Welcome to Slytherin

*SPOILER ALERT! This post contains images and information about my experience in Pottermore. So, if you don't want to know anything because you want to experience it all yourself, then now is the time to STOP READING THIS.
Still reading? Then I guess you don't mind, and so, feel free to read and enjoy! ^_^




While reading all of the Harry Potter books, I never really gave much thought about where I would be placed if I was asked to put on the Sorting Hat. I only started to think about it when Pottermore came out and people were declaring what House they wanted to be in or what the expected to end up in.


So when I was asked about what House I expected to be in, I was stumped. I had never tried those online Sorting quizzes before. I also thought that there was a little of me in almost all the Houses, so to say that one trait was more prominent than the other was very hard for me to do.

When I asked around, some people said they expected me to be in Ravenclaw because I was studious and loved Math (F.Y.I: I am an math teacher).


When I tried one of the online Sorting quizzes, it said that I was to be in Gryffindor.


When I tried to think of where I wanted to go, I thought it would be interesting to be in Hufflepuff since I was curious to know more about their history.


When I finally got into Pottermore and took the Sorting Hat, what greeted me was...

Slytherin Welcome Message

Honestly, I was quite surprised as my Pottermore Gateway was now filled with the color green since I was starting to think that I might end up in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. But while I was surprised, I was also very pleased because this meant that my magical journey was going to be unpredictable and that it would, in a way, let me discover more things about myself. 


I tried to recall the questions the Sorting Hat gave and my answers to figure out how the Sorting Hat placed me in Slytherin. Here's what I got: (I wasn't able to take note of the exact question since I was in an overly excited state of mind, so some of the questions may be different from how they were asked during the Sorting Ceremony.)


1. Would you rather invent a potion that would give you...


My answer was Love. At first I was considering wisdom, since I did love to learn new things (which my siblings find annoying). But then I realized, that if I were to pick a potion, I should choose one that would give me something that I found difficult to come across by my own means. And while I did value wisdom, what I honestly have been wanting for my future is to find love. I won't get mushy here and explain why, but I guess this answer also showed my desire to have true friends, and of course, a true partner in life.


2. Four boxes are placed before you. Which do you open?


My choice was the ornate golden casket, standing on clawed feet, whose inscription warms that both secret knowledge and unbearable temptation lie within. While I was curious about the stone chest with Merlin's name on it, and with the chest that had a warning on it  like "I only open for the worthy", in this part I tried to imagine what I would really do in that situation. Knowing myself, I would end up being practical and choose the gold chest since no matter what was in it, the chest itself would already have some value. What if it wasn't real gold? Well, at least the chest was pretty enough to keep or put on display at home. At the same time,  I love secrets since I like the idea of knowing something others do not know, despite whatever temptation that may come with it. 



3.You are walking and come to a crossroads. Which path do you take?


I would choose the castle. Once again, in answering this question I was really honest and practical. If I were traveling alone, I would NEVER go into the forest if I had a choice. Heck, even if I did have company I wouldn't let them take me in there unless it was a do or die situation. And between the seaside/beach and the castle, I would most definitely choose the castle. If I were traveling alone, I would be craving for company and the place where I would be sure to get it would not be by the seaside (unless I wanted to talk to the fish). I would also be looking for food and shelter, and the easiest place to find them would be in the castle. 


4. What are you most looking forward to learning at Hogwarts?


I really want to explore and find out the secrets of the castle. Like Fred and George, I want to know the secret passages and rooms of the castle. I was hoping that we would be able to do this on Pottermore. This is the one question that I think my answer points me more to Gryffindor since I would have to be brave enough to break some rules to really be able to discover the castles secrets.



5. Left or Right?


I have always been partially biased to the right since I was a little girl. For some weird reason, I always considered my right hand or feet as the best, may be because I am right-handed. Of course, my reason for this one is quite hilarious, but who said our answers had to make sense? 


6. If asked to choose amongst items in a treasure box, which would you choose? 


I was torn between an ornate mirror and a jewel, the mirror because I am quite vain, and the jewel because I am a woman who appreciates jewelry. Which of the two won? My being a woman won and I chose the jewel. I would be the perfect accessory, and of course, if I am ever in a tight spot, I could always use it to buy my way out. 


