Harry Potter’s a Gryffindor.
So that means it’s the best house, right?
Well, despite their commendable traits…
Gryffindors weren’t perfect.
In fact, they’ve got plenty of shortcomings.
And you’ll be shocked at how their flaws contrast with their good sides…
Continue reading to discover:
- What made Gryffndors stand out in Hogwarts.
- Why being a Gryffindor wasn’t as cool as fans remember.
- 21 good and bad traits of Gryffindor house that will surprise you.
- And so much more…
9 good Gryffindor house traits
#1: Brave
Being brave was the trademark of every Gryffindor.
And any 1 of them could set aside their fears.
Not to mention even stare death directly in its face.
For example, we have Neville Longbottom.
He may have been clumsy and shy at first.
But he became the bravest Gryffindor during The Battle of Hogwarts.
So what did he do, you ask?
Well, when the evil Lord Voldemort and his army approached the school.
He claimed the battle was over and Harry Potter was dead.
As a result, everyone was too scared to speak up.
But Neville stepped forward and gave an empowering speech despite his fears.
And it’s a movie clip I strongly recommend watching again:
#2: Loyal
Sure, loyalty might sound like a Hufflepuff trait.
In fact, they were the 2nd house with most wizards and witches that stayed behind to fight in Hogwarts.
Plus, we’ve also got Cedric Diggory.
So what made the Gryffindors way more loyal?
Well, they always stuck with their friends.
And Gryffindors will always stand with the people they love…
Even in the face of great danger.
On top of that, can you guess which Hogwarts house had the most members in the battle against Voldemort?
Well, it’s none other than Gryffindor.
In fact, Gryffindor House had witches like Lavender Brown.
Who laid down their lives to protect the school from Voldemort’s forces.
And that’s proof of their undying loyalty to the school.
#3: Adventurous
Let’s be real.
There wouldn’t be much of a story without Gryffindors.
And that’s because their adventures bring life to the Harry Potter books.
So without them around…
We wouldn’t have so many fun moments to remember.
For example, do you remember when the Weasleys broke out Harry Potter?
Well, they rode a flying car straight into the suburbs…
Which only the super adventures could ever dare to do.
Plus, it paired well with their bravery too.
For instance, you don’t just approach Buckbeak because you’re not afraid.
You must be willing to step into the unknown and go near the magical beast.
And who was adventurous enough to give it a shot?
Well, it’s none other than the Gryffindor protagonist, Harry Potter.
#4: Courageous
Bravery and courage might sound like the same thing.
But what sets them apart is fear.
And if being brave means disregarding the fact that you’re afraid.
Courage means accepting those fears and still taking a stand.
For example, we have Dumbledore’s Army.
A secret organization that taught how to defend against the dark arts…
Right under the nose of Dolores Umbridge.
Harry Potter and his friends knew the risks.
But did they give up?
No, they continued teaching others.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of Gryffindors being courageous.
Plus, research shows a bit of courage can go a long way.
Like how it can help nurses increase patient satisfaction in real life.
#5: Daring
Challenges are part of life.
And in the wizarding world…
The addition of magic can really spice up the risks and difficulties.
But how does a Gryffindor respond?
Well, they’re always ready to take the plunge.
And their daring characteristic is one of the best parts about them.
For example, when Harry Potter thought Sirius Black was in danger.
He let his actions do the talking and went straight to save him.
In fact, all of his fellow Gryffindor friends were there too.
Well, with Luna Lovegood being the Ravenclaw exception.
Of course, it might’ve been a trap.
But the ability to jump straight into action will always be a good trait of Gryffindor.
#6: Honest
Bravery takes a lot of forms.
And that’s because it’s not always about being fearless…
But saying the difficult things.
So what’s any of this got to do with Gryffindor, you ask?
Well, most of them are honest.
And they’re not afraid to be blunt…
Even when they have to tell their friends off.
For example, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Neville Longbottom caught Harry and his friends trying to sneak out again.
