Gryffindor

Gryffindor
House information
Founder	Godric Gryffindor
House colours	Scarlet and gold
Animal	Lion
Element	Fire
Traits	Daring Nerve Chivalry Courage Bravery Determination
Head	Neville Longbottom Minerva McGonagall (formerly) Godric Gryffindor †
Ghost	Nearly-Headless Nick
Common room	Gryffindor Tower
Members	Potter family (except Albus Potter) Weasley family Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington Leander Prewett Lawrence Davies Eric Northcott Albus Dumbledore Aberforth Dumbledore Minerva McGonagall Rubeus Hagrid Sturgis Podmore Remus Lupin Sirius Black Lily Evans Angelica Cole Ben Copper Jae Kim Oliver Wood Angelina Johnson Cormac McLaggen Hermione Granger Neville Longbottom Dean Thomas Seamus Finnigan Lavender Brown Parvati Patil Colin Creevey Dennis Creevey Alicia Spinnet Katie Bell Lee Jordan Demelza Robins Romilda Vane Nigel Wolpert Ernie Prang Jack Sloper Freddie Clemmons

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

— Sorting Hat

Gryffindor was one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was founded by Godric Gryffindor. Gryffindor instructed the Sorting Hat to choose students possessing characteristics he most valued, such as courage, chivalry, nerve and determination, to be Sorted into his house.

The emblematic animal was a lion, and its colours were scarlet and gold and its house point hourglass was filled with rubies. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as "Nearly Headless Nick", was the House ghost.

Gryffindor corresponded roughly to the element of fire, and it was for this reason that the colours scarlet and gold were chosen to represent the house. The colour of fire corresponded to that of a lion as well, with scarlet representing the mane and tail and gold representing the coat.

The Gryffindor motto was "Forti Animo Estote", which was displayed on a stained glass window in the common room.

Traits

"While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor."

— The Sorting Hat regarding Gryffindor traits

Gryffindor's founder, Godric Gryffindor

The Gryffindor house emphasised the traits of courage as well as "daring, nerve, and chivalry", and thus its members were generally regarded as brave, though sometimes to the point of recklessness. Some Gryffindors had also been noted to be short-tempered.

Notably, Gryffindor house contributed many members to Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix, although this may have been because the main members made it a point not to associate with other houses.

According to Phineas Nigellus Black, members of other houses, particularly Slytherin, sometimes felt that Gryffindors engaged in "pointless heroics". Another Slytherin, Severus Snape, considered many Gryffindors to be self-righteous and arrogant, with no regard for rules.

Reputation

"I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

— Minerva McGonagall regarding the high reputation of Gryffindor house

The lion, symbol of Gryffindor House

Gryffindors and Slytherins had shared a fierce house rivalry since their founders, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin, respectively, had a severe falling out over Slytherin's emphasis on blood purity. There might also be an element of feeling wronged, as Harry and his fellow Gryffindors tended to win in a lot of circumstances which, when viewed from a neutral point of view, may be considered unfair.

Examples of this included the last-minute points awarded by Headmaster Dumbledore at the End-of-Term Feast, which conveniently put Gryffindor ten points ahead of Slytherin in the 1991–1992 school year. The fact that no points were deducted for the rule breaking that happened during that night. Harry Potter being permitted by Professor McGonagall to have his own broomstick for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, even though first-years were not normally permitted their own broomsticks because of danger. Members of other houses might have felt that Gryffindor received favouritism. Many saw Harry Potter being chosen as the fourth competitor in the Triwizard Tournament as an unfair stealing of Hufflepuff student Cedric Diggory's thunder.

House ghost, Nearly Headless Nick

Overall, however, the houses of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tended to side with Gryffindor in its rivalry with Slytherin. This was particularly notable during the Second Wizarding War — the members of Dumbledore's Army were from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, but the Army lacked any Slytherins. (This, however, could also have been because news of Dumbledore's Army was passed by word of mouth, and Harry, who had initially raised it, did not associate with any Slytherins.)

