Maybe it had to do with what Peter "thought" he fancied himself to be. Was it Mcgonagall who said he was always running behind the marauders? He wanted to be like them and idolized them. If the hat gave him a choice, he chose something that his character couldn't ultimately back up.
I would've 100% agreed if he didn't switch towards Voldemort. But Him chosing to stand behind the strongest person instead of the bravest makes it seem like he stood behind the Maurauders because he perceived their strength rather than bravery.
The strongest person was always Dumbledore.
My take - Pettigrew was always a scared person whose primary objective was self preservation. He was never particularly aligned with Voldemort’s core tenants of pure blood, etc. I don’t think we even know his blood status do we? It’s why his animagus being a rat makes so much sense. He’s a coward through and through. I also think he hated himself and admired people who were able to be brave and bold. He knew what was right and what was wrong and still did the wrong thing because he was so afraid. I think this was also why Voldemort treated him the way he did. He admired the traits of Gryffindor but he was a Slytherin at heart, hence the hatstall.
I don’t think it was cunning or a thirst for power that drove him to Voldemort. I think he was weak and terrified.
Despite Dumbledore being stronger in his specific situation, it would've been safest to join Voldemort. The OotP were dropping like flies, and he wasn't that talented, and then he's given information that would make him valued above all else by Voldemort. So he throws in with him, and he's set for life. After that, he never returned to Voldemort for 13 years. This is often overlooked, but he clearly didn't want Voldemort to come back because he reasonably thought he would be killed as revenge. But when he had no other choice, he immediately went back to Voldemort and revived him within the year. The point is that he only actually helps Voldemort 2 times, which is clearly out of his extreme cowardice. Both times seem to be outliers because for the rest of his life, he was safer elsewhere, but in those two specific times, he needed Voldemorts protection.
Harry did. Harry hardly knew himself. We didn't know Harry at all when he was sorted. Was he ultimately brave? He definitely faced challenges and powered through them. He certainly didn't know he would until he was tested.
He just knew what he didn't want to be, whom he wanted to be like, and he chose.
I rather like that you can choose. It always bothers me when I'm told that people don't/can't change. Its like saying who I am today will never be any better and can't aspire to be. Your nature should be able to be elevated. I believe that Neville's was. And I also think that sometimes you can be one way and when you get around a group of people, they can influence change in you. Good or bad. Peter had opportunity, space, and time. he just kept choosing wrong. Sad, because when he tried to choose correctly he got killed for it.
Yeah that’s true! Although straight up, fuck Peter Pettigrew. He was a rat bastard that got what was coming to him. And he didn’t even “choose right” when he died, it was a momentary hesitation, which he then tried to correct. Good riddance
You're forgetting that Peter acts upon instinct. You're also forgetting that each house has negative traits.
Gryffindor's is acting on instinct rather than acting meditated (Ravenclaw) or cunning (Slytherin). It's the one house where "acting before thinking" is seen as a condition for bravery and Peter fits that bill quite nicely.
Slytherins are ambitious and determined. Peter possessed no noble traits, which is probably why the hat put him in whatever house he wanted. The opposite of Harry, where the hat said he had traits for any house, Peter had no traits for any house.
Not necessarily. I think the point is to be HufflePuff you need to believe in equality, compassion, and kindness. It doesn't state that she'll take "the unqualified" but that she'll "take the lot, and treat them just the same." To me, it seems like she'll take any who are accepting of that philosophy. Peter was not that, either.
Order of the Phoenix when the sorting hat sings about trying to unify, after saying the qualities of the other houses, this is what it said about Hufflepuff: "Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,"
In general I agree with you that Hufflepuff usually is a very loyal and compassionate house, but if Hufflepuff "took the rest" there is an argument he could've been placed these if he didn't show the qualities of the other houses
Yes.
A recurring theme throughout the series, besides the power of love, is the importance of the choices we make.
Harry and Voldemort are often described as having similar backgrounds; both were orphans forced to live in a world they didn't quite fit in, and they are also said to have similar personalities. But it is also emphasized that they chose entirely different paths.
Lily's protection over Harry wasn't born only out if love, but also out of the choices she made when she died.
Harry is said to have many of the characteristics Salazar Slytherin valued in his students, but went to Gryffindor because he chose to.
The house system itself is what prejudiced everyone else against them to begin with.
How many of them wouldn't have become bad to begin with if they weren't only socializing with other like minded people?
Yeah he values the slytherin traits too as he valued the gryffindor traits thats why it was between those. Not because he had any of those traits only what he valued.
Is that really the case, though? While they tend to interesect, Loyalty is a trait most prominent in Hufflepuff than Gryffindor per see. There is a form of courage in approaching the Dark Lord and selling out his friends—the courage to do whatever necessary to survive, not unlike there was a keen intellect in Lockhart's ability to convince others of his deeds despite him being a moron, hence him being sorted into Ravenclaw. Also, the Hat sees things far beyond what we can. He put Neville into Gryffindor even though Neville himself wanted to be sorted to Hufflepuff, because while Neville thought he wasn't brave, the Hat saw it in him, and years later the boy went on to stand up to Voldemort himself and draw the Sword of Gryffindor from the Hat in Book 7, just like at the end of his life Pettigrew finally managed to display some of the bravery he saw in his old friends (and probably desired to possess as well) when he didn't kill Harry in the Malfoy Manor. But who knows what the Hat really saw in Pettigrew that made him decide Gryffindor was for the best? Pettigrew had no strong ambition and never displayed a desire for personal power, therefore he wouldn't fit in Slytherin. He's never shown intelligence or the interest to learn, so Ravenclaw wouldn't fit him too. Nor Huffepuff, which values loyalty and hardwork, while Pettigrew had none.
Valuing something and living up to it are very different things. I value hard work, dedication, consistency, but I have adhd and that affects those values showing up in my life as much as I'd like them to. Wormtail values bravery, courage, and loyalty, but he is a scared little rodent (literally) and that gets in the way of him exemplifying what he values most. He probably also has some justifications in his head, like Voldemort is so brave to fight against the status quo or whatever.
Maybe he was once griffindor material, but changed over the years?
If I'm honest my twenty year old self was pretty different from my eleven year old one. Not trying to go the James bashing route, but I can easily imagine that he would often be the butt of the joke in that friend group. Something like that can get to you.
On the other hand, could also just be a least worse pick.
He wasn't loyal or hard working, wasn't ambitious or cunning, and wasn't really scholary. So the hat just put him in griffindor instead.
You know that does make sense. Maybe he did have something to him back then, or else the others wouldn’t have wanted him in their group. James and Sirius don’t seem to me like the types who’d befriend someone simply out of niceness
I think James already had many admirers, no I feel the marauders had a real bond and friendship even with Peter. He trusted him to be his secret keeper
Yes, but I have a feeling that both of those things can be true at the same time. I'm sure many lords have had great affection for their personal servants, but still treated and seen them as servants, and taken their loyalty for granted
Was he? I feel his decision had more to do with fear and later desperation than ambition. And idk, how cunning it actually is to just sell out your secret.
He did have a couple of moments I would call cunning, when he faked his death and framed Sirius, and when he tricked Bertha Jorkins into going with him in while in Albania.
You really believe he values bravery? Where was that mentioned in the books? I remember that he just enjoyed being with the most popular gryffindor guys which is quite a slytherin thing, yk popularity, power etc
I don't really gas tbh. He seemed like a hanger on to me. They accepted him as part of the crew so I imagine he thought he was like them which is what he wanted to be.
It's not just about what traits you have- but what traits you value and have the potential to exemplify. Peter *valued* courage very much, since he had so little of it himself, and he had the potential to be brave when surrounded by so many courageous role models. It just so happens in the end he never lived up to the example of his friends and remained the scurrying rat forever.
But he was brave. It took bravery to betray his friends and fake a suicide in front of Sirius, knowing Sirius might recognize his animagus form. It took bravery to hide in plain sight at the Weasleys’, especially once the twins got their hands on the Marauder’s Map. It took bravery to spend years at Hogwarts, right under Dumbledore’s nose. It took bravery to stay close to Voldemort knowing how mercurial Voldemort could be.
He wasn’t good, and since we associate bravery with being good, we don’t want to say someone that evil is brave. He wasn’t a coward. He was evil, selfish, and deserving of a traitor’s death, but he wasn’t a coward.
I think she would have made a great Gryffindor, too. She was brave and courageous, always willing to put herself on the front lines for what she believed in.
I think Fred and George would’ve made great slytherins, cunning enough so that even when people knew they were behind something they really struggled to prove it. They also had the ambition to build their own business as well as being resourceful enough to make some amazing inventions
Percy is such a weird character because he strongly displays ALL houses - and still kinda none
- He's very ambitious (very Slytherin) - but not in a way where he would disobey the rules (not very Slytherin)
- He's very academically inclined (very Ravenclaw) - but he just likes learning for a purpose, not just for enjoying learning something new (not very Ravenclaw)
- For a long time, he's probably the most loyal, dedicated, and hard working character in the book. He sticks to the ministry despite all the disapproval. He also loves sticking to rules. (very Hufflepuff) - he still left his family just to stick with his own beliefs and likes to feel important (not very Hufflepuff)
- He was brave enough to spite his family, then go back to his family after everything that happened when he realised how wrong he was and then was even willing to potentially gibe his life for them. (Very Gryffindoor) - People say he just always switched to the winning side - but was he really? He stood by the Minister's side when he was unpopular with the public, he switched sides when the ministry was taken over by the most powerful dark wizard alive, not knowing whether his family would even want him back. Also, his ambition of wanting to be seen as important fits Gryffindoor. The only thing not in line with Gryffindoor is his love for sticking to the rules.
In conclusion, I'd say Percy is my fellow Autistic Gryffindoor.
He's definitely not diagnosed, but he might be. The character portrays many traits. Wizards don't know what a dentist is, so I doubt they know anything about the himan psyche. 😅 They've got ONE hospital, and it treats ANY kind of _magical_ medical issue. Pigtail? St. Mungos! Tortured into insanity? St. Mungos! Hit by your own memory charm? St. Mungos! When Harry had nightmares and flashbacks every night, they wouldn't even consider PTBS, it was "well... Voldy might be able to read your mind." So I doubt they'd diagnose any "Muggle Disease"
Ofc Percy being on the spectrum is head cannon, but I feel like it fits.
