Appeal

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Name: Samantha
Age: 17
House you were sorted into: Slytherin
Link to original application: Here :D
Are there any questions you would like to elaborate on?

This year, The TriWizard Tournament is being held once again and you're of age. Do you put your name in the Goblet? Why or why not?
While everything I said in my original answer is completely the truth, I would like to add that my main reason for not entering would be fear.
I would be afraid of losing, afraid of humiliation, afraid of doing things wrong, afraid of breaking the rules. Also, fear of letting other people down. There’s a weight on the shoulders of the contestants to win, to make their house proud, their school proud. I don’t know if I could cope with that kind of spotlight. I don’t want to be perfect all the time. I don’t know if that makes me more Slytherin or not. I just felt as though I should say it.

What was your ideal job as a kid? Has that changed? What is your ideal job now?

This answer has changed a lot since I put m application in. I’m young. I chance my mind a lot. Now I want to do Law. Why? Well, I like to argue, but I also like the thrill that gives me. I’m not into roller coasters, scary movies, or violence. However, arguing with people gives me this heady rush. I get all fuzzy and dizzy. I am also not sure I should be admitting to this. xD

I like being right as well. I don’t really have a reason for wanting to be right. I guess it benefits me in some way, but I ultimately just do it for the thrill. Arguing and wanting to be right are more of an addiction. Being right also justifies my existence in a way. It gives me a reason to be and to be happy.

If you were able to invent one spell, potion, or charm, what would it do, what would you use it for or how would you use it, and what would you call it?

I have to say that, honestly, I didn’t think about my answer to this question much the first time around. I was tired, and I put down the first thing I could think of. The thing is? I would never even bother with making a potion. I’d be crap at potions. That involves being logical, calculating things, and paying attention to one thing for more than five minutes. None of these are thing I am skilled at.

I’d probably create a charm instead. Not that they are simpler. I just relate to charms more than potions. Anyway, this charm would enable the caster to relate to anyone in any situation.

For instance, we could abolish this system if my charm existed because everyone would get along with, understand, and empathize with everyone else. This sort of sounds as if I want to better man kind or something. I suppose that is part of it, but there is also the fact that it would abolish this awkwardness in my life. I walk into a room, and suddenly I don’t know what to do. I don’t realize people like me, or care about me. Instead, I am paranoid and feel out of place. This is probably why I am lodging this application. I try my best, but in social situations, I sometimes struggle to realize what is needed of me. My charm would provide instant clarity.

What would you see in the Mirror of Erised?

I think before I said myself being right all the time. I think that’s pretty accurate. I don’t really desire anything. It might have to do with my age again. I take things as they come, and try not to agonize over the future so much. I don’t see the point of dreaming about a perfect life when I haven’t done the things that need to be done now.

While I do think of my future in an abstract way, I don’t create a fantasy for myself. That isn’t to say I don’t have goals; it just means that I don’t have an immense desire to seem myself cemented into any one thing yet.

I also have never lost anyone so unlike Harry, I have no need to bring anyone to life. :)

So I just live in the moment, jumping from place to place. I never see what happens in the end. I have trouble starting from the end. It starts at the beginning and each thing happens as it happens.

Pick one or two canon qualities from each of the four houses that you possess and explain why you picked them:

Gryffindor Boldness
This is probably truer when I get into prime debating form. I’m not afraid to speak my mind, and typically, I don’t care who that hurts. I’m not polite about anything; I rant and yell, and I don’t bother with seeing other’s points of view. I’m confident in my own voice, and I love sharing my opinions (sometimes even if you don’t ask for them). I also the first person to get a debate started. I’d go farther, but I’m afraid I’m deviating from ‘boldness’. xD Sometimes I come out with the craziest things because I think they are right, and figure I need to go ahead with them. I challenge authority. I tell people they are wrong. I argue down people who have more experience and—according to them—more knowledge than me. I act without thinking in that sort of rash, bold Gryffindor way. Not for the greater good or anything noble like that. Usually it is just because it comes to mind so I do it because I am bored. What can I say? We can’t all be Harry Potter.

Hufflepuff Determination
This was a hard choice because I almost felt as if loyalty should be my answer. However, I realized that loyalty is more of what I look for and not necessarily what I embody. I am determined however. Determined to be the best, to be right, to be accepted, to…anything really. Once I put my mind to something, I go for it. In a sense, I am rather like my zodiac sign (a ram). I’ve got this set of horns, and I put my head down to ram them into anything that might hinder me from the goals. I often use my bold nature to achieve my goals, and it helps when I am determined not to back down from something. I hold on, no matter what (er, even if I am wrong).

Ravenclaw Intelligence
Heh, everyone says this right? I would have said wit, but I’m a rather poor judge of myself sometimes, and I don’t rightly know if I am witty or not. However, I am rather intelligent. I’m no genius, but I can string a sentence together pretty darn well. Unfortunately, I only gain knowledge from certain fields. If I’m not interested, I don’t bother. I can speak intelligently on several topics. However, there are a lot that I can’t. Erm, I fail at Ravenclaw traits apparently. But what can you say without sounding arrogant? I believe I am an intelligent person. No one has to agree with me, but there it is.

Slytherin ambition
This, by now, should be the answer I was obviously going to give. xD I am a perfectionist with high standards for myself. I aim to be the best that I can be (and better than everyone else too). While this is partly for the prestige, I think it is also my strategy for getting accepted into a crowd. If I am the best, they can’t help but look up to and adore me. This allows me to be awkward without anyone noticing, I suppose. I’m at the top so everyone has to look up into the sun and they get blinded by the glare. There. That’s sounds properly philosophical.

Explain why you feel misplaced in your current house:

Okay, I posted an entry about this to talk to some people about this issue before deciding officially (I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, actually). I got into a conversation in which it was decided that it is hard to sort people because we change. We can be Slytherin one moment and Hufflepuff the next. Sorting is based on what kind of mood we are in when we fill out the application, basically.

So there is that. However, there is also the fact that I have always felt as if I were on the outside looking in on my house. You might have noticed that a lot of Slytherins talk about how “close” and “tight” our house is. I’ve never understood that, and that is because I’ve never felt that. There are several people in Slytherin I like, and a few I admire. However, as far as a whole house goes, I’ve basically hidden under a rock because I didn’t feel as if I was needed and/or wanted.

I know people outside my house better than I do the people in it. I don’t feel as though I am a part of my house.

Sure, I understand that could be my own fault (my paranoia and social awkwardness; my boldness and occasionally irrationality). However, I’ve stuck it out for about five months. I’ve participated in house activities, club activities, I own a shop, and I got an animagus form. Basically, I’ve done a whole lot for my house and the community in general. I don’t feel as though I’ve been purposefully ignoring my house or staying hidden from the community.

There’s just this big part of me that doesn’t feel welcome, that doesn’t belong. I’ve thought about that a lot, and I’ve even tried to move past it.

But I was talking to a good Ravenclaw friend of mine about some things, and I said that I felt as if I didn’t really know my house.

She responded with “Do you really want to?”

So I thought about that. It isn’t that I don’t want to know my house mates. I actually quite like a good deal of them, and have a few of them on my friend’s list. I’m really not talking individual people here. It is more that overwhelming sense of community that is lacking for me.

Plus, as I was filling this out, I was re-reading the votes on my application. I wasn’t a clear cut Slytherin. In fact, a lot of the Slytherins who voted didn’t think I was Slytherin. And for a lot of people, it was my sarcasm that swung me a Slytherin vote. That is a part of me, but generally, I am only sarcastic to prevent awkwardness. It’s a defense mechanism. In reality, I’m not that sarcastic at all. Although, I do believe that characteristic wise I fit nicely into the Slytherin house, there’s just something missing. My puzzle piece fits; it is just the wrong color, I guess. Factory defect. ;D There’s also a lot about me that is not Slytherin as well. I mean, I was sorted Slytherin, yes. So there’s a lot about me that comes across Slytherin. However, I think that’s just because I’m ambitious. However, I am not really cunning. I often miss those little details that really cunning people pick up on. Any manipulation I do, I do subconsciously. I never set out with the intention of manipulating anyone into anything. I may want something, but I never think ‘how can I get that?’. I just…get it.

