Slytherins don’t have the best reputation.
And there are still many fans out there who think they’re evil.
But they’re so much more than some select bad apples.
In fact, some of their best traits even outshine other Hogwarts houses.
And it’s time people focus on their good side too…
Continue reading to discover:
- Why Slytherins always end up looking like the bad guys.
- How good Slytherins separate themselves from evil stereotypes.
- Mind-blowing Slytherin traits that make them better than other Hogwarts houses.
- And so much more…
9 good Slytherin house traits
#1: A thirst for success
I know Slytherins don’t have the best track record with ambitious types…
Especially since the evil Lord Voldemort was a Slytherin himself.
But when it comes to determination…
Nobody had a stronger desire for success than a Slytherin.
And that type of attitude is actually a good thing.
Because you need that level of resolve to get what you want in life.
For example, we have Leta Lestrange. A proud Slytherin and close friend of Newt Scamander.
You see, Leta didn’t have the best upbringing.
But did she let her past hold her back?
No, she was determined to turn over a new leaf.
And Leta would go on to join the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The government’s main branch for maintaining peace.
“But did she do anything important?”
Well, Leta Lestrange made a heroic sacrifice.
And she died stopping 1 of Gellert Grindelwald’s rallies. A campaign to join his evil plans of ruling over the non-magical world.
Sure, ambition can be used for bad things.
But a Slytherin’s thirst for success can also be used for good.
And the determination that comes with it is 1 of their defining traits.
#2: Cunning
Most people often associate it with being evil.
And I can’t really blame them either…
Because deceiving others always leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
However, being cunning isn’t necessarily bad.
And it can come in handy in many situations too.
For example, a detective needs to be cunning to outwit their opponents.
Plus, it’s also a sign of intelligence.
Because you can’t deceive someone without having the brains to do it.
And if there’s 1 Hogwarts house craftier than the rest…
That title goes to Slytherins.
For instance, do you remember The Battle of the Astronomy Tower?
Well, Dark wizards managed to break into Hogwarts.
But none of it would’ve been possible without Draco Malfoy’s help.
So what did he do, you ask?
Well, Draco figured out how to repair The Hogwarts Vanishing Cabinets. A pair of magical cabinets that worked as a secret passage.
And if you thought that was impressive…
Draco managed to do all of it without getting caught.
Sure, it did lead to Albus Dumbledore’s death.
But that doesn’t take away from Draco’s feat.
And a Slytherin’s ability to outsmart others is 1 of their defining traits.
#3: Very competitive
Not everybody will agree with competitive people.
Others just enjoy the moment…
And don’t really see the need to one-up each other.
But being competitive can have its benefits too.
In fact, even research agrees.
Because it can be a great source of motivation.
And if there’s 1 house that was always fighting to be at the top.
Slytherins definitely win this one.
For example, let’s take a quick look at the House Cup history. An annual award given to the Hogwarts house with the most points.
Sure, Harry Potter did help Gryffindor claim victory during his time.
But can you guess who had a 6-year win streak?
Well, it’s none other than Slytherins.
And if we take things outside on flying brooms with Quidditch…
Slytherins still has the most wins and trophies.
As a result, competitiveness brings out the best in Slytherins.
It motivates them to put in a lot of effort.
Not to mention spark teamwork among their fellow members.
And that’s what makes it 1 of their defining traits.
#4: Visionary
A lot of people think about their future.
But only a select few can make a plan…
And actually have it work and stand the test of time.
For example, we have Salazar Slytherin. The founder of Slytherin House.
Now, say what you will about his bad sides.
I’m not going to defend the guy for all the evil things he’s done.
Like creating the Chamber of Secrets, a hidden dungeon in Hogwarts…
Not to mention hiding a dangerous giant serpent inside of it.
But he did build the legacy of the Slytherins.
And by placing all of the ambitious wizards and witches into 1 house…
Plus, valuing pure-bloods who came from an all-magical family.
