gryffindor

Gryffindor House

House Information

Identity and History

Gryffindor is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by the great wizard Godric Gryffindor. The House values courage, bravery, nerve, and chivalry above all other qualities. The Sorting Hat, which originally belonged to Godric Gryffindor himself, sings that it sorts students into Gryffindor “where dwell the brave at heart.” Students belonging to this house are known as Gryffindors. Historically, Gryffindor has a famous and long-standing rivalry with Slytherin House. This feud dates back to a fundamental disagreement between their respective founders, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin, over whether Muggle-born students should be admitted to Hogwarts. Gryffindor championed the cause of accepting all magical children, a principle that the house continues to uphold. The emblem of the house is the lion, symbolizing courage, and its colors are scarlet and gold. The house corresponds roughly to the element of fire (Pottermore). The Head of House during Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts was Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration professor.

Role in the Story

Gryffindor House is central to the entire Harry Potter series, as the main protagonists—Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger—are all members. The house's journey, particularly its pursuit of the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup, forms a significant narrative backdrop for the first few books. In Harry's first year, Gryffindor wins the House Cup for the first time in seven years, thanks to last-minute points awarded by Albus Dumbledore. Gryffindor consistently stands in opposition to Lord Voldemort and his followers. The house produced many members of the original Order of the Phoenix, including James Potter, Lily Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. During the Second Wizarding War, the Gryffindor common room served as a temporary headquarters for Dumbledore's Army. In the final Battle of Hogwarts, the Gryffindors, led by Minerva McGonagall, were the first to stand and fight against the invading Death Eaters. Every student of age (and some underage) from Gryffindor remained to defend the school, demonstrating the house's defining courage.

The Gryffindor Common Room and Dormitories

The entrance to the Gryffindor quarters is located on the seventh floor of Hogwarts Castle, concealed behind a large portrait of the Fat Lady. Entry requires giving the correct, frequently changing password. The Gryffindor Common Room is a cosy, circular room located in Gryffindor Tower. It is decorated in the house colors of scarlet and gold and is filled with squashy armchairs, tables, and a large fireplace that often serves as a communication hub via the Floo Network. A bulletin board is used for posting important notices. Two spiral staircases lead from the common room up to the boys' and girls' dormitories. The girls' staircase is enchanted to prevent boys from accessing their dormitories; should a boy attempt to climb it, the staircase temporarily transforms into a smooth stone slide. This protective enchantment does not work in reverse on the boys' staircase. The dormitories themselves are circular rooms with five four-poster beds per room, hung with deep-red velvet curtains.

Behind the Scenes

  • J.K. Rowling has stated in interviews that Gryffindor is the house she would most like to be in and the one she envisions herself belonging to.
  • The name “Gryffindor” likely derives from the “griffin,” a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, combined with d'or, the French for “of gold” or “golden.” This reflects the house's emblem and one of its primary colors.
  • In the film adaptations, the Gryffindor common room set was one of the largest and most detailed created for the series, filled with tapestries, portraits, and custom-made furniture to evoke a sense of ancient, comfortable grandeur (film).