I let emotion blind me a lot, and I don’t see many Slytherins doing that. They are more rational than not. Or at least they are good at hiding their emotions. Every little emotion shows on my face, honestly.

I wouldn’t say I’m resourceful either. I flounder about a lot, and I don’t know what to do. In difficult situations, I freeze up unless I am completely sure of the answer because I’ve done some sort of quick thin-slice and my prior experiences, my prior knowledge can guide me. Typically, I take me time on things, plan them out, and I guess in situations that don’t involve too many human factors, I’m okay. As soon as you add that overwhelming human element, however, my skills are gone.

So, basically, I have one out of three canon Slytherin traits. I think that one trait is just so overwhelming that I seem Slytherin which makes me feel important and kind of like I should be part of this cool, elite club. It just doesn’t represent all of me.

HERE! I know, I’ll analyze some of our canon Slytherins, and tell you how I don’t relate to them. Maybe that will work!

Lucius Malfoy: Okay, the main thing that stands out about this man is his cruel nature. He uses people as stepping stones, and he isn’t afraid to rip them to shreds to get what he wants in most cases. He is clearly Slytherin ambition combined with a lack of awesome Hufflepuff kindness. Anyway, I’ve said my only clear Slytherin trait is ambition. However, I could never do what Lucius has done. Yes, I want to be at the top, but I am not willing to destroy people in the process. If I were a leader (of a country or a nation), then I would be willing to sacrifice for the greater goal, but when I ladder climb, I’m not knocking people out of my way. They’ve got a right to be there too.

Also, I have issues with the Slytherin idea of “fair”. In canon, our Slytherins pretty much do away with the entire concept unless it means they win. Now I understand that the Slytherins we are presented with are in a somewhat difficult situation. They are full of corruption and evil because of what is happening and/or the stereotype that has been set up for them. Nevertheless, it is what I have to go on. We have evidence that Lucius bribes officials, makes shady deals, and lies his way through a lot of things. I am completely against this. I’ve got an honestly policy that I keep in effect unless there is some sort of political reason not to. By political, I mean…I don’t want to ruffle unnecessary feathers if there really isn’t anything truly wrong. Aside from that, I’m pretty obvious and more often than not vocal about how I feel. If I couldn’t get my way fair and square, then that’s that. I’m not going to resort to bribing and threats. That’s just severely uncool.

Pansy Parkison: Let me just say, she’s a pretty interesting character. The girl is pretty much the best actress ever. I’ve got some issues with her behaviour as well. She may or may not love Draco. I know she wants the status and money being with him would mean, and she plays up the slutty, dumb girl character with an attitude really well. I happen to believe that she is not always like that. She’s playing on what she thinks Draco would like in a wife (she happens to be wrong, of course, but…). I guess this comes back to my honesty thing. It’s what makes me a bad actress. I’m not cool with the whole intentional manipulation thing. If I know I’m doing the right thing, then sure. Otherwise, I stick with being true to myself. I’m best at being me, and people should like me for me.

Also, I realize that I can do everything I have been doing in this community from any house. The houses are just here for people to make friends and to have fun. Thing is…Slytherin doesn’t exactly feel like fun to me. I feel, instead, like I should be having fun, but there is something blocking that. I feel as though I have to be this perfect, intelligent, ambitious person when really I want to be silly, say nonsense things in CAPSLOCK, and not be witty for about two seconds. I don’t want to have to appeal to this sense of humor that I appreciate, but can not duplicate. I feel like being in Slytherin has forced me into this Slytherin mold, and I am squirming around in it without really settling. I sort of let my snarky, better-than-you, elite attitude out of the bag, but that’s really not the whole of me. Typically, I am happy-go-lucky, and I only snark when I feel like I’ve entered a place where I’m ‘unsafe’ (defensive mechanism). Yes, I am a bit of a snob, but I’m just as hard on me as I am on everybody else in a sort of Snape-ish way. And I always say Snape’s guilt as a more of a Gryffindor thing. Harry did it as well, and Hermione a tad. Heck, even Ron had some of that “I’ll give myself a guilt trip, okay?”. Peter had it. Sirius had it. Heck, Remus had it. See where I’m going? So I don’t categorize my snobbish nature as Slytherin.

Um, I apologize if this gets a little confusing. I tend to reply to these things in a way that means I write anything that comes into my head. I’ll elaborate on anything that is a little fuzzy. Truthfully, I am a bit fuzzy myself because I love the idea of my house. Reality, however, hasn’t lived up to expectations, maybe?

I should mention that I know I probably have a lot of characteristics that are pretty Slytherin. I ended up there for a reason after all. *le sigh* Maybe my sensibilities are too delicate for Slytherin? I dunno. I think this has just brought up more questions without answers, but it is all the questions that bother me. I shouldn’t question my house. I shouldn’t feel as though I can’t be proud to belong to the group, and yet I do. I can’t be proud because for me there is no group. It seems to exist for everyone else though. Just not me.

And on that note, I’ll finish with: I will not leave hogwartsishome if I don’t get resorted. I think this community is pretty snazzy, and I wouldn’t leave it just because you guys tell me my paranoia is unjustified. I am, in this instance, leaving it up to your superior wisdom, and perfectly okay with being wrong. xD

Comments

[caketime.livejournal.com]

Hello Samantha,
Your application is now up and subject to questions from our judges. It would be great if you could answer the questions until the 20th of March, or earlier if that's possible. The judges vote when you have answered all the questions.
Thank you!

[caketime.livejournal.com]

1. What's more important: family, money, fame, love, justice, mercy. Why?
2. Where would your friends sort you, and why?
3. Which four people from each house would be your good friend, and why?

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

1. What's more important: family, money, fame, love, justice, mercy. Why?

I’m torn between love and justice here. I think love is the most important emotion in the world, and it colors everything we, as human beings, do. It creates a balance in its inverse (hate), and makes sure we connect with other people. Love is…the epitome of life in some ways. It allows us to create life, nurture life, and also enjoy/cherish life.

However, justice…well, I believe that there are rules, right is right, and wrong doers should be punished. I’m okay with capital punishment, and on more than one occasion I’ve been known to secretly agree with “an eye for an eye”. Justice, I think, is necessary to keep order.

2. Where would your friends sort you, and why?

My real life friends? I’ve never asked actually. Angie, who is a Ravenclaw here, agreed with my Slytherin sorting, but when she read my application for this appeal, she also said huge amounts of Gryffindor came through as well.

3. Which four people from each house would be your good friend, and why?

Well, in Ravenclaw, I suppose Luna would have been my friend. I am usually drawn to those quirky types, and her daydreaming personality would make me happy. I’m not so crazy about the weird theories, but, on the other hand, that sense of make believe can also be refreshing, especially when I am being cynical and depressed.

In Gryffindor, I’d like to say Ron, but I can’t because we’d claw each other’s eyes out. However, I figure I’d have befriended both Remus and Hermione.

Remus’ quiet but intelligent personality is my “friend type” I suppose you could say. I’m usually drawn to people who are quiet, friendly, and not overly dominating. I also appreciate friends who have intelligence but do not flaunt it in a big way. Remus is sensible, and I appreciate that. He wouldn’t take me out of my comfort zone.

However, Hermione has what I crave, and that’s something to compete against. I always want to better myself, and what better way to do that than having someone who has the capacity to beat you on occasion? Her vibrant personality and her know-it-all nature ould motivate me.

In Hufflepuff, well…I’m not overly familiar with any Hufflepuffs. I might have befriended Cedric, but probably only in a very shallow way. As in, I would talk to him gladly, but we wouldn’t have sleep overs or anything. xD However, the sense I got before his death was that he was honorable, gentle, and even humble. He would probably have been the person I’d want on my team, or as my partner on that difficult potions assignment.

As for Slytherin, that’s the hardest. Blaise is probably my best pick. The book painted him as more of a side lines man. He was quiet, and seemed the more sensible of the Slytherins. We don’t see a lot of him in the books, and I always assumed that was because he wasn’t so about the pack mentality. He kept his mouth shut, but he didn’t actively follow King Malfoy’s plans either. He falls under that quiet type that I like.


