House of Hogwarts
Slytherin
“Where you'll make your real friends”
Ambition with a long memory
Slytherin is the house of ambition, cunning, and self-determination. Founded by Salazar Slytherin and represented by the serpent, this is the house that knows what it wants — and the difference between strategy and ruthlessness.
What it means to be in Slytherin
Being a Slytherin means treating your own life as a project worth taking seriously. Slytherins set goals, build networks, and play long games. They're observant, strategic, and often deeply loyal to a small inner circle — even when they're cool to the outside world. The shadow side, the one the books don't let you forget: ambition without ethics is how you build a reputation no one wants. The Slytherins worth knowing are the ones who put their cunning in service of something bigger than themselves.
The Slytherin Common Room
Slytherin's common room is set deep in the dungeons, beneath the Black Lake. The lighting is greenish and dim — windows give onto the dark water, where the giant squid sometimes drifts past. Stone walls, leather armchairs, and a faintly imperious atmosphere that makes everyone whisper a little.
Notable Slytherins
- Severus Snape
- Draco Malfoy
- Tom Riddle
- Bellatrix Lestrange
- Horace Slughorn
- Regulus Black
- Andromeda Tonks
- Phineas Nigellus Black
- Merlin (per wizarding tradition)
Things to know about Slytherin
- Slytherin's element is water — patient, persistent, and capable of carving stone.
- Merlin himself is, by long wizarding tradition, often counted as a Slytherin.
- Parseltongue, the language of snakes, is rare and most strongly associated with Slytherin's line.
Are you a true Slytherin?
Six questions, one ancient hat. Find out where you really belong.
Slytherin FAQ
What are the main traits of a Slytherin?+
Ambition, cunning, leadership, resourcefulness, and determination. Slytherins are strategic in a way most other houses don't fully appreciate.
Are all Slytherins evil?+
No — and the books are pretty clear about it. Andromeda Tonks, Regulus Black, Horace Slughorn, and Severus Snape all spent meaningful parts of their lives on the right side. Slytherin is about ambition, not ethics. Where you point that ambition is up to you.
Who is the head of Slytherin House?+
Professor Severus Snape during most of Harry Potter's time at school, with Horace Slughorn taking over later.