Albus S. Potter - Slytherin or Gryffindor?

[Exrtaus]

Originally Posted by LoveWeasleys

I can definately see a million fan fics sprouting from this one. I wonder if Jo is planning on picking up where she left off with this one. It seems that the Epilogue is introducing this new character more than telling us what happened to the characters we know and love.

Love the talk Harry has with him right before he goes onto the train. But, I defiantely think there is a lot left open in this epilogue...

I think that a friendship between Scorpius and Albus would be very interesting to see...

Hopefully a new book. I'd love to read it.

[dreaming heart]

Honestly, we don't really know either way just from the information we've been given in the epilogue, though from what it sounds like Albus does seem to be biased towards Gryffindor. Though, from a story-telling point of view, a non-Gryffindor Albus would make for a more interesting read. I've always wanted to read a story with a Slytherin Albus and a Gryffindor Scorpius becoming friends actually. So much dramatic potential... Personally though, I feel like he's got more of a Gryffindor vibe.

[EXPELIAMUS]

Maybe a new one will be created or merged just for ASP: Grytherin or Slyffindor.

[Goddess_Clio]

Originally Posted by dreaming heart

I've always wanted to read a story with a Slytherin Albus and a Gryffindor Scorpius becoming friends actually.

I don't know about the becoming friends part (I haven't gotten that far in the series) but if you might want to read G. Norman Lippert's fanfic series:

James Potter and the Hall of Elder's Crossing
James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper
James Potter and the Vault of Destinies
(He's writing the fourth book right now)

It follows Harry's son James Potter, not Albus Potter, but Albus and Scorpius join the cast of characters in the second book.

And why doesn't anyone think Albus would be in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff? There are other houses besides Slytherin and Gryffindor you know.

[Pearl_Took]

Originally Posted by Goddess_Clio

And why doesn't anyone think Albus would be in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff? There are other houses besides Slytherin and Gryffindor you know.

The author's overwhelming bias towards Gryffindor, perhaps?

Gryffindor and Slytherin are her showcase Houses, and very much each other's nemesis. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff remain (in the series) strictly on the sidelines.

I truly find it hard to imagine that JKR would write young Al into Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. The fans' reaction to this is a different matter.

It is very interesting to imagine little Al in Slytherin. And a far less boring outcome! But in the Epilogue, Harry seems to give him a get-out clause.

Speaking personally, little Al does not give out, to me, a Slytherin vibe.

[StarryVeil]

I honestly think he'll end up in Gryffindor. For one, the Potters are very much a Gryffindor family. Harry's grandfather, James I, Lily I, Harry, Ginny, James II - all Gryffindors. Secondly, Al just didn't give off a Slytherin vibe. Thirdly, Harry giving him a sure-fire way to get into Gryffindor seemed to hint that that was where Al was headed. And, considering that his parents and the older brother he looked up to were all Gryffs, Al would have chosen to go to Gryffindor, IMO.

[wolfbrother]

Yup. I think it highly unlikely that Albus would get over his fear of being a Slytherin in a matter of hours.

[MerryLore]

I've always seen Al - ASP - as a Slytherin, because in the epilogue JKR seemed to put emphasis on Slytherin as having good people, and because i think in her mind Harry worked hard to end blood prejudice, and part of that would be him having a son in each house.

I don't think Al feared Slytherin - I think he feared being rejected by his father and was looking for support, and Harry gave that to him. I think Al knew which house he belonged in.

[MasterOfDeath]

Originally Posted by MerryLore

I've always seen Al - ASP - as a Slytherin, because in the epilogue JKR seemed to put emphasis on Slytherin as having good people, and because i think in her mind Harry worked hard to end blood prejudice, and part of that would be him having a son in each house.

I don't think Al feared Slytherin - I think he feared being rejected by his father and was looking for support, and Harry gave that to him. I think Al knew which house he belonged in.

I agree completely. I think ASP is sorted into Slytherin as well. It also would make things very interesting if Jo did decide to write a book series about ASP.

[StarryVeil]

Originally Posted by Merrylore

I've always seen Al - ASP - as a Slytherin, because in the epilogue JKR seemed to put emphasis on Slytherin as having good people, and because i think in her mind Harry worked hard to end blood prejudice, and part of that would be him having a son in each house.

I honestly doubt that the ASP initials were intentional on JKR's part. The important point of Al's name was honoring Dumbledore and Snape - not giving him initials that mean a type of snake.

I don't think Al feared Slytherin - I think he feared being rejected by his father and was looking for support, and Harry gave that to him. I think Al knew which house he belonged in.

I think Al truly didn't want to be in Slytherin and genuinely wanted to follow in his family's footsteps to Gryffindor. In the Epilogue, even after Harry assures him there's nothing wrong with being in Slytherin, he doesn't gain any peace of mind. It is only after Harry tells him that he had a choice, that he could choose Gryffindor if he wanted to, that Al finally feels relieved and eagerly goes off to school.

IMO, from a storytelling point of view, that exchange between Harry and Al was more about presenting Harry's opinion of Slytherin and the house prejudices than about hinting that Al might be the first Slytherin Potter. I think what JKR was trying to communicate was that the general prejudice against Slytherin had mellowed out and Harry, personally, had no problems with Slytherin anymore, but that didn't mean that there had been a complete overturn in people's mindsets and family traditions. Which, IMO, is a pretty realistic way to go about it.

[wolfbrother]

To be honest, I've always thought that if Jo intended any of Harry's kid to be in Slytherin, it would be Lily. I'm not sure why I feel that way though.

