Slytherin

 

     Salazar Slytherin was the wizard that founded the Slytherin house. He was good friends with Godric Gryffindor until he expressed his opinion that he didn't trust muggle-born witches and wizards and refused to accept any students that were not "pureblood." He was a parselmouth, which means that he had the ability to speak to snakes. He valued students that were cunning, ambitious, resourceful, clever, and had a certain "disregard for the rules." Eventually, arguments broke out between Slytherin and the other founders. Slytherin left the school, leaving behind a dark legacy for Slytherin house and its students.

 

 

     How do I explain Professor Snape without giving stuff away... hmmm... anyway, Snape is the Head Of Slytherin, which means that he's sort of the leader of Slytherin. All of the students in his house look up to him and go to him for advice. Snape appears to be extremely evil. He is a total jerk to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I couldn't stand him (J.K. Rowling really makes you hate him in the books!) However, I choose to believe that Snape has a good side. You'll see what I mean if you read the books or watch the movies.

     Slytherin gets a bad reputation due to the animosity between Slytherin and Gryffindor, the house that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in. The fact that nearly all dark witches and wizards come from Slytherin (even He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!) doesn't exactly help their image, either. But their traits, if used for good, are positive! They are ambitious and determined. If people use their determination to accomplish good things, then it's a great trait to possess! What Harry Potter fans need to realize is that students from different houses are not all the same. True, people from the same houses have the same traits, but the traits they share are not the only traits that they have. In the words of one Harry Potter fan: "(Slytherins) can be loyal as a Hufflepuff, smart as a Ravenclaw, or brave as a Gryffindor." If a Slytherin was determined and loyal, then they could do a lot of good things for the magical world.

     There is a little bit of good and evil in all of us. We also have been given talents and traits. It is up to us to choose how we will use our talents. Every day we have to choose between good and bad. in the words of wise Dumbledore, "Sometimes we have to choose between what is right, and what is easy." When Jesus was tempted by Satan while He fasted in the desert, He could have easily turned the stones to bread, jumped off the temple and gotten glory, and worshipped Satan and ruled the world. He didn't, though, because He knew it was wrong. We should follow His example. Even if you don't think you are good at anything, you can still smile at people or give them compliments. Use your talents, traits, and abilities for good! :)