Facebook does a lot to appeal to its diverse set of users. The most recent trend is aimed to make people feel a little bit closer to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even at the University of Idaho it seems many students feel they could have been in Hogwarts.
Harry Potter fans can sort themselves into Hogwarts houses using the existing Pottermore or the Facebook developed sorting quiz and post a banner on their profile. The banner sits on the bottom of the profile frame and corresponds with a users’ appropriate house.
The house crest in the frame lists different traits because students from each house have something different to say as to why they are in their house and what it means to them.
“I got sorted into Ravenclaw on Pottermore years ago, I was very excited. I knew that’s where I belonged, even when I read the books as a kid,” Alyson Sanders of Ravenclaw said.
Ravenclaw house is known for their wit, learning, and wisdom and are deeply valued by Ravenclaws everywhere.
“It’s showing people who I am. It’s something I’m proud of,” Sanders said.
Linn Bartel, a Hufflepuff said he grew up with the series along with many other fans. In his experience Bartel said he thinks the series brings people together.
“I was always a fan of the series but I like Hufflepuff because I tend to value friendship and loyalty highly, and those characters always seem so happy to help others,” Bartel said.
The frame for Hufflepuff has the words loyal, patient and fair listed under it which Bartel said were important to him.
Slytherin student Makaela Straw stood proudly by the words her house banner offered.
“Pride, ambition and cunning, Slytherin is a villainized house but there is so much more to it than that,” Straw said.
In the Harry Potter series Slytherin house members are portrayed as the villains as many of them go on to be Death Eaters and serve as the antagonists to Harry Potter and his friends. The Dark Lord himself was a Slytherin, Straw said.
“It’s been cool seeing I’m not the only one, even if it’s with people I don’t know super well,” she said.
Although Slytherin is more often than not at odds with Gryffindor, Straw believes a primary theme in the book is that no house is inherently bad and each have negative and redeemable qualities.
In Gryffindor house the frame states courage, bravery and determination.
“I would like to think that I would stick up for my friends and be brave in being able to stand up for what’s right,” said Gryffindor Rachel Falzon. “And I hate spiders so in that way I can relate to Ron who didn’t always have courage but would stand up for his friends anyway.”
Students all sort into different Hogwarts houses, but still find value in different aspects of what they represent.
“I think it’s a cool way to see what houses they would be in if you didn’t know previously and then you can talk about it and nerd out. Like you, even though I don’t know you for instance I can relate to you over Harry Potter,” Falzon said.
Mary Emert can be reached at [email protected]