It carried the reputation of natural leaders and accomplished wizards.
Sure, people like Rubeus Hagrid believed it to be the house of evil.
But there’s no denying that respect the Slytherin house carried.
And it’s all thanks to Salazar Slytherin’s fine work during the founders’ time.
So if you’re a Slytherin yourself…
Don’t worry about achieving your goals from the get-go.
#5: Powerful
Gryffindors often get the spotlight to show off their skills.
But if we’re going by the numbers…
There were many more powerful Slytherins.
And it ties back into their eagerness to succeed.
Not to mention their natural ability to outsmart others.
As a result, they don’t shy away from putting in the work.
And that’s why many Slytherins become powerful wizards.
For example, we can look at Voldemort.
He’s ranked as the 2nd strongest wizard in the world.
Plus, he matched Albus Dumbledore in an epic fight.
And I strongly recommend watching that movie clip again:
On top of that, let’s not forget Bellatrix Lestrange.
A witch strong enough to kill Sirius Black and Nymphadora Tonks.
Of course, being a Slytherin doesn’t instantly give you power.
It still takes just as much practice to get there.
But Slytherins do have a knack for becoming powerful wizards.
And it’s 1 of their best traits.
#6: Confident
Confidence can take you to far places.
In fact, even a study says it’s got practical benefits too.
Because it’s important for communicating with patients in real life.
And if we’re talking about the most confident students in Hogwarts…
Nobody comes close to the Slytherins.
They took pride in their house.
And all of the effort it took to reach their achievements.
Plus, it also applied to their self-esteem too.
Of course, others might say they come off as smug.
However, Slytherin’s confidence can come in very handy.
For example, do you remember when Harry and Ron took the Polyjuice Potion?
Well, they transformed into Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Sure, they did look like Slytherins.
But did they have the confidence? Not in the slightest.
So when a prefect approached them…
They couldn’t muster up the words to talk back.
But can you guess who helped them?
Well, it was actually Draco Malfoy.
In fact, he walked up to the prefect and wasn’t afraid to tell him off.
And that type of flair and confidence is something only Slytherins enjoy.
#7: Loyal
I know it sounds like 1 of Hufflepuff’s best traits.
Or maybe even something closer to a Gryffindor’s ideals.
But even Slytherins were loyal.
“I thought they ditched during the Battle of Hogwarts? How can they be loyal then?”
Well, instead of undying loyalty to a group of people…
Slytherins were loyal at a personal level.
For example, we must look at Severus Snape.
You see, Snape loved Lily Evans so much.
And he was heartbroken at her death.
So to honor her soul…
He always kept her son, Harry Potter, safe.
In fact, Snape didn’t even need recognition.
He kept helping Harry from the shadows.
And Severus had always done it for Lily.
On top of that, he also kept his promise to Albus Dumbledore…
Despite all the hardships he’d end up facing.
As a result, Snape proved his loyalty by killing Dumbledore…
Setting in motion the final steps to beating Voldemort.
So if anyone tries to tell you that Slytherins are evil…
Remind them of Severus Snape.
And show them just how loyal a Slytherin can be.
#8: Tactical
Ravenclaws may be known for their intelligence…
But if you want someone who can execute a plan…
Slytherins were the best in the business.
Because they were great at strategic thinking.
As a result, it’s not shocking why Voldemort managed to become so powerful.
He had everything planned out…
And was almost successful at the very end too.
But a greater example would be Professor Severus Snape.
He managed to work as a double agent for Albus Dumbledore…
All the while staying under Voldemort’s wing.
In fact, even when the Dark Lord questioned Snape’s loyalty.
He could come up with the best excuses.
And what if Voldemort still had his doubts?
Well, Snape could prevent him from reading his mind as a backup plan.
So if Gryffindors could charge straight into battle…
A Slytherin will plan out all the details.
Because he doesn’t want to risk any chance of failure.
And it’s 1 of the most impressive Slytherin traits.