During the Battle of Hogwarts, the Slytherin students left, while senior students from the other three houses remained behind to fight against Lord Voldemort and his army — however, it is also worth noting that while Head of House Professor Slughorn left with his students, he then returned to the castle with reinforcements (possibly including senior students) and with Professor McGonagall and Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, personally duelled Lord Voldemort. Most of the known Death Eaters (besides Peter Pettigrew, Quirinus Quirrell, and possibly others) had been Slytherin House members, and that might have been another reason as to why the other two houses sided with Gryffindor over Slytherin.

Gryffindor tower

Common room

The Gryffindor common room

The entrance to the Gryffindor common room (which, in turn, lead to the Gryffindor dormitories) was located behind a large portrait of the Fat Lady in a pink silk dress. If one knew the right password to tell her, she swung open to reveal a round opening in the wall. The common room contained a lot of squashy armchairs, a fireplace, and tables. The fireplace was connected to the Floo Network, but as it was extremely public except in the dead of night, Gryffindors usually used owls to communicate with their families instead.

There was also a notice board, for public announcements such as the date of the next Hogsmeade weekend trip, but also for notices from individual students seeking to buy or sell secondhand books, or trade Chocolate Frog Cards, or similar, as in any school.

The common room was very comfortable, and members of the Gryffindor house met there for study groups, celebrations, or relaxation. The walls were lined with portraits, each one depicting a previous or current Head of Gryffindor House.

Dormitories

Boys' dormitories

There were two staircases opening off the common room into the Tower itself: the boys' staircase, on which the seven boys' dormitories were located (one for each year) and the girls' staircase, on which the seven girls' dormitories were located (one for each year).

The girls' staircase was under a Charm so that if a boy set foot on it and persisted for a few steps, a wailing klaxon went off and the staircase temporarily turned itself into a stone slide, sending him and anyone else on the stairs sailing to the bottom. According to Hogwarts: A History, the founders believed that girls were more trustworthy than boys, so that while the girls' staircase was enchanted to prevent boys from getting in, the boys' staircase did not carry a reciprocal enchantment. Each dormitory was a round room with windows looking out onto the grounds, and containing four-poster beds.

Head of House

Godric Gryffindor
(10th Century)

Gryffindor Lady

Gryffindor Seeker

Gryffindor Man

Gryffindor Man

Gryffindor Man

Muldoon Cragg

Uric Oapley

Podric Piles

Tobias Stump

Valeria Myriadd

Minerva McGonagall
(?–1998)

Neville Longbottom

The Head of House before and during Harry Potter's time was Minerva McGonagall. Minerva became the Head of House possibly when she was appointed Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, taking over Albus Dumbledore's previous teaching position when he became Headmaster. Neville Longbottom was known to have become the Head of House after Minerva was made Headmistress in 1998 following the end of the Second Wizarding War.