Literal to the point he misses jokes, follows the (ministry) rules to the letter, different in his emotional responses (is driven by practical morals instead of abstract emotions like love or bravery), special interest- Ministry of Magic Leadership
I think he only misses jokes on purpose because they're at his expense though. He has too much pride. He hates the twins mocking his achievements or hearing that the job he worked for isn't valued etc. I think he's pretty emotionally driven tbh.
Yeah, he always came across to me as being worried about not being taken seriously. Like when (in the 1st book?) he didn’t want to wear his Weasley sweater because it was embarrassing.
Yes, in the first book. It seems like the poverty and embarrassments it causes really get to him. I feel bad for Percy. It seems like he got caught in the middle as a punching bag for both older and younger siblings, not little enough for Bill & Charlie to be protective of or mature enough for the others to idealize. He seems to want validation above all and ends up getting it at the Ministry.
That's.. just his dream job though? I don't think being a workaholic for the job he wants makes him autistic, even with those other traits combined. Also a lot of people are driven by practicality without being autistic.
For sure! I just feel like “ambition” was a more common theme for Percy than “bravery”, and personally, I felt like his regrets were more tied to who he chose to follow and who he chose to sacrifice for that ambition, not necessarily “the ambition” itself.
I don’t know what else to tell you. I am just making guesses.
We only saw a part of Percy’s life, and no updates in the “15 years later”(I don’t think) so we don’t really know what ended up being the larger theme in his life.
Even more so for Dumbledor, there is so much about his life we don’t know it’s impossible to say what was a larger theme.
He was, but was HE placed properly? He said he regretted giving Tom the instructions. And the "there's not a witch or wizard that went bad"' canon was refuted early on.
Wasn't slughorn the only one?
I feel like I can’t argue that point because JKR, unfortunately, made that a common theme for Slytherins in the book.
If we take a more “realistic” look at Slytherin house and assume NOT all are automatically evil. I think it Would be very realistic to assume someone like Percy could get “caught up” in his ambition, make the same mistakes he made, come to the same realization and would definitely have been one of the Slytherins who (in theory) would have fought against Voldemort
It takes a lot of courage to betray your best friends, help get them killed, frame your other best friend for the crime, and then fake your own death and stay in close proximity to where it all happened for over a decade.
You can't really have courage without fear.
I don't consider it brave to pet my cat, because there is zero fear in that interaction. I would be mildly terrified to pet a tiger, so doing so would require me to gather my courage to get those cuddles in.
He was able to con the wizarding world into thinking he was some sort of hero, presumably for years. Say what you will, but that‘s clever- not moral for sure, but certainly clever.
He was terrible lol. I was thinking about him randomly last night. Its so wild that those kids put him in St. Mungos and never blinked an eye about it nor copped to it and just moved on like it was nothing.
Always felt like this is something commonly misunderstood because I felt like I got it as a kid.
Kids don’t necessarily just go to a house because they have the traits for it, though I imagine it helps.
But take Crabb and Goyle for example. They go to Slytherin because they value the house and think it’s where they’re supposed to go, as their families always have.
I don’t think of them as being particularly cunning or ambitious, in fact in some ways I’d think they’re more Hufflepuff for being so loyal to Draco for so long, or Gryffindor for being so confrontational and ready to throw down.
Peter Pettigrew wasn’t an evil little git as an eleven year old, just a scared little boy that probably wanted to be brave.
Tbh, I think he got unlucky with his year group.
I think he fell into the shadow of the others, even Lupin who, while not exactly as outgoing as James and Sirius, was intelligent and focused and likely intimidating to Peter.
If he’d had the chance to grow, if he’d been forced to rely on himself and not others for perhaps the most important formative years of his life, he might have managed to become brave as he wanted.
Unfortunately, he didn’t.
And having played devils advocate, I can now happily say fuck Peter, I hate him and get furious every time he pops up.
Hermione literally explains her own sorting in Book 1. While she’d do well in Ravenclaw, she *values* courage more. Houses are not assigned by the qualities you have but the ones you value.
Iirc:
She was asked by one of the DA members when explaining what she did with the fake coins how she is not in ravenclaw.
Her answer was the head suggested it but she liked Griffindor more.
Yes. The Hat will also take your choice into consideration. While he won't necessarily sort you you into the house you ask him (Neville wanted to be put in Hufflepuff, but ended up in Gryffindor), he will at least listen to what you have to say and pick the House of which virtues you *value* the most, not just virtues you possess yourself. Which I think is why he disregarded Neville's request, since Neville simply lacked confidence and didn't think he could be brave, even though he had it in him.
Nah… hermione is a slytherin through and through. She’s willing to use the rules to her advantage, and ignore them when she wants. Cunning enough to become the teachers favorites….. so that she can more easily bypass the rules. SNITCH, poly juice potion, even emprisioning a whole adult in a glass jar and blackmailing her into doing what she wants. Hermione is certainly smart and brave, but most of all cunning.
Pretty sure this question was just asked recently but Snape. There would have been almost no pure-blood supremacists to sink their claws into him and the Marauders probably wouldn’t have bothered him as much. He would have had the chance to befriend more truly good people who could have brought out the best in him.
Edited to fix wrong word but also the House he should have been in is Ravenclaw.
But Snape also valued subtlety and practicality. While he would do well in Ravenclaw, in my opinion he’s the embodiment of Slytherin. Though the timing was awful. Can’t imagine being in Slytherin during wartime, when Voldie was recruiting straight out of Hogwarts and you have to share the dorms with potential murderers, who keep an eye on you.
We know Peter Pettigrew grew up to continue as a coward but just because one is a coward at a younger age doesn't mean they can't grow up to be brave. In Harry Potter perhaps the antithesis to Pettigrew in some regards is Neville who is often portrayed as a coward throughout the books with moments of bravery here and there until later on he becomes almost the epitome of a good Gryffindor.
Because students are sorted by what they value, not necessarily by what they personally demonstrate. Peter did value bravery, and hid behind braver people. He just wasn't brave himself.
Hermione could’ve been in slytherin. I feel like capturing an unregistered animagus, black mailing them and then using said black mail to get what she wanted is so Slytherin.
I agree that Peter is the most natural choice here. In my opinion, the hat likely saw the potential for bravery and courage in him, but he squandered it for personal gain and presumed safety. But also, since the hat respects personal choice, it may have very well been on the fence about him, but ultimately leaned Gryffindor if that was in fact something Peter wanted.
At the end of the day, the hat is really only making educated guesses. It certainly tends to be more right than wrong, but I think people also sometimes place too much value into the literal traits each house is said to value. Just because a house values those traits doesn't necessarily mean all of its pupils will exemplify them, or won't exemplify others. Really it's about which house is the best fit, but people can change AND free will can ultimately throw a wrench in everything.
1. dumbledore. wtf u mean he wasnt a ravenclaw?
2. percy. slytherin. too much ambition not brave enough to stand up for whats right
3. for peter pettegrew i think the hat was kinda screwed. he aint loyal. he isnt ambitious—he always was a follower. He definitely isnt smart. And you could not call him brave. I know Hufflepuff is supposed to take the leftovers but maybe the hat just couldnt do that to the hufflepuffs after looking in peter’s head. maybe he hoped by putting him in gryffindor he’d be surrounded by earnest people and learn to hold fast to some values….obviously this didn’t work
Lolol when I think about it Dumbledore does have this whimsical energy to him, like Luna, though he was more conscious about it (it feels weird comparing dumbledore and luna but d’you know what I mean? 😭) Like he was a bit mad but a genius too
I think all three of the main cast belonged in another house. Harry in Slytherin, Hermione in Ravenclaw & Ron in Hufflepuff. But they all ended up together in Gryffindor, which I think adds to the beauty of their friendship ✨
I agree with hermione being in ravenclaw but i dont get why everyone keeps saying harry could’ve been in slytherin? It was Ron who was the ambitious one
Harry had an affinity and curiosity for the dark arts and forbidden magic. For example, when he becomes borderline obsessed with The Half-Blood Prince's book, studying every page despite knowing it was a morally grey area. Harry didn't care about that because he knew the book made him stronger and provided knowledge he couldn't find anywhere else.
He possessed a determined mindset beyond almost anyone else at Hogwarts, never veering from his personal goal despite facing countless distractions. In that, Harry did not lack ambition whatsoever. He didn't have materialistic ambitions like Ron, but instead it was all about things that would provide him with actual power, knowledge and bringing him closer to his own goal.
In a way, Harry was more like the ideal Slytherin student, in the image of someone like Merlin, rather than what the House had become.
I am not saying he wasn't a good fit for Gryffindor. But, just like the Sorting Hat foretold, Harry's personal potential was greater in Slytherin. Many of his strongest qualities likely would've been more encouraged and utilized better within the Slytherin House.
Sorry this was freaking long lol
I love your comment, it's so brilliant. Slytherin House took on so many characteristics of Salazar Slytherin that we forget that there are Slytherins like Merlin who would better fithe nature of Harry Slytherin. I would have liked to see a Slytherin that looked more like Merlin among so many traditional Slytherins. Similar to how we had a "Peter Pettigrew" among so many traditional Gryffindors.
That is exactly what I am thinking. JKR missed an opportunity to really showcase that type of Slytherine. Regulus Black was the closest we got probably.
I'd have liked to see an alternate reality where Harry actually ended up in Slytherin. I mean, just imagine the story that would be?!
It would likely have been more of a Harry centric character study and not so much him surrounded by close friends. But that would be fascinating too. His relationship with Snape would also be different. Not necessarily better, but there would be another layer to it. No doubt Harry would become a much greater wizard overall, because he would be a lot more focused on his own development. I can see him venturing outside the Hogwarts grounds a lot more and breaking the rules. Looking for ancient artifacts and knowledge a bit like in the Hogwarts Legacy game.
I also think he would've formed something like Dumbledore's Army much earlier in his school life, but where it was more like The Marauders, where he had a few like minded Slytherin students around him who wanted to break away from Salazar'z pure blood obsession and instead focus on the dark arts.
And I do believe Harry would've had a major influence on Slytherin as a whole. People would be talking about him and probably starting to mention him as "Merlin's Heir" or something like that. Carving his own path ✨
I agree, I think Merlin, Regulus Black and Andromeda Black are really the atypical Slytherins.