ETA: Sorry for the edit. The 'quite' instead of 'quiet' was bugging me on a major level.

[music-simbol.livejournal.com]

1) What is the one thing you have to do in this lifetime?

2) Of the four Marauders, which is your favorite and why?

3) Choose someone from each house and explain what you don't like about them. (You can skip Slytherin since you already kinda did this)

4) Is there any house you just cannot see yourself sorted in?

5) What are your thoughts on Crabbe and Goyle?

Thank you.

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

1) What is the one thing you have to do in this lifetime?

Well, as I’ve said, I’m more of a here and now person. I don’t have any ultimate goals. So I’m afraid I can’t be specific. I want to make an impact though. I want to do something important. Now it depends on how I define important later in life I guess, but I doubt important will be the Nobel Peace Prize or anything. Simply writing a children’s novel would fall under my category of important.

OH! Actually, I do have this one dream, and that is to swim with sharks. Not in the aquarium either. I want to go into the ocean in one of those cages and swim with honest to god wild sharks. The bigger, the better.

Of the four Marauders, which is your favorite and why?

Remus. I can’t stand James’ holier-than-thou attitude, Sirius’ disregard for the rules and his wild side annoy me as well as scare me (if he were a real person and all), and Petter was a lying, disloyal traitor.

So, yes, Remus. He is quite, sensible, and rule abiding for the most part. It is only under the influence of his friends that he steps outside boundaries. He has a sense of loyalty, and he is also kind overall. This quite nature appeals to me. Maybe I see in him what James and Sirius did, I don’t know.

Anyway, he doesn’t take me out of my comfort zone, and he isn’t dominating or unsafe.

3) Choose someone from each house and explain what you don't like about them. (You can skip Slytherin since you already kinda did this)

Ravenclaw: Cho Chang. I hate her simpering, girly attitude, and her lack of faith. Also, her bad choices in friends. She rubbed me the wrong way because she seemed so superficial. She is someone everyone is friends with because she is pretty or semi-talented, but no one really likes because she’s about as deep as a puddle.

Hufflepuff: Again, I don’t know Hufflepuffs very well, I apologize. I’m going to say Helga Hufflepuff though. The original model. I think her “and I’ll teach the rest” philosophy is utter crap. Schools should be selective. I don’t think everyone deserved to learn magic. I mean, I don’t agree with Slytherin that it should just be pure bloods, but I think there is a definite line. What that line is, however, I couldn’t tell you for sure.

Gryffindor: JAMES POTTER WITHOUT A DOUBT. He is one character in the series that I have always despised. I have the same problem Lily had with him. He is a bully without a brain. He, to me, is one of those stereotypical jocks, and I don’t like that. I also never got past that. His outright cruelty to Severus made a real impression on me, and as we hardly saw any of his apparently reformed state, I never reconciled my original impression of him.

4) Is there any house you just cannot see yourself sorted in?

Well, once upon a time ago, I would have said Hufflepuff. However, when I wrote this application, I realized I have a bit more Hufflepuff than I thought. I care about humans as a whole, just not individually.

Anyway, to answer the question, at this point, Ravenclaw. This used to be my default house, at least in my head. However, I don’t think I have the right mentality to be canonically sorted into that house. I’m far too all over the place, and I don’t have that dedication to knowledge simply for knowledge’s sake. I can’t even find my match in Luna because, while we share that need to observe people and their behavior, she does it because she is fascinated, I do it because it is a necessity.

5) What are your thoughts on Crabbe and Goyle?

I’ve never really thought about them, actually. They are minions though, and therefore, merely a reflection of Draco Malfoy as far as the books ever showed us. They are merely shadows with no real thoughts of their own. They can’t speak out or stand up for what they believe in because they don’t actually know what they believe in.

[beckella.livejournal.com]

1. You're stuck on a desert island. You get one album, one book, and one person. Whom and what do you bring?

2. Sort Barty Crouch, Jr. Where would you put him and why? Sort Barty Crouch, Sr. Where would you put him and why?

3. Re-sort the following canon characters. None can go to his or her original house (unless you're REALLY convincing): Remus Lupin, Luna Lovegood, Cedric Diggory, and Draco Malfoy.

4. Which house to do you see the most in yourself? Give concrete examples.

5. You mentioned that you'd like the freedom to CAPSLOCK occasionally. What makes you want to CAPSLOCK? Or is it a general way of talking for you?

Thanks!

PART ONE

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

1. You're stuck on a desert island. You get one album, one book, and one person. Whom and what do you bring?

Okay, it’s a Neil Diamond album. I don’t know the title because it belongs to my mom, but I think, of all the music I’ve ever loved, it best fits my general mood. Most of the songs are happy, but there are a couple more subdued songs. Basically, it is light and free. It is also loud (there’s a big band behind him in several songs). I also like the sort of…old feel of it as well.

The book I would bring…Watership Down. It is my favorite book. I don’t know why it is my favorite book. I think it is the adventure and the friends I will never have and never meet. Plus, bunnies. Cha.

Person…oh dear. I think, of all the people in my life, I’d bring my mother. I wouldn’t bring a fictional character because they don’t exist, but my mom does and she’s great. She’d keep me calm, and she could probably find a way to get us off this island. Plus, she likes Neil Diamond too!

2. Sort Barty Crouch, Jr. Where would you put him and why? Sort Barty Crouch, Sr. Where would you put him and why?

I knew this question was going to be asked. Yay!

Basically, I’d put him in Gryffindor. I think he has the charisma, first of all. He has a rather infectious personality. At least, that’s what I’ve always thought. He came across, to me, as someone everyone, if they didn’t love, they respected. Also, he has a large fan base, and I don’t think it is just because he was played by that one guy in the movie that everyone likes. David something.

Also, he was brave. He took on a job that put him right in the thick of everything. He was in danger for the entire book, but he was okay with that. He had a job to do, and even when he was discovered, he didn’t cower beneath anyone. He stood up for what he believed in, even if he was sort of crazy.

Also, that bit with turning Draco into a ferret? That always reminded me of James a little bit. It was a useless, petty, cruel joke. (Amusing because it was Draco, but I digress).

3. Re-sort the following canon characters. None can go to his or her original house (unless you're REALLY convincing): Remus Lupin, Luna Lovegood, Cedric Diggory, and Draco Malfoy.

Remus would go into Ravenclaw, obviously. He’s got the quiet, studious nature, and I think he liked learning. Not studying, maybe, but learning for learning’s sake. We probably would have seen more of that had he not been under so much strain as a werewolf, and then having his best friends snatched away from him so quickly and so terribly. Anyway, he’s got that attitude; the ability to gain knowledge, whatever the type, seems to fascinate him, and that has always colored his character for me.

Luna is a Gryffindor. She’s not an outrageous Gryffindor, but that lion’s head? Definitely Gryffindor pride. Plus, I think her quirky attitude and her hidden fierce-ness put her over the Gryffindor edge.

However, I can see her going a lot of ways. He knowledge about people means she could be Gryffindor or Slytherin depending on how she used it. If she used it to manipulation and gain for herself, I can see Slytherin. She’d be a good Slytherin too because she has that backing of Ravenclaw. However, if she was less about power and ambition, and she used it say like booth from Bones—to gain confessions from criminals—then I can see her as a Gryffindor on top of the traits I already mentioned.

PART TWO

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Cedric…Okay, I don’t know if I know enough about him to re-sort him. However, his ambition at the end (he could have just let Harry have the cup, and I think a true Hufflepuff would have. It isn’t about winning for them, it is more the satisfaction of doing their best, and helping others to do their best as well) that would probably swing me more towards putting him in Slytherin if he had to be re-sorted.

Draco, I think, with the right upbringing could have very well been a Hufflepuff. Don’t laugh at me, I’m serious! I think it was his family that ultimately made him a Slytherin. He doesn’t seem to be particularly cunning or ambitious. He isn’t particularly clever or dominating even. His has a very soft personality, and I think, truthfully, he’d rather help than harm. He couldn’t kill Dumbledore could he? If say, Dumbledore had raised him, I think his humanitarian side could have been tapped and nurtured. It is often said that he is a clone of his father, and I think that’s true. His father molded him into what he wanted, not what Draco actually was.