Known Gryffindors

Name	Period attending Hogwarts	Notes
Sir Cadogan	Middle Ages	Sworn Knight of the Round Table in King Arthur's royal court, known for his defeat of the Wyvern of Wye. Now has a portrait on the seventh floor landing of the Divination corridor, which for a while guarded Gryffindor Tower from November 1993 to February 1994.
Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington	15th century	Knight and courtier in Henry VII's royal court, who was improperly beheaded for a magical attempt to straighten a lady-in-waiting's crooked teeth which instead made her grow a tusk. Later became the house ghost.
Astrix Alixan	1680s–1690s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1688–1692.
Filemina Alchin	1690s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1692–1696.
Angelina Appleby	1690s–1700s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1696–1700.
Oona Ballington	1700s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1700–1704.
Concepta Battista		Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1704–1708.
Betty Bickering	1700s–1710s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1708–1712.
Hugh Biggs	1710s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1712–1716.
Mike Boon	1710s–1720s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1716–1720.
Jason Charmer	1720s	Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1720–1724.
Sophia Prickett		Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from 1724–?.
Cressida Blume	1880s–1890s	A student whose fondness for using the Hogwarts Library as her personal arena to practise incantations helped prompt a suggestion to ban magic in the library.
Eric Northcott		Member of the Crossed Wands duelling club during the 1890-1891 school year.
Garreth Weasley		Nephew of Deputy Headmistress Matilda Weasley. Famous for experimenting with magical drinks of his own creation.
Hector Jenkins		Member of the Crossed Wands duelling club in 1890.
Lawrence Davies
Leander Prewett		Notorious bully, according to Ravenclaw student Zenobia Noke.
Lucan Brattleby		Member of the Crossed Wands duelling club.
Natsai Onai		Student of African origin, daughter of Professor Mudiwa Onai. Member of the Crossed Wands duelling club.
Nellie Oggspire		A student who allegedly made it to the top of Gryffindor Tower without a broom. She told a student about the Daedalian Keys and asked them to catch one, as each led to a cabinet. Member of the Crossed Wands duelling club.
Albus Dumbledore	1892–1899	Prefect and Head Boy, Winner of the Barnabus Finkley Prize for Exceptional Spell-Casting and British Youth Representative to the Wizengamot. Eventually became Gold Medal Winner for Ground-Breaking Contribution to the Cairo International Alchemical Conference, Transfiguration/Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor of Hogwarts from the 1910s to 1957, Winner of the Order of Merlin (First Class) for his duel with Gellert Grindelwald in 1945, Headmaster of Hogwarts from 1957 to 1997, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot from 1978 to 1995, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards from 1983 to 1997, and founder of the Order of the Phoenix. Killed on his own orders by Severus Snape in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.
Fleamont Potter	c. late 1910s or earlier	Skilful duellist in his year with dexterity attributed in fights over the teasing his first name received. Eventually married Euphemia and became Potioneer inventor of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion in 1926, father of James Potter and grandfather of the famous Harry Potter. Died of Dragon Pox in 1979.
McClaggan	1920s
Unidentified friend of McClaggan
Celestina Warbeck	1928–1936	A popular singer who later became known as the "Singing Sorceress".
Rubeus Hagrid	1940–1943	Half-giant expelled in his third year after being framed for Tom Riddle's first opening of the Chamber of Secrets. Eventually became Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts from 1968 onward, and Care of Magical Creatures Professor of Hogwarts from 1993 onward.
Minerva McGonagall	Unknown	Prefect and Head Girl, Winner of the Transfiguration Today Most Promising Newcomer award and Animagus in the form of a silver tabby cat. Eventually became Head of Gryffindor House, Transfiguration Professor and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts from 1956 to 1998, Winner of the Order of Merlin (First Class) for her leadership in the Battle of Hogwarts, and Headmistress of Hogwarts from 1998 to 2019.
R. J. H. King	1960s	Member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1969.
Richard Carter		Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team in the 1960s.
Molly Prewett	1961–1968	Eventually married Arthur Weasley and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix throughout the Second Wizarding War.
Arthur Weasley		Eventually married Molly Prewett and became Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office until 1996, proposer of the Muggle Protection Act in 1992, Head of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects from 1996 onward, and member of the Order of the Phoenix throughout the Second Wizarding War.
Patricia Rakepick	1967–1974	Gifted student, later became Head Curse Breaker at Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts from 1988 - 1989.
M. G. McGonagall	1960s–1970s	Member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1971.
Mary Macdonald	1970s	Was once victim of Dark Magic used on her by Mulciber in her school years.
Sirius Black	1971–1978	Only member of the House of Black to be Sorted outside of Slytherin, Muscle of the Marauders under the alias "Padfoot", and Animagus in the form of a black dog. Eventually became a member of the Order of the Phoenix from 1978 to 1981 (at the height of the First Wizarding War), first unassisted escapee of Azkaban as the dog "Snuffles" in 1993, reinstated member of the Order of the Phoenix at the start of the Second Wizarding War, and godfather of the famous Harry Potter. Murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
