Wizarding World™ Explore this collection of original writing by J.K. Rowling to learn more about the differences between the wizarding and the Muggle worlds.

You probably know that some of Slytherin’s most renowned members include Severus Snape and Bellatrix Lestrange. But did you know Merlin himself was a Slytherin, or that according to legend, the ribbon of a First Class Order of Merlin is green to reflect his Hogwarts house?

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3125734526 Slytherin was one of the four Hogwarts houses and was characterised by its silver and green colours and serpent emblem. The Slytherin common room was located in the castle's dungeons. Founded by Salazar Slytherin, the students sent to Slytherin were representative of his preference for characters defined by cunning, pride and ambition. Alas, Salazar's anti-Muggle stance and belief that Hogwarts should be for pure-blooded students only gave the house a poor reputation. Suspicions about the house's connections to the Dark Arts were hard to dispel, particularly as it was the house of Lord Voldemort and boasted a number of Death Eaters and their children. However, Slytherin had a lot of members that contradicted this reputation. For instance, renowned wizard Merlin reigned from Slytherin, and some of the future generations, such as Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius, proved that you could be a Slytherin and still be kind.

Originally posted by Description:

"The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in carved chairs."

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3126558066

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3126380466 Who was he?
A hot-tempered sort of fellow, who was responsible for the death of the Grey Lady, aka Helena Ravenclaw. In his living days, he was simply known as The Baron. It was only at the point of his death that the ‘bloody’ part of his name was added in. And for good reason.

How did he die?
Head over heels in love with Helena Ravenclaw, The Baron murdered her out of anger when Helena refused to return home with him. After stabbing her fatally, he was so remorseful, he used the same weapon to take his own life.

A frightfully interesting fact
The Bloody Baron’s chains were an ‘act of penitence’ for what he did to Helena.

By J.K. Rowling

Congratulations! I’m Prefect Gemma Farley, and I’m delighted to welcome you to SLYTHERIN HOUSE. Our emblem is the serpent, the wisest of creatures; our house colours are emerald green and silver, and our common room lies behind a concealed entrance down in the dungeons. As you’ll see, its windows look out into the depths of the Hogwarts lake. We often see the giant squid swooshing by – and sometimes more interesting creatures. We like to feel that our hangout has the aura of a mysterious, underwater shipwreck.

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.

Originally posted by The Sorting Hat:

Or perhaps in Slytherin, You’ll make your real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends.

⠀⠀       ⠀⠀       ⠀⠀       ⠀⠀       ⠀⠀       ⠀⠀       ⠀⠀ Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2829905846
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2579350479 https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2578982484 https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2578868095 https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1809666039 https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1509215265