Harry Potter and the Deathlt Hallows question: Isn't it that none of the slytherins help on the fight?

Question

against voldemort? What did Phineas Nigellus meaned when he said "and let it be noted that the slytherin house played it's part"? is it because slughorn helped and the true identity of snape?thanks

Answer 1

First of all, to answer your question, Phineas was referring to the fact that Snape was the right-hand man of Dumbledore, and the reason for the Order's success.

Second, to all those people who are surprised and angry that Slytherin didn't stay to fight, why are you surprised?

Don't get me wrong, Slytherin is my favorite house, but you have to remember, Slytherin 'loved those of great ambition.' Not mindless bravery.

In the 6th book, Harry and Phineas had the following conversation:

"Running away, are we?"

He looked around. Phineas Nigellus had appeared upon the canvas of his portrait and was leaning against the frame, watching Harry with an amused expression on his face.

"Not running away, no," said Harry shortly, dragging his trunk a few more feet across the room.

"I thought," said Phineas Nigellus, stroking his pointed beard, "that to belong to Gryffindor House you were supposed to be brave? It looks to me as though you would have been better off in my own house. We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks."

That being said, when Dumbledore said Snape had been sorted too soon, he meant that Snape had expressed a loyalty and bravery that was MORE KNOWN for other houses, not that Slytherin's were UNABLE to show those characteristics.

Answer 2

I think the book said only a few slytherins stayed to fight. And Phineas Nigellus was talking about Snape.

Answer 3

I believe Phineas was referring to Snape especially, but also the lie Narcissa told to Voldi, etc.

Frankly I was disapointed not even one or two random Slytherins stuck around for the fight, especially given that JK had used her characters to explicitly point out in book 1 that a house, or having certain characteristics doesnt define the morality of the person- they are still free to choose to do good or evil. Having all of those kids leave was a total slap to that rationale, I think.

Also, when Dumbledore tells Snape "I think we sort too soon" he's making the implication again that being a Slytherin marks someone for evil authomatically. He might has well have said-"but look, Severus, it decided too early- you didn't turn out evil afterall!"

Answer 4

I thought that was quite stupid, like there's absolutely no good Slytherins except Slughorn and Snape. Nice one, Jo.

But I do love that Snape was maybe sorted too quickly-- he was in Slytherin, yet the bravest man Harry ever knew. That at least proves to someone that there's more than just their house to them.

Answer 5

I think that may pretty much be it. Particulary the fact that Snape was, afterall, really working for Dumbledore to bring down Voldemort.

Answer 6

~Warning: Spoilers:

Slughorn is referring to the fact that Snape was the one and only reason that Harry was able to succeed in his mission. That, like Harry said in the Epilogue, Severus Snape was the bravest man he had ever known.

Answer 7

plus nigellus in the portrait that they took helped them.

Answer 8

there hasnt been a wizard in raven claw, huffulpuff or griffindor that have ever gone bad, also most of the syltherins have parents as death eaters and will probably grow up to be simmilar

Answer 9

i think a few did maybe a couple students and a few teachers..idk maybe he meant how they helped delay the defeat of lord voldermort