Slytherin corresponded roughly with the element of water due to serpents being commonly associated with the sea and lochs in western European mythology, as well as serpents being physically fluid and flexible animals. The patron ghost of the house was the Bloody Baron. There were two notable heads of the house Horace Slughorn took the role twice (first leaving in 1981 and then taking the role again from 1997 until leaving before 2016), and Severus Snape. The emblematic animal of the house was a snake and the house's colours were green and silver. However, a Muggle-born student from that house was considered to be quite rare. Students of any blood status could be placed in the house. The founder highly valued and favoured pure-blood students and the Sorting Hat admitted that it could be a factor when being sorted.

Examples of these included Draco Malfoy's gang, Merula Snyde's gang, Pansy Parkinson's gang and Tom Riddle's gang (which later became the Death Eaters). Many Slytherin students tended to clique together (often acquiring leaders) which further exemplified Slytherin's ambitious qualities. Those characteristics included cunning, resourcefulness, leadership, and ambition. In establishing the house, Salazar instructed the Sorting Hat to pick students who had a few particular characteristics he most valued.

Slytherin was one of the four Houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Salazar Slytherin.

Black family (exception of Sirius Black).

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