Back-to-school with Harry Potter: Last chance to enter sweepstakes

Harry Potter Sorcerers Stone — Photo: Peter Mountain

It’s August 31 — Do you have your trunk packed for Hogwarts?

We’re heading into a pretty exciting weekend for Potter nerds such as myself. It’s time to get back to Hogwarts.The train! The castle! Hagrid! It’s all coming back to me now.

And while I personally haven’t received my acceptance letter yet (over a decade late, but who’s counting?), I can’t help but think about the Sorting Hat. “There’s nothing hidden in your head, The Sorting Hat can’t see, So try me on and I will tell you, Where you ought to be,” as the story goes. But I’ve got a bit of a confession: While I would love to say that I would be sorted into Gryffindor alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I also know that there is no way that would ever happen.

For one thing, I’m a total scaredy-cat. So the whole “saving Hermione from a troll/Order of the Phoenix/defeating Voldemort” thing isn’t in the cards. I think one of the all-time great scenes is when Harry and Hermione go back in time during Prisoner of Azkaban and save Sirius, but I also know that if I were involved, I would spend the whole time hiding behind Hagrid’s hut. Neville is a Gryffindor that eventually finds his inner bravery, but I’m doubtful I would have a similar reaction when going head-to-head with Nagini. And while I may have (a few) Hufflepuff traits and (many) Ravenclaw ones, I also know that it’s trumped by the fact that deep-down, I’m totally a Slytherin.

I remember taking those silly online quizzes years ago, and without fail, they would line me up alongside Draco, Pansy Parkinson (ugh) and the rest. When I went to the Harry Potter Exhibition a few years back, I got sorted into Slytherin without answering a single question. But it doesn’t mean there’s a Dark Mark tattoo in my future. Slytherins are ambitious (check) competitive (check) and get to hang out with Draco Malfoy whenever they want (maybe?). Also, Severus Snape was a Slytherin. I’m just fine being in the same group — he was one of the bravest men Harry ever knew, after all.

Now it’s your turn. Be honest: If you were getting sorted this weekend, which house would the Sorting Hat place you in?

And if you want to get even closer to Hogwarts, be sure to enter our Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection sweepstakes. It’s the last day to enter, and it’s your best chance to get up-close-and personal with the sets via a trip to London – not to mention the 31-disc Wizard’s Collection set that will allow you to re-watch the whole gang’s Hogwarts adventures all over again.

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