4. Which house to do you see the most in yourself? Give concrete examples.

ETA: I re-read this and realized that I gave no real concrete examples. Fixing that now.

Oh, the difficult question. Okay, probably Gryffindor. And I’m looking at me as a whole, not just in social situations.

I’ve got natural oratory skills and the confidence to use them. As long as I am making a point I believe in, I can spin it into something people will want to believe. However, I don’t do it is the same fashion as Brutus from Julius Caesar. I am not emotionally cold. I connect with what I am saying because it is my opinion. It is what I believe in.

+We recently had an assignment in school, and it was a speech. Now, part of this example is that everyone loved my speech. They understood it, learned from it, and found it a whole lot less boring than everyone else's. However, my teacher only gave it 20/25. Now, I wasn't happy with the grade, but I didn't spazz at my teacher to change it. However, I did defend my case when she tried to tell me I was wrong.

+I had a teacher who was constantly patronizing. He was a real bastard, but everyone thought he was oh-so-nice. I stuck by my guns though. I held to my opinion that he was awful, and, in the end, he proved to everyone with his petty and immature comments that he was a pretty rotten guy, but I didn't let the fact that everyone refused to believe me at first keep me down.

+My mother and father got divorced. My dad was always ragging on my mom. He was putting her down a lot in front of us. He made my sister cry. So I told him to stop. I didn't care if he got angry. He made my little sister cry for heaven sake! You don't just get away with that.

My worst sin is pride (which I believe goes for all houses, but it has always been associated with Gryffindor for some reason?). I’m not afraid to say I am good at something. I mean, I don’t go crazy over the top. I can admit when I am wrong (er, most of the time).

PART THREE

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

(after edit)

I have confidence (as I’ve said). I can get up in front of a class and dance like an idiot because I feel like it, no problem (I have actually done this, btw). I can speak my mind, and not feel as if everyone is judging me. I am happy to debate a point, and I don’t mind being backed into a corner because it is fun to see if I can get out again.

+Can I use the two debates in the community that I won top debater for as examples here? xD

I am often bold in what I do or say. I can be outrageous. I can suggest the craziest things (a lot of times they work too). If you want to facilitate a group, what better way than to get them around and singing a song. And that might have made more sense in my head. Eeep.

+We are studying WW1 in Modern History. I'm the one making the bold statement of 'that man was a coward'. Everyone was telling me that was too harsh a statement. I had to qualify that 'some people could argue that this was a cowardly act'. I always make bold statements like that. Dramatic sweeps.

I can't say that there are major examples in my life (as in life-changing and/or very memorable) that I can use here. Mostly it is just general stuff that I would never remember. However, I have been told that things that I say like this: I love telling people things, generally. Mostly because I like the sound of my own voice. I've been told this is a problem.

I know it is probably a little much to ask everyone to be comfortable with sharing, and I try and understand that....it is just when it is so small. In this case, it sort of was. I mean, important, but small in the grand scheme of today. are very Gryffindor.

5. You mentioned that you'd like the freedom to CAPSLOCK occasionally. What makes you want to CAPSLOCK? Or is it a general way of talking for you?

Okay, generally, it is a way of talking. I don’t see it as yelling, but more of an excited and over the top dramatic way of speaking which is pretty much just me.

However, when I am over the internet and actually CAPSLOCKING it is generally because I am angry or being silly and overly excited.

[darthsarah.livejournal.com]

:0(

Just so you know, I am insanely silly and have started many a CAPSLOCK PARTY in my day. YOU SHOULD SEE THE AMOUNT OF RANDOMNESS AND CAPSLOCK IN MY PERSONAL JOURNAL!

Anyway.. questions!

1) Being Polite vs. Being Right

Which do you think is more important to a Slytherin, a Gryffindor, a Hufflepuff, and a Ravenclaw.

2) What would your Amortentia smell like?

3) Say you were at the end of the list to be sorted and one of your best friends was sorted into a house you don't like. Would you still hang out with your friend? Would you judge him/her?


I might have more later, but we'll see. :0P

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

1) Being Polite vs. Being Right

Which do you think is more important to a Slytherin, a Gryffindor, a Hufflepuff, and a Ravenclaw.

Slytherin: Being polite. They aren’t in your face about anything, and this is the house I’ve always associated with politicians. It is more important to have a person on your side than to tell them you hate them. Being polite isn’t always the truth of how a Slytherin feels, but it serves their cause better to be polite than it does to be right most of the time.

Ravenclaw: Being right. However, being right with the correct facts to back you up. Ravenclaws don’t usually deal in grand philosophical concepts (not that they can’t of course). If they are right it is because they have several sources that back that up, and can probably tell you what they are. Also, when they are right, I doubt they are going to be polite in telling you that you are wrong. Flaunt that knowledge, no matter what form it comes in.

Gryffindor: Being right. However, this is the more….grand scale. They want to be right because they are helping someone, or a group of people. They want to be right because they are going to have an impact. They want to do the right thing as opposed to having the right answer.

Hufflepuff: Okay, both for this house. I think being right, in a similar fashion to Gryffindor, is important to them. However, they also want to be polite. Being anything else would hurt people, and Hufflepuffs are the kind house. Being polite is part of their nature. There are exceptions. For example, when they get into their heads those big “I’m doing the right thing” concepts like Gryffindor, then sometimes it isn’t about being polite. They want to protect, and if that involves hurting a few people, they can do that too.

2) What would your Amortentia smell like?

Okay, I’ve never actually been in love, nor do I have romantic feelings for anyone at the current moment. Since this is a love potion, it makes it hard for me to answer.

However, I would assume it would smell like chocolate chip cookies baking, the warmth of wood (like saw dust maybe or a fire. BOTH!), and car grease because that’s what I associate with home, feeling safe, and feeling loved.

3) Say you were at the end of the list to be sorted and one of your best friends was sorted into a house you don't like. Would you still hang out with your friend? Would you judge him/her?

I am actually at the end of the list alphabetically. :D

I would still hang out with said friend. Unless say they let their actions be influenced by people like Draco Malfoy or James Potter. However, the house isn’t what matters. It is the attitude. So no, I wouldn’t judge them based on their house, and I would still be their friend, if they’d have me.

[xfortytwo.livejournal.com]

1. You may have partly answered this already, but how do you respond to confrontation?

2. What is the main Slytherin trait you don't identify with?

3. You could get a job/achieve something you've worked towards for ages, but in doing so you would have to break a promise you made to a friend. Would you? Why?

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

1. You may have partly answered this already, but how do you respond to confrontation?

Well, I don’t shy away from it. I also don’t handle it tactfully, I suppose. I am all for yelling it out, and typically, I push my point as far home as I can. I don’t go looking for confrontation, but I don’t let problems slide either.

I typically get angry (which means I cry. Boo.), and usually I yell. However, if I’ve had time to think about it, and the person I am confronting is calm, then I can stay clam as well. That’s when I act my most Slytherin, I’d wager.

However, typically and on average, I get angry, hot tempered, and loud. I don’t let go, and my mother has always said I inherited my father’s hot, quick, and easy temper. It flares up with the slightest spark, and it is a deadly rampage until I am done.

2. What is the main Slytherin trait you don't identify with?

Cunning, I think.

I’m not really sneaky or manipulative (at least not consciously). I don’t do things behind other people’s backs. I can’t keep up a poker face, and I don’t go out of my way to trick people. I’m not really sly in any way. I don’t catch little things and use them to my advantage unless they won’t hurt anyone. I don’t have a shrewd eye for detail, and I give things away too easily. I don’t make up master plans, and I don’t actually possess the ability to out rightly do any sort of harm towards anyone who hasn’t harmed me first. Also, when it comes to revenge, I tend to go for the obvious as opposed to the underhanded and sneaky way. Plus, I hardly ever go for revenge at all. Typically, I let go.

But basically, I like to be upfront about things. I don't like stepping out of the line, and being secretive and cunning. I think that makes sense.