Lily Evans		Head Girl, member of the Slug Club in her sixth year, and Winner of the Medal for Magical Merit in her seventh year. Eventually married James Potter and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix from 1978 to 1981 (at the height of the First Wizarding War), and mother of the famous Harry Potter. Murdered by Lord Voldemort in the first attack on Godric's Hollow.
Remus Lupin		Prefect, Brains of the Marauders under the alias "Moony", and first Werewolf to attend Hogwarts, with his monthly transformations spent in the Shrieking Shack (accessible via a tunnel guarded by the Whomping Willow). Eventually became a member of the Order of the Phoenix from 1979 to 1981 (at the height of the First Wizarding War), Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts of Hogwarts during the 1993–1994 school year, and reinstated member of the Order of the Phoenix throughout the Second Wizarding War, during which he married Nymphadora Tonks. Murdered by Antonin Dolohov in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Peter Pettigrew		Less-than-average learner and hopeless duellist, rookie of the Marauders under the alias "Wormtail", and Animagus in the form of a grey rat. Eventually became a timidly loyal Death Eater spy within the original Order of the Phoenix from 1979 to 1981 (at the height of the First Wizarding War), Disgraced Winner of the Order of Merlin (First Class) for his alleged confrontation and frame-up of Sirius Black in 1981, spy within the Weasley family as the rat "Scabbers" from 1981 to 1994, and full-time Death Eater throughout the Second Wizarding War. Died when his Silver Hand turned on him in the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor.
James Potter		Head Boy, Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, leader of the Marauders under the alias "Prongs", and Animagus in the form of a stag. Eventually married Lily Evans and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix from 1978 to 1981 (at the height of the First Wizarding War), and father of the famous Harry Potter. Murdered by Lord Voldemort in the first attack on Godric's Hollow.
Angelica Cole	1980–1987	Prefect, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team in her seventh year, later became a Security Troll trainer.
Annalena Gleam	unknown	Prefect, sister of Ismelda Murk, later joined the British Ministry of Magic.
Emily Tyler	1982–?	Student whom Bill Weasley fell in love with.
William Weasley	1982–1989	Prefect and Head Boy, and Winner of the Medal for Magical Merit in his seventh year. Eventually married Fleur Delacour. Became a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts Bank from 1989 onward, and member of the Order of the Phoenix throughout the Second Wizarding War.
Unidentified Gryffindor Keeper	1980s	Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in the 1985–1986 school year.
Pippa Macmillan	1983–?	Bumped into a tree and encountered a Hippogriff in the Forbidden Forest during full moon in her third year, thinking that it was a Werewolf. The rumour spread at Hogwarts.
Ben Copper	1984–1991	Muggle-born student. known for his Charms skills, member of the Astronomy Club, the Dragon Club and the Sphinx Club.
Corey Hayden		Head Boy or Girl in their seventh year.
Jae Kim		Student who was once hit by a hex by Merula Snyde.
Charles Weasley		Prefect, Honorary Care of Magical Creatures participant, and Seeker and Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Eventually became a Dragonologist at a dragon sanctuary in Romania.
Wilfred Levi Kidd		Struggled with Levitation Charms in Charms classes taught by Professor Flitwick.
Percy Weasley	1987–1994	Prefect and Head Boy. Eventually married Audrey and became Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic during the Second Wizarding War and Head of the Department of Magical Transportation from 1998 onward.
Oliver Wood		Keeper and Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Winner of the Award for Effort. Eventually became Reserve Keeper for Puddlemere United.
Angelina Johnson	1989–1996	Chaser and Captain on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and member of Dumbledore's Army. Eventually married George Weasley.
Lee Jordan		Commentator of Hogwarts Quidditch games and member of Dumbledore's Army. Eventually became the host of Potterwatch.
Alicia Spinnet		Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and member of Dumbledore's Army.
Kenneth Towler		Fred Weasley once put Bulbadox powder in his pyjamas.
Fred Weasley		Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and a member of Dumbledore's Army. Eventually left before the end of his final year and become co-founder with George of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Was killed by an explosion in the Battle of Hogwarts.
George Weasley		Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and a member of Dumbledore's Army. Eventually left before the end of his final year and become co-founder with Fred of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. After Fred was killed by an explosion in the Battle of Hogwarts, he married Angelina Johnson and ran the shop on his own for a while but was later supported in the running of the shop by his brother Ron Weasley.
Gryffindor Wizard's Chess champion	1980s–1990s	Wizard's Chess champion.
Sakura Akagi	1990s	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Zakir Akram
Nick Alas		Once had an overdue library book.
Pete Balsall		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Allison Barnes
Fiona Belmont
Kajol Bhatt
Sally Birchgrove		Played informal Quidditch matches in 1996–1997 school year.
