Ultimate Guide to Slytherin

Many people are curious about the Slytherin house. What is it like? Who founded it? And what is the legend surrounding it? The Slytherins are known for being cunning and ambitious, and they often have a reputation for being dark and evil. In fact, this infamous house is known for being home to some of the darkest witches and wizards in history. To quote Ron in the first movie ‘There’s not a witch or wizard who went bad that wasn’t in Slytherin.’

But what do we really know about Slytherin?

Well, since this is the ultimate guide to Slytherin, we’re about to find out! In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the founder of the Slytherin house,  the legendary story of Salazar Slytherin, and some famous Slytherins over the ages. So, if you want to learn everything there is to know about Slytherin, then keep reading.

What is Slytherin?

Slytherin House Crest

Slytherin is one of the four houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The house was founded by Salazar Slytherin, a wizard who believed that only those with pure blood should be allowed to attend Hogwarts.

Slytherin students are known for being ambitious, cunning, and resourceful. Many people also think of Slytherins as being cold-hearted and ruthless. And this is true to some degree – Slytherin is known for producing many Dark Wizards.

But I don’t believe that all Slytherins are bad – in fact, I am pretty confident that they are not all bad. The house has also produced some very talented and successful wizards and witches over the years.

How the Slytherin House Was Founded

It was claimed that the school was established in the 10th century, and so the Houses were formed around the same time period. Like all four of the Hogwarts Houses, Slytherin was founded by one of the four Hogwarts founders – Salazar Slytherin.

Slytherin was a wizard who believed that only those with pure blood should be allowed to attend Hogwarts. He believed that Muggle-born students were not worthy of attending the school and would eventually bring about its downfall.

I don’t think this would ever have been the case, but Slytherin was biased towards pure blood wizardry and this was simply what he believed. Naturally, this caused a lot of tension between Slytherin and the other three founders and eventually led to Slytherin leaving the school.

Who Salazar Slytherin Was

Salazar Slytherin

‘Shrewd Slytherin from fen’, as the Sorting Hat’s song goes, was the most controversial of the Hogwarts four Founders. Slytherin was a Parselmouth – able to converse with snakes – which, in those less enlightened times, was considered an affront to nature and proof of dark wizarding blood. He was also a skilled legilimens and also had a particular interest in magical creatures, which again was looked upon by his contemporaries. Even more worryingly, Slytherin was rumored to have practiced the Dark Arts.

He also has rather controversial beliefs when it comes to the non-magical population. Slytherin believed that magical learning should be kept within all magic families. In other words, he thought only purebloods had the right to study magic and that thought that Muggle-borns were not worthy of attending Hogwarts. This caused a lot of tension between Slytherin and the other three founders as, thankfully, they didn’t agree with him.

For the record, I don’t agree with him either and think this is a pretty silly thing to think. Nonetheless, you get prejudices throughout every generation and group of people – even magical ones it would seem!

Slytherin eventually left the school and, according to legend, created a secret chamber – the Chamber of Secrets – deep within the castle where he kept a monstrous creature that only he could control. The entrance to this chamber could only be opened by someone who spoke Parseltongue. As such, the chamber would remain hidden until Salazar Slytherin’s true heir arrived at Hogwarts, ready to continue his family’s legacy.

The Different Qualities of a Slytherin

Slytherin Qualities

So, what qualities does it take to be a Slytherin? According to the Sorting Hat, Slytherins are known for being ambitious, cunning, and resourceful. They are also known for being cold-hearted and ruthless.

Many people think that all Slytherins are evil because of the Dark Wizards that have come out of the house. But it’s important to remember that Slytherin has also produced many talented and successful wizards and witches over the years.

When it comes to the traits of a Slytherin, I think that there are a pretty even combination of good and less good traits. For example, I don’t think it’s wrong to be a goal-oriented person. However, the cunning nature of a Slytherin can be used for both good and bad purposes.

Some of the top traits of a Slytherin include:

Goal-oriented

Slytherins are very goal-oriented. They know what they want and they go after it with a single-minded determination. This can be a great strength, but it can also make Slytherins seem arrogant and unyielding.

Cunning

Slytherins are known for their cunning. They are quick thinkers and often able to outsmart their opponents. This quality can be used for good or for ill, depending on the Slytherin in question.

