Everyone is a Hogwarts House
What House are you in?
Let’s start this out with full disclosure. I am a Slytherin Ravenclaw. That means that I am principally a Slytherin, but with Ravenclaw inclinations. I like to think that the hat would have wanted to put my in Slytherin, but that I may have asked to be in Ravenclaw instead. I guess we’ll never know.
How do I know that I am a Slytherin Ravenclaw? Well I’m not particularly brave or honorable, which rules out Gryffindor. And I’m only very specifically nice, loyal to a handful, and patient only when I’m faking. No one would confuse me with a Hufflepuff.
I am, however, ambitious, cunning, and resourceful. I am smart, logical, and witty. I am also selfish and not ashamed to admit it. I am judgmental, especially of those I consider to be lacking in logical process. I will take the last piece of pie. I would also do absolutely anything for my few close friends and immediate family.
That makes me a Slytherin Ravenclaw
The Two-House System
Naming me just a Slytherin or just a Ravenclaw would not be sufficient. People just don’t fit into boxes that easily. By opening it up and looking at primary and secondary houses, you open it up from 4 options to 16.
No one is just smart. Or just friendly. You can’t be brave in a vacuum. No one has ever been just selfish and nothing else. Isn’t that what Divergent taught us? (If you read all the way to the agonizing end.)
And here comes my main thesis: Every single person on the face of this world fits into the two-house system.
I’m not a psychologist, or a sociologist. I don’t study personality or populations.
But I take a lot of personality tests. And I’ve talked to a lot of people about it. That makes this legit, right?
The Houses
I’m going to start out by talking about each of the Hogwarts houses- general personality traits, characteristics, etc. As a first, very general test of personality, I’ll have you make a note of these characteristics and count how many you identify with for each section. I encourage you to really be honest with yourself here (even if honesty doesn’t come naturally to you.)
No one else has to know what traits you identify with, or which you don’t. At the end, the Houses with the two highest number of traits you identify with will give you a good idea of what your primary and secondary Houses are. Try to not let any prior knowledge of the Houses affect your decisions.
And don’t forget the negative traits for each House. Those are important too.
Everyone Wants to be Gryffindor
Ironically, while this is a blog about Hogwarts, I am going to go ahead and say the Harry Potter books and movies have some serious problems and that we can ignore almost everything we read and watched there. Gasp. I know. It’s basically blasphemy. But it’s also true.
For one, Harry Potter is overwhelmingly biased towards Gryffindor. How can it not be- all three of the main characters, and most of the secondary good guys, are from this one house. So naturally, impressional kids read/watch it and want to also be a Gryffindor. This kind of bias is why I believe in the Hogwarts House system, though not so much in the HP books themselves.
Anyways, Gryffindor primary traits are:
- Brave
- Daring
- Nerves of steel
- Polite
- Honorable
- Strong willed
- Spontaneous
- Easily excited
- Passionate
- Risk Accepting
Negative Gryffindor traits include:
- Reckless
- Impatient
- Thoughtless
- Stubborn
- Judgmental of those who don’t make the right choices
Gryffindors are the ones who “do the right thing”. They are the ones who stand up to the bullies on behalf of others. They’re the heroes, the protectors, and the activists. They’re the huggers and the shouters. They’re the friends you call when you want an adventure.
Gryffindors are also the ones who bask in the glory of being so good. They’ll follow the rules, morals, code and judge you for not quite being as good as they are. They make decisions without thinking things through and can be considered reckless.
If you identify with many or all of these character qualities, then congratulations! There’s a good chance you actually are a Gryffindor!
And if you don’t, then never fear; there are three other perfectly acceptable houses to find yourself in.
No One Wants to be a Hufflepuff
With the exception of Slytherin, which I’ll talk about at the end, Hufflepuff really gets a bad rep from the HP books and movies. When they’re mentioned at all, they’re made to seem boring and stupid. That, of course, is not at all accurate.
