“You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart”
– The Sorting Hat (SS, 118)

Gryffindor House 411
Founder: Godric Gryffindor
Head of House: Professor McGonagall
House Ghost(s): Nearly Headless Nick

The Gryffindor House is one of the most sought after house of all future Hogwarts students. Some of the best wizards, and our favorite characters, come from this house: Dumbledore, Hagrid, Sirius Black, James Potter, and the Weasley family. Harry Potter‘s main characters, Ron, Hermione and of course Harry all come from the Gryffindor House. 

In order to get into the actual Gryffindor House you need the right password… There have been many passwords over the series for our wonderful friends in order to get into the Gryffindor Tower:  But first you have to face the Fat Lady!

“At the very end of the corridor hung a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress” (SS, 129)
The very first password used is “caput draconis“. Other passwords used throughout the series include “pig snout”, “fibbertigibbet” and “quid agis”.  Of course there are plenty more.  While most students memorize these passwords, some are not as lucky.

” ‘Thank goodness you found me! I’ve been out here for hours, I couldn’t remember the new password to get in to bed.’ “ (SS, 156)
Once you have managed to pass the Fat Lady you are welcomed into the Gryffindor Common Room.  Let me just say that I would die to have a living room like this!! How could you not want to relax, study, talk, and enjoy your time in a room like this:
The Gryffindor Cast
The cast that makes up the Gryffindor House are many! However, I do have a special few that are favorites.  Of course I have to include the trio: Harry, Hermione and Ron (but that’s for another discussion).  I also love Sirius Black, the Weasley Twins and Neville Longbottom.

Sirius Black is the uncle everyone wants.  Within the Gryffindor House he is my #1 favorite, and is in the top 3 of the overall series.  J.K. Rowling did an amazing job with his character – you literally hate him at first and are terrified him.  And why wouldn’t you be, if the only thing you knew was that he helped kill your parents?  But once the truth is revealed you can literally read the change, both in Sirius and in Harry.  It is only natural that Harry and Sirius become as close as they do, as Sirius and James Potter were best friends.  While their relationship is definitely one of familial I also believe that their relationship/friendship helps fill the void of their loss in the absence of James Potter (and even Lily).  I couldn’t help but cry, in both the book and the movie, when Sirius Black’s time is over… again Rowling did an amazing job at describing it this scene….

The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.
The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.
It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch….
And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather’s wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though a high wind and then fell back into place. 
(Oder of the Phoenix, 35)

Oh the Weasley Twins!  What can you say about these two!?!  They are a hoot!  I love their trouble making ways! Who wouldn’t love their fun and games and inventing charms.  Out of all their inventions my favorites have to include The Extendable Ears, The Skiving Snackbox (who wouldn’t want a way out of class/homework?), and of course their Love Potion.  But they also represent so much more. They stand up for themselves by following their own dreams, without caring what others think.  They even open up their own store!  How many teens can say the same. Don’t let their ‘so-called childish games’ fool you, they really have a sense for business – – Harry even ‘invested’ in their ‘games’.  In the face of danger they never back down, joining both Dumbeldore’s Army and even the Order of the Phoenix. 

“we’ve decided we don’t care about getting into trouble any more”
(Order of the Phoenix, 27)

Then there is Neville Longbottom, the unknown Hero.  I have adored watching him grow up throughout the series.  In The Sorcerer’s Stone he was timid, picked on all the time, but you could see that glimpse of the man he later becomes when he stands up to Harry and his gang.  I am always amazed at his strength, especially after the sadness of his parent’s madness at the hand of Beatrix Lestrange.  His strength continues when he helps Harry and joins Dumbeldore’s Army.  I believe that his confidence in himself really grew and shown during his time with D.A.  Then of course he really became the unknown Hero when he became the ‘leader’ of the rebellion at Hogwarts while Harry, Ron and Hermione were away in the Deathly Hallows. There is one quote that really encompasses Neville, in my opinion, when he is talking to Malfoy:

“I’m worth twelve of you, Malfoy.”
So, Who are your favorite Characters from the Gryffindor House??


~ Giveaway ~
Win Gryffindor House Swag:
House Rings, Patch, and a Bookmark
Answer my question in the comments and Fill Out THIS FORM 
Details:
* ends 7/31/11
* US only
(if you are Int and want to pay for your own shipping leave a comment after you fill out the form)
* Entrants must be 13 years or older

Extra Entries:
+1 Follow Me GFC
+1 Follow via Facebook Page
+1 Follow via Twitter
+2 Share this Giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, Blog Post, Sidebar
+5  Create your own Favorite Gryffindor Characters Blog Post




Don’t miss a thing!
Check out the Full Schedule here