Resourceful

Slytherins are also very resourceful. They are able to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions to problems. This makes them excellent leaders in difficult situations.

Ambitious

Slytherins are ambitious. They are always striving to be the best and to achieve their goals. This ambition can lead to great things, or it can make Slytherins seem pushy and power-hungry.

Self-confident

It’s not like a Slytherin to lack self-confidence. They are very sure of themselves and their abilities and are often seen as leaders among their peers.

Quick-witted

Slytherins are quick-witted and often able to come up with clever solutions to problems. This makes them excellent strategists.

Resilient

Next, Slytherins are very resilient. They are able to bounce back from setbacks and continue on with their goals. This determination is one of the things that makes

Shrewd

Of course, being shrewd is another key quality of a Slytherin. They are able to see through other people and their motives. This makes Slytherins excellent at reading people and understanding what they want.

Calculating

Slytherins are also very calculating. They are always thinking ahead and planning for every eventuality. This quality can make Slytherins seem manipulative and cold-hearted.

Determined

Last but not least, Slytherins are determined. They never give up on their goals and they are always moving forward. This determination is one of the things that makes Slytherins such excellent leaders.

Loyal

Slytherins are also very loyal to their family and friends. This is one of the better qualities of a Slytherin and they will do anything for the people they care about.

As you can see, there are both positive and negative qualities associated with being a Slytherin. But at the end of the day, it’s up to each individual Slytherin to decide how they will use their qualities. After all, not all Slytherins are alike. Each person is unique and has their own personality and set of qualities.

Some of the Most Famous Slytherins Through the Ages

There have been many famous Slytherins over the years. Some of the most notable include:

Severus Snape

Severus Snape

Severus Snape was a Potions Master at Hogwarts and a member of the Order of the Phoenix. He is arguably one of the most complicated characters in the entire series and his loyalties were constantly in question. He had a rather troubled past.

After being in love with Lily Potter since he was a child, he turned to the Dark Arts when she chose James over him. After she was murdered, he went to Dumbledore and begged him to take him back. Dumbledore saw the good in Snape and took him back, but Snape always harbored a deep resentment towards Harry Potter, who he saw as the son of the man who stole Lilly from him.

In my opinion, Snape was a mixture of good and bad. Yes, he was brave for doing what he did, but he did also purposefully bully Harry throughout most of his time at Hogwarts which there wasn’t really any need for. So, despite his good qualities and good intentions, he wasn’t the nicest of people.

Nonetheless, in the end, Snape proved himself to be a loyal friend of Dumbledore and a true hero. He was one of the most important members of the Order of the Phoenix and played a vital role in defeating Voldemort. Snape ultimately sacrificed himself to save Harry Potter and never stopped loving Lily.

Tom Marvolo Riddle (aka Lord Voldemort)

Tom Riddle Lord Voldemort
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Tom Riddle was the most powerful Dark Wizard of all time and the main antagonist of the Harry Potter series. He was born to a Muggle father and a Witch mother, making him a half-blood. But his mother was a descendent of Salazar Slytherin, making him the heir to the ancient and powerful Slytherin bloodline.

Riddle was a very troubled child. He was neglected by his father and spent much of his childhood in an orphanage. When he discovered he was a wizard, he went to Hogwarts and was sorted into Slytherin.

Riddle was a gifted student and, like Snape, he was also quite ambitious. But unlike Snape, Riddle’s ambition turned him to the Dark Arts. He was obsessed with power and becoming immortal.

Riddle eventually became Lord Voldemort and waged a bloody war against Dumbledore, the Order of the Phoenix, and basically, anyone who didn’t agree with him. He killed many innocent people in his quest for power, including Harry Potter’s parents. In the end, Voldemort was defeated by Harry Potter and died by his own rebounding spell (which you may not know if you’ve only watched the films. Personally, I think the book death of Voldemort is so much more powerful, and the film series kinda put a downer on the whole thin in comparison!).

Draco Malfoy

Draco Malfoy
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Draco Malfoy is a pure-blood wizard and the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. He is a Slytherin through and through and he was definitely arrogant, prejudiced, and cruel.

Malfoy spent much of his time at Hogwarts bullying Harry Potter and trying to make his life miserable. He also became a Death Eater like his father and, as punishment for his father’s mistakes, Draco was tasked with killing Dumbledore in his 6th year. played.

