Defending Slytherin...

Defending Slytherin… Okay, so I'm a geek. With that being said, I wanna talk about a recent cause that I've become part of; defending Slytherin. If you've never read Harry Potter, you have my pity. The first book came out twenty years ago, and not only did it cause more kids to read for fun, it made a lot of adults wish they'd gone to Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

My Uncle Donnie (who knows I'm a voracious reader) gave me a book to read titled ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.’ He said people were going crazy over it and I should check it out. I read the blurb with raised eyebrows, but I gave it a shot. Three hours later I was heading to the bookstore to buy the first two books in the series because I had been hooked by chapter five. The rest is history.

I told my brother Brian about the books and he too became a fan. Years later I talked my wife Traci into giving the books a try, even though she doesn't like fantasy, wizardry, etc. Yep. Hooked her too. We toast Harry on July 31st every year, and I think JK Rowling is one of the coolest writers ever.

When reading books like the Harry Potter series, or the ‘Divergent' series, or the ‘Game of Thrones’ series, one can't help but to figure out which house, group, or clan they would belong to. I rooted for Gryffindor (where dwell the brave), and I root for House Stark in Game of Thrones. But… after much introspection and doses of reality, I have to admit that if I'd been a student at Hogwarts, the “Sorting Hat” would have placed me immediately in Slytherin. I'm also Divergent, and I would have the last name of Lannister (except for the incest thing) in ‘Game of Thrones.’ “Lions don't pay attention to the opinions of sheep” and “A Lannister always pays his debts.” Indeed.

Most people align themselves untruthfully with other houses, looking askance at Slytherin. But… if you're familiar with the books, ask yourselves these questions; 1. Was Draco Malfoy smarter and more cunning than Harry Potter? 2. Who was the bravest person in the books? 3. Who created their own spells? 4. Who performed magic that others couldn't figure out?

Exactly. Draco was on par with Hermione. He managed to sneak assassins into Hogwarts, and he disguised his goons as girls using Polyjuice potion. Brilliant. Severus Snape was a genius and “the bravest man I ever knew,” a quote by Harry James Potter. Snape was the ‘Half-Blood Prince' who invented ‘Sectumsempra' and a bunch of other spells. Finally, Draco created ‘Potter Stinks' badges that no one could figure out how to erase or change. Not even going to mention Tom Riddle, the first wizard to split his soul into seven parts, in order to become immortal. Just saying.

The traits of Slytherin House are cunning, ambition, and resourcefulness. Sounds a lot like me… and my brother Brian (who wishes he was Ravenclaw), and my cousin Collette. Being true to oneself is a sign of growth and maturity. I know who I am in the real world, but I also recognize to which House my allegiance would lie. “To thy ownself be true.” Did I mention that Merlin was a