3. You could get a job/achieve something you've worked towards for ages, but in doing so you would have to break a promise you made to a friend. Would you? Why?

It would depend on the promise. If it wasn’t something crazy serious, I would talk it over with them, and probably have stacked up a reasonable argument for my case and against theirs. Since, I like a good debate and typically my close friends tend to be more docile, I’d probably get my way. I am a bit intimidating when passionate.

However, if it was something crazy serious, then I’d have to think about it. I’d probably talk it over with said friend, and see what kind of comprise, if any, we could come to. But, if it wasn’t life or death, I’d probably break that promise because well…I just would.

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

:(

I am so sorry I never realised you felt this way or made you feel more appreciated for all the things you do. You really, truly are. When I saw this appeal, my initial reaction was utter shock and a sense of "Nooo! How can she want to move? She's so active! She joins in stuff all the time!" I'm sorry I misread you and if anything I did to encourage activity made you feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. :(

That said.. questions, I guess. :|

1. Explain why you would be a better fit in each of the other houses moreso than Slytherin. (You can use canon or HiH examples or both.)

2. Can you quantify what it is exactly that you think will make you "fit in" better in another house? I have a hard time buying that the people in HiH are really that different based on whatever house we stick them in. I do think the atmosphere in the houses may be a bit different. You seem to be saying you want to transfer BOTH because you don't see yourself as a canon snake AND you think you'd fit better elsewhere in HiH. Could you explain the latter? What makes you think the Claw or Gryff or Puff common room will make you feel more at home? (Please pick whichever one you think you will fit into best, or you can do more than one if you think anything would be better than Slytherin. 8D)

3. In the canon, Slytherins are presented basically as The Bad Guys. There was little sympathy shown to them by either Harry or the author. Do you think that may be more a case of personal bias than fact? I mean, ALL Slytherins obviously do not feel that the ends justify the means, at least not to the extent that Lucius does. Look at Slughorn. He has been haunted by overwhelming guilt his whole life for simply advising a very bright student on a question he asked, without realising the consequences. He doesn't side with Voldemort not just out of a sense of self-preservation, but because he genuinely thinks his outlook is totally wrong and you have to judge people on their merits, not blood. It's unfair to judge the house, I think, based on the main characters, BECAUSE of that huge bias. (I mean, could a whole house really be full of 100% UGLY people, or is that Harry's bias?) Look at some of the more minor Slytherins: Phineas Nigellus, Regulus Black.

3a. Are there ANY Slytherin characters you might relate to or understand more?
3b. Do you think the behavior of the Slytherins we see in the book may be entirely a product of the times and pressures they're under by their parents (because Voldemort largely recruited from his own house)? Do you think the Slytherins of Harry's kids generation are just as nasty?

4. Related to the above: Pick one or two characters from each of the other houses, like you did with Lucius and Pansy, and explain why you don't relate to them or their actions and worldview.

PART ONE

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Okay, I saved yours for last because they were so long! I get a bit rambly in places, and I expect some of my answers to be taken out of context because I explained them poorly. Oh well! :) I tried my best, and if you feel that I haven’t answered a question fully, feel free to poke me rather hard.

1. Explain why you would be a better fit in each of the other houses moreso than Slytherin. (You can use canon or HiH examples or both.)

I’d go into traits, but I’ve done that in my application so I feel it would be redundant to go through it again.

And since I’ve answered this question last, I’m just going to reiterate what you are going to read later on.

Basically, I think I’ll fit in better anywhere that isn’t Slytherin because of the atmosphere. There traits that we sort by affect how people act, how they want to be perceived, and I happen to not agree with the way Slytherin (as a whole) acts to personify their traits. Individually, for the most part, I can say that I think the HiH Slytherins are pretty decent people. However, as a group, there was this mentality of ambition and cunning and general bitchiness that I did not like at all. I don’t think we should have to do that to be part of our house, and while I am probably biased as I don’t know what goes on within all the other common rooms group wise (I only know individual people), I see the traits of the other houses as having less negative connotations as the Slytheirn house, and therefore, the mentality won’t mess with my delicate feelings.

So in short, I get my feelings hurt easily, and the Slytherin group sort of stomps all over those?

2. Can you quantify what it is exactly that you think will make you "fit in" better in another house? I have a hard time buying that the people in HiH are really that different based on whatever house we stick them in. I do think the atmosphere in the houses may be a bit different. You seem to be saying you want to transfer BOTH because you don't see yourself as a canon snake AND you think you'd fit better elsewhere in HiH. Could you explain the latter? What makes you think the Claw or Gryff or Puff common room will make you feel more at home? (Please pick whichever one you think you will fit into best, or you can do more than one if you think anything would be better than Slytherin. 8D)

Not people aren’t different. It is how they act based off the fact that we stick them in a certain house. Those “qualities” that we associate with each house put pressure on people to act a certain way. Slytherins will act different as Slytherins than they would as Hufflepuffs because of those traits we associate.

I think that, due to the way I take things, my dramatic nature, and my ability to blow things out o proportion, means that I am more likely to feel safe and appreciated in a house where all the traits have these negative connotations. I mean, how many Slytherins associate the word bitch with being in that house? I’ve seen that a lot, and I don’t like that.

I mean, just to sue an example, that debate way back when where you and I really got into it? Yeah, that really upset me (not because you thought I was wrong, that’s the nature of debate.) and that is one of the reasons why I think I’m better suited to another house. I don’t think a true Slytherin—living up to canon traits—would have gotten upset over that. The only reason you didn’t know I was upset was because we were over the internet, and I never said anything about it, really.

I think the traits that influence how we behave as a whole house are important to how a person feels about that house. So it is not just which traits fit best, but also how those traits make people act around me or each other.

It is, basically, the atmosphere that is important to me. Does any of that crazy rambling make sense?

**Also, I said both because, while I don’t think I fit it, you are also required to sort based on canon, and I wanted to cover than too. I didn’t want my argument to be picked apart because I failed to address the canon issue.

Re: PART ONE

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

I mean, just to sue an example, that debate way back when where you and I really got into it?

Before I get to anything else and follow up stuff... Whuh? 8DDD This is probably horrible of me, but I seriously have no idea what you're referring to or what we possibly could have debated. I've dug through my gmail comments from you hoping for clues and haven't hit upon anything. Refresh my memory? 8D

Re: PART ONE

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Ah, it was waaaaaay back when I was first sorted. The is Dumbledore good or evil debate. (The http://community.livejournal.com/hogwartsishome/584750.html?nc=231)

I don't mean to say I'm holding a grudge about it at all; I got over it pretty fast. The thing is that debate sort of hurt my feelings (probably for no good reason at all -_-;), and it is that sort of thing that gets to me. I'm just overly sensitive, I guess.

It is just the nature of Slytherin to go for the throat that I don't agree with and/or want to share in. At least, I'm pretty sure that's my point here.

Re: PART ONE

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

Basically, I think I’ll fit in better anywhere that isn’t Slytherin because of the atmosphere.

1. But you've said elsewhere in these questions that you wouldn't fit in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff either. Do you think Gryffindor is the only house for you at this point?

2. You keep saying it's not the individuals in Slytherin that you don't like but the group and aura of bitchiness. Could you give some specific examples of what you don't like? You can be honest and specific, I don't think anyone will get their feelings hurt. XD (I won't, anyway.)

3. What makes you think things will be drastically different with the Gryffindors? Without turning this into a battle of which house is best and which has the most problems, I've heard lots of complaints about the atmosphere in the Gryff common room as well. Do you think this could just be a case of "grass is greener"? I don't mean any offense to anyone when I say this, but I don't think the Gryffs at HiH are any less bitchy than the Snakes. XD We all have individuals who are feisty and argumentative and many members who AREN'T.

4. You keep saying you are emotional and not sneaky/manipulative. While I think many Slytherins are good at keeping their real emotions under wraps and being "actors," I also think a lot of us (canonically and in HiH) are very passionate and outspoken and straightforward. Sarah is very up-front and open. A lot of us are self-identified Slytherdors. Many of the snakes in the books are not subtle (boot kick in the face, blatant favouritism) and can let their emotions get the best of them even when they do attempt to hide them (Draco and Snape, the two MAIN Slytherins, lose their cools repeatedly and are obviously hurt/angry). Do you think maybe you're just pigeonholing Slytherins and expecting them to conform to a strict standard? I mean, we have a very varied group at HiH and as you say most people don't fit 100% into one house. Is it possible that the traits you don't see as Slytherin in yourself are just "not Slytherin" because of your strict standards of what Slytherin should be?