However, there was more to Draco than meets the eye. He was not as set in his ways as his father and, in the end, he chose to save Harry Potter’s life rather than give him to the Death Eaters.

I actually quite like Draco. I think that, despite all his wrongdoings throughout the books, he was never a truly evil person, and then the time cane, he proved that he wasn’t a killer. In my opinion, Draco is a true example of how a Slytherin can be both good and bad.

Regulus Black

Regulus Black

Sirius’s older brother Regulus was also a Slytherin. He was a member of the Death Eaters like many of the Black family line.

However, Regulus eventually had a change of heart and realized that Voldemort was evil. He uncovered Voldemort’s secret, learned that he was creating Horcruxes to make himself immortal, and set about to destroy them. He found Slytherin’s locket, and stole it, leaving a copy in its place. Unfortunately, he died by the trap surrounding the Horcrux before he could destroy the locket.

Regulus’s story is a reminder that even the people we think are evil can sometimes surprise us.

Bellatrix Lestrange

Bellatrix Lestrange

Bellatrix, on the other hand, is truly evil. She is a pure-blood witch, also a descendent of the Black family line, and a Death Eater who was fiercely loyal to Voldemort.

Bellatrix was an accomplished Duellist and a powerful witch. After spending an extended sentence in Azkaban after Voldemort’s downfall, she had also turned a little bit mad. She was sadistic, cruel, and completely ruthless. She killed many innocent people during the First and Second Wizarding Wars, including Sirius Black and Dobby the House Elf.

In the end, Bellatrix was defeated by Molly Weasley in a duel.

There are many theories on how someone as powerful as Bellatrix was defeated by someone as kind as Molly. The most popular theory is that she was killed because Bellatrix doesn’t often face an opponent that’s actually willing to kill her -personally, I think that, because so many people are scared of Bellatrix, this is most likely true.

Lucius Malfoy

Lucius Malfoy

Lucius Malfoy is a pure-blood wizard and the father of Draco Malfoy. He is a Slytherin through and through and he was definitely arrogant, prejudiced, and cruel.

After Voldemort’s downfall, Lucius pleaded innocence by pretending he’d only acted under the influence of the Imperius curse. He was pardoned, joined the Ministry of Magic, and eventually became a member of the Wizengamot.

However, when Voldemort returned, Lucius was quick to rejoin his side, playing spy from inside the Ministry and helping to fund the Dark Lord’s second war.

Lucius Malfoy is a classic example of a Slytherin who will do anything for their own gain.

Narcissa Malfoy

Narcissa Malfoy
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Wife of Lucius Malfoy and mother to Draco, Narcissa is also a Slytherin. She is a pure-blood witch and, like her husband, she is arrogant, prejudiced, and true to the belief of pure-blood supremacy. However, there is a nicer side to Narcissa.

She is fiercely protective of her family and, in the end, she chose to save Harry Potter’s life rather than give him to Voldemort just to find out if her son was safe. This act of defiance ultimately led to Harry’s survival and the defeat of Voldemort.

Horace Slughorn

Horace Slughorn
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Horace Slughorn is a Slytherin wizard who was the Potions Master at Hogwarts during Harry Potter’s sixth year.

Slughorn was an accomplished Potions Master and he had a gift for picking out talented students. He took Snape under his wing and helped him to become the potions genius he is today. He also tutored a young Tom Riddle, though he was unaware of the darkness that lurked inside the boy.

However, Slughorn was also a bit of a glory-seeker and he loved nothing more than to boast about his famous students. This is how Harry came to possess one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, as Slughorn unwittingly told Harry about them.

In the end, Slughorn became a vital member of Dumbledore’s army and he helped to defeat Voldemort once and for all.

Dolores Umbridge

Dolores Umbridge
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Arguably the most hated character in the entire Harry Potter series, Dolores Umbridge is a Slytherin witch who rose to power during the Second Wizarding War.

Umbridge was a small, mousy woman with a sickeningly sweet voice. She was also incredibly cruel and she loved nothing more than to inflict pain on others. She’s literally the type of person who’s so easy to hate – I certainly hated her throughout the series. During her time as Headmistress of Hogwarts, she instituted many draconian rules and she tortured students who disobeyed her.

Although she wasn’t a Death Eater and her cruelty was purely a lust for power, she still embodied many of the qualities and traits that make a dark wizard and ultimately, a very power-hungry Slytherin.

