I loved reading this – thank you for taking the time to write it. I find it fascinating.

I like the idea of how we can change from identifying more with one House to identifying more with another as we grow up and change ourselves. As Dumbledore said, “I sometimes think we Sort too soon”.

Nowadays I’m more Hufflepuff. Being kind is more important to me than being right, and I want everyone to get along, or at least not be hostile towards each other. That wasn’t the case so much when I was younger. I might not be the one at the front campaigning for change like Gryffindors, but I’ll show my support behind the scenes and help out with the more routine tasks. When I first took the Pottermore sorting hat test I was surprised to be sorted into Hufflepuff as I thought I was Ravenclaw. I’ve accepted it now as I’ve done more research into the different houses and realised my priorities have changed. I’m not sure how much of that is from being ill, or if it would have happened anyway.

I do have Slytherin traits, and when I was younger I was very ambitious and wanted to be the best at things. I’m probably more Slytherin than Gryffindor as I’m not very brave. I wish there had been more examples of good Slytherins in the books, as being ambitious and cunning isn’t a bad thing, it’s how it’s used that counts.

I think most people have varying quantities of each house, it’s just what is most dominant that determines where you get put. I did like that the main characters had aspects of another house where they’d probably fit in (Harry in Slytherin, Hermione in Ravenclaw, and less obvious but still there, Ron in Hufflepuff). The main characters I identify with are Hermione, Neville (I’m dyspraxic so am clumsy and disorganised) and Luna (odd and having unusual interests).

I loved reading your wonderfully long comment – thank you for taking the time to write it. You’re the best. I find this stuff really interesting.

Quite a few people whom I love most are Ravenclaw so what I wrote about Ravenclaw was hopefully taken in a tongue-in-cheek way ;-P

I have no idea how I ended up being more harsh about Ravenclaw than Slytherin. Maybe when it comes to intelligence, I recognise delusional arrogance, insecurity and pride in myself. So subconsciously when I wrote about Ravenclaw, I was actually rebuking myself and was in denial about the more Ravenclaw, geeky side of my personality. Maybe also secretly I wanted someone to say “Jenny, you’re a genius! You’d be in Ravenclaw!” bahahaha. Oh dear.

And we definitely would have been friends at school – you’re awesome (and definitely not arrogant). Besides, I liked every single person at school and was friends with everyone lol.

I love that we rank fruit pastilles in the same taste order. That’s clearly the important thing here. Any other way is madness. Although I don’t think I’ve had any fruit pastilles since my school days (and wouldn’t now because sugar).

It’s that whole thing of not being brave unless you have to – I actually think Neville is a great example of this. He’s scared but does brave things when it comes to what is right. I often feel this about illness stuff – I mostly just want to hide, but when it comes to the protectioion of others I feel I must roar, even though I still feel scared. I wonder if actually bravery always feels like you’re braver not because you want to, but because you ‘must’. You just have to. After all, it wouldn’t be bravery if we didn’t feel scared in the first place. If people like doing things that scare them, that just makes them reckless – or horror-film afficionados- neither of which is the true Gryffindor spirit.

And you’re so GOOD – in the best, joyful-light sense of the word. You’re the goodest person I know! That fruit pastille story really moved me. Partly because you also sort pastilles in the correct taste order, and partly because I also save the best till last, so I know what a sacrifice this was. I think what you did was really beautiful. I like to think I would have done the same, but I might just have stuck it in my mouth quietly.

I think you’re the perfect possible combo of Hufflepuff and Gryff (and would definitely put you in the mould of Hermione – but nicer, and sportier.)

By the way – I love your analysis of the houses – really helpful. I definitely have Slytherin elements. I was considering all the ways I fit in the different houses (and you’re right – we all fit in all the houses) but OH MY GOODNESS your description of Ravenclaw made me laugh so much! I think I may just be super-arrogant, after all…! 🙂 It was the end line about intellectual snobs that made me guffaw – that’s me!! I prob am an intellectual snob (whilst also recognising that I’m not nearly so clever as most of the folk I know from oxford days, and cannot get science into my head, nor general knowledge facts.) And I can’t write half so well as I’d like to. But I do love all those activities you find so boring, and I’m terrible at sport! (Huh! Maybe we wouldn’t have been mates in school after all…!)

But reading through this helped me clarify. I’m not nearly nice enough to be hufflepuff, and I’m not cutthroat enough to be Slytherin. Lots of people say I’m Gryffindor, but it was your comment about wisdom that clarified it for me. Wisdom is a precious word to me. If I could sum up what I would love my epitaph to be in one word, it would be ‘wisdom’. Not knowledge in the dry academic sense, but more like a deep spiritual wisdom that helps others.

So Ravenclaw I am! (Though Gryffindor in exceptional circumstances.) Ravendor?? 🙂

I LOVED THIS! Thank you!