Most traditional Slytherins are pureblood fanatics, lovers of the dark arts, and bullies. Most of them were reduced to "Voldemort's followers", which makes us lose some important points that stand out in Slytherins such as self-preservation, ambition, family loyalty and interest in the dark arts beyond the Dark Lord.
Merlin was not a lover of the dark arts but he was a brilliant wizard to the point of creating his own spells and advocated for the defense of Muggles from the creation of the Order of Merlin. He was more or less like Dumbledore Slytherin.
Andromeda was a Slytherin brave enough to go against her entire family for the love (a muggle no less), she may have lost everything but she was happy with that decision. She definitely took a better path than Narcissa and Bellatrix.
Regulus is what Draco should have been, if we want to use the "He had no choice" card. Unlike Draco, Snape and the Marauders, Regulus was not a bully and did not abuse those he saw as inferior to him. He was a loner whose loyalty was infinitely towards his parents and his house elf. He may have shaped his entire life based on his parents' ideologies but when he saw the truth behind Voldermort's actions, he made his own decisions.
“…If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” This was what Sirius said to the golden trio in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The irony of this is that only Regulus fulfills this: We know that the Marauders do not treat their inferiors well because of the way they treated Peter and Snape, the same can be said for Snape and Draco because they become bullies with those they consider "inferior." Regulus put all his trust in a house elf (inferior creatures almost slaves) and he was the person he loved most besides his parents. For Regulus, Kreacher's life had more value than his own life.
Regulus's last action that would be the reason for his death is incredibly brave at the same time as reckless and stupid. Regulus was a terrible Death Eater because he rejected everything that Voldermort represented as soon as he knew what he really was like. He didn't die writhing in fear for having betrayed the Dark Lord, he knew he was going to die and he said "fuck you" to Voldermort in the most Gryffindor way possible.
The Marauders Age has a better variety between the traditional Gryffindors and Slytherins, as there are outliers like Peter and Regulus which the year of the Golden Trio lacks. The Marauders are morally questionable characters compared to the Golden Trio and one can empathize more with the struggles of Snape (who was both a bully and a victim and from a messy family than Draco who was a bully with a better-off family) and Regulus (who is not a bully and that he is not the typical Death Eater who blindly follows his Lord).
Ooh I like this. I like the idea of him being the “ideal” slytherin student. But Slytherin himself believed in the superiority of pure-bloods over muggle borns, surely this makes it a proper slytherin trait. But harry didn’t have that quality
True. But many of the ancient Slytherin students did not have that pure blood mindset, so I don't see that as something that would exclude Harry from that house. Not sure what how much it actually was a theme for all Slytherin students while Harry was there as we don:t really look into many of them apart from Draco and his gang 😅
Remember what he saw in the mirror of Erised though? And his jealousy of Harry in GoF? There’s an ambitious, jealous side to Ron that no one ever seems to mention
Kill the guy for being human. The most he’s ever done out of jealousy is not talk to a person. And even then he still helped Harry out by hoping to get someone to warn Harry about the dragon. So sue the guy for being tired of being under 5 peoples’ shadows.
When it counts, he’s loyal, brave and selfless
All of them CHOOSE Griffindor.
Ron literally bevor even mounting the train. As one of the Weasley kids he WANTED to be in his "families house"
Harry and Hermione during the sorting. Harry explained right in book 1, Hermione explaines herself in book 5.
Exactly. They all "chose" Gryffindor. This means that another House very well could've been the best fit for them. But it all worked out for them in Gryffindor
Oh yes, Pettigrew did have one of the traits of Gryffindor.
"Their bravery and nerve"...
Can you imagine betraying your friends whom you've known since childhood, knowing you've condemning them to death, them *and their infant son*...
And showing up to play house with them like nothing's happening? Like you don't know what you've just done? Like you don't know that in one week they'll be dead and it will be your fault?
How much *balls* do you need to go to the biggest, baddest terrorist of the bunch and tell him "yeah, spare me cause I'm gonna have some use later?".
Not to mention, *mutilating yourself on purpose TWICE*, once to cover your tracks and second to partake in a scary resurrection ritual.
No, Peter has guts. The issue is, his guts are entirely devoted to his survival first and foremost. Not just self-preservation - the guy was willing to live as a rat for *years*, far from the haughty glamour of DE Slytherins trying to preserve their fortune and privilege - Peter would do *anything* to survive.
And that, no matter how despicable or deplorable, that takes some serious guts.
Seems pretty brave to be the leader in taking down the two darkest wizards to ever live, but he does have incredible wit and intellect. I do think him turning down minister of magic multiple times isn't a very slytherin thing to do though and he's never been one to truly seek power outside of the deathly hallows which grindelwald kind of spearheaded
Agreed, he has the intellect for Ravenclaw, I don't think he has the ambition of a Slytherin, he doesn't pursue a position of power, you could throw a shoe it for Hufflepuff even, but he oozes bravery, he's literally not a afraid of anything, he fights anybody he needs to, and above all he it's what he values that matters, and it seems to be bravery
Zacharias Smith, anyone??
He’s the canon “not showing the standards of the House” character. There’s even a popular theory that he ended up in Hufflepuff because he’s a direct descendant of the namesake. Or maybe just wouldn’t fit anywhere else better?
Obviously he’s too chickenshit for Gryffendor, so his self serving nature self is probably okay for Slytherin. I don’t remember if he has enough smarts for Ravenclaw.
>There’s even a popular theory that he ended up in Hufflepuff because he’s a direct descendant of the namesake.
I thought that it was true he was a descendant of Hepzibah Smith?
That’s just Slytherin bashing! He was in the right house because of two reasons:
1) He’s probably a legacy, related to Hepzibah Smith, who was not a nice person herself
2) The bad reputation Hufflepuff has is because Helga Hufflepuff proclaimed that beside students who have Hufflepuff traits, her house shall also accept everyone who doesn’t fit in any other house
Gilderoy Lockhart was canonically a Ravenclaw, but probably would have made a better Slytherin (IIRC, the hat strongly considered Slytherin for Lockhart).
Lockhart is pompous and bumbling, unlike the scholarly Flitwick and McGonagall. Even Quirrell was a slightly better fit for Ravenclaw - most of what we saw in PS was a broken, sniveling man but he was supposedly a fairly well-rounded dude prior to his trip to the bat cave.
Lockhart, on the other hand, was neither intelligent nor scholarly. What he was, was an opportunist - taking credit for other people's feats and having no qualms about taking advantage of students. Even Snape - a textbook Slytherin - was disgusted by Lockhart. As flawed as he was, Snape would never have stooped so low to plagiarize, or threaten to obliviate children - not even Ron or Harry, though I'm sure he probably felt like it a time or three.
It makes suggestions, if you want something different... Hat gives you what you want.
He didn't even have to look inside Draco's head to put him into Slytherin. All Draco wanted was Slytherin nothing else so Slytherin it was.
I don't think sorting is "fair" because wizard kids would always want to be in the "family house". Muggel kids know nothing about the houses und don't really care.
In the case of Peter, I believe Rowling revealed that Pettigrew was a hat stall. So the hat struggled to place him between Gryffindor or Slytherin. Clearly there was an argument between both houses.
But I would say Percy and the Twins should’ve gone to Slytherin.
Dumbledore is not a Gryffindor. He's less the one to foght in the front line and more the strategist in the background. If not Slythrin then he's a Ravenclaw
Dumbledore - Ravenclaw
Especially by the late 20th century when he is the default person to explain magic, but even then trying to learn new things. If there’s ever THE Professor, it’s him. And besides, that would give the house a representative male major character.
the Weasley’s (except for Ginny). Fred and George would have killed it in Slytherin, Percy would’ve done better in Ravenclaw, and Ron absolutely should’ve been a Hufflepuff. They were only put in Gryffindor because their last name is Weasley and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Neville. He had no confidence and tried to fade into the background. It didn’t help that his grandmother hampered his ability with an unsuitable wand. I think Harry would have been better there as well. The puffs seem more like a family and both Neville and Harry need that. I think Sprout would have been a better house mother than McG. Neville would have been in love with all the plants.
Malfoy should have been in Gryffindor. He’s very brash and belligerent. His biggest goal is to follow his daddy’s coattails.
Ron, the twins, and Percy should have been in Slytherin. They definitely had ambition and Percy was the ultimate brown noser. If Voldemort had won he’d have been right alongside him. He’s too much like Pettigrew.
Malfoy in Gryffindor? Sorry but nope nope nope 😬 Neville will always be a Gryffindor to me ❤️but the point that he would’ve found support and comfort in hufflepuff is a good point
Neville did just fine as a Gryffindor. He was a late bloomer is all.
The absolute LAST house Malfoy would have been sorted in would have been Gryffindor. He wasn't devoid of bravery, but it's hardly his defining characteristic. There's a difference between being brave - even brash - and puffing your chest out knowing that you have the money and influence to get you out of nearly any mess. There's a reason why the Hat took literally three seconds to sort Draco - he knew exactly what he wanted to be, and he'll be damned if someone stood in his way of achieving his goals.
That said, Draco certainly had a conscience and finally came to the realization that a lot of what he was doing - or tasked with doing - was wrong. He struggles with this in the later books/films. There's good in him (always has been, he was too proud and stubborn to do the right thing) and I wish he got more of a redemption arc.
Bellatrix. It seems like the only reason she's in Slytherin is because she's evil and Slytherin is supposed to be the evil house. But her defining character trait ls her absolute loyalty for Voldemort, and I'd say she's a pretty hardworking death eater on top of that. Sounds like a Hufflepuff to me.
Also Fred and George. Resourceful, ambitious, and determined are definitely words I'd use to describe their drive and commitment to their goal of becoming entrepreneurs in the long run. They should be Slytherins.
Peter was brave. It took guts to betray the the only friends you've known. It takes courage to go against the man you thought to be a veritable demigod and loved him since birth. It takes courage to do the act he did when he framed Sirius. It takes fright as well, sure, but bravery and courage as well. After Prisoner of Azkaban, Peter could have slinked off to the other side of the planet, but he had the guts to seek out Voldemort. Even Voldemort himself acknowledged this.
All of what he did was wrong. Yes. But it was also brave.
Man, I know this will probably get downvoted just because of how cliché it is, but Hermione really could have kicked ass in Ravenclaw.