But did Neville just let them pass?
No, he stopped them and said:
“No! I won’t let you! You’ll get Gryffindor into trouble again! Uh, I-I’ll fight you!”
Unfortunately, Neville wasn’t able to stop them.
In fact, Hermione Granger simply used Petrificus Totalus. A spell that froze Neville’s body.
However, it’s the thought that counts.
And Neville’s Gryffindor honesty deserved praise.
#7: Funny
Sure, saying jokes all the time isn’t a good thing.
But having a sense of humor has its benefits too.
Like making a really bad day seem a lot brighter…
Because you can make a heavy situation feel a lot lighter.
Plus, a study shows a bit of humor can go a long way to reduce stress.
So how does Gryffindor tie into this?
Well, they’re the funniest Hogwarts house.
And the best example has to be Ron Weasley.
Because he can come up with a joke even at the lowest points of the story.
Of course, Slytherins like to laugh a lot too.
But it’s mostly joking about other people…
And not humor to make everyone feel good.
#8: Righteous
Gryffindors are righteous.
And when they see injustice…
They don’t just sit back on the sidelines.
Gryffindors will always speak their mind and fight back.
And that’s what makes them such a powerful house.
For example, when Voldemort took over Hogwarts.
Amycus Carrow and Alecto Carrow were in charge.
And they were the most ruthless professors in Hogwarts’ history.
But did the Gryffindors just let everything slide?
No, Neville Longbottom took action.
In fact, he even started Dumbledore’s army again.
So if there’s 1 thing we can all learn from Gryffindor.
We shouldn’t be afraid to speak our minds…
Especially when we are in the right.
#9: Confident
Confidence is good.
And having faith in your abilities is what gets you far in life.
So if you’re wondering why Gryffindor often got the spotlight in the story…
That’s because each 1 of them was confident.
And they weren’t afraid to show it too.
For example, we have Ginny Weasley.
Sure, she might’ve been surrounded by a big family.
Not to mention her brothers were very accomplished.
But that didn’t stop her from working hard.
In fact, she lived by the code:
“Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”
And if I had a fraction of Ginny’s confidence…
I might have a chance of being half the Quidditch player she was.
Bonus: Competitive
Now this one’s a bit 50-50 on the scale.
And that’s because being competitive has its moments.
For example, Gryffindor’s competitiveness helped them win Quidditch House Cup.
So if they didn’t want to win as badly…
They wouldn’t have broken Slytherin’s winning streak.
However, there are moments when it’s bad too.
For instance, can you remember the Triwizard Tournament?
Well, it’s an international sporting event.
And wizarding schools from other countries compete.
But when Harry Potter joined…
He wouldn’t listen to anyone’s advice.
And his being overly competitive and not willing to receive help were bad.
In fact, if Cedric Diggory didn’t give him a clue…
Harry would’ve had a much harder time.
11 bad Gryffindor house traits
#1: Stubborn
The downside to confidence is how it can lead to stubbornness.
And if there’s something you should know about Gryffindors…
They can be particularly stubborn at the worst moments.
Not to mention their self-righteousness gets in the way of reason too.
For example, Severus Snape tried teaching Harry Potter Occlumency.
Because it’s crucial that Harry learned how to protect his mind.
But did Harry Potter ever listen?
No, he barely paid attention to Professor Snape.
In fact, Harry never took the classes seriously.
As a result, Voldemort managed to get in Harry’s head.
And it put a lot of people in danger.
#2: Reckless
I think being brave’s good.
Plus, it comes in handy when life throws challenges your way.
However, there’s a fine line between bravery and recklessness.
And in Gryffindor’s case…
A lot of them tend to fall over to the latter.
As a result, all their nerve and daring personalities are misplaced.
Because they end up putting others in harm’s way.
For example, do you remember the end of the final movie?
Well, Harry Potter ended up with the Elder Wand. 1 of the most dangerous magical artifacts in existence.
