#AtoZChallenge @AprilAtoZ #HarryPotter – G is for Gryffindor

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One of the most memorable moments in the first book, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone is the sorting ceremony. In fact, it is possibly the most memorable for any first year, and whenever the sorting is shown, there’s also the eagerness to know which of the four houses you are placed in. The fun part of the sorting ceremony is that it doesn’t involve wrestling a troll, as Fred told when pulling Ron’s leg, but that you have to place the Hogwarts Sorting Hat on your head and let it look into your mind, before choosing the perfect house for you. Out of the four houses, the two that I thought would suit me best were Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. The bibliophile that I am and the studious geek that I was in my school days, I felt the former would be where I’d end up, but when I became a part of Pottermore, and took the sorting ceremony, to my surprise, the outcome put me in the latter option. One other character I could think of that felt more in tune with Ravenclaw but ended up in Gryffindor is Hermione Granger. I’m in the company of Gryffindor personalities like Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, and Minerva McGonagall etc.

Gryffindor logo/emblem.
Image from Harry Potter Wikia

Each of the four founders of Hogwarts put their choices of the kind of witches and wizards they’d choose for their houses. Courage, chivalry, and determination are what set apart the Gryffindors from the other houses. The emblem of the house is a lion and the colors of red and gold represent the house. Professor McGonagall was the head of Gryffindor House till she became the headmistress of Hogwarts after the Battle of Hogwarts. It makes me wonder who got the position of head of Gryffindor House then. I’d love to think that Hagrid got the position till Neville took over as Professor of Herbology, and then Neville became Head of Gryffindor House. Since there aren’t any details, this is a pure, but pleasing conjecture on my part.

Gryffindor Common Room. Image Source

The Gryffindor Common Room, where the students of the house relax when there are no classes or get together to study, is located in one of the castle’s towers (named as Gryffindor Tower, not surprisingly), and it is guarded by an oil painting of the Fat Lady, a former Gryffindor herself, who is garbed in a pink silk dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct (regularly changing) password. The entrance itself is on the seventh floor of the castle. Only on one occasion is the painting changed, when the knight Sir Cadogan takes over the responsibility in The Prisoner of Azkaban.

One thing that I loved reading in the book was about Godric Gryffindor, the founder of the Gryffindor House and one of the four founders of Hogwarts magically ensuring any worthy Gryffindor who needs help can find his sword. The sword is initially in the headmaster’s chamber, but comes out of the Sorting Hat when Harry needs it in The Chamber of Secrets, is found inside the ice when Ron retrieves it in the last book, and also when Neville is put under the full body bind curse. It showed help is never far away when it’s needed. And made me wonder if the other founders also had similar help thought of for worthy Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and Slytherins should they need it.

The Gryffindors have a healthy and sometimes unhealthy rivalry with the Slytherins, and it is thought the two founders also had a similar rivalry. The rivalry, one on one, can be seen over generations. Godric and Salazar, James Potter and Snape, Harry and Draco… these are some I remember. The fierceness of the rivalry is also seen on the Quidditch field in the matches. Perhaps it is because of the arrogance of the house of Slytherin, the other two houses Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff also generally support Gryffindor. Only when Harry is chosen as a Triwizard champion is a smaller inter-house rivalry seen for a short time.

What house do you think you’d be perfect in? Gryffindor (brave, determined, daring), Ravenclaw (intelligent, witty), Hufflepuff (loyal, hard-working, determined, fair) or Slytherin (ambition, cunning) are the four. The letter H has so many choices in the world of Harry Potter, I’m still wondering what it is. Let’s see what I finally decide on.

How fast time seems to fly by. I remember taking part in the first ever April A to Z Challenge, where for the month of April (except for Sundays) we write on themes around the 26 alphabets. This year marks the 7th Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and my 7th as well. I’ve successfully completed 4 of the 6 years before, so hoping for a fabulous 5th year of blogging success. You can go here if you want to know more about what the challenge is. My theme this year is ‘The World of Harry Potter’.

