If you are a proclaimed member of the House of Salazar Slytherin, buckle up, because there are some things you may want to know about their exclusive common room. The only time people have gotten a glimpse of this mystic hideaway is in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry and Ron transform themselves into Crabbe and Goyle and follow Draco Malfoy into the Slytherin common room, where they hope to out him as Slytherin’s heir.
Of course, we all know how that plays out. In the film, it cuts from the trio’s encounter with Percy Weasley directly to Malfoy plopping down on the black leather sofa. Harry and Ron try to get a quick glance of the somber dungeon, but they’re left in the dark just as much as the rest of us about what goes on in this room. So for Slytherins and curious onlookers alike, here are ten secrets about the Slytherin common room.
It’s Under The Black Lake
It seems pretty obvious that the Slytherin common room’s semblance isn’t as glowy and warm as the Gryffindor common room. And the simple reason for that is because it’s located down in the dungeons as opposed to high up in one of the towers.
In fact, it’s so far down that it lies beneath the Black Lake itself. You may remember this body of water from Harry’s dive into its shadowy depths during the Triwizard Tournament. It seems that the inside of the Slytherin common room accurately reflects the menacing demeanor that the Black Lake holds.
Their Passwords Are Prejudiced
Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms are the only ones that require a spoken password to get inside. But in lieu of a portrait like the Fat Lady, Slytherins have to direct this password to a stone wall.
The passwords contrived for students to use in order to enter their common room were actually pretty prejudiced, at least in Harry Potter’s early days. When he and Rom disguised themselves in the Chamber of Secrets, Malfoy remembers the password to be “pure-blood.”
It Has A Gothic Ambiance
The most impressive part of the Slytherin common room is its overall architecture. Its walls are intricately carved with literally no stone left untouched. It has a certain Gothic feel to it, with its drab colors, stone walls, and green lighting.
The excerpt from the books that describe this coveted area says, “The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains.”
It’s Located Near The Chamber of Secrets
It stands to reason that Salazar Slytherin would construct the Chamber of Secrets near his students’ common room. It would mean easy access for when his heir returns and diminishes the need for them to go searching far for it. The actual location of the chamber isn’t directly announced, other than the fact that its entrance is in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.
However, as Harry and Ron run from the Slytherin common room after their interrogation of Malfoy, all they have to do is sprint up the Entrance Hall and up the first set of marble stairs in order to get back to the bathroom.
The House Of Water
Each one of the Hogwarts Houses represents one of the four fundamental elements of nature. Hufflepuff is earth, Ravenclaw is air, Gryffindor is fire, and Slytherin is water. This makes more sense as to why the Slytherin common room is encompassed solely by the Hogwarts’ greatest body of water.
Also, consider the fact that this means that Gryffindor’s symbolism is in direct opposition to Slytherin’s (water versus fire). It’s no wonder that people like Harry and Malfoy could never get along.
It Hosts A Ton Of House Cups
Before Harry and his friends came to Hogwarts, Slytherin had been notorious for winning the House Cup. The House Cup is awarded to the house with the most points at the end of the school year. Harry’s first year at Hogwarts broke Slytherin’s six-year streak for winning the House Cup.
You may remember McGonagall’s speech on this in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. She explains that “Your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup.”
The Bloody Baron
The Bloody Baron is the ghostly host of the Slytherin House. However, most people aren’t aware of his malevolent past. Baron died by his own hand by stabbing himself to death after he killed the love of his life. That love, as if so happens, is the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw herself.
He had been enamored with Helena Ravenclaw but ended up killing her (and himself) after she rejected him numerous times. Helena also still roams the halls of Hogwarts as the ghost of Ravenclaw. You may remember her helping Harry to find her mother’s lost diadem in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Squids & Other Unique Visitors
In the description of the Slytherin common room on Pottermore, it introduces a new aspect that isn’t really present in the films. Their common room has high ceiling windows which can only look out into the depth of the Hogwarts’ lake.
It is described as having the ambiance of an underwater shipwreck that sees its fair share of aquatic creatures. It goes on to say, “We often see the giant squid swooshing by — and sometimes more interesting creatures.”
Most Students Don’t Know Where It Is
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione are captured by the Snatchers in the woods, Hermione casts a spell on Harry to conceal his identity. Harry continues to play along by telling the Snatchers that his name is Vernon Dudley and that he’s a Slytherin. The Snatchers don’t believe him, so they ask him where their common room is.
Only Slytherins are privy to this information, so the rascals are sure that Harry will admit to his lie. Of course, Harry knows exactly where the Slytherin common room is, having been one of the only non-Slytherins to ever step foot inside the dungeon.
Famous Alumni
Slytherin house gets a bad rep, but not all of its alumni have ties to the Dark Arts. In fact, one of the most famous wizards to set foot in the Slytherin common room is Merlin. Merlin is celebrated for his greatness with the distribution of Orders of Merlin.
This long-standing award is granted to witches and wizards of esteemed accomplishments by the Wiztheengamot. Among the other tapestries that hang in the Slytherin common room is that of famous Medieval Slytherins and even Horace Slughorn.
