Hogwarts houses

In the Harry Potter series, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is divided into four houses, each bearing the last name of its founder: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. The houses compete throughout the school year, by earning and losing points for various events, for the House Cup. Each house also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. These two competitions breed rivalries between the houses, the greatest of which is that between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Houses at Hogwarts are the living and learning communities for its students. Each year, year level groups of every separate house share the same dormitory and classes. The dormitory and common room of a House are, barring rare exceptions, inaccessible to students belonging to other Houses.

House system

The house system is not unique to Hogwarts as it is a feature of many real schools in some English-speaking countries today. As with many other features of Hogwarts, J. K. Rowling has adapted features of real-world boarding schools to add verisimilitude to the Harry Potter universe. House rivalries, separate dormitories, and the point system are all features of the real house system. The house system at Hogwarts may, within the timeline of the books, pre-date the earliest house system in the real world. The house system is also used in a number of Ivy League universities, most notably Yale (which uses the term "residential colleges") and Harvard.

Sorting

In early day of Hogwarts, the four founders handpicked students for their Houses. When the founders worried how students would be selected after their deaths, Godric Gryffindor took his hat off and they each added knowledge in it, allowing The Sorting Hat to choose students. Now, at the beginning of each school year, the magical Sorting Hat is placed on each new student's head, during the Sorting Ceremony. The Sorting Hat announces the house the student is bound to join. Before beginning the Sorting ceremony, it sings a short song about the founding of the school and the four houses; The Sorting Hat's songs are different every year, and the Hat is said to take all year composing the next one (according to Ron Weasley, at least). The songs tend to give advice in troubled times.Template:HP5

The Hat sorts by judging each student's qualities and placing them in the most appropriate house. The student's own choices may affect the decision: the clearest example is the Hat telling Harry Potter that he would do well in Slytherin in the first book, but ultimately selecting Gryffindor after Harry asks it not to put him in Slytherin. Another example is in the fifth book when Hermione Granger states that The Sorting Hat considered sorting her into Ravenclaw, but after she clearly stated in a previous chapter that she wanted to be in Gryffindor, her choice probably ultimately overrides The Sorting Hat, resulting in her placement into Gryffindor. Albus Dumbledore later explains to Harry that this is how it should be, when one considers how a person's choices define them more than their abilities. It is in fact likely that the Hat selects houses according to the predetermined decisions of an informed student, and only genuinely selects those who have no preconceptions or expectations (according to Horace Slughorn, house affiliations tend to run in families, and it is notable that Ron Weasley could not consider being in any house other than that which every other member of his family had been in; however, when Harry mentions this, Hermione points out that Parvati Patil and Padma Patil, who are twins, are sorted differently, into Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, respectively). For example, every member of the Black family had been sorted into Slytherin, with Sirius Black being the sole exception, which was remarked upon by Slughorn, its Head. On the other hand, many House members appear to share common traits: it is unknown if these are present before Sorting and used as criteria, or if they are inculcated into students through their presence in the House.

The hat does not just consider the student's most obvious strengths; it also sees a student's potential qualities. "You could be great you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness", it says to Harry when it suggests Slytherin as the best house for his future. Similarly, Hermione and Neville Longbottom do not immediately jump out as prime examples of Gryffindor courage in the beginning of the series, but they have both gained a tremendous amount of courage as they have grown. Hermione is even asked point-blank in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix why the Hat did not put her in Ravenclaw, considering her intelligence. Her answer is that the Hat "considered it, but decided on Gryffindor in the end" after she insisted on it that could mean that the student’s own wishes are the determining factor in most sorts (notably, she wanted to be in Gryffindor before even arriving at the school). Similarly, Neville may have a number of qualities suggestive of Hufflepuff, yet was sorted into Gryffindor. Interestingly, in the final novel of the series, Dumbledore notes that Snape is braver than most men are, and that perhaps Hogwarts sorts too early. Another point of interest is that Peter Pettigrew, who is frequently remarked as being cowardly and following others rather than acting on his own, was sorted into Gryffindor, where bravery is the main attribute of its students.

House dynamics

The four houses are rather separate entities. Each has its own common room and dormitory, its own table in the Great Hall, and students mostly share lessons with classmates of their same house. There is no rule against students from different houses mingling, but in practice, a good majority of social interactions occur within the same house. Each house has one teacher who acts as its Head of House, along with its own ghost. Both Head of House and house ghost were previously pupils within that house.

