Slytherin valued ambition, leadership, self-preservation, cunning and resourcefulness and was founded by Salazar Slytherin. Its emblematic animal was the serpent, its representative gemstone was emeralds, and its colours were emerald green and silver.
However, just because nearly all bad wizards are Slytherins doesn't mean all Slytherins are bad wizards. Severus Snape, Horace Slughorn, Andromeda Tonks, Narcissa Malfoy and Regulus Black were all Slytherin heroes in their own way, if you think about it. And Merlin – as in, yes, King Arthur's advisor and the most famous wizard in history – was a Slytherin.
In The Chamber of Secrets, Harry placed the Sorting Hat back over his ears when he found it in Dumbledore's office. "You were particularly difficult to place," the Hat reminds him. "But I stand by what I said last year: You would have done well in Slytherin."
All of this suggests that Gryffindor and Slytherin have a lot in common.
Are you Gryffindor? Are you Hufflepuff? Are you Slytherin? Are you Ravenclaw? After doing this quiz, you will get the answer.
You may want to learn about the history of Hogwarts, as well as the characteristics of the four houses. The Sorting Hat explains the difference between the four houses in the ballad.
Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by four powerful wizards: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. They chose to split the students into four 'houses'. Godric Gryffindor used his Sorting Hat to decide which children should go into which house.
"You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart."
"You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil."
"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw
If you've a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind."
"Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends."
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife When first they came to light. For each of the four founders had A House in which they might Take only those they wanted...