#9: Loving
Okay, I might get a million cold looks for this one.
But being a Slytherin doesn’t mean you’re incapable of love.
On the contrary, Slytherins were some of the most loving people.
Of course, they didn’t show it to everyone.
But for the loved ones that mattered…
A Slytherin’s love was never in doubt.
For example, all you need is to look at the Malfoy family.
Their entire story was about putting each other first.
You see, Lucius Malfoy didn’t help Voldemort’s forces during the Battle of Hogwarts.
He spent the entire time searching for his Draco instead.
On top of that, we have Narcissa Malfoy.
She lied about Harry Potter’s death…
To keep her son Draco safe.
So don’t let anyone say Slytherins didn’t understand love.
Because when it came to family…
Slytherins always understood who to put first before anyone else.
“If Slytherins had good qualities, why were they portrayed as the bad guys?”
Well, it all boils down to how Harry Potter started.
J.K. Rowling wrote it as a children’s book series.
So having a good guy versus bad guy scenario was common.
And Slytherins just filled that role.
But as the cast grew…
Not to mention the audience.
The book had to evolve as well.
And that’s how we got conflicting representations for Slytherin house.
On the bright side, they did get better moments at the end of the series.
But it’s also the reason why Harry Potter is bad literature.
There were just a bunch of missed opportunities that fans could spot from a mile away.
7 bad Slytherin house traits
#1: Arrogant
While I did say being ambitious can be good…
A lot of Slytherins took those good parts and threw them out the window.
So what makes them so arrogant, you ask?
Well, because of their obsession over ambition…
Slytherins tend to think they’re better than everyone else.
In fact, you don’t need to look far for an example.
Just look at Draco Malfoy and his lackeys.
They were always up to no good in their scenes.
And you’d always hear them badmouth someone.
Like bullying Ron because the Weasleys were poor.
Plus, don’t even get me started with Draco’s interactions with Harry Potter.
That’s an entire can of worms filled with bad blood…
All because Draco’s a bit too prideful.
So despite a Slytherin’s good sides…
Their arrogance can overshadow everything.
And it’s 1 of the reasons why every other Hogwarts house tries to avoid them.
Plus, can you really blame the other Hogwarts houses?
A study shows making friends is important.
Because it can make you happier and give you support.
But how are you supposed to connect with someone arrogant?
#2: Didn’t care about rules
Although Gryffindors were quite the rule-breakers…
Especially with Harry, Ron, and Hermione leading the pack.
Slytherins come in a close 2nd in disobedience.
You see, Slytherins think they’re above the rules due to their status.
But unlike everybody else…
They’re a lot more sneaky about it.
Because it ties back into their cunning.
So why risk getting caught when you can simply be careful?
On the less crazy end, Draco Malfoy and his friends would break curfew.
In fact, Draco would even abuse his authority as a prefect in Hogwarts too.
And on the scarier end, the vast majority of Death Eaters were Slytherins.
Coincidence? I think not.
It’s the next step up from all the bullying and arrogant behavior.
And that’s why Slytherins fill the role of Voldemort’s dark wizards perfectly.
Of course, you could be a Slytherin and follow the rules.
But it’s much more common for them to be sneaky rule-breakers.
#3: Racist
If you haven’t heard the term Mudblood…
It’s a slur about people not being pure-bloods.
Because non-magical parents were looked down upon.
Fortunately, the wizarding world became a lot more tolerant in recent times.
However, Slytherins were big on tradition.
And for a Hogwarts house that prided itself on blood purity…
They didn’t take too kindly to the idea.
You’d often hear Draco Malfoy call Hermione a Mudblood.
In fact, this was what he had to say about wizards from non-magical backgrounds:
“I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They’re just not the same, they’ve never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families.”
On top of that, I don’t even have to mention all the Death Eaters.
Voldemort’s very goal was to get rid of all the non-magical people.
He wanted pure-blood dominance everywhere.