I am sorry for my grueling questions, but as should be obvious, I really don't want to lose you so you're going to have to do a damn good job convincing me why I should let you go. XP

Re: PART ONE A

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

1. No, I think anywhere would be fine (and like I said in my app, you won't take me kicking and screaming back to Slytherin if all the judges decide to send me back. I will go back quietly. I just needed, to be honest to myself, to lodge an appeal because I felt as if I were in the wrong place. Every time someone said 'we are such a close house. every one talks all the time' I felt like saying bullshit, and I felt as if I was living something false by staying in the Slytherin house. I know, that sounds overly-dramatic. Try pretty much my whole life. I’m an overly-dramatic person.). I was only trying to answer a question because it was asked. I'd really would rather not discount any house at this point, quite frankly. I didn't want to say 'oh, I can't answer this question' because it seems like I'm trying to avoid a point. I could very well end up in Hufflepuff becuase, like I said somewhere else, I do see a bit of Hufflepuff in my application. Do I think it is an overwhelming amount? Not really, but I'm biased and ignorant because I know next to nothing about hufflepuff, canon or HiH wise.

2. *le sigh*

Right, well. There is the constant push for points. I’ve seen more house-bashing in our house than anywhere else. I’m not too fond of that. I’m sure you’ve seen me get pretty riled up in intro posts where people get upset because they ‘omg, I almost ended up in Gryffindor’ or ‘had a few Hufflepuff votes and would have died if I’ve gotten into that house’. Now, I know that can happen anywhere, but it has happened far more in the Slytherin house, in my opinion.

I feel like the Slytherin house has a good deal of shit-stirrers as well. Er, am I allowed to say that? O.O And since I am talking to you, might as well use you (you aren’t the only one though). You got upset over the comments people were making about Slytherin. Fair enough. But when someone disagreed with you, everything got thrown way out of proportion. You probably brushed it off; everything was fine in about two seconds right? But, I think you might have really gotten to other people and made them upset. Everything goes wonky when this Slytherin pride comes into question, and that bothers me immensely. I feel like everything needs a mediator when a Slytherin is involved because everyone is so easily riled up, and then they go away thinking ‘awesome’, but no one else does.

Also, the fact that I didn’t tell you originally that I thought you really were just making honest-to-god drama (your definition of it, btw) because I was freaked out about getting your wrath turned upon me? I don’t like that either. I feel that way with a lot of Slytherins though.

I’ve been told in passing (by another Slytherin) that some people avoid me specifically because I’m a bit of a bitch, but I’ve always felt like I had to be a bitch in our house to survive; I don’t like how the general feel and stereotype of the house mold my actions that way.

3. I really wouldn’t know anything about any other common room (except the Ravenclaw common room ‘cause I’ve got inside info :O), and so I have no pre-determined bias (good or bad) towards any other house. I only know what it is like in our common room where supposedly we are so close and talk all the time, but the only thing I ever see are posts about how we can totally win the cup this year because we are so awesome.

Now, given, there is probably the same sort of posting going on in the other common rooms. However, I’ve seen the most unrest about them from Slytherins, and I think that has to mean something, right? I’m not going to go into details here with who/what/when/why because there’s a certain level of trust that I think I would be breaking because of that. Just know it exists. :-/

As for the Gryffindor common room, I would really like to point out again, I’m sorry if it feels as if I am pushing Gryffindor. A lot of the questions that have been asked make it easy to slip into the Gryffindor/Slytherin comparisons. I’m not trying to say that I should be in Gryffindor, and that’s it; the only option. Not at all.

Re: PART ONE A

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

I am genuinely sorry for anything I've said or done to make you feel this way or contribute to the atmosphere that makes you feel this way.

If you are sorted back into Slytherin, do you think there's anything I or we as a house could do to make you feel more comfortable and work to correct these issues? I really, really hate knowing that there may be people who are not having fun and are put off by the group atmosphere/behaviour. Will you keep being active? Is there any way to patch this up?

Re: PART ONE A

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

I would stay active. I've been active so far right? Most of the activities are fun, or if they aren't, they are good procrastination material. I really like joining in @ HiH. I just don't like feeling that I absolutely have to do all these points-earning activities in order to be considered a good member of the Slytherin house.

Thank you for the apology. I'm not really mad and/or disappointed in anyone really. The group is just being the group, and that's great. In your eyes (your being collective here), you are all doing what you think is right and/or fun. No one should have to change that because I'm a crazy nutter, right? :) The Slytherin house acts like the Slytherin house thinks it should act, and I lodged an appeal becuase I don't agree with that. Not because the house is necessarily wrong, but because if that's what's right for the Slytherin house, then I can't be very Slytherin, can I?

I've got plenty of friends in Slytherin, and if I am sorted back in Slytherin, I already have plans to usurp Adam's spot in the Order (cause I've heard he isn't really into it anymore, right?), and start going nuts with house unity stuff.

If everyone decides I'm a Slytherin all the way, that's okay. There will be no hostility. The only revenge I'll take is spamming the common room with pictures of fluffy bunnies. Sorry. xD

Re: PART ONE A

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I would not mind a Bunny a Day post if it meant keeping you. XP Plus bunnies are cute. 8D

It's Saturday; would you like to suggest the meme topic for Club Night? ;D

Re: PART ONE A

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Oh dear.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE A FOOD TOPIC? I LOVE FOOD.

I don't think we've had a food topic yet...

Re: PART ONE A

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

FOOD IT IS. :D

Re: PART ONE B

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

4. Okay, I think this is a really important point. I'm not basing my descriptions on HiH. I'm basing them on canon. The sorting hat gives me several traits to work with. Cunning manipulation and sly behavior are two of those. I'm not saying that all the HiH Snakes conform to this. I'm saying that, if you go off strict house canon, I don't conform to these standards and probably not a single person here at HiH conforms to their set traits without disagreeing with a few or moving into another house's set.

Snape, yes he does get angry. However, the rest of his emotions? Kept under wraps. And he can even hide his anger. He was a spy after all. He had a bit of a Gryffindor tempter, but he could hide that temper fairly well if he wanted to. We don't get to see a lot of his time with Voldemort, but I think the general implication was he had to change a good deal of his typical emotional responses to things to survive.

As for Draco, I don't think he ever lost his temper in an overwhelming way like say Hermione or Ron (or Harry in Dumbledore's office). I also think that occasionally when he looses his temper, it is a manipulation device. He knows he is supposed to get angry, so he does because it will impress other people if he does. That isn't to say that happens all the time.

PART TWO

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

3. In the canon, Slytherins are presented basically as The Bad Guys. There was little sympathy shown to them by either Harry or the author. Do you think that may be more a case of personal bias than fact? I mean, ALL Slytherins obviously do not feel that the ends justify the means, at least not to the extent that Lucius does. Look at Slughorn. He has been haunted by overwhelming guilt his whole life for simply advising a very bright student on a question he asked, without realising the consequences. He doesn't side with Voldemort not just out of a sense of self-preservation, but because he genuinely thinks his outlook is totally wrong and you have to judge people on their merits, not blood. It's unfair to judge the house, I think, based on the main characters, BECAUSE of that huge bias. (I mean, could a whole house really be full of 100% UGLY people, or is that Harry's bias?) Look at some of the more minor Slytherins: Phineas Nigellus, Regulus Black.

Well, let’s face it. The entire book is biased towards Slytherin. However, this bias is canon, and what we have to go off of. Yes, it sucks that maybe the best of Slytherin isn’t showcased as much as the worst side of Slytherin, but we are given the examples we are given. Slughorn, while I will agree with everything you said there, is another character I find abhorrent. He is disgusting and full of gluttony: for the spot light, for power, etc. I find his need to be overly selective and making an elite club distasteful. I’ve never liked clubs, especially clubs that say this person can not join. Which I suppose, is a bit hypocritical to say. However, clubs like the Slug Club are things that I detest, and I believe it is more of a Slytherin trait to form those clubs than it is any other house.

