The House of Godric Gryffindor
|
"You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;" ~ Sorting Hat (SS) ~ GENERAL INFORMATION Founder: Godric Gryffindor House Head: Minerva McGonagall House Color: Scarlet and Gold Emblematic Animal: Lion Resident Ghost: Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington also known as "Nearly Headless Nick" Common Room Location: Gryffindor Tower located at the East Wing of the castle. The entrance is in the seventh floor, guarded by the painting of the Fat Lady in pink silk dress. The Fat Lady asks for the password and would open only if you've given her the right one. |
 Godric Gryffindor |
Gryffindor holds bravery highest among all other virtues. Hermione in the Sorcerer's Stone described Gryffindor as "the best house by far" and wished to be sorted in there, though she said she wouldn't mind being Ravenclaw as well. Gryffindor had good relationship with the other houses, except Slytherin. It was stated on the sixth book that "Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principle". As can be observed in the book, most Gryffindor students exhibit a great amount of confidence, boldness and adventurous nature.
Some of the known Gryffindor who possesses very Gryffindor-ish qualities:
- Harry Potter: Of course...pure nerve and outstanding courage..moral fiber.
- James and Lily Potter: James being very confident in his living years and Lily being gutsy and had a lot of spunk. Both of them are even courage enough to face death for their son. Though Dumbledore might say their choice had more to do with love than bravery.
- The Weasley family: More than half of them are in the Order.
- Neville Longbottom: His courage specially in the last book was really astounding (ex. refusing Lord Voldemort's direct invitation to join the Death Eaters).
GRYFFINDOR'S RELICS
Until the fourth book (Goblet of Fire), the ownership of the sorting hat was unknown. But the sorting hat itself said he used to belong to Gryffindor. Its exact words were:
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
-The Sorting Hat
As the founders each has their own preferences in their students, the problem was how to sort out students when they're no longer there to do the sorting themselves. So Gryffindor used his own hat and had himself as well as the other founders put a bit of themselves into the hat-- "some brains" as the sorting hat stated it--which consequently gave the hat ability to decide.
Another known relic of Gryffindor which was introduced on Chamber of Secrets was his ruby-encrusted, goblin-made sword. It has unique powers and has the ability to absorb only those which could strengthen it. It is therefore imbued with the Basilisk's venom, a substance it had acquired when Harry used the sword to slay the Basilisk down the Chamber of Secrets. Gryffindor was the only founder whose relic wasn't made into a horcrux by Voldemort.
GRYFFINDOR AND THE ELEMENT OF FIRE
According to author JK Rowling, the House of Gryffindor roughly corresponds to the element of Fire.
The said element is commonly associated with energy, passion and assertiveness, qualities which Gryffindor students are popular of. Courage to the point of carelessness...Gryffindor usually follows their guts and emotions. Because fire was said to govern the heart, tongue and pulse, actions are often driven by passion and impulse.
Gryffindor House's mascot is a lion, which, in Christian iconography, is a representation of fire. Even the location for the common room is related to the fire element as it is located at the east wing of the castle, the direction on which the sun rises. Fire is also associated with the color red, which is the colour of Gryffindor house.