Harry Potter Article: I wish Lily was sorted into Slytherin

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posted by Hraesvelg

Throughout centuries the House of Slytherin has attracted ambitious and cunning students seeking for success and personal glory. It is the house favoured by old pureblood families, such as the Malfoys or the Blacks, and the house the has apparently produced more dark wizards than any other. In the following article I will give the reasons why I think Lily Evans should've been a Slytherin.

Lily is a Gryffindor, and a fitting one. Harry Potter's famous mother and reason why he was able to put an end to Voldemort, was a talented muggleborn witch who attended Hogwarts in the 70s. She was teacher's favourite and a member of prof Slughorn's elite Slug club. After finishing Hogwarts she joined Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix to fight Voldemort.

Lily Evans was a friend of none other than Harry's most hated prof Severus Snape, a halfblood Slytherin. The lived in the same neighbourhood before they went to Hogwarts and Snape was the one who introduced her to magic. Having a witch for a mother, Snape knew something about the magical world, inculding about Hogwarts. On the other hand, Lily was the only one aware of his tragic situation at home. The two were very close in their early childhood, but parted at Hogwarts when they were sorted in different houses.

Severus Snape probably wanted to be sorted in Slytherin. Most purebloods do and while he wasn't one, his mum comes from an old wizading family. Lily, on the other hand, knew nothing about Hogwarts. The things she knew were the things Snape told her. If he wanted to be sorted into Slytherin, he certainly wouldn't portray Slytherin in a bad light (unlike Ron in PS/SS) and she'd want to be sorted in the same house. I think the story would've been more interesting if Lily Evans, much like her son two decades later, asked to be sorted into Slytherin. Now, Slytherin don't really take muggleborns in, but I think this one exception would've sent a strong message.
Slytherins aren't portrayed as good. While we're told not all of them support Voldemort, we didn't really see it. During the battle for Hogwarts, they deserted the school. Peter Pettigrew is the only known Death Eater who wasn't a Slytherin. Even Sirius, falsely accussed and unrightfully sent to Azkaban, while not a Slytherin himself, comes from an old Slytherin family. Snape did show he was on Harry's side, but he bullied him throughout his Hogwarts years,unable to let go of a childhood grudge against James. He clearly favoured Slytherins and mistreated non-Slytherins.There wasn't a single Slytherin who couldn't at least be disliked.

Lily Evans should've been a Slytherin. The same way Harry chose Gryffindor, she would choose Slytherin. The reason why the Hat considered Harry for Slytherin would then have more to do with his mum being one than with Voldemort. There she'd be in the company of Severus Snape and other potential Death Eaters, including the one and only tragic Regulus Black. She'd probably be the reason why Regulus changed his mind about Voldemort. Having Lily in Slytherin would also explain why she was an important member of the Order: she knew most Death Eaters and had more information about them than anybody else. It would also put Voldemort's offer to join him in a whole new light. Voldemort would certainly be intrigued more by a muggleborn Slytherin than a random Gryffindor. Naturally, he'd offer her to join the Death Eaters in spite of her heritage. Deciding to spare her on Snape's petition would be more understandable.

Some fans (myself included) complain that she's either a Marauder's era Ginny (because of her looks and popularity) or Hermione (because of her academic achievements). Having her in Slytherin would make her totally different from both girls. It would also be more practical as her and James would be Head Girl and Head Boy from different houses.

Having Lily in Slytherin would put more emphaisis on our choices because even though she was surrounded by future Death Eaters, she didn't became a dark witch. She'd be a proof that a muggleborn witch can find friends in Slytherin and that not all of them are Death Eaters. Having a muggleborn Slytherin outwit Voldemort would show Slytherin in much better light. We'd finally have one good representative of the house. Even Ron would be shocked and he'd probably develop some respect for Slytherin.

