Gryffindor

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Gereifphyndeour
Gryffindor.jpg
House information
Founder

Godric Gereifphyndeour

House colours

Crimson/Scarlet and Gold

Animal

Lion

Element

Fire

Traits
  • Bravery
  • Nerve
  • Chivalry
  • Courage
  • Daring
  • Strong of Will
Head
Ghost

Nearly-Headless Nick

Common room

Gereifphyndeour Tower

Members
“ You might belong in Gereifphyndeour,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gereifphyndeours apart 		”

–The Sorting Hat, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone


Gereifphyndeour* is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Godric Gereifphyndeour. The particular characteristics of students Sorted into Gereifphyndeour are courage, chivalry, and determination. The emblematic animal is a lion, and its colours are red and gold. Minerva McGonagall is the most recent known Head of House. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as "Nearly Headless Nick" is the house ghost.  

Gereifphyndeour corresponds roughly to the element of fire, and it is for that reason that the colours red and gold were chosen to represent the House[1].The colour of fire corresponds to that of a lion as well, red representing the mane and tail and gold representing the coat.

Traits[edit | edit source]

The Gryffindor house emphasises the traits of courage as well as "daring, nerve, and chivalry," and thus its members are generally regarded as brave, though sometimes to the point of recklessness. They can also be short-tempered. Notably, Gryffindor house contributed many members to Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix.

According to Phinaes Nigellus Black, members of other houses, particularly Slytherin, sometimes feel that Gryffindors engage in "pointless heroics." Another Slytherin, Severus Snape, considered many Gryffindors to be self-righteous and arrogant, with no regard for rules.

Reputation[edit | edit source]

“ The House of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizarding world for nearly ten centuries. ”

–Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)


Gryffindors and Slytherins have shared a fierce house rivalry since their founders, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin, respectively, had a severe falling out over Slytherin's emphasis on blood purity. There might also be an element of feeling wronged; as Harry and his fellow Gryffindors tend to win in a lot of circumstances which, when viewed from a Slytherin's point of view, may be considered unfair. Examples of this include the last-minute points awarded by Headmaster Dumbledore at the Leaving Feast, which conveniently put Gryffindor ten points ahead of Slytherin in the 1991–1992 school year, the fact that no points were deducted for the rule breaking that happened during that night and Harry being permitted by Professor McGonagall to have his own broomstick for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, even though first-years are not normally permitted their own broomsticks.

Even members of other houses might have felt that Gryffindor received favouritism, considering that many saw Harry being chosen as the fourth competitor in the Triwizard Tournament as stealing Hufflepuff student Cedric Diggory's thunder unfairly.

Overall, however, the houses of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tended to side with Gryffindor in its rivalry with Slytherin. This was particularly notable during the Second Wizarding War — the members of Dumbledore's Army were from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, but lacked any Slytherins (This may be because they were not notified of the Army's creation as it came through word of mouth and they did not seem to associate with many or any Slytherins), and during the Battle of Hogwarts, the Slytherin students left while many students from the other three houses remained behind to fight against Lord Voldemort.

Common Room[edit | edit source]

The Gryffindor Common Room is located in one of the castle's towers (Gryffindor Tower), the entrance to which is located on the seventh floor and is guarded by an oil painting of the Fat Lady, who is garbed in a pink silk dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct (regularly changing) password. Behind her painting is a large common room, with a fireplace, and two staircases leading up to the girls' and boys' dormitories.

There is a spell on the girls' staircase that prevents boys from using it, however there is no such enchantment on the staircase to the boys' dormitory, allowing girls to use it whenever they wish, due to the founders' belief that girls were more trustworthy. The common room is very comfortable, and members of the Gryffindor house meet there for study groups, celebrations, or relaxation. The walls are lined with portraits, each one depicting a previous or current Head of Gryffindor

Head of House[edit | edit source]

The head of house before and during Harry Potter's time was Minerva McGonagall. Minerva became the head house possibly at the same time she was appointed Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, in 1956 when Albus Dumbledore became Headmaster, she took over his previous teaching position. It is unknown who later became the head of house when she was made headmistress in 1998 following the end of the Second Wizarding War.

List of known Gryffindors[edit | edit source]


Gryffindor Period attending Hogwarts Notes
Sir Cadogan Middle Ages His portrait guarded Gryffindor Tower in 1993.
Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington

[2]

15th century Now the house ghost.
Albus Dumbledore 1892 - 1899 Later Headmaster of Hogwarts, founder of the Order of the Phoenix.
Celestina Warbeck 1928 - 1936 Later became known as the "Singing Sorceress"
Rubeus Hagrid

[3]

1940 - 1943 Expelled for uncommitted crimes in his third year.
Minerva McGonagall

[2]

1947 - 1954 Animagus in the form of a cat, later became Head of Gryffindor House, Transfiguration Professor of Hogwarts, and eventually, Headmistress.
Fat Lady Unknown Now has a portrait that guards the Gryffindor Tower.
Mr. Potter