. It's unfair to judge the house, I think, based on the main characters, BECAUSE of that huge bias.

Except these are the canon characters we are presented with. If we sort based on canon, then we have no choice. Like I said, it sucks that all our canon examples of Slytherin are pretty much awful in some way or another, but it is what JKR gave us. I don’t think all Slytherins are awful people. I think most of the people in our HiH house are quite lovely. Canon just sucks.

Also, you’ve pointed out minor characters, and I suppose you can spin that as they are not nearly as bad as some of the others because they did this or that. However, I’d say we don’t have enough canon fact to make any firm and concrete decisions based on that. (And I am going to continue to address this question in the next few, so if I’ve missed something that you might want to pick apart, it could be in the next two questions. :D)

3a. Are there ANY Slytherin characters you might relate to or understand more?

I think the best example we are presented with is Snape. He is, unfortunately, not purely Slytherin. Like Harry, I think he could have gone into Gryffindor easily.

However, I understand and sympathize with his character, and he is definitely a redeeming light in the Slytherin house JKR presents us with.

Yes, I’ve said I do relate to him in some ways. In fact, his sarcasm, I think was originally a defense mechanism to avoid his own social awkwardness.

However, due to the overwhelmingly less than desirable stereotype JKR has set up for her Slytherin characters, it makes it hard for me to find one that I can not find fault with. This is no fault of the HiH house, of course. It is simply me trying to deal with canon because that is the way we sort; that is the way you are supposed to sort.

Re: PART TWO

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

But part of examining the houses and sorting in a sorting community is seeing BEYOND what we are given in canon BECAUSE of Harry's bias. We do not say being stupid is a Puff trait because Hagrid said so and JKR likes Hagrid. We have to examine the houses with an unbiased eye, and mindful of JKR's bias.

I mean, from this argument, are you basically saying Gryffindor is the best house (for you) because it has the most likeable characters, or the most characters you see as good people? Isn't that a byproduct of the bias? We're SUPPOSED to like the Gryffindors best and hate the Slytherins.

(As a side tangent, I think Snape is 100% Slytherin and hate Dumbledore's comment to him - I think it's just more proof that Gryffindor is the "best" house and if you're really a good person, you MUST be a Gryffindor. I find it perplexing and offensive that a headmaster would divide his students up into the "best ones" and then subcategories of the lesser ones.)

Re: PART TWO

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Oh god no, do you know how long I detested everything about the Gryffindor house? A year ago, you wouldn't have found me saying ANYTHING nice about gryffindor. I disliked, with a passion, every single character put into that house from Dumbledore down to Harry.

In fact, my least favorite character (Dumbledore) is supposedly the "best" Gryffindor in the series. He did so much good. /sarcasm. Dumbledore is still my least favorite character; I still think he is despicable, and I still stand by that fact. If I were under the sorting hat right now with my knowledge I would beg not to go into Gryffindor for fear of turning out like him.

And, just to counter act that, my second favorite character happens to be Tom Riddle, and according to canon he is one of the most evil Slytherins in history. I happen to agree with a lot of his points. (Not the needless killing and torture though. :-/).

I think that there is a bias and a stereotype, and that most of the Slytherins live up to it. I don't think all of that is because we are seeing through the eyes of Harry either. I think Riddle (and Gelert ahead of him) forced his house into that stereotype, and by way of peer/parent pressure, just because they thought it was cool, they saw no other way, were threatened, etc most of the Slytherins fell into that stereotype. Does that mean that I dislike a good deal of them for it? Yes. Sorry, but they did some pretty bad stuff.

And I would like to stress that I am not trying to say that Gryffindor is the best house for me. I think I relate to it better than Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw (you know, Slytherin and Gryffindor being two sides of the same coin), and that is probably coming across in my answers. That and canon likes Gryffindor and Slytherin better anyway. :-/

PART THREE

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

3b. Do you think the behavior of the Slytherins we see in the book may be entirely a product of the times and pressures they're under by their parents (because Voldemort largely recruited from his own house)? Do you think the Slytherins of Harry's kids generation are just as nasty?

Yes, I definitely agree with the idea that the Slytherins we see are a product of their times. I’ve always thought that, and acknowledged that. They are under pressure, and somewhere earlier I answered a re-sorting about Draco in which I said that he is only Slytherin, in my opinion, because of his father and his father’s alliances.

Next-gen has never really interested me. However I think that, due to the stereotype, they do have the ability to be just a nasty depending on how the canon Slytherins that raise them change their outlook or rather don’t change their outlook. Also, as I’ve said, it also depends on how the reputation of the house influences them. I don’t think that, concretely, they are nasty because I know next to nothing about them canon wise, and I have no interest in creating a personality for them myself.

4. Related to the above: Pick one or two characters from each of the other houses, like you did with Lucius and Pansy, and explain why you don't relate to them or their actions and worldview.

Wheee. Okay.

Gryffindor: Dumbeldore (you knew I was going to say him, right?)

Basically, I think he is evil. However, what I dislike most about him is his deceptive, secretive nature. He keeps important things from people, and I prefer honesty over the great good for the most part. Now, given, I don’t know how I would handle myself in his situation, however, I think he should have gotten over what he thought was right. The way he handled his Gryffindor nature (to go forward with what he believed was right no matter what), rubs me in all kind of wrong ways. I think his manipulation of Harry and Severus is disgusting, and he had no right (no matter what) to do that to people. He made them trust him, made them rely on him, and then refused to tell them things and got them to do horrible things for this so-called ‘greater good’.

James Potter

Okay, he was a bully. He took his Gryffindor boldness and general “greater good” feeling and warped it so he felt like he was some sort of Gryffindor god who could do whatever to whomever he pleased. I detest this mentality, and I think that pretty much sums that up.

Ravenclaw: Cho Chang

I hate her simpering, girly attitude, and her lack of faith. Also, her bad choices in friends. She rubbed me the wrong way because she seemed so superficial. She is someone everyone is friends with because she is pretty or semi-talented, but no one really likes because she’s about as deep as a puddle. <--- Which yes, I copied and pasted because I am lazy.

It may just be the way she was presented through Harry’s point of view, but she seemed so useless. She had no drive, no fire. She was simply there, giggling or crying with no good reason. She seemed like a drone. She had no real thoughts that meant anything. She had no real feelings that I cared about.

And, for that matter, I saw nothing presented to me that made her a true Ravenclaw.

Hufflepuff: Helga Hufflepuff

The original model. I think her “and I’ll teach the rest” philosophy is utter crap. Schools should be selective. I don’t think everyone deserved to learn magic. I mean, I don’t agree with Slytherin that it should just be pure bloods, but I think there is a definite line. What that line is, however, I couldn’t tell you for sure. (Another copy and paste. You’ll forgive me right?)

I don’t know Hufflepuffs very well. In fact, you could say that they are the one house I know virtually nothing about. In fact, I don’t know many Hufflepuffs from HiH either so I don’t even have that to go on. Therefore, this answer is just a base observation that is rather superficial in itself, unfortunately. If her character or any other Hufflepuff had more fleshing out in canon, my answer probably would change, so take this one with a grain of salt.

[lotrangel17.livejournal.com]

1. Who would be your favorite teacher at Hogwarts and why?

2. Who do you consider to be your role model and why did you choose that person?

3. What would your dream vacation be?

Stephanie//Hufflepuff

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

1. Who would be your favorite teacher at Hogwarts and why?

McGonagall. She has a firm hand, she forces her students to abide by the rules, she doesn’t accept nonsense, she isn’t boring, she doesn’t tolerate lateness or rudeness, and she teaches a fascinating subject that I’d probably have trouble with.

2. Who do you consider to be your role model and why did you choose that person?

The Duchess of Devonshire; Georgiana Cavendish. I think she was strong and tolerant of other people’s mistakes. She lived through so much and came out the other side. She wasn’t tainted by the evils of the world, and somehow managed to keep her beautiful personality.

