Slytherin

Slytherin is one of the four houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was founded by Salazar Slytherin and is associated with the traits of ambition, cunning, resourcefulness, and leadership. The house colors are green and silver, and its emblem and animal are a serpent. The Slytherin common room is located in the dungeons beneath the castle.

Historically, Slytherin favored students who might advance its founder's aims. After Slytherin's departure from Hogwarts, the house continued to attract those who demonstrated ambition and political acumen, contributing to a reputation for elitism and influence. The Sorting Hat assigns students primarily on personal traits rather than background, though stereotypes about Slytherin persist.

Notable Slytherins include Tom Riddle (Voldemort), Horace Slughorn, and Severus Snape. Riddle's time at Hogwarts is often cited to illustrate the potential consequences of Slytherin ambition, while Slughorn and Snape show how individuals from the house can take different paths within the wider wizarding world.

In the wizarding world, Slytherin is recognized for strategic ability and resourcefulness, but its reputation has often intersected with concerns about blood status and political maneuvering. Narratives in the series present a nuanced view, emphasizing that individual Slytherins may diverge from broader stereotypes.