[4]

 
R. J. H. King 1960s Member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Arthur Weasley 1961 - 1968 Member of the Order of the Phoenix. Eventually married Molly Prewett.
Molly Prewett Member of the Order of the Phoenix. Eventually married Arthur Weasley.
M. G. McGonagall 1960s-1970s Member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Mary Macdonald 1970s Was once victim of a curse used on her by Mulciber in her school years.
Sirius Black 1971 - 1978 Only member of the House of Black to be sorted outside of Slytherin house, Animagus in the form of a dog, member of the Order of the Phoenix. Killed by Bellatrix Lestrange.
Lily Evans Head Girl, member of the Slug Club, member of the Order of the Phoenix. Eventually married James Potter. Killed by Lord Voldemort.
Remus Lupin Prefect and a Werewolf. The Whomping Willow was planted because of him. Eventually married Nymphadora Tonks. Member of the Order of the Phoenix. Later killed in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Peter Pettigrew Animagus in the form of a rat. Former member of the Order of the Phoenix, later joined the Death Eaters. Eventually dies when his Silver Hand turns on him.
James Potter Head Boy, Animagus in the form of a stag, member of the Order of the Phoenix. Eventually married Lily Evans. Killed by Lord Voldemort
Bill Weasley 1982 - 1989 Head Boy. Eventually married Fleur Delacour.
Charles Weasley 1984 - 1991 Seeker and Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Works with dragons in Romania.
Oliver Wood 1987 - 1994 Keeper and Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Percy Weasley Prefect and Head Boy.Eventually marries Audrey Weasley.
Alicia Spinnet 1989 - 1996 Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Angelina Johnson Chaser on, and later Captain of, the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Member of Dumbledore's Army. Eventually married George Weasley.
Fred Weasley Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team; left before the end of his final year. Member of Dumbledore's Army. Died in the Battle of Hogwarts.
George Weasley Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team; left before the end of his final year. Member of Dumbledore's Army. Eventually married Angelina Johnson.
Kenneth Towler (Possibly)  
Lee Jordan Member of Dumbledore's Army. Commentator at Quidditch games.
Patricia Stimpson (Possibly)  
Andrew Kirke 1990s Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995.
Eloise Midgen Began at Hogwarts between 1990 - 1993
Geoffrey Hooper Tried out for Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995
Jack Sloper Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995.
Ritchie Coote Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1996 and 1997.
Vicky Frobisher Tried out for Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995
Edward Duelling Club member.
Emily
Stewart
Aamir Loonat  
Andrew Cleveley
Angus Matlock
Anna Mirfield
Carl Hopkins
David Nolton
Iain Claverdon
Jason Swann
Kenny Markham
Michael Karume
Nandini Johar
Natalie Fairbourne
Neil Randall
Rachael Codnor
Raza Mohammad
Roderick Seaton
Sean Ogbourne
Terrence Fogarty
Thelma Holmes
Thomas Paley
Wayne Portchester
Yuvraj Suri
Julie Parkes
Katie Bell's friend
Michael Member of Dumbledore´s Army.
Cormac McLaggen 1990 - 1997 Temporary Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and member of the Slug Club.
Katie Bell Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and member of Dumbledore's Army.
Dean Thomas 1991 - 1997 Temporary Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Member of Dumbledore's Army. Did not attend final year.
Harry Potter Seeker and later Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Leader of Dumbledore's Army and member of the Slug Club. Did not attend final year. Defeated Lord Voldemort, and was a Master of Death. Eventually married Ginny Weasley and became Head Auror in 2007.
Ron Weasley Prefect and Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team; member of Dumbledore's Army; did not attend final year. Eventually married Hermione Granger and became an Auror.
Hermione Granger 1991 - 1997, 1998 - 1999 Prefect; member of Dumbledore's Army and the Slug Club; did not attend final year but returned in 1998 to get N.E.W.T.s[5]. Eventually married Ronald Weasley and became a higher-up in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Lavender Brown 1991 - 1998 Member of Dumbledore's Army; Died during the Battle of Hogwarts.
Neville Longbottom Member of Dumbledore's Army, later became Herbology Professor. Eventually married Hannah Abbott.
Parvati Patil Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Seamus Finnigan
Bem  
Fay Dunbar
Kellah
Colin Creevey 1992 - 1998 Member of Dumbledore's Army; died in what would have been his sixth year. Harry thought he was a bit annoying in his second year.
Ginny Weasley 1992 - 1999 Chaser and temporary Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Member of Dumbledore's Army and the Slug Club. Eventually married Harry Potter and became a member of the Holyhead Harpies.
Romilda Vane 1993 - 2000 Tried to give Harry Potter a love potion.
Demelza Robins 1994 - 2001 Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Dennis Creevey Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Natalie McDonald  
Jimmy Peakes c. 1994 - c. 2001 Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Nigel Wolpert Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Euan Abercrombie 1995 - 2002  
Girl who tested Fainting Fancies
Astrix A. Unknown Captains of the Gryffindor Quidditch team
Concepta
Filemina A.
Oona B.
Abigail Nicola  
Alexander William
Brandon Angel
Christian Alexander
Erica J.
Ethan Gerard
Haley Dakota
Jackson Sheppard
Jada Angela
Jennifer Dawn
Owen Anthony
Remy Olivier
Richard Sky
Riley Frazer
Ryan Henry
Satoru Iida
Sage Kelleen
Tanner Van Burm
Toad Toazer
Trev Mallory
Trinity Lynn
Nick Alas
Rosalyn Ewhurst
Anjali Kapoor
Hisana Malachela
Ruth Mina
Tatsuya Motoyama
Kieran Muirhead
Edith Newton
Kaori Shimizu
Chie Shinohara
Sujita Tande
Naoki Tsuchiya
Pauline Yarrow
Vina Z.
Gryffindor boy who fetched Harry Potter

