Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded around 990 A.D. by four of the greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw. Though the four witches and wizards founded Hogwarts as friends, they each had a different idea of how the school should be run. Soon after the creation of Hogwarts, the founders introduced the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
In the early days of the school, the four founders would handpick students for their house, based on their personality and magical ability. This responsibility was later handed to the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, which would sort the students into whichever house it believed to suit them best. According to the Sorting Hat, Gryffindors are daring, Hufflepuffs are loyal, Ravenclaws are witty and Slytherins are cunning.
Ever wanted to know more about the four Hogwarts Houses? Just been sorted into your own house and looking for all the information you can find? Worry not, fellow Potterheads, The Blog That Must Not Be Named has you covered! For our latest post on the blog, we’re delving into each of the four Hogwarts Houses and telling you everything you need to know – from famous members and house traits to historical info and more!
Gryffindor
“You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart.“
FOUNDER: GODRIC GRYFFINDOR
HOUSE EMBLEM: LION
HEAD OF HOUSE: MINERVA MCGONAGALL
HOUSE GHOST: NEARLY HEADLESS NICK
FAMOUS GRYFFINDOR’S: HARRY POTTER, RON WEASLEY, HERMIONE GRANGER, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Gryffindor is the Hogwarts House that is focused on the most in the Harry Potter series, as it is the house that most of the main characters – including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger – are sorted into. Gryffindor students are well-known for their bravery, which is the trait that Godric Gryffindor valued more than anything else. Gryffindor students are widely believed to show bravery, determination and courage in the face of danger. Gryffindor’s are also well-known for having a good moral compass, which means they’ll always fight for what they believe in – even if it means breaking the rules.
While Gryffindor’s are undeniably brave and heroic, their bravery can occasionally make them reckless. Gryffindor students have been known to take unnecessary risks – even if it puts someone else in danger.
Hufflepuff
“You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil.”
FOUNDER: HELGA HUFFLEPUFF
HOUSE EMBLEM: BADGER
HEAD OF HOUSE: PROFESSR POMINA SPROUT
HOUSE GHOST: THE FAT FRIAR
FAMOUS HUFFLEPUFF’S: CEDRIC DIGGORY, NEWT SCAMANDER, NYMPHADORA TONKS
When it comes to the four Hogwarts Houses, Hufflepuff often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves and is considered to be the underdog of all the houses. It has been said that Helga Hufflepuff was more accepting of all Hufflepuff students, and took any witch or wizard who didn’t fit perfectly into Gryffindor, Slytherin and Ravenclaw. This means that Hufflepuff students often display a variety of skills, including traits valued by other house, such as bravery, ambition and intelligence. When it comes to specific traits that you’ll find in a Hufflepuff student, however, they are widely considered to be loyal, hardworking and honest.
Hufflepuff’s may be hardworking and true, but this can sometimes negatively impact their days at Hogwarts. Unlike Slytherin and Gryffindor students, who are unafraid to do what’s necessary, Hufflepuff’s follow the rules completely – even if it stops them from winning.
Slytherin
“Or perhaps in Slytherin, You’ll make your real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends.“
FOUNDER: SALAZAR SLYTHERIN
HOUSE EMBLEM: SERPANT
HEAD OF HOUSE: PROFESSOR SEVERUS SNAPE
HOUSE GHOST: THE BLOODY BARON
FAMOUS SLYTHERIN’S: TON RIDDLE AKA. LORD VOLDEMORT, SEVERUS SNAPE, DRACO MALFOY
Aside from Gryffindor, Slytherin is the house that gets the most attention in the Harry Potter series, as many of the antagonists that Harry comes up against – including Draco Malfoy – are placed into the house. Slytherin often gets a bad rap for being full of dark witches and wizards, mostly due to Salazar Slytherin’s reputation and the fact that Lord Voldemort was a Slytherin, but not all Slytherin students turn out to be evil. Slytherin students are best known for looking out for themselves, but the traits that Salazar Slytherin valued above anything were cunning, ambition and pride.
Slytherin students may look out for themselves and do anything to achieve their goals, but this can very easily have a negative impact on their lives. While Slytherin’s can learn to put others before themselves, self-reservation is in their nature – meaning they are more likely to sacrifice everyone else if it means they save themselves.
Ravenclaw
“Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, If you’ve a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind.”
FOUNDER: ROWENA RAVENCLAW
HOUSE EMBLEM: EAGLE
HEAD OF HOUSE: PROFESSOR FILIUS FLITWICK
HOUSE GHOST: THE GREY LADY
FAMOUS RAVENCLAW’S: LUNA LOVEGOOD, CHO CHANGE, PROFESSOR TRELAWNEY
Ravenclaw is without question the Hogwarts House that gets the least attention in the Harry Potter series, even though some major characters – including Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang – belong in Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw students are best known for their intelligence, as this is the trait that Rowena Ravenclaw valued more than any other. A Ravenclaw student will analyse every situation and has the ability to think outside of the box – giving them a natural advantage over many other students at Hogwarts. While they may not have the bravery of a Gryffindor or cunning of a Slytherin, Ravenclaw’s have likely spent a great deal of time practicing or studying – giving them an advantage.
While intelligence is undoubtedly a good thing, especially somewhere like Hogwarts, it’s fair to say that it won’t get you everywhere. Intelligence without bravery, loyalty or even selfish ambition can be a bad thing – especially if you believe yourself better than others because you are smarter.
Have you been sorted into your own Hogwarts House? Let us know in the comments section below this post! To find out which Hogwarts House you belong in, head over to the Wizarding World website and go from there!
Did you hear? The Blog That Must Not Be Named: The Podcast has finally arrived! We just released the first episode of our BRAND-NEW podcast, in which Kieran (founder and editor of this blog) discussing his love of the Harry Potter series and reveals how he was introduced to the Wizarding World. You can listen to the episode by clicking play on the YouTube video below:
im a ravenclaw, and i feel like it isn’t the house that gets the least attention, it’s actually hufflepuff.
great post!
Yeah, I agree. I’m a Hufflepuff, but I also think that Slytherin is portrayed as the “bad” house, when there are actually some really nice Slytherins out there.
true!!