus Potter's fears.[16]
It is interesting to note that Slytherin is both the first Hogwarts house mentioned in the series (by Draco Malfoy), as well as the last mentioned in the series (by Albus Potter).
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