In my opinion, she is the worst of all the Harry Potter characters. She’s cruel, malevolent, but pretends to be sickly sweet – yuk!

Phineas Black

Phineas Nigellus Black was a pure-blood wizard who served as the Headmaster of Hogwarts during the late 1800s. He was also a member of the Wizengamot and the Minister for Magic.

Black was a very ambitious man and he strived to be the best at everything he did. He was an accomplished Duellist and he was also a very talented politician. He was a Slytherin through and through and he was definitely not someone to be messed with.

Black was also a bit of a womanizer and he fathered many illegitimate children. One of his most famous descendants is Sirius Black, who became one of the most wanted criminals in Wizarding history.

During the Order of the Phoenix, a portrait of Phineas that hung in the Headmaster’s office at Hogwarts and used as a valuable way to communicate with the members of the Order in Grimmauld Place.

Merlin

Merlin

Last but not least, Merlin, the acclaimed source, was actually a Slytherin. The most famous wizard of all time, Merlin was a master of magic and he accomplished many great things during his lifetime.

I find it a little bizarre that Merlin, one of the greatest wizards of all time and the wizard that appears in legends alongside King Arthur was actually a Slytherin. But, I’m guessing he was one of the good ones and not particularly evil!

He was also a bit of a rebel and he didn’t always follow the rules. He believed in using magic for the greater good, regardless of what others might think. This is one of the qualities that make Slytherins so great.

Merlin was also a very powerful wizard and he was able to defeat many Dark Wizards during his lifetime. He is still revered to this day as one of the most accomplished and powerful wizards of all time.

The Famous Locket of Slytherin

Locket of Slytherin
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While Gryffindor has his sword and Ravenclaw has her diadem, Slytherin has his locket. Slytherin’s Locket was a piece of jewelry that Salazar Slytherin once owned, which later became an heirloom for his descendants. This locket was passed down through the generations of Slytherins and it was said to be incredibly powerful.

The locket was made of solid gold and had a snake-shaped S in sparkling green stone inlay on the front. Furthermore, Slytherin enchanted the locket so that only a Parselmouth, like himself, could open it. When Slytherin left Hogwarts, he took the locket with him.

The locket eventually came into possession of the Gaunt family, and then later, it was stolen by a young Tom Riddle who turned it into his third Horcrux. The Horcrux was destroyed by Ron Weasley using the sword of Gryffindor laced with Basilisk venom.

In my opinion, I think the locket was actually rather pretty. Of course, it’s a shame what it went on to become, but this is another great example of how Voldemort takes nice things and poisons them.

The Chamber of Secrets

The Chamber of Secrets

Although Slytherin took his locket, when he left Hogwarts, he left something much larger behind at the school. This something was also slightly more problematic – the Chamber of Secrets.

This Chamber was a secret room that Slytherin built beneath the school, which could only be opened by Parseltongue. It was said to be a place where Slytherin would house his “true” heirs – those with the magical ability and pure-blood heritage.

I personally find it mad that Slytherin was able to build such a chamber within a school without any of the other greatest witches and wizards of the age finding out. I’m guessing this is another example of Slytherins being exceptionally cunning and able to achieve anything they want if the truly put their minds to it.

The Chamber of Secrets remained hidden for centuries until it was opened by Tom Riddle in 1943. Riddle attempted to use the chamber to rid the school of muggle borns, and nearly succeeded. He killed Myrtle Warren, a muggle-born girl, and petrified several others.

After the murder, with Hogwarts facing closure, Riddle framed Hagrid and Aragog to ensure the school remained open. He then sealed the chamber again, and it remained sealed for 50 years until another Horcrux, Tom Riddle’s diary, returned to the school.

The diary possessed Ginny Weasley, who opened the Chamber and released the Basilisk. The Basilisk proceeded to petrify more students, but luckily, this time nobody was killed. Harry was able to destroy both the diary and the Basilisk, and the Chamber of Secrets was once again sealed.

Fortunately, the Chamber has remained sealed ever since. Even so, the Chamber of Secrets is still one of the most famous parts of Slytherin legend and it continues to fascinate students at Hogwarts to this day

Where is Slytherin’s Common Room?

Slytherin Common Room

The Slytherin common room is located in the basement of Hogwarts castle, behind a green door with a snake knocker. In order to enter, one must tap the snake knocker three times and say the password.

