BEDJ 12: Those Cunning Folk Use Any Means to Achieve Their Ends

Surprisingly, I haven't put much thought into which house at Hogwarts I would be sorted into. When I first read the books, I assumed I find myself in Gryffindor, and didn't really think twice about it. I didn't actually have any reasons, I didn't spend hours analyzing my own personality, I just thought that's where I'd like to be. When I discovered the world of fanfiction and started writing my own, I became to slowly grow an appreciation for the Slytherin House, until I ultimately decided, if given a choice by the Sorting Hat, I would chose Slytherin.

Which has caused quite the uproar among my online friends. “No, Justin,” they say with confidence, “you would be in Hufflepuff.” (Which, according to several online Hogwarts tests, is true. I suppose I'll only know this for sure when Pottermore arrives on scene, and JK Rowling's sorting test takes me where I'm supposed to go.)

One might say I don't have the classic Slytherin traits of a pompous and self-important attitude, manipulation, and evilness, but that's exactly the the presumption of the House of the Snake that leads to such a negative outlook toward Slytherin. Those are not the qualities that Slytherin possesses no more than Gryffindor possesses dimwits, Ravenclaw possesses lack of common sense, and Hufflepuff possesses the socially inept.

The real qualities of the Slytherin House - cunning, ambition and resourcefulness - are easily turned towards ill purposes, but are not inherently negative. These qualities attract an array of students who are susceptible to a destructive life. Obviously, in the Wizarding World, the majority of dark wizards come from Slytherin, but saying all Slytherin are evil is like saying all black people go to jail. Possessing ambition as a core quality results in a disproportionate amount of competitive, sometimes self-important, students.

Furthermore, the qualities in each of the Hogwarts Houses can lead a student down a negative path as well. The daring of the Gryffindor House can easily lead to recklessness and arrogance. The intelligence of the Ravenclaw House can easily lead to egoism and close-mindness; and the loyalty of the Hufflepuff House can create blind and irresponsible devotion.

I realize that what I'm about to say is Hufflepuff through and through, but I would chose Slytherin because I want to change the way Slytherins are viewed. We love this story about Harry Potter, and for seven books, we are taught that it shouldn't matter whether you're Muggle-born of Pureblood. How can a prejudice as big as magical blood be expected to change if one as small as which Hogwarts house you're in can't do the same?


If it's always the rest of Hogwarts versus Slytherin, that's what helps facilitate darkness.


What House do you think I'd be in and why? What House do you think you'd be in and why?
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#EEDJ: I missed yesterday because my day literally just consisted of me buying a new car, working, and making my dinner before I went to bed. Today, I jogged a full half mile without stopping, so I was proud of myself for this.
          : 2 miles (.5 mile jog, 1.5 mile walk)
#VEDJ: granola bar
           : Meatless ravioli
           : Pierogi with ketchup
           : a glass of orange juice
           : two bottles of water, three glasses and counting
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This will likely be the first of several #BEDposts in which I talk about Harry Potter this week. Prepare for "Why I think Albus Severus Potter Will Be Sorted Into Slytherin" tomorrow.

Also, this is my new car. She doesn't have a name yet though.

Sexy