A great deal of rivalry exists between the houses. This rivalry is demonstrated in the Quidditch matches and the annual school competition for the House Cup, which is determined by the number of points earned or lost by each member of the rival houses. These points are awarded or taken based on students' conduct throughout the school year. All members of the faculty have the authority to grant and deduct points as they see fit in each instance. Some, like Severus Snape, the former Potions master, tend to favour their own house, but that does not seem to be against the rules. He is despised by many students, other than those in Slytherin, where he is very popular. It is unknown how much favouritism the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Heads show, although it can be deduced that it is minimal or non-existent, as both Professor Filius Flitwick (Ravenclaw) and Professor Pomona Sprout (Hufflepuff) are kind, light-hearted people, who obviously want to win the House and Quidditch Cups but are not as vindictive as Snape in going about it. It is known that Professor Minerva McGonagall, the stern head of Gryffindor, does not show much favouritism towards her house. In fact, she deducted fifty points apiece and awarded detentions to three students in her house (Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom) when they were caught out of bed after hours in the first book (Ronald Weasley in the movie version), and supported Professor Snape wholeheartedly in giving Harry detentions for the rest of the school year, even on overlapping Quidditch matches, after Harry used the Sectumsempra spell on Draco Malfoy in book six.

According to Rubeus Hagrid, "every wizard that's ever gone bad was in Slytherin." While this appears to be a general rule, there are exceptions; Peter Pettigrew, for example, was from Gryffindor yet betrayed the Potters to Voldemort. Hagrid's statement here is also interesting, as at that time, Sirius Black, an ex-Gryffindor student, was thought to have been a Dark wizard. However, it is possible that Hagrid was unaware of this, given his friendly attitude towards Sirius when he loaned him his flying motorcycle. None of this necessarily means, however, that all Slytherins are evil. For example, Horace Slughorn has been a loyal friend of Albus Dumbledore and has helped him on different occasions. Both Severus Snape and Regulus Black were Slytherins, and both died in fighting Voldemort. Andromeda Tonks, mother of Nymphadora, became a Slytherin like the rest of the Black Family, but later rejected her family's pro-pureblooded views by marrying a muggle-born. Slytherins are chosen for their cunning and pure-blood heritage (although blood purity does not appear to be essential - Lord Voldemort and Snape were half-bloods, though Voldemort certainly is prejudiced). It has also been said that all four houses must band together and fight as one if Hogwarts is to stand. It must be remembered that all of the Houses have their virtues and flaws: none are inherently good or evil. Slytherins may have earned their reputation as evil because they show such contempt towards Gryffindor, the protagonist house. They also do not show much generosity towards other houses either, whether those in them are pure-blood or not.

House rivalry is most seen between Slytherin and Gryffindor ("Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principle"Template:HP6). This rivalry likely goes back to the days of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin after they founded Hogwarts, because the Sorting Hat said that they were the best of friends before they founded the school.Template:HP5 While it is not clear if there is a similar rivalry between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, it seems very much unlikely due to the cheerful disposition of the Heads for said Houses, as opposed to the contempt of Professor Snape and the passion of Professor McGonagall (Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff, however, once great friends, are documented as having had a severe falling out at some point by the Sorting Hat's song in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)Template:HP5.

Usually, though not always, the other two houses appear (in Harry's eyes) to support Gryffindor in its rivalry with Slytherin, which again is reminiscent of how Slytherin was in the end opposed by all three other Founders. Dumbledore's Army is a representation of the unity between these three houses, as all of its members are Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs. There are no Slytherin members. However, one exception to this occurred when Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin all initially supported Hufflepuff's Cedric Diggory instead of Gryffindor's Harry Potter in the Triwizard Tournament.Template:HP4 Also in the first Quidditch match of book 6, it is said that many of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had "taken sides" in the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match, but does not specify which Houses took which side (due to the nature of previous books however, it is likely that they chose Gryffindor over Slytherin).