Yes, she was plagued by some rather unfortunate habits (gambling for instance), but she was still a strong character. She managed to hold herself together despite the odds, and she would have done anything for her children.

It is something I aspire to, and also something that I wish I could be (I hate children. -_-). She is a human with flaws and bad habits, but she is also a strong figure in the face of the public.

Also, she had amazing fashion sense. Not always practical, but still pretty awesome.

3. What would your dream vacation be?

I’ve never thought about it? Somewhere cool, but not isolated. Somewhere there aren’t millions and millions or tourists. Also, somewhere that speaks English. Good lord, I’d die if they didn’t. I have no skill for language that isn’t English.

Probably somewhere in Europe though. I’ve lived in the US, so I wouldn’t want to go there. I’m not a big fan of warm countries, and since I need English speaking countries, most of Asia is out. Plus, Asian countries scare me. They have this whole other world, it seems like, and I’d be this intruder who didn’t know what was going on. Ever.

Hmm, my mom went to Vienna once and she said they had good pastries. I don’t really know anything else besides that, but it sounds like a good enough reason for me to go! :)

[lovestyle.livejournal.com]

*glomps* Now that I have internet on vacation, I can pop by and ask you a quick question! :D It's my classic question, but it usually tells me a lot. :P

Take the iPersonic here (http://ipersonic.com/) and tell us your results. Do you agree with them? What sounds the most like you? The least?

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

♥

Okay, I am an Independent Thinker.

introverted, theoretical, logical, planning, rational, independent, intellectual, self-confident, analytical, structured, dogged, witty, resolute, self-critical, visionary, inventive, independent, unsociable, reserved, nonconformist, quiet, visionary, honest, demanding, hardworking

Okay, I definitely agree with the self-confident, self-critical, demanding, honest, and introverted bits a LOT.

I'd say the hard-working and independent are the least like me.

I think, of everything the page says, the only thing I really disagree with is: Abstract thinking comes naturally to them; scientists and computer specialists are often of this type. I'm not particularly skilled in either area. :-/

I think that this: Even once you begin to warm up to someone, one does not sense that for the longest time as you are uncomfortable and reluctant to display your feelings because you are not used to it. The cool, distanced, and somewhat arrogant vibes of all Thinkers are a little more pronounced with you and already sufficiently discourage many potential partners as they get frustrated and give up during the advanced phases of flirting - a shame because inside, you are not as indifferent and emotionless as you some- times appear, and sometimes your reserve simply hides your disappointment at the blindness and superficiality of the people around you. sums up a little of what I've been trying to say overall about myself.

(http://ipersonic.com/type/IT.html)

[dorasolo.livejournal.com]

Tell me why you would want to be a part of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. What about these houses draw you in the most? The least? What house is your most preferred choice as of now? What makes it different from Slytherin, to you?

Gryffindor is full of argumentative hotheads who like the spotlight and who hate backing down out of a debate. We defend our ideals fiercely, and sometimes feelings get hurt. What would you do if this happened in our house?

Do you think Lily Evans was justified in changing her mind about James and Snape, or is that one of your biggest WTF moments in HP fandom?

PART ONE

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Tell me why you would want to be a part of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. What about these houses draw you in the most? The least? What house is your most preferred choice as of now? What makes it different from Slytherin, to you?

Gryffindor: Because I see it as a more open house where there is a general feeling of ‘we are so cool and we love each other’. This is based off what I’ve heard from Gryffindors. This is also the house that draws me the most. I think all the houses would be great, and I generally love most of the people. However, as Slytherin and Gryffindor are two sides of the same coin, (Yes! Merlin reference!) I feel as though the transition would be easier. I also feel as if I have stronger Gryffindor characteristics than I do say, Hufflepuff.

And I guess that sort of makes it my preferred choice?

I guess, in my opinion, it differs from Slytherin because there isn’t that whole ‘omg. Points. We have to win everything.’ mentality. Things seem more relaxed and friendly. People, not points, you know?

Hufflepuff: Because they seem like such a strong support unit. I think I could trust them to have my back and to also comfort me when I am down.

Ravenclaw: Because they are a crazy bunch, and you can’t not love them. Plus, my best friend is in Ravenclaw! This is the house I am drawn to the least. I find that my nature is not suited to this house really even though I once thought it was. I am not about knowledge for knowledge’s sake, and that’s a big part of being a Ravenclaw. For example, Angie (bff!) wrote notes for her original HiH application. She planned it out, and she got into Ravenclaw with an overwhelming amount of votes (which I predicted, btw. xD). Me? I wrote my application out in one go, and I just typed every single thought that came into my head.


Gryffindor is full of argumentative hotheads who like the spotlight and who hate backing down out of a debate. We defend our ideals fiercely, and sometimes feelings get hurt. What would you do if this happened in our house?

Basically, I think with any house you are going to find some of this. It is just the natural way of people and groups. I’m pretty sure I can say with certainty that it isn’t like this, BUT if it were, I would have been too scared to lodge an appeal.

However, supposing I was already in Gryffindor when I found this out, I suppose I’d just steer clear of the common room when people were getting worked up. I have friends outside in other houses. It’s what I’ve been doing. I haven’t felt as if I fit in Slytherin, and I’ve felt that the whole attitude of the group was…far too competitive and generally condescending to other houses. So I looked else where. I became friends with Gryffindors and Ravenclaws etc. So if I was in a similar situation in Gryffindor, (and I wasn’t the one starting all the drama. Lol.) then I would, of course, try my best to stay out of everything (unless one of my friends was getting insulted. Then I’d dive in, no holds barred) and stick with my friends outside of the house.

PART TWO

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Do you think Lily Evans was justified in changing her mind about James and Snape, or is that one of your biggest WTF moments in HP fandom?

I think she should have forgiven Snape. What he did was wrong, but, in the end, he felt really bad about it. In his own way, he tried to apologize. She blew it out of proportion. However, in a way I sympathize with her. I would have done the same thing. So I disagree with what she did, but I also recognize that, in that situation, I would have been as quick to judge and cut him off as she was. What he did was pretty low and even worse because they had been friends for so long. I think she felt betrayed, and therefore, while as an innocent bystander, I think it was the wrong thing to do to change her mind completely about him, in the heat of the moment, it is just what you do.

James…well, I dislike what I’ve seen of James. However, there isn’t much canon on how he did change. Or maybe it was that fact that she cut herself of from Snape that allowed her to see the change. Anyway, that is a bit of a ‘wtf’ moment for me because I’m not privy to what changed her mind. My original impression of James being a bastard has stuck with me, and yeah, I don’t understand how she went from thinking he was a prick to marrying him. Obviously, there must have been something there though. And boys do grow up. Maybe James did realize that he was an utter cad, and got over himself. People can change.

Appeal denied.

[caketime.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the late reply, it was a close call with one vote making the difference! You have a lot of Gryffindor traits: spontaneity, boldness, idealistic view of the world, etc., (For example: "So I just live in the moment, jumping from place to place. I never see what happens in the end. I have trouble starting from the end. It starts at the beginning and each thing happens as it happens." or "Well, as I’ve said, I’m more of a here and now person. I don’t have any ultimate goals." is very Gryffindor.)

However, most judges found that you encompassed more Slytherin traits (for example your Triwizard answer was very Slytherin: humility and failing to bring pride...). Most of the judges voting for Slytherin pointed out that you had an "ideal" common room and projected that onto the Gryffindor common room.

To paraphrase a judge: Snape was in Slytherin and he valued love above all. Slytherins can also value love and boldness, they'll just take a different approach to it- like you do. On top of that, you are confident about yourself whether or not you had a tough time getting confident- that sort of confidence is that of a Slytherin.

We sincerely hope you'll remain active. If you want, you can try to push the Slytherin common room into a direction you'd feel more welcome in?

Re: Appeal denied.

[ex-absolute.livejournal.com]

Haha, alright. That's fine. I just needed to do this for myself.

Time to spam the Slytherin common room with bunnies and stuff.

Thank you, everyone, for your consideration!

Re: Appeal denied.

[caketime.livejournal.com]

That's all right. :) We're glad to be of assistance, it was a close one!