Justine Britnell		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Stephen Challock
Liza Cherks		Once had an overdue library book.
Nina Chibbar		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Brian Cinderford		Competed in the Wizard Skittles tournament in the 1996–1997 school year.
Iain Claverdon		Owned two sets of Quidditch robes and lent one to Harry.
Andrew Cleveley		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Rachael Codnor		Often played Wizard Skittles.
Lydia Cooden		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Ritchie Coote		Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1996 and 1997.
Winky Crockett		Once had an overdue library book.
Lisa Cullen		Competed in the Exploding Snap tournament in the 1996–1997 school year.
Alison Denshaw
Mary Doyle		Competed in the Wizard Skittles tournament in the 1996–1997 school year.
Tracie Everson		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Rosalyn Ewhurst
Natalie Fairbourne		Claimed to be the best Exploding Snap player at Hogwarts.
Terrence Fogarty		Usually spent time by the Viaduct with Thomas Paley.
Vicky Frobisher		Tried out for Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995.
Chris Garland		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Thelma Holmes		A lover of Wizard's Chess.
Geoffrey Hooper		Tried out for Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995.
Lucy Hurst		Competed in the Exploding Snap tournament in the 1996–1997 school year.
Satoru Iida		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Peter James		Posted a notice asking if anyone had seen his copy of Simple Spells for Year 2.
Nandini Johar		Usually spent time by the Hogwarts greenhouses.
Anjali Kapoor		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Michael Karume		Told Harry that he could find lost Gobstones in bushes.
Jo King		Once had an overdue library book.
Andrew Kirke		Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995.
Toby Lennox		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Aamir Loonat
Anita Macduff		Competed in the Exploding Snap tournament in the 1996–1997 school year.
Hisana Malachela		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Daphne Maldon
Kenny Markham		A lover of Wizard's Chess.
Angus Matlock		Captain of the Gryffindor Duelling club in 1996.
Paul Mawdesley		Competed in the Exploding Snap tournament in the 1996–1997 school year.
Joe McGee		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Robin McTighe
Eloise Midgen		Student known for having bad acne and an off-centre nose.
Miraphora Mina		Signed up to join the Hogwarts Gobstone Club.
Anna Mirfield		Gave Harry some ground unicorn horn in exchange for a bottle of butterbeer.
Raza Mohammad		Usually spent time in the Clock Tower Courtyard.
Kieran Muirhead		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Roderick Murphy
Edith Newton
David Nolton		Traded many things for Gobstones.
Mallory Norden		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Neil Nuts		Once had an overdue library book.
Aiden O'Connor		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Shelagh O'Dowd
Sean Ogbourne		Usually spent time by the Quidditch pitch entrance.
Kate Olney		Competed in the Exploding Snap tournament in the 1996–1997 school year.
Rionach O'Neal
Steven Osterley		Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Andrew Owly	Once had an overdue library book.
Thomas Paley	Usually spent time by the Viaduct with Terrence Fogarty.
Julie Parkes	Student, perhaps killed in the Second Wizarding War.
Adam Pickering	Often played chess with Harry.
Wayne Portchester	Studied Herbology in the Hogwarts greenhouses.
Genevieve Ramsey	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Neil Randall	Duelling Club member.
Barry Rochester	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Andrew Saxby
Roderick Seaton	Gobstones player.
Kaori Shimizu	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Chie Shinohara
Terry Skeres	Participated in the Battle of Hogwarts and defended Hogwarts from Death Eaters.
Jack Sloper	Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1995.
Andrew Snowy Owl	Signed up for Gobstones Club.
Charlie Stainforth	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Melanie Stanmore
Joshua Sturton
Yuvraj Suri	Usually spent time in the Exterior Walkway.
Jason Swann	Usually spent time in the Entrance Courtyard.
Sujita Tande	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Hardik Tandel
Rahul Tandel
Toad Toazer	Once had an overdue library book. Signed up for Gobstones Club.
Naoki Tsuchiya	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Emma Vanity	Registered for a trip to Hogsmeade.
Rose Wax	Once had an overdue library book.
Alex Wednesbury	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Ruth Winikus	Signed up for Gobstones Club. Registered for a trip to Hogsmeade.
Pauline Yarrow	Seen walking around in the 1993–1994 school year.
Dinaz Zac	Once had an overdue library book.
Derek	Leader of the Wizard Card Collectors' Club.
Edward	Duelling Club member.
Emily
Michael	Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Stewart	Duelling Club member.
Boy 2	Was present when Draco was attacked by Buckbeak.
Gryffindor boy who fetched Harry Potter	Fetched Harry and told him to go to Gryffindor Tower when Neville had a Leg-Locker Curse.
Seventh Floor Gryffindor Prefect	Prefect.
Unidentified card-playing boy	Played cards with Seamus and another boy.
Unidentified Gryffindor boy (II)	Dolores Umbridge used a spell to tidy his uniform.
Unidentified Gryffindor boy that greets Sir Nicholas (I)	Greeted Sir Nicholas after he had been petrified.
Unidentified Gryffindor fighter	Fought in half of the Battle of Hogwarts.
Carl Hopkins	c. 1990–1997	Hoped someday to become an Auror.
Cormac McLaggen	1990–1997	Temporary Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and member of the Slug Club. Had to repeat his final year.