Before the final Battle of Hogwarts, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw join Gryffindor in defending Harry Potter against Slytherins willing to turn Harry in to Lord Voldemort. After Slytherin Pansy Parkinson screams for someone to "grab Harry Potter", students from the other three houses rise in a "massive movement" and stand facing the Slytherins with their wands drawn. In addition, when the school is evacuated, seventh-year students are given the option of staying to fight; many Ravenclaws, even more Hufflepuffs, and nearly half of all Gryffindors (including several underage students who need to be forcibly evacuated by McGonagall) remain, but all of the Slytherins leave; Voldemort later remarks that several of them have even joined their parents on his side. In the final battle, Slughorn and a number of unnamed Slytherins return with reinforcements. Slughorn, whose loyalties are initially called into question by McGonagall, eventually duels Voldemort himself.Template:HP7.

When Harry visits the headmaster's office following the battle, Phineas Nigellus Black notes Slytherin's contribution. This seems to indicate that the actions of Snape, Slughorn, and his allies went a long way towards redeeming his former house's standing in the school's history.

Each of the four Hogwarts houses has its own Quidditch team. In the first book, Ravenclaw wins the Quidditch final. In the second book, the tournament is not finished due to the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. In the third, fifth, and sixth books, Gryffindor wins the Quidditch finals. Quidditch is not played in the fourth book because of the Triwizard Tournament.

The Houses of Hogwarts

Gryffindor

Gryffindor crest

Gryffindor crest

Gryffindor values courage and chivalry above all else. Its animal is the lion, and its colours are scarlet and gold. Nearly Headless Nick is the house ghost. According to Rowling, Gryffindor corresponds roughly to the element of fire. The founder of the house is Godric Gryffindor. To emphasise the House's affiliation with fire, Gryffindor alumni like Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, seem to prefer fire as their weapon of choice.

Though Gryffindor is commonly regarded as the protagonist house, not all Gryffindors are protgonists. Cormac McLaggen is the negative qualities of Gryffindor personified. He is bad-tempered, arrogant, and does not like it when he doesn't get his own way. He does not like the fact that Ron Weasley beat him at keeper tryouts, and does not admit defeat easily. Romilda Vane is another example. She is underhanded, and displays a deceptive and devious nature by trying unsuccessfully to ply Harry with love potion. On the Hogwarts Express she is somewhat condescending towards Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. However both Cormac and Romilda certainly are bold, and show confidence, two very Gryffindor qualities, and were therefore sorted into the house. The legitimacy of Peter Pettigrew to join Gryffindor is, however, highly doubtful. He displays nothing but cowardice and obsequiousness throughout the series, and is the lone Gryffindor Death Eater.

Located in one of the castle's highest towers, the entrance to which is located on the seventh floor and is guarded by a painting of the Fat Lady, who is garbed in a pink dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct password.

The current Head of Gryffindor House is Professor Minerva McGonagall.

A few notable Gryffindors (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):

• Harry Potter
• Ron Weasley (Also see The Weasley Family)
• Hermione Granger
• Neville Longbottom
• Albus Dumbledore
• Rubeus Hagrid
• Sirius Black
• Remus Lupin
• Peter Pettigrew
• James and Lily Potter

Hufflepuff

File:Hufflepuffcolours.svg

Hufflepuff crest

Hufflepuff crest

Hufflepuff, founded by Helga Hufflepuff, values hard work, loyalty, tolerance, and fair play above all else. Its animal is the badger, and canary yellow and black are its colours. The Fat Friar is its ghost. According to Rowling, Hufflepuff corresponds roughly to the element of earth. The Hufflepuff dormitories and common room are located somewhere in the basement (corresponding to earth), their entrance found through a still-life painting that is somewhere near the kitchens. You must give a password to the painting to enter. The Hufflepuff common room is filled with yellow hangings and fat armchairs and it has little underground tunnels leading to the dormitories, all of which have perfectly round doors, like barrel tops (very much like a badger sett). Very few Hufflepuff members are specifically mentioned, and, in general, they are not seen much in the Harry Potter books.

The current Head of Hufflepuff House is Pomona Sprout.

A few notable Hufflepuffs (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):

• Cedric Diggory
• Nymphadora Tonks
• Ernie Macmillan
• Hannah Abbott
• Zacharias Smith

Ravenclaw

Ravenclaw crest

Ravenclaw crest

Ravenclaw values intelligence, creativity, wit, and wisdom."Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure" is an oft-repeated Ravenclaw proverb.Template:HP5Template:HP7 Its animal is an eagle, the house colours are blue and bronze (changed to blue and silver in the movies), and its ghost is the Grey Lady, who was revealed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to be Helena Ravenclaw, daughter of Hogwarts co-founder Rowena Ravenclaw, after whom the house was named and whose diadem was one of Voldemort's Horcruxes. According to Rowling, Ravenclaw corresponds roughly to the element of air.