7. Which do you find most difficult to deal with?


Once again, I was torn between being ignored and loneliness. Being ignored did sound bad, but then I realized that I never had that problem before since I knew that I still had my friends. I'm sure not everyone I meet likes me, but I never worried about what I'd do if they didn't notice me since I didn't need to gain a lot of friends. What I worried about the most is about not being able to find true friends who would provide me security, trust, and peace of mind. And so, I chose the answer of loneliness. I could be surrounded by so many people, but I would feel lonely if not even one of these people knew who I really was. 




So after looking at these questions and my answers, I realize that I do belong in Slytherin because I truly value friendship and companionship. And second to that my choices reveal that I am a very practical person and I try to make choices that will provide me means to best get to an end. 


Having read the welcome message of Slytherin also increased my interest in the House. It provided with information I never knew about Slytherin, and again, pleasantly surprised me. 


For those who are curious, here is the rest of the welcome message:

Now, there are a few things you should know about Slytherin – and a few you should forget.

Firstly, let’s dispel a few myths. You might have heard rumours about Slytherin house – that we’re all into the Dark Arts, and will only talk to you if your great-grandfather was a famous wizard, and rubbish like that. Well, you don’t want to believe everything you hear from competing houses. I’m not denying that we’ve produced our share of Dark wizards, but so have the other three houses – they just don’t like admitting it. And yes, we have traditionally tended to take students who come from long lines of witches and wizards, but nowadays you’ll find plenty of people in Slytherin house who have at least one Muggle parent.

Here’s a little-known fact that the other three houses don’t bring up much: Merlin was a Slytherin. Yes, Merlin himself, the most famous wizard in history! He learned all he knew in this very house! Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Merlin? Or would you rather sit at the old desk of that illustrious ex-Hufflepuff, Eglantine Puffett, inventor of the Self-Soaping Dishcloth?
I didn’t think so.
But that’s enough about what we’re not. Let’s talk about what we are, which is the coolest and edgiest house in this school. We play to win, because we care about the honour and traditions of Slytherin.
We also get respect from our fellow students. Yes, some of that respect might be tinged with fear, because of our Dark reputation, but you know what? It can be fun, having a reputation for walking on the wild side. Chuck out a few hints that you’ve got access to a whole library of curses, and see whether anyone feels like nicking your pencil case.
But we’re not bad people. We’re like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood.

For instance, we Slytherins look after our own – which is more than you can say for Ravenclaw. Apart from being the biggest bunch of swots you ever met, Ravenclaws are famous for clambering over each other to get good marks, whereas we Slytherins are brothers. The corridors of Hogwarts can throw up surprises for the unwary, and you’ll be glad you’ve got the Serpents on your side as you move around the school. As far as we’re concerned, once you’ve become a snake, you’re one of ours – one of the elite.
Because you know what Salazar Slytherin looked for in his chosen students? The seeds of greatness. You’ve been chosen by this house because you’ve got the potential to be great, in the true sense of the word. All right, you might see a couple of people hanging around the common room whom you might not think are destined for anything special. Well, keep that to yourself. If the Sorting Hat put them in here, there’s something great about them, and don’t you forget it.

And talking of people who aren’t destined for greatness, I haven’t mentioned the Gryffindors. Now, a lot of people say that Slytherins and Gryffindors represent two sides of the same coin. Personally, I think Gryffindors are nothing more than wannabe Slytherins. Mind you, some people say that Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor prized the same kinds of students, so perhaps we are more similar than we like to think. But that doesn’t mean that we cosy up with Gryffindors. They like beating us only slightly less than we like beating them.

A few more things you might need to know: our house ghost is the Bloody Baron. If you get on the right side of him he’ll sometimes agree to frighten people for you. Just don’t ask him how he got bloodstained; he doesn’t like it.

The password to the common room changes every fortnight. Keep an eye on the noticeboard. Never bring anyone from another house into our common room or tell them our password. No outsider has entered it for more than seven centuries.

Well, I think that’s all for now. I’m sure you’ll like our dormitories. We sleep in ancient four-posters with green silk hangings, and bedspreads embroidered with silver thread. Medieval tapestries depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins cover the walls, and silver lanterns hang from the ceilings. You’ll sleep well; it’s very soothing, listening to the lake water lapping against the windows at night.

LET'S GO SLYTHERIN!