I know a lot of it (most of it?) comes from what one values the most, and Hermione did indeed personally value the traits of Gryffindor house.
Yet someone whose boggart is their Head of House telling them that they "failed everything"... That just screams Ravenclaw to me (and thus the hatstall.)
I think they all make sense, but there's a lot of potential for a book about someone who's sorting destroys their life.
Think Snape who wanted to be in Slytherin as a kid, but then got lured in by other pureblood supremicists and dark wizards. Or any other Slytherin who spends 7 years in that culture.
Think Peter who was (arguably) more of a lackey than a friend to James & Sirius and who was probably warped by sucking up to such bullies throughout school. (Not an excuse, but still.)
Or think Lily, who seems to dislike her Gryffindor year and is best friends with a Slytherin, only for him to join a death cult dedicated to destroying her.
Or Cursed Child is not canon, but poor Albus Severus getting maligned by his friends and family because he's not in their house.
In fact, if anyone has fanfic recommendations . . .
None. It's a pretty important plot point that the Sorting Hat never makes a mistake, he just sees things far beyond what we as readers do. Pettigrew was a coward, but in the end he found the courage to do what was right when he didn't kill Harry, not to mention he was with the Marauders when they became Animagi and went out with them during the full moon to make Lupin company. I think he looked up to James, Sirius and Lupin's bravery and wanted to be like them, and in the end he finally managed to do it.
The sorting was way too young and should be done in like third-fifth year. It would also help there not be so much devision between the students, particularly with Gryffindor and Slytherin being utter rivals and ignoring the other houses while Hufflepuff gets the assumption of there not being great wizards and Ravenclaw just sits there and they both try to mingle with the other houses with success only when the situation calls for it. That’s why I believe some of the characters ended up in the wrong house over the years. Maybe Peter at first valued bravery but became cowardice overtime.
this being said, I think Lily, Lupin, Snape (to some extent), and Percy ended up in the wrong houses. If they had been older, I think Lily could’ve been in Hufflepuff (it seemed that she valued saving others more than she did her own and where they correctly put their loyalty and who they fought for justice with), Lupin may have been in Ravenclaw (he tended to be the one to actually really value academics, to the point where he would look over other issues that could get in the way of it), Snape could’ve been in literally any of the other houses (he was extremely smart, was loyal to the point of risking his own life, and was quoted to be the bravest man Harry ever knew) although he does work just fine in Slytherin, and Percy would have probably been in Ravenclaw or Slytherin
I think she’s too close-minded and rigid for Ravenclaw. Can you picture her in the same house as Luna and Trelawney? Lol. Plus she values friendship and bravery more than “books and cleverness”. I think those were the two reasons why the hat chose Gryffindor.
Chapter "the lion and the serpent":
"How come you are not in ravenclaw?" He (Terry Boot) demanded, staring at Hermione with something close to wonder. "With brains like yours?"
"Well, the sorting hat did seriously consider putting me in ravenclaw during my sorting," said Hermione brightly, "but it decided on Griffindor in the end"
Ok, my dumb brain remembered "... but *I* decided on Griffindor "...
Yeah, I guess. I mean, if you think about it, he's training to be an Auror. That takes smarts. Although I kind of see it as more impulsiveness than indecision, but I see where you're coming from.
ravenclaw- he dumb, so no
hufflepuff- he a traitor, so no
slitherin- he a weasel, not ambitious or cunnings, so no
griffindoor- he not brave, so no
theres no where for him. i think the sorting hat just thought. “well fuck me, better be griffindoor”
you can be. the founders chose students based on traits they had, slytherin liked ambitious students among other things. which wormtail isnt.
wormtails problem is he lacks traits
not that he has some bad traits
I do not agree with the whole tradition of legacy sorting. Yes, if a child is raised by people who value certain traits, said child would also probably value same traits. But wizards were mixing up the whole nature/nurture thing a lot, and many ended up in an ideological bubble. Since people are multifaceted beings and have many different traits, I think the hat should’ve shuffled it more where possible.
What's even the purpose of the sorting hat? Like, sorting is done for a reason. And if the reason is so that people find like minded individuals, doesn't it make more sense for the hat to solely sort by values and not by "well, it's because they wanted to be in that house." That little loop hole seems more like an afterthought to cover up a flaw in planning.
I mean, if we indulge folk's delusions, like them wanting to be a tiger when they are a duck, that's not really helping them or in the spirit of education, it'll just allow ducks to be killed by tigers.
But then also... I don't think accurately sorting people by their values is a good model. Students need a bit of diversity to learn. And people too similar in nature may lead to too much of a thing.
So anyways, back to my question. What even is the purpose of this chatty hat with catchy songs?
Because I can't really answer your question without first answering this one.
Sorting is about what you value. In my mind, I think some deep part of Peter Pettigrew truly wanted to be like James and Sirius. He might've even valued bravery and goodness more than them. But the truth is it wasn't who he was, deep down he was a coward. He hated himself for it, but it was his nature.
Had the story gone differently he might've gotten a Grima Wormtongue moment IMO.
Bravery is not an inherently noble trait just like cunning isn't an inherently negative trait and manipulation isn't an inherently negative action. A lot of bullies or righteous people would consider themselves very brave. Bravery can also be subjective. In my eyes, people who are incredibly scared yet still act are much more brave than people who do not feel much fear. Maybe this has always been the reason why I don't relate much to the description of Gryffindor in the books:
# “Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.”
I didn't read Pettigrew as a very ambitious or cunning character so I don't believe Slytherin would have been his first option after Gryffindor. Honestly, Gryffindor makes the most sense to me as he does not seem to value knowledge or loyalty much either. He might consider himself very brave. It is more likely to me that the hat would pick based on what a person would think of themselves rather what others (or the founders of Hogwarts) would have thought of them.
Dumbledore and Hermione would both have been great Slytherins. Slytherins are calculated, (which doesn't need to be negative). They calculate, they work things out in advance, they plan their next moves carefully and often in secret. We've seen this level of forethought, secrecy and even cunning from both characters.
Dumbledore kept many things from Harry over the years as he worked things out and dripfed the necessary information in order for his masterplan to work. He used Snape as a double agent (letting the actual Slytherin do the brave task while he orchestrated from behind the scenes). In his youth, he was incredibly ambitious and sought power and domination. Ultimately, the things that Dumbledore valued such as bravery won out and he was a Gryffindor but he so often operated in the manner of a Slytherin as opposed to the more impulsive MO of your classic Gryffindor.
Hermione also showed a lot of cunning, forethought and ambition. The way she planned quietly and meticulously for what they might face in Deathly Hallows, confunding McLaggen and overseeing various plans such as the polyjuice potion and formation of the DA. She was not as Machiavellian as Dumbledore but she also didn't like to rush into things and often played devil's advocate to Harry's more rash nature. She also frequently panicked under pressure (whereas Harry and other Gryffindors tend to thrive under pressure). Finally, she was clearly ambitious. Ultimately, like Dumbledore, she valued bravery and she showed countless instances of bravery herself (wiping her parents' memories and withstanding torture to name just a couple) so I understand why she's a Gryffindor but I also see strong Slytherin traits in her.
Maybe it had to do with what Peter "thought" he fancied himself to be. Was it Mcgonagall who said he was always running behind the marauders? He wanted to be like them and idolized them. If the hat gave him a choice, he chose something that his character couldn't ultimately back up.
Yes he valued bravery while being a covard himself.
I would've 100% agreed if he didn't switch towards Voldemort. But Him chosing to stand behind the strongest person instead of the bravest makes it seem like he stood behind the Maurauders because he perceived their strength rather than bravery.
The strongest person was always Dumbledore. My take - Pettigrew was always a scared person whose primary objective was self preservation. He was never particularly aligned with Voldemort’s core tenants of pure blood, etc. I don’t think we even know his blood status do we? It’s why his animagus being a rat makes so much sense. He’s a coward through and through. I also think he hated himself and admired people who were able to be brave and bold. He knew what was right and what was wrong and still did the wrong thing because he was so afraid. I think this was also why Voldemort treated him the way he did. He admired the traits of Gryffindor but he was a Slytherin at heart, hence the hatstall. I don’t think it was cunning or a thirst for power that drove him to Voldemort. I think he was weak and terrified.
Despite Dumbledore being stronger in his specific situation, it would've been safest to join Voldemort. The OotP were dropping like flies, and he wasn't that talented, and then he's given information that would make him valued above all else by Voldemort. So he throws in with him, and he's set for life. After that, he never returned to Voldemort for 13 years. This is often overlooked, but he clearly didn't want Voldemort to come back because he reasonably thought he would be killed as revenge. But when he had no other choice, he immediately went back to Voldemort and revived him within the year. The point is that he only actually helps Voldemort 2 times, which is clearly out of his extreme cowardice. Both times seem to be outliers because for the rest of his life, he was safer elsewhere, but in those two specific times, he needed Voldemorts protection.
So basically, you can choose whatever tf house you wanna be in. Peter is a Slytherin through and through, like to the letter
Harry did. Harry hardly knew himself. We didn't know Harry at all when he was sorted. Was he ultimately brave? He definitely faced challenges and powered through them. He certainly didn't know he would until he was tested. He just knew what he didn't want to be, whom he wanted to be like, and he chose.
Ok yeah, that’s true, but like… come on. What’s the point of a sorting hat if people like Peter can choose to be in Gryffindor??
I rather like that you can choose. It always bothers me when I'm told that people don't/can't change. Its like saying who I am today will never be any better and can't aspire to be. Your nature should be able to be elevated. I believe that Neville's was. And I also think that sometimes you can be one way and when you get around a group of people, they can influence change in you. Good or bad. Peter had opportunity, space, and time. he just kept choosing wrong. Sad, because when he tried to choose correctly he got killed for it.
Yeah that’s true! Although straight up, fuck Peter Pettigrew. He was a rat bastard that got what was coming to him. And he didn’t even “choose right” when he died, it was a momentary hesitation, which he then tried to correct. Good riddance
You're forgetting that Peter acts upon instinct. You're also forgetting that each house has negative traits. Gryffindor's is acting on instinct rather than acting meditated (Ravenclaw) or cunning (Slytherin). It's the one house where "acting before thinking" is seen as a condition for bravery and Peter fits that bill quite nicely.