Rowena Ravenclaw herself is described as being beautiful in life, a trait which has, apparently, become common in her house. Attractive (and with their Ravenclaw wit and cleverness, sometimes idealistic) females seem to be plentiful in Ravenclaw, with Cho Chang described as 'extremely pretty', and Padma Patil along with her twin sister Parvati Patil is spoken of as the best-looking girl in the year, by Dean Thomas. In her robes she wears to Slughorn's party, Luna Lovegood looks quite nice to Harry, and on the night was a source of envy to other girls. Helena Ravenclaw, daughter of Rowena, is also seen to be a beautiful, but proud, ghost. Moaning Myrtle is the only Ravenclaw girl who is ever described as unattractive in any way, and in life was bullied because of her, or lack hereof, looks.

The dormitories are located in Ravenclaw Tower on the west side of the school. The common room, which went undescribed in the series until the climax of Deathly Hallows, is round and filled with blue hangings and fat armchairs, has a domed ceiling painted with stars, and also features a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her diadem. Harry also notes that, by day, the Ravenclaws 'would have a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains'. A logical riddle must be solved in order to gain entry, whereas the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms only require a password.

The current head of Ravenclaw house is Filius Flitwick.

A few notable Ravenclaws (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):

• Luna Lovegood
• Cho Chang
• Padma Patil
• Michael Corner
• Moaning Myrtle

Slytherin

File:Slytherincolours.svg

Slytherin crest

Like Salazar Slytherin, its founder, Slytherin house values ambition, cunning, resourcefulness, and pure blood heritage. Most Slytherin students display a high level of Machiavellianism. The book also suggests that the hunger for power is a characteristic of Slytherins. The animal representing Slytherin is the serpent, and the house's colours are green and silver. The Bloody Baron is the house ghost. According to Rowling, Slytherin corresponds roughly to the element of water. The Slytherin dormitories and common room are reached through a bare stone wall in the dungeons. The Slytherin common room is a long, low, dungeon-style room, located under the Hogwarts Lake, furnished with green lamps, and carved armchairs.

Until the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the head of Slytherin House was Professor Severus Snape. After Professor Snape fled with the Death Eaters, Professor Horace Slughorn filled in for him. Slughorn had been Head of Slytherin for many years before retiring, and had just returned to Hogwarts.

Harry Potter has a negative view of Slytherin and asks the Sorting Hat not to place him in that house because of its sinister reputation. Hagrid told him, "There isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin." This seems to be an exaggeration on Hagrid's part, as at the time, he believed that Sirius Black, a Gryffindor, was a follower of Lord Voldemort (ironically the true perpetrator of Black's crimes was Peter Pettigrew, another Gryffindor). This proposition is also statistically unlikely. Still, Slytherin House seems to have produced more evil wizards than any other house, including Voldemort, the Malfoy family, Bellatrix Lestrange, Avery, and Wilkes. However, Slytherin itself is not evil, it is simply that having ambition as a core quality results in a disproportionate amount of self-important, competitive students. There are some good Slytherins such as Slughorn, Snape (after his good deeds become known in the last book), Phineas Nigellus Black (despite his use of the derogatory term "Mudblood" Template:HP7), Andromeda Tonks, and Regulus Black.

The Sorting Hat claims that blood purity is a factor in selecting Slytherins, although this is not mentioned until the fifth book. This suggests that it bases its decisions more upon the ideals of its members, than directly on any accurate test of blood. There is no reason to believe that Muggle-born students are not sorted there, merely that pure-blooded students are more desirable to that house, as there are definite examples of half-bloods in the house (Snape and Voldemort). In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a group of Snatchers claim that "not many Mudbloods" are sorted into Slytherin, which suggests that while Muggle-born Slytherins may be uncommon, they are not unknown.

According to Albus Dumbledore in Chamber of Secrets, the qualities which "Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students" include, "Parseltongue, resourcefulness, determination, [and] a certain disregard for the rules", qualities, he notes, that are possessed by Harry.

