Slytherin

by Shayaan Sayeed | Opinion Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCREENRANT.COM

Some may call us cunning and cruel but without Slytherin, Hogwarts would lose its sharpest and fiercest leaders. Founded by Salazar Slytherin, and led by Severus Snape, it is a house of loyalty, and protecting legacies. 

Slytherin is not a house reserved for pure bloods, but we hold strong historical connections to the idea of wizard purity, a view shaped by our founder’s belief that pure-blooded wizards should be admitted to school, due to distrustful muggles. How can you trust those who once hunted your kind?

We Slytherins are the most loyal of all the houses, presenting our faith and devotion to those we serve, and the importance of having our family be by our side. We carry ourselves with confidence and pride, we know our worth and do not have to hide behind curtains to escape from a fight, we are in the frontlines. 

Our charming and magnetic auras make us natural leaders and strategists, so in simple words you need us on your side if you want to win. 

Bravery is cute, until it gets you killed. These may be some notes for Gryffindors, who charge first and think later. You think you are bold fighters, but let us try not to be the problem in the first place, shall we? 

Ravenclaws, you can do what you do best, keep reading about greatness, and let us live it. All that time in the library may be affecting your posture. And how can I forget Hufflepuff, oh well, we just did. 

We do not need to prove we are the best, it is written in history. We have been misunderstood, but while you were talking, we had already acted. And just like our emblem, a snake, we are sleek, cunning and powerful.

Gryffindor

by Ibuki Hinohara | Photo Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCREENRANT.COM

Gryffindor is not the loudest house. It is the house that moves first when it matters.

Courage sounds dramatic in stories, but on campus, it looks ordinary. It shows up when a roommate needs help at midnight. It is saying no to hazing even when friends say yes. It is asking the hard question in an interview and listening for the real answer. As a student journalist and photo editor, I run toward the moment, not away from it. That instinct—to step forward—is Gryffindor.

Other houses have real strengths. Ravenclaw brings sharp thinking. Hufflepuff brings steady loyalty. Slytherin brings drive. But courage is the hinge that lets every other virtue open. Brains are useful, but they change the world only when someone is willing to act on them. Loyalty is beautiful, but it means most when you stand up for someone in public. Ambition can build big things, but it becomes leadership only when you take risks for others, not just yourself.

It is the organizer who keeps calling until the community shows up. It is the reporter who covers the tough story fairly and the photographer who stays in the rain until the picture tells the truth. It is the courage that does not falter even when faced with fear.

Bravery is not recklessness. It is a responsibility with a heartbeat. It is choosing to do the right thing when it is not convenient, not popular, and not guaranteed to work. That choice builds trust, and trust builds community.

If our campus needs anything, it is more people willing to step forward. That courage to step forward is why Gryffindor is the best house. Not because it is perfect, but because it is willing.

Hufflepuff

by Allie Carson | News Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCREENRANT.COM

Everyone has their favorite Hogwarts House. Sure, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Ravenclaw have their fans and members, but nothing beats being a Hufflepuff. 

If you’re unfamiliar with the often overlooked badger house, we are hardworking, loyal, patient, honest and friendly. We are known for producing the fewest dark wizards, as our strong sense of duty keeps us good-natured. 

Our loyalty to friends and principles is why we had the second most students, next to Gryffindor, fight the Battle of Hogwarts. We are also the most inclusive house. Everyone is welcome since we don’t require specific qualities like the other three. 

We’re also able to fly under the radar because we’re often overlooked, unlike the other houses. Gryffindor gets the chosen ones, Slytherin creates the most dark wizards, and Ravenclaws are expected to excel in every class. 

While the other three houses are endlessly scrutinized, we Puffs get to quietly thrive.  

Hufflepuff also has the most spin-offs about them. Newt Scamander, the protagonist of the Harry Potter spin-off prequels “Fantastic Beasts” is a Hufflepuff. There is also an Off-Broadway play centered around what the Hufflepuffs, or “Puffs” as the show is titled, did during Harry’s seven years at Hogwarts.

We’re still super powerful. We just don’t boast about it, something exemplified in every Hufflepuff shown in Harry Potter spin-offs. 

Hufflepuff is the best house because while we may be overlooked, we have the most important traits out of all the houses. Being brave, smart and cunning matter, but without the heart of a Hufflepuff, what are they really worth?

Ravenclaw

by Ella Dobson | Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCREENRANT.COM

If it must resort to a competition, then Ravenclaw is simply the best Hogwarts house. Who wouldn’t want to be in the house created for people with the most intelligence, wit, and cunning? There’s nothing better than being known for your intellect and being the first person people turn to for a solution. 

There’s more to wizardry than magic, and the Ravenclaw creed fully embraces this. We strive to lead with wisdom, curiosity, and acceptance. We may not be as kind as a Hufflepuff or as brave as a Gryffindor, but we would certainly sacrifice for our loved ones and make the right choice to protect everyone.

If you still need more proof of the brilliance that Ravenclaw produces, look toward some of the most influential people in the wizarding world.

Garrick Ollivander produces the finest wands the world has ever seen. 

Professor Flitwick is an obvious choice as our headmaster, but he is also gifted in charmwork and an accomplished dueling champion. 

Millicent Bagnold was a popular Minister for Magic and a Ravenclaw alumna. 

Of course, we cannot forget our very own Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood, exceptional wizards in their own right. They are the shining lights of the Ravenclaw House.

Perhaps a more secretive aspect of Ravenclaw greatness is our dormitory. We boast a beautiful and cozy common room, perfect for a pre-essay nap or an intense study session. Ravenclaw Tower is an iconic Hogwarts monument from where you can see the most breathtaking views from atop the terrace. 

It should be quite easy to see that Ravenclaw is the superior house. We are dedicated to greatness, both in and out of the classroom. Besides, who doesn’t look good in blue?

Categories: Opinion