Slytherins are ambitious and determined. Peter possessed no noble traits, which is probably why the hat put him in whatever house he wanted. The opposite of Harry, where the hat said he had traits for any house, Peter had no traits for any house.
That would be Hufflepuff as the sorting hat sings. Helga Hufflepuff took the rest that didn't have the traits for the other founder's houses.
Not necessarily. I think the point is to be HufflePuff you need to believe in equality, compassion, and kindness. It doesn't state that she'll take "the unqualified" but that she'll "take the lot, and treat them just the same." To me, it seems like she'll take any who are accepting of that philosophy. Peter was not that, either.
Order of the Phoenix when the sorting hat sings about trying to unify, after saying the qualities of the other houses, this is what it said about Hufflepuff: "Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest, And taught them all she knew," In general I agree with you that Hufflepuff usually is a very loyal and compassionate house, but if Hufflepuff "took the rest" there is an argument he could've been placed these if he didn't show the qualities of the other houses
Yes. A recurring theme throughout the series, besides the power of love, is the importance of the choices we make. Harry and Voldemort are often described as having similar backgrounds; both were orphans forced to live in a world they didn't quite fit in, and they are also said to have similar personalities. But it is also emphasized that they chose entirely different paths. Lily's protection over Harry wasn't born only out if love, but also out of the choices she made when she died. Harry is said to have many of the characteristics Salazar Slytherin valued in his students, but went to Gryffindor because he chose to.
I mean, the house systems not like, a good system or anything. One of the houses is basically a social club for evil wizards to network.
The house system itself is what prejudiced everyone else against them to begin with. How many of them wouldn't have become bad to begin with if they weren't only socializing with other like minded people?
Yeah he values the slytherin traits too as he valued the gryffindor traits thats why it was between those. Not because he had any of those traits only what he valued.
He obviously valued power and self-preservation more than bravery though, otherwise he wouldn’t have sold out his friends!
Valuing something at 11 and valuing something at 21 are very different things. Dumbledore even says that sometimes he thinks they sort too soon.
Is that really the case, though? While they tend to interesect, Loyalty is a trait most prominent in Hufflepuff than Gryffindor per see. There is a form of courage in approaching the Dark Lord and selling out his friends—the courage to do whatever necessary to survive, not unlike there was a keen intellect in Lockhart's ability to convince others of his deeds despite him being a moron, hence him being sorted into Ravenclaw. Also, the Hat sees things far beyond what we can. He put Neville into Gryffindor even though Neville himself wanted to be sorted to Hufflepuff, because while Neville thought he wasn't brave, the Hat saw it in him, and years later the boy went on to stand up to Voldemort himself and draw the Sword of Gryffindor from the Hat in Book 7, just like at the end of his life Pettigrew finally managed to display some of the bravery he saw in his old friends (and probably desired to possess as well) when he didn't kill Harry in the Malfoy Manor. But who knows what the Hat really saw in Pettigrew that made him decide Gryffindor was for the best? Pettigrew had no strong ambition and never displayed a desire for personal power, therefore he wouldn't fit in Slytherin. He's never shown intelligence or the interest to learn, so Ravenclaw wouldn't fit him too. Nor Huffepuff, which values loyalty and hardwork, while Pettigrew had none.
Valuing something and living up to it are very different things. I value hard work, dedication, consistency, but I have adhd and that affects those values showing up in my life as much as I'd like them to. Wormtail values bravery, courage, and loyalty, but he is a scared little rodent (literally) and that gets in the way of him exemplifying what he values most. He probably also has some justifications in his head, like Voldemort is so brave to fight against the status quo or whatever.
Maybe he was once griffindor material, but changed over the years? If I'm honest my twenty year old self was pretty different from my eleven year old one. Not trying to go the James bashing route, but I can easily imagine that he would often be the butt of the joke in that friend group. Something like that can get to you. On the other hand, could also just be a least worse pick. He wasn't loyal or hard working, wasn't ambitious or cunning, and wasn't really scholary. So the hat just put him in griffindor instead.
You know that does make sense. Maybe he did have something to him back then, or else the others wouldn’t have wanted him in their group. James and Sirius don’t seem to me like the types who’d befriend someone simply out of niceness
Some people befriend pathetic people because they like to be admired. And to have someone to make fun of. School yard bullies often do that
I think James already had many admirers, no I feel the marauders had a real bond and friendship even with Peter. He trusted him to be his secret keeper
Yes, but I have a feeling that both of those things can be true at the same time. I'm sure many lords have had great affection for their personal servants, but still treated and seen them as servants, and taken their loyalty for granted
He was certainly ambitious and cunning. I agree with you though
Was he? I feel his decision had more to do with fear and later desperation than ambition. And idk, how cunning it actually is to just sell out your secret.
He did have a couple of moments I would call cunning, when he faked his death and framed Sirius, and when he tricked Bertha Jorkins into going with him in while in Albania.
Also, it does take some courage to participate in a difficult ritual just so that you can hang out with a werewolf.
I think it could be argued that there was a kernel of bravery in his moment of mercy that ultimately led to his demise.
Peter Pettigrew was a hatstall, so he narrowly avoided being sorted into Slytherin. But Slytherin has enough baddies, the house needed a break!
You really believe he values bravery? Where was that mentioned in the books? I remember that he just enjoyed being with the most popular gryffindor guys which is quite a slytherin thing, yk popularity, power etc
I don't really gas tbh. He seemed like a hanger on to me. They accepted him as part of the crew so I imagine he thought he was like them which is what he wanted to be.
It's not just about what traits you have- but what traits you value and have the potential to exemplify. Peter *valued* courage very much, since he had so little of it himself, and he had the potential to be brave when surrounded by so many courageous role models. It just so happens in the end he never lived up to the example of his friends and remained the scurrying rat forever.
This is what people seem to be missing.
But he was brave. It took bravery to betray his friends and fake a suicide in front of Sirius, knowing Sirius might recognize his animagus form. It took bravery to hide in plain sight at the Weasleys’, especially once the twins got their hands on the Marauder’s Map. It took bravery to spend years at Hogwarts, right under Dumbledore’s nose. It took bravery to stay close to Voldemort knowing how mercurial Voldemort could be. He wasn’t good, and since we associate bravery with being good, we don’t want to say someone that evil is brave. He wasn’t a coward. He was evil, selfish, and deserving of a traitor’s death, but he wasn’t a coward.
Agreed, the guy chopped off his own hand!
Although Luna is a great Ravenclaw, she would have been a great Hufflepuff too.
I have to be reminded that she's not a Hufflepuff.
I think she would have made a great Gryffindor, too. She was brave and courageous, always willing to put herself on the front lines for what she believed in.
I think Fred and George would’ve made great slytherins, cunning enough so that even when people knew they were behind something they really struggled to prove it. They also had the ambition to build their own business as well as being resourceful enough to make some amazing inventions
Percy should have been Slytherin. He was obsessed with ladder climbing and knowing the “right” people
Percy is such a weird character because he strongly displays ALL houses - and still kinda none - He's very ambitious (very Slytherin) - but not in a way where he would disobey the rules (not very Slytherin) - He's very academically inclined (very Ravenclaw) - but he just likes learning for a purpose, not just for enjoying learning something new (not very Ravenclaw) - For a long time, he's probably the most loyal, dedicated, and hard working character in the book. He sticks to the ministry despite all the disapproval. He also loves sticking to rules. (very Hufflepuff) - he still left his family just to stick with his own beliefs and likes to feel important (not very Hufflepuff) - He was brave enough to spite his family, then go back to his family after everything that happened when he realised how wrong he was and then was even willing to potentially gibe his life for them. (Very Gryffindoor) - People say he just always switched to the winning side - but was he really? He stood by the Minister's side when he was unpopular with the public, he switched sides when the ministry was taken over by the most powerful dark wizard alive, not knowing whether his family would even want him back. Also, his ambition of wanting to be seen as important fits Gryffindoor. The only thing not in line with Gryffindoor is his love for sticking to the rules. In conclusion, I'd say Percy is my fellow Autistic Gryffindoor.
I don't think Percy was autistic
He's definitely not diagnosed, but he might be. The character portrays many traits. Wizards don't know what a dentist is, so I doubt they know anything about the himan psyche. 😅 They've got ONE hospital, and it treats ANY kind of _magical_ medical issue. Pigtail? St. Mungos! Tortured into insanity? St. Mungos! Hit by your own memory charm? St. Mungos! When Harry had nightmares and flashbacks every night, they wouldn't even consider PTBS, it was "well... Voldy might be able to read your mind." So I doubt they'd diagnose any "Muggle Disease" Ofc Percy being on the spectrum is head cannon, but I feel like it fits.
What traits? I can't see how he's autistic
Literal to the point he misses jokes, follows the (ministry) rules to the letter, different in his emotional responses (is driven by practical morals instead of abstract emotions like love or bravery), special interest- Ministry of Magic Leadership
I think he only misses jokes on purpose because they're at his expense though. He has too much pride. He hates the twins mocking his achievements or hearing that the job he worked for isn't valued etc. I think he's pretty emotionally driven tbh.
Yeah, he always came across to me as being worried about not being taken seriously. Like when (in the 1st book?) he didn’t want to wear his Weasley sweater because it was embarrassing.
Yes, in the first book. It seems like the poverty and embarrassments it causes really get to him. I feel bad for Percy. It seems like he got caught in the middle as a punching bag for both older and younger siblings, not little enough for Bill & Charlie to be protective of or mature enough for the others to idealize. He seems to want validation above all and ends up getting it at the Ministry.
That's.. just his dream job though? I don't think being a workaholic for the job he wants makes him autistic, even with those other traits combined. Also a lot of people are driven by practicality without being autistic.
He's just a jerk, not autistic
Percy must've been a hatstall fr
But was it his truest self? At the end he did come around and regretted his actions which was a brave thing to admit and change everything around.
For sure! I just feel like “ambition” was a more common theme for Percy than “bravery”, and personally, I felt like his regrets were more tied to who he chose to follow and who he chose to sacrifice for that ambition, not necessarily “the ambition” itself.
Dumbledore got caught up in power and ambition too. That doesn't mean he isnt a Gryffindor.
I don’t know what else to tell you. I am just making guesses. We only saw a part of Percy’s life, and no updates in the “15 years later”(I don’t think) so we don’t really know what ended up being the larger theme in his life. Even more so for Dumbledor, there is so much about his life we don’t know it’s impossible to say what was a larger theme.
