1. We welcome eccentric people into our house.
Ravenclaw values creativity as one of its cardinal traits, so you can imagine that the Sorting Hat’s picks for Ravenclaw tend to be quirky intellectuals with a whole gamut of interests. From Luna Lovegood to Cho Chang to Moaning Myrtle, Ravenclaws are charming and unique -- we like to think outside the box and learn for learning’s sake.
2. Our house has an interesting (but tragic) backstory.
Rowena Ravenclaw founded Hogwarts along with 3 other wizards, and she was often described as “beautiful, yet slightly intimidating.” She was noted for her intelligence and creativity, but legend has it that she died of a broken heart. Her daughter Helena is also the Grey Lady, ghost of the Ravenclaw Tower. Out of jealousy of her mother’s intelligence and wit, Helena stole her mother’s diadem and ran away. When Rowena fell ill, she sent the Baron to go find Helena so that she could see her one last time. Helena refused to return with him, so the Baron stabs her out of rage and himself out of guilt.
3. Our common room is the coolest of them all.
Ravenclaw’s common room is found at the very top of the Ravenclaw Tower behind an enchanted door, so you can imagine that it has an amazing view. The arched windows of the circular room overlooks the lake, the Forbidden Forest, the Herbology gardens, and the Quidditch grounds. The ceiling is gorgeous, painted dark blue like the night sky and dotted with stars. The furniture is sleek and elegant -- blue couches, blue silk draping on the windows, a beautiful statue of Rowena Ravenclaw in the alcove. We also have a ton of bookshelves, where you can find any book you can think of. Our common room’s Greco-Roman aesthetic and spacious feel sets it apart from those of Slytherin and Hufflepuff, which are in the dungeons and basement respectively. And, the color blue tends to be easier on the eyes than a striking Gryffindor red.
In order to get into the Common Room, you have to answer a riddle. It’s a great way to get to know people, and it appeals to the innate Ravenclaw desire to solve puzzles and engage in philosophical discussion. I mean, can you imagine a drunk seventh-year trying to get into the Common Room?
Door: What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?
‘Claw: Hahaha, your mom.
4. We speak our minds.
Despite the fact that Gryffindor is known as “the brave house,” it’s the Ravenclaws that seem to be the most blunt, and Ravenclaw could arguably be considered the most outspoken house. Take Luna, for example. She is so matter-of-fact about things, which often translates into both witty and unwitty bluntness. Luna tells Harry, Ron, and Hermione that she doesn’t consider Hagrid (who is very close to the three) to be a very good teacher, and she reveals to Harry that Padma Patil didn’t really enjoy being his date at the Yule Ball during Goblet of Fire.
5. We care about more than just glory or honor.
Yeah, “do it for the Vine” isn’t going to cut it for us. Sure, Ravenclaws can be ambitious, and we like to be honored for our achievements. But, it’s just that our passion for knowledge and aversion to ignorance trumps everything else. Ravenclaw would never sacrifice their identity and set of values for reputation or dignity.
6. We can be the best of friends and take our friendships very seriously.
Whether it be recommending a cool new book or updating you on current events in the Middle East, Ravenclaws make great company, so you’ll never have to rely on small talk about the weather with us. We’ll always stick up for you whenever you’re in trouble like Cho did for Marietta Edgecombe. We put in a lot of effort into our friendships, like Luna while supporting Ron in Gryffindor’s Quidditch match against Slytherin.
7. We are very intuitive and can see past the surface.
Usually, those who value wisdom and learning also tend to possess deep intuition and empathy, and we pay close attention to the world around us. So, we can often read your mind like an open book, and we know when a friend needs help.
8. We are incredibly diverse and multifaceted.
It’s no wonder that Ravenclaw produces the most Wizarding inventors and innovators. This is a House for creative, quirky, and inquisitive individuals. You have your artists and writers on one side, scientists and mathematicians that value logic on the other. The best part about Ravenclaw is that you can’t really impose a stereotype on us -- because no one person is even remotely the same.
9. The Ravenclaw house values tolerance and is accepting of all people.
More like an intellectual tolerance for anyone eccentric or different. Ravenclaws will embrace a person who has unorthodox ideas or hobbies, assuring individuals that they won’t be laughed at. The reason Ravenclaw is so diverse is that intelligence comes in many forms -- most Ravenclaws are wise enough to understand that. For this reason, it’s not hard for us to see the good in even the most sour of people.
10. Our students and alums are famous and loved by all.
The best example is Luna Lovegood, the only non-Gryffindor student to accompany Harry to the Department of Mysteries, as well as the only non-Gryffindor member of the Silver Trio (Luna, Ginny, and Neville). She is imaginative, open-minded, and kind -- she helps rebuild Dumbledore’s Army, survives after being kidnapped and held hostage at the Malfoy house, and helps Harry find Rowena Ravenclaw’s Horcruxed diadem. Among the others are Filius Flitwick, Cho Chang, Padma Patil, Sybil Trelawney, and Garrick Ollivander.
Thankfully, the Internet has spoken with its Sorting Hat multiple times (seriously, bless Entertainment Weekly), and some famous (real-life) Ravenclaws include, but are not limited to: Lorde, Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Morgan Freeman, Barbra Streisand, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Anna Kendrick, and Lady Gaga.
