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Nagini was Lord Voldemort’s pet snake and one of the most infamous characters in the Harry Potter series. As a magical snake who could transform into a human, Nagini played a pivotal role in many of the major events in the books and films. But one question that has long intrigued fans is – what Hogwarts house would Nagini have belonged to if she had been a student at the school?
The Sorting Hat at Hogwarts
At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, new students are sorted into one of four houses – Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. This sorting ceremony takes place before the start-of-term banquet each year. A sentient magical hat called the Sorting Hat is placed on each new student’s head, where it reads the student’s innermost thoughts and qualities to determine which house they belong in.
The four Hogwarts houses represent the four founders of the school and each house values certain attributes:
- Gryffindor values courage, bravery, nerve, and chivalry.
- Hufflepuff values hard work, patience, justice, and loyalty.
- Ravenclaw values intelligence, knowledge, and wit.
- Slytherin house values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness.
So where would the Sorting Hat have placed Nagini if she had been a Hogwarts student? Let’s analyze Nagini’s personality and role in the story to figure it out.
Nagini’s Background
Not much is known about Nagini’s background before she became Voldemort’s pet. She was originally a Maledictus – a woman who carried a blood curse that destined her to transform permanently into a beast. Nagini’s case was unusual in that she became a magical, extremely venomous snake rather than a common animal. This hints that Nagini may have already had magical lineage before her transformation.
Some fans speculate Nagini was originally from Indonesia, hence her name which comes from the Nāga, a serpent deity in Buddhist and Hindu mythology. Others guess she was from Albania, as that is where she first met Tom Riddle and helped nurse him back to health after he had lost his physical form.
Nagini and Tom Riddle
Nagini first interacted with Tom Riddle sometime between the 1940s-1960s while he was in exile in Albania. She helped care for him as he worked to regain physical form and strength. In return, Riddle gave Nagini some of his magical knowledge and powers, enhancing her venom and granting her abilities like flight.
Their partnership was mutually beneficial – Nagini gained magical strength and immortality while aiding Riddle, who appreciated Nagini’s lethal venom and abilities. Over time, their relationship evolved into one of the deepest emotional attachments either ever had.
Nagini’s Personality and Traits
Throughout the books, Nagini exhibits personality traits aligned with several Hogwarts houses. Here is an analysis of Nagini’s qualities:
Intelligent and cunning
Nagini possesses a high level of intelligence for a snake. She understands complex instructions from Voldemort and plays a key part in many of his plans, like attacking Arthur Weasley and infiltrating the Ministry of Magic disguised as Bathilda Bagshot. She can communicate with Voldemort through their mental connection. This advanced intellect would appeal to a house like Ravenclaw.
Nagini is also cunning and crafty. She knows how to wait patiently for the right moment to strategically attack her prey, like when she surprises and disables Harry in Godric’s Hollow. Her ingenious mind and ability to flawlessly follow through on Voldemort’s schemes resonates with the cunning ambition of Slytherin house.
Dedicated and loyal
Despite her venomous bite, Nagini shows immense dedication and loyalty to Lord Voldemort. She stays faithfully by his side for decades as he regains power, and is his most trusted companion and source of comfort. Nagini is committed to serving Voldemort above all else. This unwavering loyalty reflects values of Hufflepuff house.
Deadly and dangerous
In pursuit of her and Voldemort’s objectives, Nagini can be extremely ruthless and vicious. She does not hesitate to attack, poison, and kill on Voldemort’s orders, and even consumes the bodies of victims. Her lethal blood curse amplifies her danger, making her essentially a living magical weapon. This dangerous nature suits the bold nerve associated with Gryffindor house.
Ambitious
Nagini wishes to support Voldemort in purifying wizard bloodlines and ruling the magical world. She shares his ambition for power and supremacy over Muggles and Muggle-borns. Her aspirations match the ambitious pure-blood mentality prevalent in Slytherin house.
Conclusion: Nagini Most Suited for Slytherin House
Considering her traits, abilities, and role in the story, Nagini would most likely have been sorted into Slytherin if she attended Hogwarts.