Albus strikes me as similar to Neville. Someone who didn't have a lot of self confidence in the beginning. It would make a great story if Albus wound up in Slytherin, seemingly a misfit, just like Neville did at Gryffindor, and then grown into the role.

[ccollinsmith]

One thing I think needs mentioning is that Harry's comment to Al about the hat taking choice into account is not the same thing as a guarantee that his son will get into the House he wants or that he will get out of the House he doesn't want. Harry is relaying his personal experience ("It did for me"), not a universal truth, to young Albus Severus.

But if Al were to speak with Neville, he would get an entirely different story about what the hat does with personal choice. As we learn from Pottermore, Neville argued with the hat for 5 minutes, telling it not to put him in Gryffindor because he didn't think he was brave enough and begging the hat to put him in Hufflepuff instead. We know how that worked out.

So JKR definitely leaves open the possibility that Al will get sorted into Slytherin, even against his will. That doesn't mean that's what will happen, just that Al getting sorted into Gryffindor is definitely not settled at the end of the Epilogue.

As for Al's initials... I don't see any reason to dismiss the possibility that they might have significance. I mean, there's even a reason that JKR gave the Dursleys the number 4 in their street address! Consequently, it does not seem terribly outlandish to me that she could possibly have meant something by giving the boy the initials ASP. That doesn't mean she did, but until she specifically indicates that she didn't mean anything by those initials, I think the initials are a legitimate line of inquiry.

Regarding family lines... the Patel twins were placed in different Houses from each other. If getting separated at the Sorting Hat could happen to twins, then it could happen to anyone!

I think there's a strong possibility that Al would be sorted into Gryffindor (just as I think there's a strong possibility that he would be sorted into Slytherin). But I do think it would make for a much more interesting story if he were sorted into Slytherin. As the "Water" House, Slytherin has symbolic overtones of birth, fulfillment, dissolution, and rebirth. We see the House only in the dissolution portion of its cycle. So it is ripe for rebirth... and Al could potentially have the opportunity to be part of a new generation that brings about that rebirth and restores the House to its former glory, when it was the House of Merlin - not the House of Riddle.

Not saying that's what JKR has in mind. I'm just saying that I would find it much more interesting - and I think it would be a much more exciting future for Al himself - if the boy got to be a Slytherin returning the House to greatness rather than being obligated by his surname to carry on the family tradition in Gryffindor.

[Liez]

I think we need infomation on Albus Sev. for this judgement. I can see him possibly either going into Gryffindor or Slytherin. Hopefully J.K.R will reveal more in the future some time.

[NobodyImportant]

I can see him anywhere but Gryffindor; their traits are supposed to be daring, nerve, courage, and chivalry. Albus was just so nervous and unsure of himself in the Epilouge. I don't know, I've always pictured him in Slytherin, though Ravenclaw or possibly Hufflepuff would be okay too.

[wolfbrother]

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

I can see him anywhere but Gryffindor; their traits are supposed to be daring, nerve, courage, and chivalry. Albus was just so nervous and unsure of himself in the Epilouge. I don't know, I've always pictured him in Slytherin, though Ravenclaw or possibly Hufflepuff would be okay too.

I don't think we can judge his traits based on the epilogue. From what I see there, he'd fit neither in Gryffindor nor Slytherin. Hufflepuff looks the best match. IMO Albus would grow into the role of whichever house he ends up in.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by StarryVeil

I honestly doubt that the ASP initials were intentional on JKR's part. The important point of Al's name was honoring Dumbledore and Snape - not giving him initials that mean a type of snake.

Oh, I expect she got a bit of a chuckle out of that. He could just as easily been named Severus Albus Potter!

[NobodyImportant]

Originally Posted by wolfbrother

I don't think we can judge his traits based on the epilogue. From what I see there, he'd fit neither in Gryffindor nor Slytherin. Hufflepuff looks the best match. IMO Albus would grow into the role of whichever house he ends up in.

That's true. Sorting the Epilouge kids means a lot of guesswork.

[StarryVeil]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

Oh, I expect she got a bit of a chuckle out of that. He could just as easily been named Severus Albus Potter!

I don't think Severus Albus Potter was ever a possibility because that would mean according Snape more respect than Dumbledore. And that wouldn't make sense. Sure, JKR may have gotten a laugh out of A.S.P. afterwards, but, IMO, Albus Severus was the only way to go about it (considering these two were the only candidates for Harry's second son's name).

[MerryLore]

Originally Posted by StarryVeil

I don't think Severus Albus Potter was ever a possibility because that would mean according Snape more respect than Dumbledore. And that wouldn't make sense. Sure, JKR may have gotten a laugh out of A.S.P. afterwards, but, IMO, Albus Severus was the only way to go about it (considering these two were the only candidates for Harry's second son's name).

There were lots of names the boy could have been given - Arthur Fred, Remus Arthur, Sirius Remus (if the eldest had been named James Arthur).

I saw naming him after Albus and Severus as partly a way of honoring two great men and in a way saying Slytherin has the same great potential as Gryffindor.

I think, in continuing with the theme, James went to Gryffindor and Al went to Slytherin. The ASP initials are fun, but not the primary reason I think she sorted them this way. If his initials were SAP - which I associate with plants - I still think he would have been in Slytherin.

[ccollinsmith]

Harry's comments to Al ("You were named for two Headmasters") do not indicate that the naming attempted to honor to one more highly than the other.

I think the order of names results largely from how well the names roll off the tongue. "Albus Severus" has a better rhythm (trochee followed by dactyl) than "Severus Albus" (dactyl followed by trochee). The sibilants also have better placement and help the two names roll into one another.

But I do agree that ASP would have given JKR a chuckle.