True Hufflepuffs are:
- Friendly
- Patient
- Generous
- Kind
- Tolerant
- Fair
- Peaceful
- Cheerful
- Optimistic
- Honest
Negative Hufflepuff traits would be:
- Naive
- Passive
- People-pleasing
- Inefficient
- Easily taken advantage of
Hufflepuffs make for good company and the best friends. They aren’t judgmental and will let you be who you are. They’re the ones who go out of their way to ask how you are doing and always remember your mom’s name. If you need to cry with someone, do it with a Hufflepuff. If you need a ride to the airport, money for your phone bill, or a place to stay the night, ask a Hufflepuff.
Hufflepuffs can be naive and don’t care so much about being right as about making sure everyone is happy. They can be walked over and can be dismissed as being simple or boring, when in reality they’re just trying to be who they think you want them to be.
If you find yourself identifying with these characteristics, then you are a Hufflepuff, and should be proud of it.
Who are the Ravenclaws Anyways
The Ravenclaws really suffer from a one-dimensional characterization in the HP books. I think the only Ravenclaw we really get to know throughout the whole shebang is Luna and…well we all know Luna. The others are just seen as serious, studious people who don’t really get involved in anything.
My goal here is help you get to know Ravenclaws a little more and broaden out the scope of their House. No one is just intelligent, after all.
Ravenclaw characteristics are:
- Intelligent
- Logical
- Perceptive
- Clever
- Creative
- Individual
- Original
- Curious
- Problem Solving
- Inventive
Negative Ravenclaw traits are:
- Perfectionist
- Competitive
- Judgmental of those who aren’t logical
- Cold
- Strict
Ravenclaws think things through and make plans, lists, and strategies. Ravenclaws work effectively and efficiently towards their goals, and always seek to know more. They don’t see problems, they see opportunities for solutions. They’re your scientists, scholars, and the kind of people who write books about Hogwarts Houses.
Ravenclaws are also perfectionists. They’re the ones looking down on you for your lack of logic. In emergency situations, Ravenclaws can either go the direction where they freeze in the face of actual action, stuck in the theory and logic. Either that, or they are efficient and effective to the point of being emotionless machines.
At least one of your Houses is Ravenclaw if you find yourself in these traits.
Now to Address the Slytherin in the Room
No one gets a worse reputation than Slytherin in the HP books. As a proud Slytherin (are there any other kind?), I have to disagree with the majority of the lore out there about my House. Just as the other houses are not one-dimensional, the Slytherin House is not just pure evil.
Slytherin Characteristics:
- Ambitious
- Resourceful
- Determined
- Cunning
- Loyal to a few
- Self-preserving
- Do-what-needs-to-get-done
- Proud
- Shrewd
- High self-esteem
Negative Slytherin personalities include:
- Selfish
- Manipulative
- Short-tempered
- Judgmental of those not worthy of their love
- Uncaring of those outside their circle of friends and family
Slytherins don’t care so much about the rules, though they do follow their own personal moral code, whichever way that points. They are the most loyal of friends, willing to do anything to save, help, or promote themselves and their community.
Yes, Slytherins are selfish. They delight in getting their way and don’t worry so much about the feelings of those not considered their friends. They can be a bit exclusive, in that they won’t accept just anyone into their inner circle. If you’re in, then you will be taken care of, and if you’re out, then they couldn’t give a crap about you. And just because you’re in, doesn’t mean it’s forever. Stab a Slytherin in the back and you will never be forgiven.
If you are starting to think that you may be a Slytherin, there is nothing to be ashamed about. It absolutely does not mean you are evil (just look at me).
Your initial sorting
Congrats, you know have a very good idea of which Houses you are in. If you identified with only a few characteristics in each House, then you might be too narrow in your judgement. If you tied between Houses, then think about who you are on the inside, when you’re not with your friends to see if it makes a difference.
Some people might find that they are overwhelmingly one House, with only a small influence of another. Others may find that they are pretty evenly divided between two. Some people are one House sometimes and another House during others. And the rest are pure blends of their two Houses.
Anything and all is accepted. This is not something to base your next relationship on. It’s not necessarily static.
I believe, and will continue to believe, that everyone fits into two Hogwarts Houses. Which are yours?

