Disgruntled House-Elf at The Leaky Cauldron
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QUOTE(roonwit @ Apr 28 2009, 07:25 AM)  QUOTE(fr0z3nfire @ Apr 28 2009, 07:56 AM) I think Albus Dumbledore was sorted into Slytherin. He wasn't. We know that Snape was the first Slytherin Headmaster since Phineas Nigellus. I see no reason to disbelieve Hermione's statement that Dumbledore was in Gryffindor, and although she says "I heard that ..." rather than stating it outright, when is Hermione ever wrong about facts? Incidentally, Grindelwald wasn't a Slytherin either because he went to Durmstrang, so was never sorted into any Hogwarts house.
Thank you, roonwit! It has been a long time since I've been around these parts, having spent my time in fan fiction instead of forums. However, it's wonderful to see that you are still here bringing logic and facts to the boards!
Yes, Snape was the first headmaster from Slytherin House since Phineas Nigellus. Being aware of this, Harry tells Al the following on page 758, Scholastic, American edition:
QUOTE Albus Severus," Harry said quietly, so that nobody but Ginny could hear, and she was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train, "you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." Emphasis mine.
Harry tells his son explicitly that one of the two former headmasters for whom he was named was from Slytherin House. One! Dumbledore was not a Slytherin, no matter how ambitious he might have been in his youth.
Also, note that Snape was not a Gryffindor, despite the fact that he was probably the bravest man Harry ever knew!
One trait does not define a person's assignment to a house at Hogwarts. If that was the case, Hermione would have been a Ravenclaw, as she was thought by many to be the brightest witch of her generation.
Furthermore, Harry defines Al's conundrum for us after Al briefly interrupts him:
QUOTE - then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student, won't it? It doesn't matter to us, Al. But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account.
I'd also like to comment on the ASP argument. I know a man whose initials are JEB, IV. He is called Jeb, not James, Edward, or Chip, Bud, or Quatro. But RAB was not called Rab. He was called Regulus. If one reads the epilogue with the slightest bit of care, Albus Severus Potter was not called Asp. He was not called Severus, or Sev. Other than the one time Harry called him by his full name, he is called Al, and only Al, by the other characters.
Yes, the author refers to him as Albus, but the characters do not.
On page 755, Scholastic, US edition, Ginny calls her youngest son "Al."
QUOTE "I think that's them, Al," said Ginny suddenly.
James calls his brother "Al" on page 757.
QUOTE "Yeah!" said James enthusiastically. "I don't mind sharing with Al - Teddy could have my room.
Harry calls his youngest son "Al." (Also on page 757)
QUOTE "No," said Harry firmly, "you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished.
James calls his brother "Al" for a second time. (Again on page 757.)
QUOTE "See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals.
Harry again calls his youngest son "Al," this time on page 758.
QUOTE "Bye, Al," said Harry as his son hugged him. "Don't forget Hagrid's invited you to tea next Friday. Don't mess with Peeves. Don't duel anyone till you've learned how. And don't let James wind you up."
Finally, during the same chain of thought in which Harry calls his son "Albus Severus," he turns right around and calls him "Al." (Still page 758.)
QUOTE ...It doesn't matter to us, Al. But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."
So, the only time any character used Al's middle name, it was used as part of his full first name. Harry called him "Albus Severus," as quoted above from page 758, Scholastic, American edition.
Harry and Ginny's second child was called "Al" by his family in every reference there is in the canon, save the one time Harry used both full names to make a specific example. Six times in less than seven pages, he was called "Al." Once he was called "Albus Severus" but only to make the point that Al's fear of Slytherin House and his preference for Gryffindor need not be so overwhelming. I realize it's a personal belief, but when I was doing a lot of exegetical analyses, six for six uses of "Al" when his name was used in a conversational mode would be pretty compelling!!
To my way of thinking, if one were to try to infer anything about the importance of his initials, the argument does not fare well compared to the fact that he was called Al. Not Albus. Not Severus. Not Asp. He was simply called Al ... Al Potter. He looked like Harry, including the fact that he, alone among Harry's children, had inherited Lily Evans' eyes.
In short, since Harry looked like his father, a pureblood Gryffindor, except for his mother's eyes, his mother being a Muggle-born Gryffindor, I see nothing in the canon to suggest that he was destined for Slytherin House. This is especially compelling because he was clearly stressed about the possibility of being assigned to Slytherin!
We know one of Al's characteristics -- that he was sensitive, which some have argued might make him a candidate for Hufflepuff House. That's a possibility. Some have argued that his sensitive nature might make him a perfect candidate for Ravenclaw, which baffles me. Yes, Luna was sensitive, and Cho might have been, as well, but wit and intelligence were the key characteristics of a Ravenclaw! 
I would also argue that Al might have inherited Ginny's feistiness, because Harry thought putting him and James in the same room might cause a hazard to their home! Yes, he was kidding, but I don't think it was facetious!
Al didn't want to be in Slytherin House. Harry gave him a reason to possbily reconsider, but I find it unlikely that he would do so. Given the fact that the canon does not show a single Weasley, Prewett, Potter, or Evans who was not in Gryffindor House, I would guess that is where he ended up. GUESS!
My own guess at order of probability:
1. Gryffindor -- by a wide margin, for Harry tells us Al prefers Gryffindor over Slytherin, at least.
2. Hufflepuff -- unlikely, but possible.
3. Ravenclaw -- unlikely, but possible.
4. Slytherin -- technically possible, but highly, highly unlikely.
One final thought in response to the idea that Scorpius Malfoy (or ASP) might be the one to redeem Slytherin House ... it has been nineteen years since the Battle of Hogwarts and Harry tells Al that the choice of house doesn't matter to either Ginny or him! If some student hasn't been redemptive for Slytherin House in nineteen years, then there's a big problem in the wizarding world!!
Anyway, I think Severus Snape redeemed Slytherin House over the last eighteen years or so of his life! And if that wasn't good enough, Horace Slughorn picked up his wand and fought for the Side of Light.
Oh, my! I'm sorry this is so long, but the facts are simply compelling to my eyes!
Edited to add ... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME! TODAY MARKS 32 WONDERFUL YEARS WITH MY LOVELY BRIDE!!! Well, March 10 marked 36 years from our first date!
This post has been edited by Tom Bombadil: Jun 25 2009, 01:42 AM
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Jan 21 2008, 11:49 AM
