"Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin got together and founded the school. Ushering in a new age for those of us able to use magic."
"Yes. They worked together for years and each year each of them would choose students they would teach their secrets to, based off what motivated the students."
"Okay."
Draco impatient with Susan's methodical explanation said, "Well, even today students are sorted into houses. The houses don't mix much. They're more like rivals. Especially Slytherin."
"Okay, but you do kind of realize, that sounds pretty stupid. Like it's trying to find ways of dividing us instead of helping us to see how we're alike and helping us to bridge our differences." That comment garnered Harry shocked looks. Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay, so how are we sorted into houses?"
"That's a secret. No one ever tells someone who hasn't been to Hogwarts how it is done." Hannah said.
Draco said, "While the exact means of the sorting are secret the qualities for each of the houses is not. Slytherin is famous for cunning and ambition."
"And dark wizards." Neville threw in, glaring at the blond.
Harry saw a battle between his cousin and his friend about to erupt and was quick to jump in as a peacemaker. "I can see how that could be." Harry ignored Draco's betrayed look for a moment, knowing what he planned to say would make it go away. "But I don't think that that House alone would have evil wizards. After all my parents were betrayed by a fellow Gryffindor. The percentage might be higher coming out of Slytherin due to the ambition to rule the world definitely being ambitious. But what about all those whose ambition is merely to be the best in their chosen field? And if, heaven forbid there was a war, who would you rather have as your general someone who is bold and recklessly throws their troops into battle or someone cunning who tries to save as much life as possible?" He paused for a second to let that sink in, then started again. "So I know from Sirius that Gryffindor is supposed to be brave, noble and bold. What about Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff?" Even though he knew Hufflepuffs were expected to be friendly and good natured.
Draco snorted. "Bookworms and Duffers."
Susan and Hannah both took affront at this summation. "Malfoy, take that back," they said in unison. Since both their families were dominated by members of Hufflepuff.
Draco saw the frown being leveled at him by his cousin and figured he'd stepped over the line. His father had been quite clear a few days ago, "Draco, we are now effectively vassals of the house of Black. And while I was raised to be, think and do certain things, those ways are going by the wayside. A new order, if you will, is being born. In the interest of our family, it is vital that you do not do as I was trained by my father and grandfather to do, and sadly as up until now, I have trained you to do. It is vital that you learn to follow the new ways. Ways that I am struggling to learn myself, therefore, I cannot teach them to you."
"But how am I to learn them, Father?"
"Look to your cousin." Lucius Malfoy gulped, shuddering a bit as he said his next words. "Look to Harry Potter, let him be your example."
It was quite clear his cousin was expecting him to apologize, so he did. "You're right, I shouldn't have said that. It was rude and I'm sorry. But you have to admit that is the general perception."
Both girls were mollified by his apology. Harry who had stiffened at his rudeness once again relaxed.
Susan unbent enough to say, " I suppose you're right. Hufflepuff is the House that values justice, loyalty, hard work and acceptance."
"All good qualities if applied to proper goals and with trust given to trustworthy people." Harry said.
"What do you mean by that?" Hannah asked.
"Well, if someone with those qualities was using those traits to advance the cause of say, someone like Voldemort, wouldn't that be a bad thing?" Harry ignored the way Hannah and Neville jumped and Draco and Susan both shuddered when he said the name. "Actually, I think that's true of all the houses. Take Ravenclaw, there is not a thing wrong with being smart or liking books. I'm quite fond of them myself. Knowledge is a good thing, but if taken to extremes you get information constipation, to much thinking and no action. When you focus on gaining knowledge to the exclusion of doing something useful and good with it, you become useless to yourself and others. Hufflepuff, having people who can work steadily through the ups and downs and accept others as they are, is sometimes critical in times of trouble. Making them an asset. Gryffindor courage and boldness have their place. Sometimes it's critical so that someone goes forward to make things happen, but it needs to be balanced by knowledge, cunning and hard work. I'd be willing to bet the founders found the same."
The other four children were astonished they had never before looked at it that way. They had all been raised in homes that stressed the values of the House of their parents.
"But what about muggleborns? What about how Slytherin and Gryffindor fought and parted company over muggleborns?" Draco burst out.
"Muggleborns have the same abilities as the rest of us. They deserve to be trained just like the rest of us." Harry was quiet for a moment. He and Beth had discussed the history of magic many times in the evenings; she had helped him learn most of what he hoped to impart to his peers. "Draco, what happens if someone with magic doesn't get trained? They continue to do accidental magic right? Does that bring attention to them?"
Draco nodded.
"What's the biggest law governing magical society?"
...
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