Contrary to the wishes of the other founders, Salazar Slytherin wanted a stricter policy of admittance—one limited to pure-blood students. The controversy this created apparently led to Salazar leaving the school and the Chamber of Secrets behind. A millennium later, the house's students are still considered affiliated with Salazar's reputed ideals, although some half-bloods, most notably Voldemort and Snape, have been in Slytherin. "Pureblood" lineage is certainly one of Voldemort's public goals. It is often mentioned in the novels (especially in Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets) that most of the dark wizards were in Slytherin (though how many were from this house before Tom Marvolo Riddle began recruiting there is unstated: as his own House, it was certainly easiest for him to recruit there).

Although Harry portrays most former or current Slytherins as either bullying, haughty or downright evil, the house also contains some of the series' most striking and dramatic stories of redemption. Snape, a devoted Slytherin, spends much of his adult life as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix and in Deathly Hallows, is acknowledged by Harry as the bravest man he has ever known. Similarly, Regulus, a former Death Eater and the younger brother of Sirius Black, turns against Voldemort at the age of seventeen, ultimately giving his life and putting himself in great pain to return his old master to mortality. Even Draco Malfoy, Harry's spoiled schoolboy rival feels moral uncertainty in Books 6 and 7 and ultimately, does not commit to true evil. His mother, Narcissa, turns against Voldemort near the climax out of concern for her son, thus saving Harry's life. It is therefore important to note that the primary Slytherin qualities (resourcefulness, cunning, and a degree of self-import) are not, in and of themselves, evil attributes; they are simply attributes that are easily turned toward evil. An excellent example of a "good" Slytherin would be Slughorn, who, although very jovial and friendly to all his students, nevertheless wishes to be connected to powerful people to provide connections for his promising students (and for some of his own reasons).

When believing Harry Potter to be dead and thinking that he has final victory in his grasp, Voldemort proclaims his intention to abolish the other three houses and force all Hogwarts students into Slytherin. This design is foiled by his defeat and death, after which Slytherin becomes more diluted in its blood purity, no longer the pureblood bastion it once was. Its dark reputation, however, does linger.

A few notable Slytherins (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):

• Lord Voldemort (as Tom Marvolo Riddle)
• Severus Snape
• Draco Malfoy (and his parents)
• Bellatrix Lestrange
• Horace Slughorn
• Pansy Parkinson
• Crabbe and Goyle

The Founders

In Rowling's fictional universe, Hogwarts was founded a millennium ago by "four of the greatest wizards and witches of the age"Template:HP2: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. Each of these founders had one of the four Hogwarts houses named after them.

Godric Gryffindor

Template:HP character Godric Gryffindor hailed from a moor that is now known as Godric's Hollow, a small West Country village.Template:HP7 Gryffindor is said to have praised courage, determination and strength of heart above all other qualities. Indeed, he selected students for his house based upon their daring and bravery, according to the Sorting Hat. He also was the most in favour of allowing Muggle-borns into the school. He was initially a close friend of Salazar Slytherin, but over time, their friendship deteriorated; though never stated, it is likely that the two's contrasting beliefs and intentions regarding Muggle-borns may have been part of the reason for the split.

His known relics are a goblin-made sword, adorned with rubies, and the Sorting Hat. The two items share a particular bond; whenever a "true Gryffindor" needs it, the Sword will let itself be pulled out of the hat. Godric's sword was capable of acquiring powers from those it had slain and thus was imbued with venom from Harry's defeat of the Basilisk, making it suitable as a tool for destroying Voldemort's Horcruxes: Albus Dumbledore used it to destroy Gaunt's ring, Ron Weasley used it to eliminate Slytherin's locket, and Neville Longbottom used it to kill Nagini.

Gryffindor was named the July 2007 "Wizard of the Month" on Rowling's website. "One of the four famous Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Godric Gryffindor was the most accomplished dueller of his time, an enlightened fighter against Muggle-discrimination and the first owner of the celebrated Sorting Hat."

The name Godric is Anglo-Saxon in form, and can have several meanings, including, "he who rules with God" or "he who rules well."

Helga Hufflepuff

Template:HP character Helga Hufflepuff came from a broad valley. She favoured loyalty, honesty, fair play, and hard work. Members of her house usually display at least one of these traits in varying degrees: Cedric Diggory, deceased Triwizard contestant, was one of the students who appears to embody all four.