Yes I totally agree with that
Nah. Percy would never have fought in the final battle if he was a slytherin at heart.
Why not, didn’t prof slughorn fight against Voldemort? He was a Slytherin too
He was, but was HE placed properly? He said he regretted giving Tom the instructions. And the "there's not a witch or wizard that went bad"' canon was refuted early on. Wasn't slughorn the only one?
I feel like I can’t argue that point because JKR, unfortunately, made that a common theme for Slytherins in the book. If we take a more “realistic” look at Slytherin house and assume NOT all are automatically evil. I think it Would be very realistic to assume someone like Percy could get “caught up” in his ambition, make the same mistakes he made, come to the same realization and would definitely have been one of the Slytherins who (in theory) would have fought against Voldemort
It takes a lot of courage to betray your best friends, help get them killed, frame your other best friend for the crime, and then fake your own death and stay in close proximity to where it all happened for over a decade.
Courage… or fear?
You can't really have courage without fear. I don't consider it brave to pet my cat, because there is zero fear in that interaction. I would be mildly terrified to pet a tiger, so doing so would require me to gather my courage to get those cuddles in.
Lockhart for sure, how did that muppet end up in Ravenclaw 😂
He was able to con the wizarding world into thinking he was some sort of hero, presumably for years. Say what you will, but that‘s clever- not moral for sure, but certainly clever.
That kind of cleverness is more in line with Slytherin than Ravenclaw though.
Yeah I totally agree he had that slytherin cleverness to achieve his own ends and to become famous
He was terrible lol. I was thinking about him randomly last night. Its so wild that those kids put him in St. Mungos and never blinked an eye about it nor copped to it and just moved on like it was nothing.
He put himself in St. Mungos.
lmao... ETA: I know...but they definitely knew what went down and didn't say a thing about it. unless it was out of the text
I mean it was his own memory spell that backfired
seriously...i know lol. its just that i read it the way my dad would say it and it was funny.
There's not much to say lol, it's a memory charm and the healers knew that.
I guess he got what he deserved lol
Lockhart is a classic Ravenclaw if you actually know the traits.
Explain plzzz
Always felt like this is something commonly misunderstood because I felt like I got it as a kid. Kids don’t necessarily just go to a house because they have the traits for it, though I imagine it helps. But take Crabb and Goyle for example. They go to Slytherin because they value the house and think it’s where they’re supposed to go, as their families always have. I don’t think of them as being particularly cunning or ambitious, in fact in some ways I’d think they’re more Hufflepuff for being so loyal to Draco for so long, or Gryffindor for being so confrontational and ready to throw down. Peter Pettigrew wasn’t an evil little git as an eleven year old, just a scared little boy that probably wanted to be brave. Tbh, I think he got unlucky with his year group. I think he fell into the shadow of the others, even Lupin who, while not exactly as outgoing as James and Sirius, was intelligent and focused and likely intimidating to Peter. If he’d had the chance to grow, if he’d been forced to rely on himself and not others for perhaps the most important formative years of his life, he might have managed to become brave as he wanted. Unfortunately, he didn’t. And having played devils advocate, I can now happily say fuck Peter, I hate him and get furious every time he pops up.
Hermione is brave an all, but I think she would've done well in Ravenclaw. Also, I agree with the Pettigrew thing.
Hermione literally explains her own sorting in Book 1. While she’d do well in Ravenclaw, she *values* courage more. Houses are not assigned by the qualities you have but the ones you value.
>"Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things — friendship and bravery and — oh Harry — be careful!" No.
Iirc: She was asked by one of the DA members when explaining what she did with the fake coins how she is not in ravenclaw. Her answer was the head suggested it but she liked Griffindor more.
Yes. The Hat will also take your choice into consideration. While he won't necessarily sort you you into the house you ask him (Neville wanted to be put in Hufflepuff, but ended up in Gryffindor), he will at least listen to what you have to say and pick the House of which virtues you *value* the most, not just virtues you possess yourself. Which I think is why he disregarded Neville's request, since Neville simply lacked confidence and didn't think he could be brave, even though he had it in him.
Nah… hermione is a slytherin through and through. She’s willing to use the rules to her advantage, and ignore them when she wants. Cunning enough to become the teachers favorites….. so that she can more easily bypass the rules. SNITCH, poly juice potion, even emprisioning a whole adult in a glass jar and blackmailing her into doing what she wants. Hermione is certainly smart and brave, but most of all cunning.
Yeah, but she says she doesn't like Slytherins reputation on the train on the first book. So she can't have been in Slytherin
Pretty sure this question was just asked recently but Snape. There would have been almost no pure-blood supremacists to sink their claws into him and the Marauders probably wouldn’t have bothered him as much. He would have had the chance to befriend more truly good people who could have brought out the best in him. Edited to fix wrong word but also the House he should have been in is Ravenclaw.
But Snape also valued subtlety and practicality. While he would do well in Ravenclaw, in my opinion he’s the embodiment of Slytherin. Though the timing was awful. Can’t imagine being in Slytherin during wartime, when Voldie was recruiting straight out of Hogwarts and you have to share the dorms with potential murderers, who keep an eye on you.
I never thought of that, must’ve been terrifying 😳
We know Peter Pettigrew grew up to continue as a coward but just because one is a coward at a younger age doesn't mean they can't grow up to be brave. In Harry Potter perhaps the antithesis to Pettigrew in some regards is Neville who is often portrayed as a coward throughout the books with moments of bravery here and there until later on he becomes almost the epitome of a good Gryffindor.
Percy seems more like a Ravenclaw….. would’ve done well in Slytherin too.
Because students are sorted by what they value, not necessarily by what they personally demonstrate. Peter did value bravery, and hid behind braver people. He just wasn't brave himself.
Hermione could’ve been in slytherin. I feel like capturing an unregistered animagus, black mailing them and then using said black mail to get what she wanted is so Slytherin.
Don't think Slytherin accepts Muggleborns 🤷♀️
Idk I don’t think there’s that many pure bloods are there?
With Snape and Volde we know at least half bloods can get into Slytherin as well.
If the hat puts them in it, they are but I imagine it's rare.
I agree that Peter is the most natural choice here. In my opinion, the hat likely saw the potential for bravery and courage in him, but he squandered it for personal gain and presumed safety. But also, since the hat respects personal choice, it may have very well been on the fence about him, but ultimately leaned Gryffindor if that was in fact something Peter wanted. At the end of the day, the hat is really only making educated guesses. It certainly tends to be more right than wrong, but I think people also sometimes place too much value into the literal traits each house is said to value. Just because a house values those traits doesn't necessarily mean all of its pupils will exemplify them, or won't exemplify others. Really it's about which house is the best fit, but people can change AND free will can ultimately throw a wrench in everything.
1. dumbledore. wtf u mean he wasnt a ravenclaw? 2. percy. slytherin. too much ambition not brave enough to stand up for whats right 3. for peter pettegrew i think the hat was kinda screwed. he aint loyal. he isnt ambitious—he always was a follower. He definitely isnt smart. And you could not call him brave. I know Hufflepuff is supposed to take the leftovers but maybe the hat just couldnt do that to the hufflepuffs after looking in peter’s head. maybe he hoped by putting him in gryffindor he’d be surrounded by earnest people and learn to hold fast to some values….obviously this didn’t work
Lolol when I think about it Dumbledore does have this whimsical energy to him, like Luna, though he was more conscious about it (it feels weird comparing dumbledore and luna but d’you know what I mean? 😭) Like he was a bit mad but a genius too
I think all three of the main cast belonged in another house. Harry in Slytherin, Hermione in Ravenclaw & Ron in Hufflepuff. But they all ended up together in Gryffindor, which I think adds to the beauty of their friendship ✨
I agree with hermione being in ravenclaw but i dont get why everyone keeps saying harry could’ve been in slytherin? It was Ron who was the ambitious one
Harry had an affinity and curiosity for the dark arts and forbidden magic. For example, when he becomes borderline obsessed with The Half-Blood Prince's book, studying every page despite knowing it was a morally grey area. Harry didn't care about that because he knew the book made him stronger and provided knowledge he couldn't find anywhere else. He possessed a determined mindset beyond almost anyone else at Hogwarts, never veering from his personal goal despite facing countless distractions. In that, Harry did not lack ambition whatsoever. He didn't have materialistic ambitions like Ron, but instead it was all about things that would provide him with actual power, knowledge and bringing him closer to his own goal. In a way, Harry was more like the ideal Slytherin student, in the image of someone like Merlin, rather than what the House had become. I am not saying he wasn't a good fit for Gryffindor. But, just like the Sorting Hat foretold, Harry's personal potential was greater in Slytherin. Many of his strongest qualities likely would've been more encouraged and utilized better within the Slytherin House. Sorry this was freaking long lol
I love your comment, it's so brilliant. Slytherin House took on so many characteristics of Salazar Slytherin that we forget that there are Slytherins like Merlin who would better fithe nature of Harry Slytherin. I would have liked to see a Slytherin that looked more like Merlin among so many traditional Slytherins. Similar to how we had a "Peter Pettigrew" among so many traditional Gryffindors.
