======Gryffindors======
=====Location Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Hogwarts House]] Membership
  * **Location:** [[Gryffindor Tower]], [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
  * **Owner/Residents:** Founder: [[Godric Gryffindor]]; Head of House: [[Minerva McGonagall]]; Ghost: [[Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington]]; Students of [[Gryffindor House]]
  * **Key Features:** Values bravery, daring, nerve, and chivalry. The house animal is the lion, and its colours are scarlet and gold. Associated with the element of fire (Pottermore).
=====Description and History=====
Gryffindors are the students sorted into [[Gryffindor House]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. The house was founded by [[Godric Gryffindor]], a celebrated [[wizard]] of his time who valued courage and heroism above all else. Students are selected for this house by the [[Sorting Hat]] if they possess or value the core traits of bravery, daring, nerve, and chivalry. A notable instance of choice playing a role was when [[Harry Potter]], who possessed qualities that would have suited him to [[Slytherin]], chose to be in Gryffindor instead.
The house has a long and storied history, often defined by its centuries-old rivalry with [[Slytherin House]]. This animosity dates back to a fundamental disagreement between [[Godric Gryffindor]] and [[Salazar Slytherin]] over whether [[Muggle-born]] students should be admitted to [[Hogwarts]]. Gryffindor's belief in accepting all magical students, regardless of blood status, established the house's reputation for tolerance and fairness.
Gryffindors are known for their strong moral compass and tendency to act, sometimes recklessly, in the face of injustice. While their courage is their defining virtue, it can sometimes manifest as hot-headedness or a disregard for rules, as seen in the exploits of students like [[James Potter]], [[Sirius Black]], and [[Harry Potter]]. The house has produced numerous famous [[witches]] and [[wizards]], including [[Albus Dumbledore]], who was himself a Gryffindor student before becoming Head of House and later [[Headmaster]].
=====Role in the Story=====
Gryffindors are central to the narrative of the *Harry Potter* series, as the main protagonists—[[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]]—are all members. The story is largely told from a Gryffindor perspective, highlighting their values and their ongoing conflict with the [[Slytherins]]. The competition for the [[House Cup]] and the [[Quidditch Cup]] between these two houses often serves as a microcosm of the larger battle between good and evil in the wizarding world.
Throughout the Second Wizarding War, Gryffindors were at the forefront of the resistance against [[Lord Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]]. The house supplied a significant number of members to both the original and reconstituted [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Furthermore, the student-led resistance group, [[Dumbledore's Army]], was founded and predominantly led by Gryffindors.
During the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], the students of Gryffindor stood united and were the first to pledge their support to [[Harry Potter]]. They remained to fight Voldemort's army, demonstrating the quintessential bravery of their house when it mattered most.
=====Known Areas Within=====
As a collective of individuals, "Gryffindors" are best understood through their most notable members throughout history.
  * **Founder:**
    * [[Godric Gryffindor]]
  * **Heads of House:**
    * [[Albus Dumbledore]] (formerly)
    * [[Minerva McGonagall]]
  * **House Ghost:**
    * [[Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington]] ([[Nearly Headless Nick]])
  * **Notable Students and Alumni:**
    * [[Harry Potter]]
    * [[Hermione Granger]]
    * The [[Weasley]] family, including [[Bill Weasley]], [[Charlie Weasley]], [[Percy Weasley]], [[Fred Weasley]], [[George Weasley]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Ginny Weasley]]
    * [[Neville Longbottom]]
    * [[The Marauders]]: [[James Potter]], [[Sirius Black]], [[Remus Lupin]], and [[Peter Pettigrew]]
    * [[Lily Potter]] (née Evans)
    * [[Oliver Wood]]
    * [[Seamus Finnigan]]
    * [[Dean Thomas]]
    * [[Lavender Brown]]
    * [[Parvati Patil]]
    * [[Colin Creevey]] and [[Dennis Creevey]]
    * [[Cormac McLaggen]]
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * **Etymology:** The name //Gryffindor// is likely derived from the griffin, a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, combined with the French //d'or//, meaning "of gold" or "golden." This reflects both the house animal and one of its primary colours.
  * J.K. Rowling has stated that she considers herself to be a Gryffindor (Pottermore).
  * The house's association with the element of fire is thematically linked to the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the [[Gryffindor Common Room]], which is dominated by a large, roaring fireplace.
  * In the film adaptations, the Gryffindor house scarf's design, with its distinct scarlet and gold stripes, became an iconic piece of merchandise and a symbol of the franchise (film).