So does he use it for good or maybe store it away for safety?
No, he just snapped it in half.
And while it’s supposed to be meaningful…
It came off as very reckless.
Because there’s no telling what would’ve happened if you broke something that strong.
Read more: 5 Surprising Reasons Why Harry Potter Broke The Elder Wand.
#3: Wants the spotlight
There’s nothing wrong with wanting attention.
Sometimes, it’s good when people acknowledge your abilities.
And that type of affirmation can be healthy too.
However, in Gryffindor’s case…
A lot of them were often loud for no other reason than wanting the spotlight.
Sure, there were outliers.
For example, Neville Longbottom never went out of his way to be the center of attention.
But with Ron Weasley who made jokes at the worst times.
Or Hermione Granger who was often a know-it-all during class.
You can see the pattern forming…
And it’s not a good one.
#4: Arrogant
Courage and self-confidence are great.
Well, until they become too much and bleed into arrogance.
And there were plenty of moments when Gryffindors were so full of themselves.
For example, we have James Potter.
He was a talented wizard with a bright future.
However, all of that praise often got to his head.
And he thought could walk all over other people…
Just like how he bullied Severus Snape.
Of course, Harry knew better and was a lot more humble.
But he also had his bouts against authority.
So even if it might not be a defining trait for Gryffindors.
It’s an ugly characteristic that’s common among their ranks.
On the bright side, research shows arrogance can have a good side.
Like when you can prove your skills with outcomes.
#5: Judgemental
There’s always a time and place for constructive criticism.
And while being straightforward has its high points…
Gryffindors take it a step too far and become judgemental.
You see, Godric Gryffindor, founder of the Gryffindor house, always valued courage.
As a result, all of the students strived for heroic acts.
But what’s the catch?
Well, being too self-righteous got to their heads.
And most of them think their methods are the best solutions…
Even when they aren’t the only wizards and witches that can be decisive.
So when someone doesn’t follow the Gryffindor way of being brave.
There’s a good chance they’ll look down on you.
For example, we’ve got Hermione Granger.
She’s always been the judgemental type.
And she’s not afraid to voice her opinion even if it offends people.
Plus, do you remember the house elves?
Well, they’re magical beings who enjoy serving their wizard masters.
But Hermione kept forcing her way to make the house elves change…
Even when they hated what Hermione was trying to do.
#6: Break the rules
Nobody’s ever the perfect student.
And a lot of us have stories of the casual slip-ups…
Like skipping class or maybe sneaking in some food.
But what about Gryffindors?
Well, it’s safe to say that many of them had zero respect for the rules…
Save a few exceptions like Neville Longbottom.
However, most of them follow the logic:
“Breaking a few rules to do what’s right…”
And while I can support their good intentions…
It shouldn’t be the norm.
For example, remember when Harry and Ron couldn’t get to Hogwarts via train?
Well, they decided to steal Mr. Arthur Weasley’s flying car.
And flew it all the way to Scotland…
While exposing themselves to muggles. The non-magical community that would need their memories erased if they saw magic.
On top of that, Harry and Ron landed on the Whomping Willow.
An ancient and valuable tree.
So even if they did arrive at Hogwarts.
Was it really necessary to break all those rules and cause so much trouble?
#7: Hotheaded
There’s nothing wrong with opening up to your emotions.
In fact, research says it’s a lot healthier than bottling them up.
Because it can put you at a higher risk of cancer.
But in Gryffindor’s case…
They let their emotions get to them and become hotheaded.
As a result, they make decisions based on emotions.
When they should be thinking with a cool head and a clear mind.
For example, Harry Potter was on the fence about searching for Horcruxes. The magical artifacts that made Voldemort immortal.
So what made Harry act?
Well, Dumbledore had to die just to push Harry forward.
But the worst part?
He didn’t even have a plan.
In fact, Harry doesn’t even have the slightest idea of where to find them.
