A guide to writing HP fan fiction

Representation of Harry Potter houses

I believe that it is very important to give good representation to all houses in your story. Even if it focuses on one in particular, make sure whenever you do reference the other houses you're doing it fairly. There chapter will focus on different misconceptions about each of the houses, and how we must combat them.

Ravenclaw
"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind"

The representation of Ravenclaw house in the Harry Potter series conveys it as one that values intelligence, wit and wisdom. While these are a few positive traits surrounding the house, there is a lack of representation of other traits students in Ravenclaw house can withhold. There are assumptions that students within this house are often 'stuck up' or 'no-it-all's' but really, they are incredibly considerate and accepting.

If we take the character of Luna Lovegood in the series, from the outset she is considered as an outcast or different from your typical teenager, but she is the representation that we need. A character from Ravenclaw doesn't just have these traits, they can possess many of the others from the different houses as well.

Slytherin
"Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means,
To achieve their ends"

For a while, I had the belief that Slytherin was an evil house. One day, I asked myself why and found that it wasn't Slytherin house I had a problem with, but rather only individual character who had been sorted into that house. Slytherin house cannot be defined by one individual like Draco Malfoy or Pansy Parkinson.

Slytherin's are cunning and know what they want and go for it which, despite myself being a Gryffindor, I embody this also. I feel we need to add more Slytherin representation into our fan fictions. For example, I have added the character of Anastasia Hill who is loveable and smart to convey that a person's house doesn't define who they are, but rather their actions do.

Hufflepuff
"You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,
And unafraid of toil"

While I was reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a little while ago, I noticed how frustrated the Hufflepuff students got whenever they found out Cedric Diggory was not going to be the only Hogwarts champion. To me, I felt this was completely understandable. Gryffindor has definitely got so much spotlight on it and the one moment Hufflepuff gets some, Gryffindor take it again.

Hufflepuff is probably my favourite house (even if I am a Gryffindor) because it deserves so much love and attention. However, if you're going to create a Hufflepuff character, do not make them weak or easy to walk over. Lara Blackwell, from my story Endgame, I sorted her into Hufflepuff. She is a strong willed character who has lots of compassion. Don't let the traits define your characters too much, make them how you want to portray them.

Gryffindor
"You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart"

Gryffindor, of course, is the most popular in the entire series. However, I feel as if people feel it is very overrated which is an easy opinion to have for it has the most representation. I think it should be valued on the same level as the other houses as they are all brilliant in their own way.

When creating Gryffindor characters, don't feel obligated to make an automatic hatred between a character sorted from Slytherin and Gryffindor, make a friendship between them. I think it's about time we normalise this :)

***
I love all the Harry Potter houses, and I think it is essential to challenge JKR's representation of them. We are gen-z after all!