Katie Bell		Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and member of Dumbledore's Army.
Hermione Granger	1991–1997	Prefect, Founder of the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare in her fourth year, deputy leader of Dumbledore's Army in her fifth year, and member of the Slug Club in her sixth year; did not attend final year and therefore had repeat it in order to get N.E.W.T.s. Eventually married Ronald Weasley and became a Office for House-Elf Relocation employee in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures from 1999 to 2000, Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement from 2000 to 2019, and Minister for Magic from 2019 onward.
Harry Potter		Youngest Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, leader of Dumbledore's Army in his fifth year, and member of the Slug Club in his sixth year. Did not attend final year, defeated Lord Voldemort in the Battle of Hogwarts and was the Master of Death. Eventually married Ginny Weasley and became a professional Auror from 1998 to 2019, Head of the Auror Office from 2007 to 2019, and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement from 2019 onwards.
Dean Thomas		Temporary Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team and member of Dumbledore's Army. Did not attend final year.
Ron Weasley		Prefect, Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and deputy leader of Dumbledore's Army; did not attend final year. Eventually married Hermione Granger and became a professional Auror from 1998 to 2000, and co-manager of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
Lavender Brown	1991–1998	Member of Dumbledore's Army; died in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Fay Dunbar		Aspired to become an Auror.
Seamus Finnigan		Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Neville Longbottom		Honorary Herbology participant, rookie of Dumbledore's Army in his fifth year, waiter at the Slug Club Christmas Party in his sixth year, and acting leader of Dumbledore's Army in his seventh year. Eventually married Hannah Abbott and briefly became an Auror, before becoming Herbology Professor of Hogwarts from some point in the 2010s onward.
Parvati Patil		Members of Dumbledore's Army.
Bem		Non-canon Nigerian student.
Kellah		Student who shared a dormitory with Hermione, Lavender, Parvati and other girls.
Unidentified Gryffindor girl (1993-1994) (II)		Enjoyed Care of Magical Creatures and Divination.
Unidentified Gryffindor girl (V)		Had a twin sister in Hufflepuff.
Unidentified Hogwarts Gryffindor girl during the Battle of Hogwarts		Participated in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Colin Creevey	1992–1998	Member of Dumbledore's Army; died in what would have been his sixth year. Harry thought he was a bit annoying in his second year.
Ginny Weasley	1992–1999	Chaser and temporary Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, physical host used by Tom Riddle's Diary for the reopening of the Chamber of Secrets in her first year, member of Dumbledore's Army in her fourth year, member of the Slug Club in her fifth year, and acting deputy leader of Dumbledore's Army in her sixth year. Eventually married Harry Potter and became Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies from 1999 to 2004, Senior Quidditch Correspondent for the Daily Prophet from 2004 to 2018 and Sports Editor for the Prophet from 2018 onward.
Curious Gryffindor Girl		Shared a dormitory with Ginny.
Unidentified Gryffindor girl (IX)
Romilda Vane	1993–2000	Once tried to give Harry a love potion.
Jimmy Peakes	c. 1994–2001	Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Nigel Wolpert		Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Unidentified Gryffindor boy		Was worried at the possible closure of Gobstones Club.
Unidentified Gryffindor boy's friend		Friends with an unidentified boy. Anxiously read the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four.
Dennis Creevey	1994–2001	Member of Dumbledore's Army.
Natalie McDonald		Nearly Headless Nick applauded her discovery on being a Gryffindor student.
Demelza Robins		Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Euan Abercrombie	1995–2002
Girl who tested Fainting Fancies
Elliot Evers	2004–2011
Kevin Farrell	2008–?
Robyn Thistlethwaite
Robyn Thistlethwaite's roommate
James S. Potter	2015–?	The first child and son of the famous Harry Potter.
Rose Granger-Weasley	2017–?	First and only daughter of Ron and Hermione.
Yann Fredericks		Students in Albus Potter's and Rose Granger-Weasley's year.
Polly Chapman
Lily L. Potter	2019–?	The third child and only daughter of the famous Harry Potter.
Dan	Unknown	Once signed up for Quidditch training.
Christian Alexander
Brandon Angel
Jada Angela
Owen Anthony
Haley Dakota
Jennifer Dawn
Riley Frazer
Ethan Gerard
Ryan Henry
Erica J.
Ella Jo
Peter Jones		Once posted a notice asking if anyone had seen his cauldron.
Timothy Justin		Once signed up for Quidditch training.
Sage Kelleen
Trinity Lynn
Fat Lady		Has a portrait of herself guarding the Gryffindor common room.
Trev Mallory		Once signed up for Quidditch training.
Alexis Marie
Gianna Grace Marie
Abigail Nicola
Amber Noel
Phelan Noel
Remy Olivier
Ernest Prang		Later became the driver of the Knight Bus.
Ashley Sanders		Former Captain for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Selina Sapworthy		Award-winning author in the Herbology field.
Jackson Sheppard		Once signed up for Quidditch training.
Richard Sky
Emily Taylor
Tanner Van Burm
Alexander William
Unidentified Gryffindor chaser (I)		Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Unidentified Gryffindor chaser (II)
Unidentified Gryffindor chaser (III)
Unidentified Gryffindor seeker		Seeker for Gryffindor Quidditch team and Head of Gryffindor House at some point.