The common room is quite spacious and it has high ceilings. It is decorated with dark green walls and there are several comfortable-looking armchairs and couches. There is also a large fireplace with a green marble mantelpiece.

The Slytherin dormitories are located upstairs and they are said to be very comfortable. The beds have green silk sheets and the walls are covered in dark green velvet.

What are Some Facts About Slytherin?

Slytherin Crest
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Let’s have a look at some facts about Slytherin now that we’ve looked at some of the traits that make a genuine Slytherin and several of the greatest Slytherin throughout history:

  • Slytherin is one of the four Houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Salazar Slytherin.
  • Slytherins are known for being ambitious, cunning, resourceful, and achievement-oriented.
  • The emblematic animal of Slytherin House is the snake which both Salazar Slytherin and Lord Voldemort were associated with. It also symbolizes Slytherin’s ability to speak to snakes.
  • The password for Slytherin common room changes every fortnight.
  • Slytherin’s colors are green and silver which represent the house’s two values: ambition and wealth.
  • Slytherin’s element is water which is associated with the qualities of emotion, intuition, and wisdom.

My Thoughts on Slytherin

I don’t believe that Slytherins are bad people. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious and nothing wrong with chasing your goals – it’s when your ambition gets to your head and you become more focused on those goals than how you affect and treat those around you that this trait becomes a problem.  I also think that being hungry for power isn’t particularly a good thing – there’s nothing wrong with being a natural leader, but chasing power just to feel powerful is a different story.

I also believe that Slytherins have a bad reputation because of the number of witches and wizards that go bad that are from Slytherin. Yes, there are a lot of dark wizards that originated in Slytherin, but Peterpettigrw was a cowardly traitor and he was a Gryffindor. Professor Quirrell was possessed by Lord Voldemort and he was a Ravenclaw. Then, both Snape and Slughorn were Slytherins that turned out to be very good men (admittedly Snape wasn’t always, but he chose the right path in the end). And Harry’s son actually ends up being sorted into Slytherin and he wasn’t a bad wizard. Therefore, I don’t think your house dictates what you turn out to be – I think your own personal choices do.

The Ultimate Guide to Slytherin Q and A:

Question: How do I Become a Slytherin?

Answer: If you want to become a Slytherin, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances. First, try to display some of the qualities that are traditionally associated with Slytherins such as ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. You will then need to be sorted into Slytherin by the Sorting Hat.

Question: Do I Have to be Evil to be a Slytherin?

Answer: No, you don’t have to be evil to be a Slytherin. While many Slytherins do tend to be ambitious and cunning, not all of them are evil. In fact, there are many famous Slytherins who have done great things.

Question: What are the Most Valued Traits of a Slytherin?

Answer: Some of the most valued traits of a Slytherin are ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. Slytherins are also known for being achievement-oriented and they value wealth and power.

Question: Can a Slytherin Marry a Hufflepuff?

Answer: Yes, a Slytherin can marry a Hufflepuff. Although not all Hufflepuffs are kind, gentle Hufflepuff could perhaps seem like an odd fit with sly Slytherin. However, these two might get along just fine. In fact, many Slytherins end up marrying Hufflepuffs because they share some similar values such as loyalty and hard work. Plus, opposites attract, right?

Question: Are Slytherins Loyal?

Answer: Yes, Slytherins are known for being a rather loyal house. Slytherins are often very loyal to their family, friends, and House. They are also known for being ambitious and achieving their goals.

Question: What are the Negative Qualities of Slytherin?

Answer: Slytherin’s negative qualities include arrogance, ambition, and sometimes a lack of empathy. Slytherins can also be seen as power-hungry and they often crave wealth and success.

Question: What are the Positive Qualities of Slytherin?

Answer: Slytherin’s positive qualities include ambition and resourcefulness. Slytherins strive towards their goals and are also known for being achievement-oriented and they value wealth and power.

Conclusion

Overall, Slytherin is a great house for those who are ambitious, resourceful, and cunning. But I feel that Slytherins are often misunderstood. They are not all bad people, but they do have a tendency to come across as power-hungry. However, there are many Slytherins who have gone on to do great things.

If you are looking to achieve your goals and value wealth and power, then I think that Slytherin is the perfect house for you. So, don’t be afraid to embrace your inner Slytherin.

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