The Sorting Hat further describes her as "good Hufflepuff" or "sweet Hufflepuff". She does not appear to have applied particularly strict standards of selection to her house. Although in Goblet of Fire, she is stated as having considered “hard workers most worthy of admission,” she is elsewhere described as taking “all the rest” of the students after selection by her colleagues, and is quoted by the Sorting Hat as having said, “I’ll teach the lot, and treat them just the same.” This sets her apart from the other Founders, by making her an egalitarian.

Hufflepuff was the May 2007 "Wizard of the Month" on Rowling's website. "One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts; Hufflepuff was particularly famous for her dexterity at food-related Charms. Many recipes traditionally served at Hogwarts feasts originated with Hufflepuff." Her wizard card, penned by Rowling, describes her as having “brought people from different walks of life together to help build Hogwarts,” and being “loved for her charming ways.” According to an interview between Rowling and staff from The Leaky Cauldron, Hufflepuff introduced house-elves to Hogwarts, where she offered them refuge. Both the famous wizard card and the illustration on Rowling's website depict her as a plump woman with red hair.

One relic of Hufflepuff, a small golden cup, had been passed down to her distant descendant, Hepzibah Smith, who said the cup was supposed to have some magical powers, many of which she had not tested.Template:HP6 The cup fell into the hands of Voldemort, who transformed it into a Horcrux, and was destroyed by Hermione during the final battle of Hogwarts.

The name Helga is of Scandinavian origin, meaning "holy".

Rowena Ravenclaw

Template:HP character Rowena Ravenclaw was a witch noted for her cleverness and creativity, and was described by Xenophilius Lovegood as "beautiful." The Sorting Hat introduced her as “Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,” suggesting she was from Scotland or Ireland. She was a good friend of Helga Hufflepuff; their friendship is used to emphasise the failed friendship between Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. Ravenclaw devised the ever-changing floor plans and moving staircases in the Hogwarts castle, and coined the proverb "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."

Ravenclaw is described by the Sorting Hat as having selected students according to intelligence and wisdom. Ravenclaw House thus values in its members a sharp mind, wisdom, creativity, and cleverness for its own sake, and thus, rather than asking for a password from her members to get to the dormitories, a bronze eagle knocker asks them a riddle-like question which, if answered incorrectly, would force the student to wait until another could answer the question correctly, allowing the failed student to learn.

In Deathly Hallows, Harry learns that an artifact of Ravenclaw's became a Horcrux: her lost diadem, which grants enhanced wisdom to its wearer. Her daughter, Helena Ravenclaw (The Grey Lady) had once run away with it to surpass her mother in terms of intelligence and wisdom and hid it in Albania, in which its whereabouts remained unknown ever since. She, however, revealed its location to a young Tom Riddle, who proceeded to retrieve it and turn it into a Horcrux. In the original uncursed form, it is said to be able to imbue its wearer great wisdom. Late in her life, Rowena, suffering from a terminal illness, sent for the Bloody Baron to find her daughter so she could see her one last time before she died. However, Helena refused to go with the Baron, and he killed her in a paroxysm of rage. Immediately overcome with guilt, he then took his own life.

Ravenclaw was featured as Rowling's "Wizard of the Month" for August 2007. "One of the four famous Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Rowena Ravenclaw was the most brilliant witch of her time, though legend has it that a broken heart - cause unknown - contributed to her early demise." Her Wizard of the Month status was cleverly revealed, for she appeared the month after the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", thus concealing what possible Horcrux item, she possessed until after the book's release.

Rowena is a Latinised form of an old Germanic name. The elements in the name mean "Fame," (cf. the Anglo-Saxon hrōd, or hrōð), and "Joy," (cf. the Anglo-Saxon wyn(n)), or "Friend," (cf. the Anglo-Saxon wine). Rowena, Queen of Britain is a figure in Britain's traditional history; she was supposedly the daughter of Hengest and the wife of Vortigern.

Salazar Slytherin

Template:HP character Salazar Slytherin is described as "power hungry" by the Sorting Hat, and was known as "shrewd Slytherin from fen". The Fens of eastern England are marshlands around Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and adjoining counties, although it is not established that Slytherin actually came from that particular region. Slytherin is the only founder whose physical appearance was ever described in any detail; his statue in the Chamber of Secrets depicts a man "ancient and monkey-like, with a long thin beard that fell almost to the bottom of his sweeping robes."