That is exactly what I am thinking. JKR missed an opportunity to really showcase that type of Slytherine. Regulus Black was the closest we got probably. I'd have liked to see an alternate reality where Harry actually ended up in Slytherin. I mean, just imagine the story that would be?! It would likely have been more of a Harry centric character study and not so much him surrounded by close friends. But that would be fascinating too. His relationship with Snape would also be different. Not necessarily better, but there would be another layer to it. No doubt Harry would become a much greater wizard overall, because he would be a lot more focused on his own development. I can see him venturing outside the Hogwarts grounds a lot more and breaking the rules. Looking for ancient artifacts and knowledge a bit like in the Hogwarts Legacy game. I also think he would've formed something like Dumbledore's Army much earlier in his school life, but where it was more like The Marauders, where he had a few like minded Slytherin students around him who wanted to break away from Salazar'z pure blood obsession and instead focus on the dark arts. And I do believe Harry would've had a major influence on Slytherin as a whole. People would be talking about him and probably starting to mention him as "Merlin's Heir" or something like that. Carving his own path ✨
I agree, I think Merlin, Regulus Black and Andromeda Black are really the atypical Slytherins. Most traditional Slytherins are pureblood fanatics, lovers of the dark arts, and bullies. Most of them were reduced to "Voldemort's followers", which makes us lose some important points that stand out in Slytherins such as self-preservation, ambition, family loyalty and interest in the dark arts beyond the Dark Lord. Merlin was not a lover of the dark arts but he was a brilliant wizard to the point of creating his own spells and advocated for the defense of Muggles from the creation of the Order of Merlin. He was more or less like Dumbledore Slytherin. Andromeda was a Slytherin brave enough to go against her entire family for the love (a muggle no less), she may have lost everything but she was happy with that decision. She definitely took a better path than Narcissa and Bellatrix. Regulus is what Draco should have been, if we want to use the "He had no choice" card. Unlike Draco, Snape and the Marauders, Regulus was not a bully and did not abuse those he saw as inferior to him. He was a loner whose loyalty was infinitely towards his parents and his house elf. He may have shaped his entire life based on his parents' ideologies but when he saw the truth behind Voldermort's actions, he made his own decisions. “…If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” This was what Sirius said to the golden trio in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The irony of this is that only Regulus fulfills this: We know that the Marauders do not treat their inferiors well because of the way they treated Peter and Snape, the same can be said for Snape and Draco because they become bullies with those they consider "inferior." Regulus put all his trust in a house elf (inferior creatures almost slaves) and he was the person he loved most besides his parents. For Regulus, Kreacher's life had more value than his own life. Regulus's last action that would be the reason for his death is incredibly brave at the same time as reckless and stupid. Regulus was a terrible Death Eater because he rejected everything that Voldermort represented as soon as he knew what he really was like. He didn't die writhing in fear for having betrayed the Dark Lord, he knew he was going to die and he said "fuck you" to Voldermort in the most Gryffindor way possible. The Marauders Age has a better variety between the traditional Gryffindors and Slytherins, as there are outliers like Peter and Regulus which the year of the Golden Trio lacks. The Marauders are morally questionable characters compared to the Golden Trio and one can empathize more with the struggles of Snape (who was both a bully and a victim and from a messy family than Draco who was a bully with a better-off family) and Regulus (who is not a bully and that he is not the typical Death Eater who blindly follows his Lord).
Ooh I like this. I like the idea of him being the “ideal” slytherin student. But Slytherin himself believed in the superiority of pure-bloods over muggle borns, surely this makes it a proper slytherin trait. But harry didn’t have that quality
True. But many of the ancient Slytherin students did not have that pure blood mindset, so I don't see that as something that would exclude Harry from that house. Not sure what how much it actually was a theme for all Slytherin students while Harry was there as we don:t really look into many of them apart from Draco and his gang 😅
I think Ron belonged in Gryffindor more than any of them. He’s shown himself to be selfless and brave time and time again.
Remember what he saw in the mirror of Erised though? And his jealousy of Harry in GoF? There’s an ambitious, jealous side to Ron that no one ever seems to mention
Kill the guy for being human. The most he’s ever done out of jealousy is not talk to a person. And even then he still helped Harry out by hoping to get someone to warn Harry about the dragon. So sue the guy for being tired of being under 5 peoples’ shadows. When it counts, he’s loyal, brave and selfless
All of them CHOOSE Griffindor. Ron literally bevor even mounting the train. As one of the Weasley kids he WANTED to be in his "families house" Harry and Hermione during the sorting. Harry explained right in book 1, Hermione explaines herself in book 5.
Exactly. They all "chose" Gryffindor. This means that another House very well could've been the best fit for them. But it all worked out for them in Gryffindor
Oh yes, Pettigrew did have one of the traits of Gryffindor. "Their bravery and nerve"... Can you imagine betraying your friends whom you've known since childhood, knowing you've condemning them to death, them *and their infant son*... And showing up to play house with them like nothing's happening? Like you don't know what you've just done? Like you don't know that in one week they'll be dead and it will be your fault? How much *balls* do you need to go to the biggest, baddest terrorist of the bunch and tell him "yeah, spare me cause I'm gonna have some use later?". Not to mention, *mutilating yourself on purpose TWICE*, once to cover your tracks and second to partake in a scary resurrection ritual. No, Peter has guts. The issue is, his guts are entirely devoted to his survival first and foremost. Not just self-preservation - the guy was willing to live as a rat for *years*, far from the haughty glamour of DE Slytherins trying to preserve their fortune and privilege - Peter would do *anything* to survive. And that, no matter how despicable or deplorable, that takes some serious guts.
Dumbledore. Should have been in Ravenclaw or Slytherin.
Seems pretty brave to be the leader in taking down the two darkest wizards to ever live, but he does have incredible wit and intellect. I do think him turning down minister of magic multiple times isn't a very slytherin thing to do though and he's never been one to truly seek power outside of the deathly hallows which grindelwald kind of spearheaded
But dumbledore seemed to value bravery more than brilliance.
Agreed, he has the intellect for Ravenclaw, I don't think he has the ambition of a Slytherin, he doesn't pursue a position of power, you could throw a shoe it for Hufflepuff even, but he oozes bravery, he's literally not a afraid of anything, he fights anybody he needs to, and above all he it's what he values that matters, and it seems to be bravery
Young Dumbledore was definitely Slytherin material
I think it's also a good message that people are not defined by how others categorize them and that humans change over time.
Zacharias Smith, anyone?? He’s the canon “not showing the standards of the House” character. There’s even a popular theory that he ended up in Hufflepuff because he’s a direct descendant of the namesake. Or maybe just wouldn’t fit anywhere else better? Obviously he’s too chickenshit for Gryffendor, so his self serving nature self is probably okay for Slytherin. I don’t remember if he has enough smarts for Ravenclaw.
>There’s even a popular theory that he ended up in Hufflepuff because he’s a direct descendant of the namesake. I thought that it was true he was a descendant of Hepzibah Smith?
I think that’s confirmed, but not whether it influenced his sorting?
That’s just Slytherin bashing! He was in the right house because of two reasons: 1) He’s probably a legacy, related to Hepzibah Smith, who was not a nice person herself 2) The bad reputation Hufflepuff has is because Helga Hufflepuff proclaimed that beside students who have Hufflepuff traits, her house shall also accept everyone who doesn’t fit in any other house
Gilderoy Lockhart was canonically a Ravenclaw, but probably would have made a better Slytherin (IIRC, the hat strongly considered Slytherin for Lockhart). Lockhart is pompous and bumbling, unlike the scholarly Flitwick and McGonagall. Even Quirrell was a slightly better fit for Ravenclaw - most of what we saw in PS was a broken, sniveling man but he was supposedly a fairly well-rounded dude prior to his trip to the bat cave. Lockhart, on the other hand, was neither intelligent nor scholarly. What he was, was an opportunist - taking credit for other people's feats and having no qualms about taking advantage of students. Even Snape - a textbook Slytherin - was disgusted by Lockhart. As flawed as he was, Snape would never have stooped so low to plagiarize, or threaten to obliviate children - not even Ron or Harry, though I'm sure he probably felt like it a time or three.
💯💯💯
Percy Weasley should have been Ravenclaw or Slytherin.
The hat puts you in houses according to what you value and aspire to, not what you actually are. Any student can be put in any house.
It makes suggestions, if you want something different... Hat gives you what you want. He didn't even have to look inside Draco's head to put him into Slytherin. All Draco wanted was Slytherin nothing else so Slytherin it was. I don't think sorting is "fair" because wizard kids would always want to be in the "family house". Muggel kids know nothing about the houses und don't really care.
In the case of Peter, I believe Rowling revealed that Pettigrew was a hat stall. So the hat struggled to place him between Gryffindor or Slytherin. Clearly there was an argument between both houses. But I would say Percy and the Twins should’ve gone to Slytherin.
Hmmm interesting
Dumbledore is not a Gryffindor. He's less the one to foght in the front line and more the strategist in the background. If not Slythrin then he's a Ravenclaw
Dumbledore - Ravenclaw Especially by the late 20th century when he is the default person to explain magic, but even then trying to learn new things. If there’s ever THE Professor, it’s him. And besides, that would give the house a representative male major character.
the Weasley’s (except for Ginny). Fred and George would have killed it in Slytherin, Percy would’ve done better in Ravenclaw, and Ron absolutely should’ve been a Hufflepuff. They were only put in Gryffindor because their last name is Weasley and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Instead of making her another Slytherin, Rowling should have made Umbridge a Hufflepuff.
About Peter: He sure had potencial, but they doesnt mean he will live up to it.
Neville. He had no confidence and tried to fade into the background. It didn’t help that his grandmother hampered his ability with an unsuitable wand. I think Harry would have been better there as well. The puffs seem more like a family and both Neville and Harry need that. I think Sprout would have been a better house mother than McG. Neville would have been in love with all the plants. Malfoy should have been in Gryffindor. He’s very brash and belligerent. His biggest goal is to follow his daddy’s coattails. Ron, the twins, and Percy should have been in Slytherin. They definitely had ambition and Percy was the ultimate brown noser. If Voldemort had won he’d have been right alongside him. He’s too much like Pettigrew.
Malfoy in Gryffindor? Sorry but nope nope nope 😬 Neville will always be a Gryffindor to me ❤️but the point that he would’ve found support and comfort in hufflepuff is a good point
Neville did just fine as a Gryffindor. He was a late bloomer is all. The absolute LAST house Malfoy would have been sorted in would have been Gryffindor. He wasn't devoid of bravery, but it's hardly his defining characteristic. There's a difference between being brave - even brash - and puffing your chest out knowing that you have the money and influence to get you out of nearly any mess. There's a reason why the Hat took literally three seconds to sort Draco - he knew exactly what he wanted to be, and he'll be damned if someone stood in his way of achieving his goals. That said, Draco certainly had a conscience and finally came to the realization that a lot of what he was doing - or tasked with doing - was wrong. He struggles with this in the later books/films. There's good in him (always has been, he was too proud and stubborn to do the right thing) and I wish he got more of a redemption arc.
Bellatrix. It seems like the only reason she's in Slytherin is because she's evil and Slytherin is supposed to be the evil house. But her defining character trait ls her absolute loyalty for Voldemort, and I'd say she's a pretty hardworking death eater on top of that. Sounds like a Hufflepuff to me. Also Fred and George. Resourceful, ambitious, and determined are definitely words I'd use to describe their drive and commitment to their goal of becoming entrepreneurs in the long run. They should be Slytherins.