All in all, Lily was a fitting Gryffindor, but I think having her in Slytherin would do a lot of good for that house in the eyes of the protagonist and his friends, as well as the magical community as whole and of course, us, the readers.

angelbarbie20, bdavis98 and 2 others like this

LadyNottingham I don't read in the article any reason why Lily should have been sorted into Slytherin. There's nothing in her character that enclines to be so. You list a certain number of reasons stating what WOULD or MAY have happened if she had but that's all. Besides I think there are a few assertions in the article that are not really true or that look weird or distorted : "If he wanted to be sorted into Slytherin, he certainly wouldn't portray Slytherin in a bad light (unlike Ron in PS/SS) and she'd want to be sorted in the same house." => If Severus did not manage to persuade Lily to choose Slytherin, either that was because she did not feel it like this, or she had no real opinion on the matter and just let the Sorting Hat place her where it deemed she had to be. "...Lily Evans, much like her son two decades later, asked to be sorted into Slytherin." => I think there's a mistake here. Harry never asked to be in Slytherin. On the contrary, he did ask NOT to be in Slytherin. "Slytherins aren't portrayed as good. While we're told not all of them support Voldemort, we didn't really see it." => We don't really see it ? Beg me to differ. What about Horace Slughorn, always living on the go to escape Death-Eaters ? What about Regulus Black, that stole a Horcrux and tried to destroy it ? What about Severus Snape, who did betray Voldemort, to the point he gave his life ? Even someone like Draco Malfoy could see in the end that Voldemort's rule was not something he wanted to live under. "During the battle for Hogwarts, they deserted the school." => They did not. They were sent away to avoid 1) casualties among students ; 2) possible betrayal from some of them. Besides, all underage students were sent away, Slytherin or not. "He clearly favoured Slytherins and mistreated non-Slytherins." => Of course Severus favored Slytherins - this was part of his act as a faithful Death-Eater ! There were some of the Slytherin kids whose parents were Death-Eaters. Severus had better show he was in favor of Lord Voldemort, in order to assert his own credibility with the lot. "There wasn't a single Slytherin who couldn't at least be disliked." => Once again, what about Horace Slughorn or Regulus Black ? Or even Andromeda Black (Tonks' mother) who had been sorted into Slytherin ? "The reason why the Hat considered Harry for Slytherin would then have more to do with his mum being one than with Voldemort." => No. It had everything to do with the bit of Voldemort's soul in him, or even his own Slytherin tendencies which he can show sometimes in some situations throughout the books. Nothing to do with his mother. "She'd probably be the reason why Regulus changed his mind about Voldemort." => I'm not sure if I got it right here : If Regulus had changed his mind about the Dark Lord, it had something to do with his own outlook on life and magic, rather than from the influence of anyone else, be they Lily or not. At this point, you state facts using preterit as if they had truly happened. While they have not. I don't get it at all here. "Having a muggleborn Slytherin outwit Voldemort would show Slytherin in much better light. We'd finally have one good representative of the house." => Once again, the House of Slytherin did not need to wait for one Lily Evans to get "good representatives" : Regulus Black, Severus Snape, Andromeda Black-Tonks, Horace Slughorn, even the former Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black, were decent people and fair representatives of the House. "All in all, Lily was a fitting Gryffindor, but I think having her in Slytherin would do a lot of good for that house in the eyes of the protagonist and his friends, as well as the magical community as whole and of course, us, the readers." => Once again, same remark as above. As a reader, I don't need to have one Lily Evans to be part of Slytherin to make the House look good in my eyes. All the houses have good and bad sides. Is one Gryffindor turned bad (Wormtail) enough to shed shame and despise on the House of Gryffindor ? No. The same goes for Slytherin. No offense intended in my reply. Just making a few facts right as I think this present a distorted view of the House of Slytherin.