#4: Judgemental
In the same way that Slytherins were arrogant…
All that self-importance made them very judgemental as well.
And while being critical of people can be useful at times.
There was nothing constructive about them looking down on others.
For example, we have Horace Slughorn. A professor at Hogwarts who liked to play favorites.
But was it your classic teacher’s pet kind of way?
No, he actively ignored students he didn’t see as worthy.
Like how he paid no attention to Ron Weasley…
Because Professor Slughorn believed Ron was untalented.
In fact, he made things very clear with his Slug Club.
A special group of Slughorn’s famous and well-liked students.
But did he use it as a way to create strong bonds with the young wizards?
No, he simply wanted to cherry-pick the best ones.
So he could maintain connections and increase his influence.
And while not all Slytherins were equally judgmental…
It’s 1 of the most common bad traits among them.
#5: Always hold a grudge
There are a bunch of people who hold grudges in the real world.
And that’s because some wrongdoings just can’t be forgiven.
But as for all the Slytherins…
They were a lot more resentful than any other Hogwarts house.
Of course, I can understand wanting to get even.
But Slytherins just had an unreasonable desire to take revenge.
For example, look at everything Severus Snape has done to Harry Potter.
Like giving Harry detention whenever he could.
Or even insulting Harry every chance he got.
So what exactly were Snape’s reasons for being so mean?
Well, he was so harsh on Harry because he hated his father, James Potter.
And since James has passed away…
Snape’s taking out his frustrations on Harry instead.
As a result, we can see this bad Slytherin trait as clear as day.
They never let go of grudges.
In fact, they even go as far as tormenting others who didn’t know any better.
#6: Selfish
There’s nothing inherently wrong with being selfish.
Sometimes you just have to put yourself first…
Especially if you deserve it.
However, Slytherins didn’t care if they deserved it or not.
It was either their way or no way at all.
For example, the Sorting Hat explained it best in his song:
“Or perhaps in Slytherin… You’ll make your real friends… Those cunning folks use any means… To achieve their ends.”
And this by any means necessary attitude is what breaks the Slytherin house for a lot of fans.
They don’t care if they have to step on others.
Or even use illegal ways of getting there.
Slytherins will selfishly reach for their goals…
Regardless of who gets crushed in the process.
#7: Untrustworthy
Sure, you could make a case that laying down all your cards is never smart.
And that’s why bending the truth can be good sometimes too.
But if we’re talking about Slytherins…
A lot of them were untrustworthy.
For example, we have Tom Riddle. A young Slytherin who grew up to become Voldemort.
He was guilty of opening the Chamber of Secrets.
As a result, releasing a monster that killed 1 of the Hogwarts students.
But did Tom own up to his mistakes?
No, he didn’t.
In fact, when he found Hagrid with his pet Acromantula, Aragog.
Tom framed him and his giant spider instead.
And this trait’s easily 1 of the worst things about Slytherins.
They don’t care about telling lies.
Or throwing people under the bus.
It’s second nature to them.
Bonus: Self-preservation
Looking out for yourself isn’t always a negative thing.
It’s only natural instinct.
So the verdict on being bad or good’s 50-50.
However, there are times when you need to be selfless.
And Slytherins follow self-preservation to a fault.
For example, we have to go back to The Battle of Hogwarts.
All other Hogwarts houses had some people stay and fight.
But what about the Slytherins?
Every single one of them went home.
And we could make a case that fewer people would’ve died…
If only Hogwarts had more wizards and witches on their side.
But your flaws shouldn’t define you
Again, nobody’s perfect.
And while Slytherins may have been portrayed as bad…
They’ve got just as many good sides to them as well.
So even if Slytherin’s got bad actors like Lucius Malfoy or Voldemort.
We have Narcissa Malfoy and Severus Snape to balance things out.
Plus, life’s not about dwelling on our weak points.
It’s about using our strengths to do what’s right.
So if you’re a Slytherin questioning yourself…
Focus on the good only you can do.