(© 8th April 2016)

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Poetry & writing to me are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.

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30 thoughts on “#AtoZChallenge @AprilAtoZ #HarryPotter – G is for Gryffindor”

  1. For a short time I was slightly in panic. Did I miss G?! But no, where I live it’s still F-Day and so I hope nobody mind that I couldn’t resist and read your post of Gryffindor. How could I’ve had resisted?!
    I’m not Slytherin or Hufflepuff material. Who wouldn’t love to be in Gryffindor? But the hat might decide that I am a Ravenclaw…

    • Nah. Different time zone. 🙂 I don’t mind you reading my post now itself, Claudia, so most welcome to my blog. 😀

      I’d be happy with Ravenclaw too, but I’m sorted to Gryffindor so delighted. 🙂

  3. I must take the sorting soon. I have always wondered which house I would be in. I had always wanted to be in Gryffindor but now I wouldn’t mind being in Slytherin either 😉 And H for Hogwarts maybe?
    aathira recently posted…G – GangaMy Profile

  4. Ha, I knew you would write about Gryffindor, esp after you were sorted to the house at Pottermore. I’m glad you wrote such an elaborate piece and oh yeah, I would definitely love to see Neville as Prof. of Herbology and pull out Mandrakes after his drastic experience as a student! 🙂

    P.S: I was sorted into Slytherin even though I begged the Sorting Hat not to place me there! :/
    P.P.S: I would want to know what you finally decide on writing on H- Harry? Hogwarts? I know..I know.. Hagrid!! 😀
    Shalini R recently posted…Guns ‘N Roses #AtoZChallengeMy Profile

    • I honestly didn’t think it’d be Gryffindor I’d be writing on, Shalzzz. 🙂 My initial choice was Goblins. Then yes, I remembered Pottermore putting me in Gryffindor, so I wrote about that instead. 😀 Neville did become Prof. of Herbology after he graduated. I was only conjecturing on the Head of Gryffindor part. 😛

      PS: I thought you’d be Hufflepuff. But okay. 😀
      PPS: You’ll find out tonight. 😛

    • Yeah Pixie, other two houses are awesome too. I’m not very fond of Slytherin.

      If the Sorting Hat offered me a choice, I’d choose Ravenclaw. ‘Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure’.

      But I think my choices reflect a Gryffindor, so I’m quite happy being one! 😀

  6. Hi Vinay, being declared as a part of Gryffindor house was such a high for all in the plot and the readers! My son recently started his new session for the next class where they were sorted out based on the subjects they chose….Oh-so-boring-I-tell-you! Which was when I remembered the brilliant Sorting-Hat! Your posts are my come-to-chill ones, a pleasure always! What for H? Hufflepuff…..no you’ve already done the Houses thing, Hermione?
    Kala Ravi recently posted…Going green starts at homeMy Profile

    • Yeah. Being sorted by the Sorting Hat was fun. 🙂 It was one thing that I remember and really have fun imagining. I’d have loved to be Ravenclaw though. 😀

      I’m glad you are enjoying reading my posts, Kala. 😀 Thank you.

  11. I should probably be in Ravenclaw, but you gotta love Gryffindor. Just came back from Universal and loved visiting the exhibits and rides there based on these books. Wish I could have spent more time. Boy, it was crowded.

  12. I so wanted to in Gryffindor that I named my Wifi as Gryffindor. But looks like, Pottermore didn’t listen to me an put me in Hufflepuff instead. I bet, The Sorting Hat would have heard my inner voice!

    P.S. Neville as Head of the House?? Interesting!
    Nibha recently posted…Invitation #AtoZChallengeMy Profile

    • Hufflepuff ain’t so bad, Nibha, though I have no doubt the Sorting Hat might have considered your voice. 😀 Though Harry never said to put in Gryffindor. What if you had ended up in Slytherin? 😉

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