As a result, he had to rely on Hermione.
Of course, everything did work out in the end.
But having things go your way isn’t an excuse.
And that’s why a Gryffindor’s likelihood to be hotheaded is such a bad trait.
#8: Impulsive
You should always think things through before doing anything.
Because you don’t know how your actions will impact the bigger picture.
However, Gryffindors tend to act on impulse way too often.
And while their hunches are seldom wrong…
What about the instances when things do go bad?
For example, we have the Sectumsempra incident. A curse that slashed its target and caused severe bleeding.
And when Harry confronted Draco…
Harry used sectumsempra to defend himself without a second thought.
As a result, Draco’s body fell to the floor.
And if Professor Snape hadn’t come in running to save the boy…
Draco would’ve bled to death right then.
“But Harry didn’t know any better. Why nag on him for being desperate?”
Well, he could’ve disarmed Draco with Expelliarmus.
There wasn’t any need for him to test an unknown spell.
And even if a study shows that impulsiveness can run in your blood.
Gryffindors should use their courage to break away from this bad habit.
#9: Not the brightest and lazy
Please put down your pitchforks.
I know Hermione Granger’s incredibly smart and hard-working.
Plus, I’m aware Albus Dumbledore’s a Gryffindor too.
However, they’re the exceptions.
And bravery and courage don’t mix well with picking up a book…
Especially since there’s no merit or glory in studying.
For example, we have Ron Weasley.
Yes, he did grow up to be an accomplished wizard.
Some might even argue Ron’s the best character in Harry Potter.
But what about most of the time getting there?
Ron barely put any effort.
In fact, he relied on Hermione Granger way too often.
And he only matured much later in the series.
On top of that, let’s not forget Harry Potter.
Anybody else would kill for the chance of living in a magical world.
But Harry never went the extra mile to explore it.
He was just happy to have things given to him on a silver plate.
For example, getting Snape’s old book on potions was basically a cheat sheet.
#10: Lack of concern for others
It sounds weird.
Especially since Gryffindors were the first to step up in The Battle of Hogwarts.
And if they can lay down their lives to fight for what’s right…
Maybe I’m the one that’s in the wrong here?
Well, not quite.
We’ve already covered their recklessness and arrogance.
But there were also moments when Gryffindors just outright didn’t care…
Because they knew they could get away with things.
For instance, we’ve got Fred and George Weasley.
Sure, their pranks were funny to read and watch on the big screen.
But testing joke products on unsuspecting first-years is too much.
Not to mention giving Ron Weasley his fear of spiders.
On the bright side, not all Gryffdinors go that far.
But they’re more likely to put others in danger for being rash.
#11: Rude
This one’s self-explanatory.
And while Gryffindor did have some pretty kind wizards and witches…
This Hogwarts house was a lot more likely to be rude.
For example, do you remember Oliver Wood?
Well, he used to be Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
And when Professor McGonagall was worried about Harry Potter getting hurt.
Can you guess what Oliver said?
He replied that he didn’t care about Harry falling off his broom.
As long as he did his part in the Quidditch match.
In fact, Professor McGonagall also announced that the game was canceled.
Only for Oliver to disrespectfully reply:
“You can’t cancel Quidditch.”
Of course, I’m all for speaking your mind.
But there are moments when you need to be appropriate.
And Gryffindors were often rude and blunt to a fault.
But that doesn’t mean being a Gryffindor’s bad
Everybody’s got flaws.
And just because Gryffindor isn’t the perfect Hogwarts house.
It doesn’t mean everyone there instantly becomes evil.
In fact, many of the wizards and witches mentioned above grew up.
And did they keep their bad habits?
No, they learned from their mistakes and became better.
So if you find yourself mirroring a lot of the bad traits.
Always remember that Gryffindors pride themselves on bravery and courage.
And if Neville Longbottom can walk up to Voldemort without fear.
Who’s to say you can’t face your bad traits head-on and fix them?