The ambitious, cunning snake is a model Slytherin. Her intellect, craftiness, resourcefulness and hunger for power suit Salazar Slytherin’s values perfectly. Nagini uses these abilities to aid Voldemort in pursuing his dominance over the wizarding world.
Though she displays loyalty, determination and daring nerve at times, Nagini’s core motivations stem from ambition and pure-blood supremacy ideals. The Sorting Hat would have seen this scheming slyness in her mind and placed her in the Hogwarts house best aligned with her true nature – Slytherin.
Why Slytherin Is the Best Fit for Nagini
Here is a closer look at why the cunning serpent Nagini is so well-suited for Salazar Slytherin’s house:
She possesses a sharp, ambitious mind
Nagini shows cunning, strategic intelligence in her actions. She is able to converse with Voldemort and understand his plans, then flawlessly follow through with tasks like infiltrating the Ministry in disguise. The Sorting Hat would recognize Nagini’s mental talents are a match for the wit and ambition of Slytherin house.
She values blood purity
Nagini shares Voldemort’s belief that wizardkind should rule over Muggles and Muggle-borns. Her desire to help Voldemort achieve pure-blood supremacy in the magical world is inline with Salazar Slytherin’s elitist views on magical lineage.
She is a parselmouth
Nagini can communicate with snakes and Voldemort in Parseltongue, the language of serpents. This rare Slytherin-associated ability would help seal her fate as a Hogwarts Slytherin.
She possesses a Slytherin’s sense of self-preservation
Slytherins often exhibit a strong sense of self-preservation. Nagini is no exception – she does what is necessary to survive and avoid threats, including going into hiding when Voldemort is weakened. Her survival instincts match those of a typical Slytherin.
She is cunning and sneaky
From stealthily attacking Harry in Godric’s Hollow to pretending to be Bathilda Bagshot, Nagini shows the cunning, sly resourcefulness that Slytherins are known for. The Sorting Hat would pick up on these traits as signs that Nagini belongs in the house of the snakes.
She is Voldemort’s most trusted companion
Voldemort, the Heir of Slytherin himself, chose Nagini as his most trusted ally and confidante. Their exceptionally close bond speaks to how Nagini embodies the qualities Voldemort valued most in a proper Slytherin follower.
Nagini in Other Hogwarts Houses
While Slytherin is the best match, here is an analysis of how Nagini might have fared in the other Hogwarts houses:
Ravenclaw
Nagini’s intelligence could allow her to excel academically in Ravenclaw. However, she may grow frustrated with some Ravenclaws’ lack of ambition or hesitance to break rules. Ultimately Nagini values cunning deeds over studying for its own sake.
Gryffindor
The bold Gryffindors may initially embrace Nagini’s daring, go-getter attitude. But her ruthlessness and obsession with pure blood supremacy would clash with Gryffindor’s inclusive, heroic values. She lacks the warmth and conscience associated with this house.
Hufflepuff
Loyalty is Nagini’s closest fit to a Hufflepuff trait. However, her unswerving devotion is limited to Voldemort alone. Some Hufflepuffs’ aversion to danger and rule-breaking would confound Nagini and her lethal missions for her master.
Key Takeaways
– Nagini is a Maledictus who permanently transformed into an extremely venomous magical snake.
– Though cunning, ambitious, and loyal in her own way, Nagini’s core motivations stem from spreading pure-blood supremacy with Voldemort.
– Her sharp intellect, resourcefulness, parseltongue abilities, and close bond with Voldemort make Nagini a perfect match for Slytherin house.
– The Sorting Hat would have recognized Nagini’s sly ambitions and placed her in Slytherin with Voldemort and his Death Eater followers.
– Nagini shares the qualities most valued by Salazar Slytherin in his Hogwarts house members.
Conclusion
In the end, Nagini’s role as Voldemort’s loyal serpent-shaped lieutenant and weapon make Slytherin by far the best Hogwarts house fit for her cunning, ambitious nature. She would have found her place among the snakes rather than amid the lions, eagles or badgers. Nagini may be a frightening magical beast, but analyzing where she would have been sorted at Hogwarts provides insight into her connections with Voldemort and the story.