The Hogwarts Houses: what Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin stand for

Just in time for the new school year after the summer holidays, you might be wondering which of the Harry Potter houses at Hogwarts you would belong to. No worries: we had a chat with the Sorting Hat for you and asked what makes Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin so special.

Surely you already have a favourite among the Harry Potter houses. Is it Gryffindor, like Harry himself? Hufflepuff, like Cedric Diggory? Ravenclaw, like Luna Lovegood? Or Slytherin, like Draco Malfoy? Perhaps you don’t yet know which of the four Hogwarts houses you feel most connected to. We’ve taken a closer look at them and will reveal what makes each Harry Potter house unique.

Gryffindor: Brave and always ready for adventure

Gryffindor is the house for the boldest of the bold, where courage and bravery are part of everyday life. Great dangers are seen by Gryffindors as thorny opportunities – which is why they sometimes get themselves into trouble. But that’s not a problem, because the house of Gryffindor also stands for chivalry as well as the determination to do the right thing, even if it means facing hardships. Gryffindors are also loyal and stand by their friends. Does that sound like you? Then you’re not so different from Harry himself! The house symbol is the lion; its crest features the colours red and gold, representing the element of fire.

Hufflepuff: Kind, hardworking – and underrated

Hufflepuff students are generally calm characters who work steadily and diligently towards their goals. They are also patient, kind and possess a strong sense of fairness – just like Cedric Diggory, when he and Harry agree in book four to touch the Triwizard Cup together, having found it at the same time. This shows that Hufflepuffs are often modest and don’t place too much value on fame and recognition – and, like Gryffindors, they highly value loyalty, friendship and teamwork. The house symbol is the badger; its crest features the colours yellow and black.

Ravenclaw: Clever, creative, eager to learn

Bookworms and knowledge seekers will feel right at home in Ravenclaw. In the third of the four Harry Potter houses, wisdom, intelligence and creativity take centre stage. Knowledge and education pave the way for original ideas – making Ravenclaws skilled problem solvers. They also have the courage to stand by their views, since, unlike Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws are less reserved. Their humour is often dry, sometimes ironic, surely thanks to their intelligence – for belonging to Ravenclaw means having deep insight into the world around you. Of course, that can sometimes be exhausting. The house symbol is the eagle; its crest features the colours blue and bronze.

Slytherin: Ambitious, clever – and not as evil as some think

Some call it selfishness, others self-awareness: Slytherins tend to value their own well-being highly, which can sometimes make other witches and wizards see them as cold. Yet Slytherins are also misunderstood, because even though their ambition sometimes knows no bounds, they are absolutely loyal to their friends. They often achieve their goals with skill and, yes, sometimes with a touch of cunning. This makes them natural leaders, since in the fourth Harry Potter house, students pursue their desire for success – and enjoy guiding others along the way. The house symbol is the serpent; its crest features the colours green and silver.

Conclusion: Which house do you belong to?

The four descriptions can only give you a rough idea, because, as always in life, none of them fit a person 100 percent. A Gryffindor can sometimes be less obviously brave, like Ron Weasley – and a Slytherin is rarely entirely evil. But if you see yourself in one of the four Harry Potter houses, there’s no doubt: this is where you belong. At least, that’s what the Sorting Hat told us.