Slytherin was a Parselmouth, a wizard with the rare ability to speak with snakes. Like Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor, Slytherin appears to have carefully selected members of his House. According to Albus Dumbledore, the qualities which Slytherin prized in his "handpicked students" included resourcefulness and determination. He also selected his students according to cunning, ambition, and blood purity.

Slytherin's background is first discussed by Professor Binns in Chamber of Secrets: he describes the foundation of the school and of the breach between Slytherin and the other founders, that the castle was founded far from Muggles because, at that time, common people feared magic and persecuted suspected wizards and witches. Slytherin wished after a time to be more selective in admissions to Hogwarts, but not restricted to only his own house; he used blood purity as a factor of selecting students since the school's inception. He wanted magical learning restricted to all-magical families, as he believed Muggle-born students to be untrustworthy and he disliked teaching such students.

According to ancient legend, Slytherin was responsible for the construction of the Chamber of Secrets, the home of a magically created basilisk. This snake was known to be susceptible to control by his Parselmouth descendants, and thus left it there to purge the school of all Muggle-borns. This occurred shortly before infighting among the four founders broke out and resulted in Slytherin's departure. The last known heir of Slytherin, Tom Riddle, discovered the Chamber and released the basilisk, resulting in the death of a student (Moaning Myrtle) and Rubeus Hagrid's wrongful expulsion from Hogwarts. Though the Hogwarts faculty denied the chamber's existence, it was rediscovered by Harry and Ron in their attempt to rescue Ginny Weasley.

Slytherin owned a locket that became an heirloom of his last known line of descendants, the Gaunts. The locket was sold to Caractacus Burke by Merope Gaunt, and then bought by Hepzibah Smith, who then had it stolen from her by Voldemort. Voldemort turned the locket into a Horcrux and hid it in a cave he had visited during his youth. The locket was later stolen by Regulus Black with the aid of his house-elf, Kreacher, but it was then taken by Mundungus Fletcher for a short time until the locket was confiscated by Dolores Umbridge. The locket was recovered by Harry and later destroyed by Ron with Gryffindor's sword.

Slytherin was the featured "Wizard of the Month" for June 2007 on J. K. Rowling's website. "One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salazar Slytherin was one of the first recorded Parselmouths, an accomplished Legilimens, and a notorious champion of pureblood supremacy."

The name Salazar is originally a Portuguese family name. António de Oliveira Salazar was the dictator of Portugal (where Rowling lived for several years) from 1932 to 1968.

The Ghosts

Hogwarts is home to at least 20 ghostsTemplate:HP1, but when people in the novels speak of the ghosts at Hogwarts they are usually referring to one of the four "resident" ghosts of each of the Hogwarts houses: Nearly Headless Nick, the almost-decapitated cavalier who resides in Gryffindor tower; the Bloody Baron, who resides in the Slytherin dungeon; the jovial Fat Friar, who resides with the Hufflepuffs, and the Grey Lady, who "lives" with the Ravenclaws. These ghosts seem to act something like advisors and aides to the students; Nick is frequently seen helping Harry during moments of uncertainty or crisis.

Nearly Headless Nick

Template:HP character Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (died October 31, 1492), often referred to as Nearly Headless Nick or Nick, is the Gryffindor House ghost who in life was sentenced to death by beheading after a teeth-straightening spell went awry on a Lady Grieve. Unfortunately the executioner's axe was blunt and after 45 hacks Nick's head was only partially severed. Harry Potter becomes friends with Nick when he attends his "deathday" party (the 500th anniversary of the event) in a Hogwarts dungeon. Nick's death date has the distinction of having served as the basis for the entire timeline of dates in the Harry Potter series, until the timeline was confirmed by the headstone of James and Lily Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Nick has a small role in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, where he is merely introduced as Gryffindor's house ghost. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he celebrates his Five-Hundredth Deathday Party and he is a victim of the Basilisk that Ginny Weasley unleashes, under the influence of Tom Riddle. The stare of the Basilisk is supposed to be lethal to anyone who looks at it directly in the eye. While the living students all had some barrier between them and the Basilisk (and are therefore petrified rather than killed), Nicholas does look at the Basilisk's eyes directly. However, since he is already dead, he too is only petrified. The character appears again in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when he explains to Harry the nature of death and what it means when a ghost is left behind. Harry had been looking for some comfort to see Sirius Black again, but Nicholas's explanation dashes Harry's hope of communicating with Sirius. Nick makes clear that this is not possible. He appears briefly in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Harry asks him to bring him to the Grey Lady (see below).