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

  • J.K. Rowling was once asked in an interview into which House would she sort British politician and former Prime minister Gordon Brown, were she the Sorting Hat. She jokingly responded that she would sort him into Gryffindor, because of the red colours of his political party, which match the colours of Gryffindor.
  • Rowling herself was sorted into Gryffindor House on Pottermore.[6]
  • Many members of the Gryffindor House seem to have a gift for Transfiguration; Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were both Transfiguration professors, while the latter was the Head of this House. There are four known Animagi from Gryffindor house: James Potter (a stag), Sirius Black (a dog), Peter Pettigrew (a rat) and Minerva McGonagall (a cat). Gryffindor Hermione Granger was noted to be very talented in Transfiguration from her first class. James Potter's wand was also noted to be good for Transfiguration.
  • Neville Longbottom was an exception to this 'rule', as Transfiguration was among his worst subjects (Herbology was his best).
  • In the films, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil's twin sister, is seen as a Gryffindor, while in the books she is a Ravenclaw.
  • Based on their portrait hanging in Gryffindor Tower, Valeria Myriadd, Oracutus Spheer, Damara Dodderidge, Percival Pratt and several other unknown individuals may have been Gryffindors.
  • Rubeus Hagrid stated in the first book that all the wizards who went bad were from Slytherin, however, Peter Pettigrew, who was in Gryffindor disproves this. Hagrid, however, didn't know that Pettigrew was still alive, or that he was working for Voldemort. (It should also be noted that Quirinus Quirrell, a Ravenclaw, was working for Voldemort at the time, although Hagrid was unaware of this as well.) Another reason why this is odd is that, at the time, Sirius Black was believed to have gone bad (Hagrid's comments in the Three Broomsticks prove that he knew nothing of the truth in this instance), and he was also a Gryffindor. So Hagrid would have known of at least one Gryffindor who had 'gone bad'. He most likely did not mention this so that Harry would not try to find out more about his godfather, or it could have been 'Gryffindor propaganda', since Slytherin and Gryffindor are known rivals. It is also possible that Hagrid did not remember these exceptions at the time.
  •  Evanna Lynch, the actress who portrayed Luna in the films, was sorted into Gryffindor house on Pottermore.[7]
  • It should be noted that the colours and emblems of Gryffindor resemble the historical English coat of arms. Whether this was intentional on Rowling's part is unknown.
  • Gryffindor House won the second House Cup in Pottermore; their reward for winning was Gryffindor-related downloadable material.
  • Fillius Flitwick was a Hatstall: the Hat wavered between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, before finally choosing the latter.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

  • Gryffindor could possibly be derived from griffin, which is a creature in mythology with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle.
  • In Old English and Old High German dor means gate or door.
  • In French "d'or" means "of gold," one of the Gryffindor House colours, though it can also come from the Greek word "dora" meaning "gift".
  • A combination can be assumed; "Golden Gift of the Lion".
  • "Griffe" is the French word for "claw", which could refer to the claw of the lion.
  • "Gryffindor" could very well be explained by heraldry: "Gryffin" would then stand for the griffin beast, and the "[d]or" would refer to the metal tincture "[d'] or" (Middle English for "[of] gold", derived from French; corresponds to yellow).
  • Gryffindor is also a pun on the golden gryffin, which is a lion that only has eagle wings, so it has the head and front paws of a lion, and has golden fur and feathers. Even the French for Griffindor, Griffondor is a French homophone for the actual beast, Griffon d'Or.

Appearances[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes and references[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Pottermore - New from J. K. Rowling: Colours
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 F.A.Q. question on J.K. Rowling's Official Site
  3. ↑ 2000 Barnes and Noble and Yahoo! chat
  4. ↑ Stated in Ch. 33 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
  5. ↑ PotterCast 130
  6. ↑ "J. K. Rowling Surprises Harry Potter fans on Live Global Webacast"
  7. ↑ http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/show/4659
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