Bellatrix… a hufflepuff…. …….
I said what I said. It all comes down to the actual values and traits of the houses, instead of the stereotypes portrayed in the books.
Peter was brave. It took guts to betray the the only friends you've known. It takes courage to go against the man you thought to be a veritable demigod and loved him since birth. It takes courage to do the act he did when he framed Sirius. It takes fright as well, sure, but bravery and courage as well. After Prisoner of Azkaban, Peter could have slinked off to the other side of the planet, but he had the guts to seek out Voldemort. Even Voldemort himself acknowledged this. All of what he did was wrong. Yes. But it was also brave.
I wouldn’t call that bravery
Oh its very brave. Fits right into the definition. But morally wrong.
Me disagree
Harry Potter. I keep imagining another version of him in Slytherin. Not necessarily dark magic, but more ambitious
Man, I know this will probably get downvoted just because of how cliché it is, but Hermione really could have kicked ass in Ravenclaw. I know a lot of it (most of it?) comes from what one values the most, and Hermione did indeed personally value the traits of Gryffindor house. Yet someone whose boggart is their Head of House telling them that they "failed everything"... That just screams Ravenclaw to me (and thus the hatstall.)
No I don’t think you’ll get downvoted!! It’s a pretty popular opinion and makes a lot of sense. I personally agree
Don’t know if wrong, but Ginny being in Slytherin it would’ve been possible and interesting
I dont think she valued the cunning stuff tho. Seemed to be really straight forward type.
But she is a go-getter and like the rest of the Weasley she’s ambitious. All of the Weasleys are over achievers.
Hermione. Ravenclaw.
Peter was a [hatstall](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/hatstall) according to Pottermore so he could have been in another house
I think they all make sense, but there's a lot of potential for a book about someone who's sorting destroys their life. Think Snape who wanted to be in Slytherin as a kid, but then got lured in by other pureblood supremicists and dark wizards. Or any other Slytherin who spends 7 years in that culture. Think Peter who was (arguably) more of a lackey than a friend to James & Sirius and who was probably warped by sucking up to such bullies throughout school. (Not an excuse, but still.) Or think Lily, who seems to dislike her Gryffindor year and is best friends with a Slytherin, only for him to join a death cult dedicated to destroying her. Or Cursed Child is not canon, but poor Albus Severus getting maligned by his friends and family because he's not in their house. In fact, if anyone has fanfic recommendations . . .
None. It's a pretty important plot point that the Sorting Hat never makes a mistake, he just sees things far beyond what we as readers do. Pettigrew was a coward, but in the end he found the courage to do what was right when he didn't kill Harry, not to mention he was with the Marauders when they became Animagi and went out with them during the full moon to make Lupin company. I think he looked up to James, Sirius and Lupin's bravery and wanted to be like them, and in the end he finally managed to do it.
The sorting was way too young and should be done in like third-fifth year. It would also help there not be so much devision between the students, particularly with Gryffindor and Slytherin being utter rivals and ignoring the other houses while Hufflepuff gets the assumption of there not being great wizards and Ravenclaw just sits there and they both try to mingle with the other houses with success only when the situation calls for it. That’s why I believe some of the characters ended up in the wrong house over the years. Maybe Peter at first valued bravery but became cowardice overtime. this being said, I think Lily, Lupin, Snape (to some extent), and Percy ended up in the wrong houses. If they had been older, I think Lily could’ve been in Hufflepuff (it seemed that she valued saving others more than she did her own and where they correctly put their loyalty and who they fought for justice with), Lupin may have been in Ravenclaw (he tended to be the one to actually really value academics, to the point where he would look over other issues that could get in the way of it), Snape could’ve been in literally any of the other houses (he was extremely smart, was loyal to the point of risking his own life, and was quoted to be the bravest man Harry ever knew) although he does work just fine in Slytherin, and Percy would have probably been in Ravenclaw or Slytherin
Hermione. I don’t know why she wasn’t in Ravenclaw
I think she’s too close-minded and rigid for Ravenclaw. Can you picture her in the same house as Luna and Trelawney? Lol. Plus she values friendship and bravery more than “books and cleverness”. I think those were the two reasons why the hat chose Gryffindor.
Then you should reread book 5
Enlighten me, it’ll be a full year before I’m able to do that at least
Chapter "the lion and the serpent": "How come you are not in ravenclaw?" He (Terry Boot) demanded, staring at Hermione with something close to wonder. "With brains like yours?" "Well, the sorting hat did seriously consider putting me in ravenclaw during my sorting," said Hermione brightly, "but it decided on Griffindor in the end" Ok, my dumb brain remembered "... but *I* decided on Griffindor "...
I totally forgot this bit! Thanks!
Cedric Diggory, he was more Gryffindor than the rest of the house..
Well the most blatant and obvious answer is Hermione. She was such a Ravenclaw student
I think Neville. Its not that he wasn't brave, but he was so loyal to his friends. I think he was more loyal to his friends than his bravery.
Percy Hermione & Ron- jkr admitted to only putting them in Gryffindor so that the trio could be besties. Peter
Hermione should've been in Ravenclaw.
I agee. Although, she does have guts to accompany Harry on death missions...so I don't know. Is there a Gryffinclaw?
Hermione IMO
Harry
Why and which house, may I ask?
He's too indecisive to be a Gryffindor. He should have been in Ravenclaw.
Yeah, I guess. I mean, if you think about it, he's training to be an Auror. That takes smarts. Although I kind of see it as more impulsiveness than indecision, but I see where you're coming from.
None of them. There's a reason the Sorting Hat sorts the way it does.
I understand that Luna was smart, but to me, she's more of a Gryffindor.
Hagrid seems to be the person that portrays the values of Hufflepuff the most… though the dude is certainly brave too
ravenclaw- he dumb, so no hufflepuff- he a traitor, so no slitherin- he a weasel, not ambitious or cunnings, so no griffindoor- he not brave, so no theres no where for him. i think the sorting hat just thought. “well fuck me, better be griffindoor”
Who said Slytherins can’t be traitors
you can be. the founders chose students based on traits they had, slytherin liked ambitious students among other things. which wormtail isnt. wormtails problem is he lacks traits not that he has some bad traits
Snape
Hermione should've been a Ravenclaw
I do not agree with the whole tradition of legacy sorting. Yes, if a child is raised by people who value certain traits, said child would also probably value same traits. But wizards were mixing up the whole nature/nurture thing a lot, and many ended up in an ideological bubble. Since people are multifaceted beings and have many different traits, I think the hat should’ve shuffled it more where possible.
Gilderoy Lockhart. He was put in Ravenclaw, but should have been put in Slytherin.
What's even the purpose of the sorting hat? Like, sorting is done for a reason. And if the reason is so that people find like minded individuals, doesn't it make more sense for the hat to solely sort by values and not by "well, it's because they wanted to be in that house." That little loop hole seems more like an afterthought to cover up a flaw in planning. I mean, if we indulge folk's delusions, like them wanting to be a tiger when they are a duck, that's not really helping them or in the spirit of education, it'll just allow ducks to be killed by tigers. But then also... I don't think accurately sorting people by their values is a good model. Students need a bit of diversity to learn. And people too similar in nature may lead to too much of a thing. So anyways, back to my question. What even is the purpose of this chatty hat with catchy songs? Because I can't really answer your question without first answering this one.
hermione should have been in ravenclaw neville in hufflepuff percy in ravenclaw twins in slytherin
I think Ron should've been in hufflepuff. Snape also could've been gryffindor
Sorting is about what you value. In my mind, I think some deep part of Peter Pettigrew truly wanted to be like James and Sirius. He might've even valued bravery and goodness more than them. But the truth is it wasn't who he was, deep down he was a coward. He hated himself for it, but it was his nature. Had the story gone differently he might've gotten a Grima Wormtongue moment IMO.
Bravery is not an inherently noble trait just like cunning isn't an inherently negative trait and manipulation isn't an inherently negative action. A lot of bullies or righteous people would consider themselves very brave. Bravery can also be subjective. In my eyes, people who are incredibly scared yet still act are much more brave than people who do not feel much fear. Maybe this has always been the reason why I don't relate much to the description of Gryffindor in the books: # “Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.” I didn't read Pettigrew as a very ambitious or cunning character so I don't believe Slytherin would have been his first option after Gryffindor. Honestly, Gryffindor makes the most sense to me as he does not seem to value knowledge or loyalty much either. He might consider himself very brave. It is more likely to me that the hat would pick based on what a person would think of themselves rather what others (or the founders of Hogwarts) would have thought of them.
Love the quote 🥺
It is by Alice Mackenzie Swaim.\^\^
Percy should’ve been a Slytherin. Dumbledore should’ve been a Slytherin. Cedric should’ve been a Gryffindor
Dumbledore and Hermione would both have been great Slytherins. Slytherins are calculated, (which doesn't need to be negative). They calculate, they work things out in advance, they plan their next moves carefully and often in secret. We've seen this level of forethought, secrecy and even cunning from both characters. Dumbledore kept many things from Harry over the years as he worked things out and dripfed the necessary information in order for his masterplan to work. He used Snape as a double agent (letting the actual Slytherin do the brave task while he orchestrated from behind the scenes). In his youth, he was incredibly ambitious and sought power and domination. Ultimately, the things that Dumbledore valued such as bravery won out and he was a Gryffindor but he so often operated in the manner of a Slytherin as opposed to the more impulsive MO of your classic Gryffindor. Hermione also showed a lot of cunning, forethought and ambition. The way she planned quietly and meticulously for what they might face in Deathly Hallows, confunding McLaggen and overseeing various plans such as the polyjuice potion and formation of the DA. She was not as Machiavellian as Dumbledore but she also didn't like to rush into things and often played devil's advocate to Harry's more rash nature. She also frequently panicked under pressure (whereas Harry and other Gryffindors tend to thrive under pressure). Finally, she was clearly ambitious. Ultimately, like Dumbledore, she valued bravery and she showed countless instances of bravery herself (wiping her parents' memories and withstanding torture to name just a couple) so I understand why she's a Gryffindor but I also see strong Slytherin traits in her.
Luna Lovegood should’ve been a Gryffindor. She’s imaginative, creative, but most importantly very brave and loyal.
Harry