In the movie versions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Nick is portrayed by Billy Connolly.

The Fat Friar

Template:HP character The Fat Friar is the Hufflepuff House ghost. He is a jolly man and very forgiving. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when the first years are waiting for Professor McGonagall to return and the ghosts pass overhead, the Fat Friar is pleading on behalf of Peeves the Poltergeist to allow him to come to the welcome feast despite his past wrongdoings. Similarly, when Peeves wanted to join the welcome feast in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Fat Friar was willing to give him a chance.

The Grey Lady

Template:HP character Helena Ravenclaw, more widely known by her nickname The Grey Lady, is the Ravenclaw House ghost.

J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, has stated that The Grey Lady appeared very briefly in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It is of common agreement that the Grey Lady is the ghost that Harry and Ron encounter on their way to visit the Mirror of Erised, as referenced in this passage: "[Harry and Ron] passed the ghost of a tall witch gliding in the opposite direction, but saw no one else". Fans have found no other unexplained mention of a ghost in the book, so it is assumed this is The Grey Lady. She may also be "the ghost of a long haired woman" that floats past Harry and Hagrid when they are talking about a conversation between Dumbledore and Snape in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

According to a letter written by J. K. Rowling to Nina Young, the actress who played the Grey Lady in the first film, she is "a highly intellectual young lady …. She never found true love as she never found a man up to her standards".

The Grey Lady makes a more notable appearance in the deleted scenes portion of the Chamber of Secrets DVD. When Harry is finding the secret of Tom Riddle's diary, he asks her for privacy.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows it is revealed that the Grey Lady is Helena Ravenclaw - daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw, and was killed by the Bloody Baron. She informs Harry Potter that she stole the Diadem of Ravenclaw from her mother, in an attempt to become smarter than she, and then went into hiding in Albania. It was a dying Rowena Ravenclaw's wish to see her daughter again and so sent for the Bloody Baron to look for her, knowing that he would not rest until he brought her back. However, she refused to come with him and in a moment of blind rage, he killed her with a single stab wound to her chest. Overcome with remorse, the Bloody Baron killed himself using the same weapon in turn. The diadem remained in the hollow of the tree in the Albanian forest until Voldemort managed to charm the story out of her ghost, The Grey Lady. Riddle, who had been seeking out historically significant objects to make into Horcruxes, later retrieved the diadem from Albania and hid it in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts while visiting the castle years later.

There are a number of Grey Lady ghost stories of Great Britain — for example, the benevolent Grey Lady of Glamis Castle — and it has been suggested that they might have been an inspiration for this character. She may also have been inspired by Lady Jane Grey, who was cousin of King Edward VII, Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary I. Lady Grey was Queen of England for a short time (9 days only, in fact, and held the shortest term of any queen of England).

The Bloody Baron

Template:HP character The Bloody Baron is one of the ghosts that haunts Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is the Slytherin House ghost. He is the only person besides Dumbledore who can exert any control over the Poltergeist Peeves; Peeves is terrified of him for some unknown reason, referring to him as "Your Bloodiness" and "Mr. Baron."

The Baron's nickname comes from the fact that he is covered with blood, which appears silvery on his ghostly form. When Nearly-Headless Nick is asked in the first book why the Baron is so bloody, Nick delicately comments that "[he has] never asked". However, this is explained in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Helena Ravenclaw (see below) tells Harry that the Baron had been in love with her when the two were alive, and when she ran off with the diadem, Rowena Ravenclaw sent the Baron after her, knowing he would not stop until Helena was found. When she refused to return with him, however, the Baron killed her in a fit of rage, and then, in remorse, killed himself with the same weapon. He has thus haunted Hogwarts ever since, wearing his ghostly chains as a form of penitence ("as he should," Helena bitterly adds).

In contrast to a very solemn and quite frightening ghost in the books, in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (the only film adaptation in which the character has to date appeared), the Bloody Baron is represented as being quite mirthful.

External links

• Hogwarts_Houses on Harry Potter Wiki, an external wiki