The Hogwarts Houses are theoretically split by the aptitudes and personalities of the students – and while fans make joke about these being brave, smart, evil, and other, readers know that the true traits are brave, smart, ambitious, and loyal. This is definitely an interesting way to divide school students, either way the houses are described – and it’s more than a little problematic. Dumbledore himself expresses some regret at how soon children are Sorted, and makes it clear that choices mean more than House.
However, another issue is that so many of the house traits seem to apply to everyone! Each of the Golden Trio also seems to fit perfectly into another House – Hermione in Ravenclaw, Ron in Hufflepuff, and Harry in Slytherin – and they aren’t the only students who seem suited to more than one. Maybe this is because the Houses, despite their overt differences, are very much the same in many ways – especially Gryffindor and Slytherin.
10 Rule Breaking
It’s made very clear that Harry and his friends have very little respect for the rules – something shared by other Gryffindors, like Fred and George, or the Mauraders. This is played up as part of being a ‘brave’ and ‘daring’ Gryffindor, but it’s also very evident in the Slytherins. This House is described as being willing to ‘use any means to achieve their ends’ – which comes with a certain degree of rule breaking! Even the professors break rules in both houses, with McGonagall breaking rules around broomsticks for first years, and Snape breaking rules around fairness and doling out punishments in order to favor his own house.
9 Rushing In To Conflict
Gryffindors describe the tendency to run straight toward conflict as part of their ‘nerve’ and ‘daring’, whereas Slytherins might call it ‘pride’ or ‘determination’ – either way, members of both houses seem to love to go on the offensive, and don’t shy away from a fight.
Draco picks fights so constantly that he is a classic bully, but James and the Marauders were shown to be bullies too, and the Golden Trio doesn’t often back down, either. Hermione even lands a punch on Draco at one point! Clearly, these houses are both fighters.
8 Willingness To Do Whatever It Takes
The willingness to use any means to get what they want is usually seen as the trait of the ambitious Slytherin, but it’s something that Gryffindors do plenty of, themselves. Whether it is Hermione casually cursing Neville so that she, Harry, and Ron can sneak out, or Fred and George testing out new products on First Years, the Gryffindors certainly don’t hesitate to use, or even harm, other people in order to get their way. The Slytherins do this too, of course, but it’s something that is usually associated solely with them – which isn’t quite fair to the serpents of Hogwarts!
7 A Desire To Prove Themselves
While the Hufflepuffs are more quietly loyal, and Ravenclaws are not interested in fame or fortune so much as knowledge, both Gryffindors and Slytherins want to be the best, and be recognized as such.
They have the fiercest House rivalry of any in Hogwarts, they are the ones most likely to try and make a name for themselves, and they want to not just be the best, but be recognized as the best. This is seen as a part of Slytherin ambition, but Hermione’s ambitions as a student (and later Minister) are certainly no less powerful than Draco’s ambitions to be recognized as a powerful figure himself.
6 Competitive Spirit
It can be argued that the other houses are just as competitive, but they are simply not showcased so much in the series – because Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff do not have characters as important as Gryffindor or Slytherin in the books.
However, whether this is true or not, it cannot be denied that Gryffindor and Slytherin seem to share the same love of competition. In quidditch, their matches are the fiercest, in the House Cup, the battle always seems to be between these two, and even in the rivalry between Draco and Harry, it seems that these houses are always looking for a way to compete – and win.
5 Disregard For Authority Figures
As well as showing little respect for the rules, both Gryffindors and Slytherins show very little regard for authority figures – especially when it comes to Harry, Draco, and Hermione. Harry shows his willingness to talk back with cheeky remarks throughout the series – from Snape to Umbridge, he is quick to talk back to teachers (and to the Durselys). Similarly, Hermione doesn’t hold back with her opinions about Divination to Trelawney, and is always willing to argue a point with a teacher. Draco, of course, is often outright rude to teachers, especially Hagrid, and thinks himself above having to be polite to them. These aren’t the only examples, of course, but they are often the most obvious ones, when it comes to these Houses and their issues with authority.
4 Short Tempers
Hufflepuffs are the peacekeepers of Hogwarts, and they are on the opposite end of the spectrum to the Gryffindors and Slytherins, who are definitely known for having a temper. Draco is definitely an obvious example of this, but Snape, too, displays his temper when dealing with students and even other professors. Gryffindors, too, have a history of losing their tempers – Dumbledore himself has been known to in his younger years, and Harry routinely loses his temper (admittedly, often with good reason). Even Hermione punching Draco is an example of how these houses are more similar than they would admit.
3 A Tendency To Arrogance
Both Gryffindors and Slytherins have their fair share of pride, and that can often turn into arrogance. Dumbledore is a good example of this yet again – and he admits in the series that his pride was such a problem, that he was unwilling to take on more power out of fear he would abuse it. The Malfoys are the worst kind of proud – proud of their blood status and money, rather than their actions. And Harry, while he may pretend he just wants to be a normal kid, definitely has his arrogant moments… including in his decisions to take on Voldemort almost alone, even as a small child, rather than reach out for help.
2 Resourcefulness
Like so many traits, this is one that the two houses share – but it is seen as a negative trait in Slytherin (willingness to do anything to get what they want) and a positive in Gryffindors (ability to find unusual ways to get what they want). However, in many ways, this is the same trait. Members of both houses have a creative approach to problem-solving and getting what they want, with a willingness to bend rules and use any means at their disposal to get things done. Draco, despite trying to do something terrible in letting the Death Eaters into Hogwarts, shows remarkable resourcefulness in doing so – the same kind that the Golden Trio use when hunting for Horcruxes.
1 Strong Leaders
One of the few truly positive traits ascribed to Slytherin is their leadership ability – something that Gryffindors definitely share. In fact, Gryffindors are often shown more as leaders than the Slytherins in the series – they definitely have clearer leaders within the house, and Neville is shown to really unite and lead the whole house in the final years, whereas Slytherin seems more fractured. McGonagall is also a better leader than Snape, but both become Hogwarts Headmaster at various points in the story. Yet again, these two rival houses seem to have more in common than separating them!
About The Author