simpleplan It would have messed up the story

Hraesvelg Thank you for your replies! :) @LadyNottingham Thank you for your throughful reply. However, I don't think you understood the aim of my article. I got that impression by just reading the first paragraph of your post: "I don't read in the article any reason why Lily should have been sorted into Slytherin. There's nothing in her character that enclines to be so. You list a certain number of reasons stating what WOULD or MAY have happened if she had but that's all." I stated that Lily was a fitting Gryffindor (2nd paragraph, 1st sentence). The aim of the article was not to discuss her personality, strenghts or weaknesses and whether she'd do better in Slytherin (as an individual, secondary character) BUT whether having her in Slytherin would be interesting and fitting for the story and whether it would make Slytherin look better in the end. Since I'd find it more interesting (and also fitting for the story) I listed the things I think would happen if she was sorted there (as you also stated in your first paragraph). That was the only aim of my article. I repeat, it had nothing to do with Lily's personality and whether she'd fit in Slytherin. Regarding this part: "...Lily Evans, much like her son two decades later, asked to be sorted into Slytherin." I know Harry asked not to be sorted. The result was that he was sorted in the house of his CHOICE (Gryffindor). I was suggesting that Lily would also be sorted in the house of her CHOICE (Slytherin). Instead of being passive, she'd ask to be sorted there. We disagree when it comes to Slytherins and their portrayal in the series. Your whole post shows it. I don't think they were shown as good and that's why I would have prefered if Lily was a Slytherin. IMO Slytherins as either bad (or were bad/did something really bad. Almost every Slytherin (Andromeda being the only exception but we don't get to know her) we got to know a bit better falls under one of those two categories. I agree that there are a few 'more innocent' Slytherins like Slughorn (but he was hiding important information to save his reputation), Regulus (but he was a pureblood supremacist) or Narcissa (same as Regulus), but I don't think they make the house look particulary good overall.

Barby23 That's an interesting idea, nice article ;) IMO it's a bit of a cliche that both James and Lily were Gryffindor, so this would be an interesting twist. I don't see why she wouldn't fit into Slytherin? We don't know anything about her. Just cause she died to save Harry doesn't make her super-Gryffindor, I mean Narcissa lied to Voldemorts face and that was pretty brave, but yet she's a Slytherin.

TheFey21 @LadyNottingham "He clearly favoured Slytherins and mistreated non-Slytherins." => Of course Severus favored Slytherins - this was part of his act as a faithful Death-Eater ! There were some of the Slytherin kids whose parents were Death-Eaters. Severus had better show he was in favor of Lord Voldemort, in order to assert his own credibility with the lot. It wasn't an act. He really hates the other house especially Gryffindor. The fact is Snape was never nice. Sure he made a sacrifice but he's not nice. @Hraesvelg are you 100% sure that Lily's choice was Slytherin? And how can you be so sure that she didn't ask?

AlmostGenius Yeah, but she may not be our same loved Lily in Slytherin.

zanhar1 Good points

Flickerflame Did no one else get the impression that a person had to be pureblood, or at the least non-Muggleborn, to be sorted into Slytherin?

Tasha1993 Interesting idea, but James and Lily might not have gotten together if the hat placed her in Slytherin though.The sorting hat sorted Lily into Gryffindor barely a second after it touched her head, so I don't think Lily had strong Slytherin traits like Harry. I don't think the sorting hat lets you choose a house if you don't have the traits of that house. Harry got to choose because he showed strong traits of both Gryffindor and Slytherin. Harry didn't really choose Gryffindor if you think about it. He merely said "not Slytherin" and the hat chose Gryffindor. Do they even sort muggle-borns into Slytherin? But this is just my opinion.

Flickerflame ^Good point about the speed at which Lily was Sorted (though I can't remember if that was mentioned in the book, or only shown in the film). When a student is Sorted that quickly, it either means that she shows far more of the traits associated with that House than any of the other 3, or possibly that she's choosing a specific House in her thoughts. Since Lily was Muggleborn, it's unlikely that she'd have a particular House preference.

Tasha1993 @Flickerflame Thanks:) It was in the books (The Prince's Tale).Yeah, I think if the hat sorts someone that quickly, it's means that the hat didn't really see strong traits from any of the other 3 houses. Like with Harry, he showed strong traits from all four houses, especially Gryffindor and Slytherin. That's why the hat took some time with him. True! Plus, Snape asked her to be sorted into Slytherin. Snape and her just had a disagreement on the train with Sirius who had been sorted into Gryffindor and James who expressed a desire to be in Gryffindor. So, I don't think she had a preference for Gryffindor. The hat just didn't see strong traits from the other houses in Lily like it did with Harry.