Etymology

• Gryffindor could possibly be derived from griffin, which is a creature in mythology with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle.
• In Old English and Old High German dor means gate or door.
• In French "d'or" means "of gold," one of the Gryffindor House colours, though it can also come from the Greek word "dora" meaning "gift".
• A combination can be assumed; "Golden Gift of the Lion".
• "Griffe" (from the Latin "gryphus", which means "curved nose") is the French word for "claw", which could refer to the claw of the lion.
• "Gryffindor" could very well be explained by heraldry: "Gryffin" would then stand for the griffin beast, and the "[d]or" would refer to the metal tincture "[d'] or" (Middle English for "[of] gold", derived from French; corresponds to yellow).
• Gryffindor is also a pun on the golden gryffin, which is a lion that only has eagle wings, so it has the head and front paws of a lion, and has golden fur and feathers. The French for Gryffindor, "Griffondor", is a homophone for the actual beast, Griffon d'Or. Similarly, the Italian "Grifondoro" is a homophone of Grifon d'Oro. Coincidentally, Italy also has a high number of cities and towns which present a golden gryffin in their coat of arms. Examples of this are Agnone, Alessandria, Arzignano and Genoa.

Behind the scenes

Gryffinder symbol as seen in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

• J. K. Rowling was once asked in an interview into which House would she sort British politician and former Prime minister Gordon Brown, were she the Sorting Hat. She jokingly responded that she would sort him into Gryffindor, because of the red colours of his political party (the Labour Party), which match the colours of Gryffindor.
• Rowling herself wanted to be Gryffindor and was Sorted there on Pottermore.
• Many members of the Gryffindor House seem to have a gift for Transfiguration; Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were both Transfiguration professors, while the latter was the Head of this House. There are four known Animagi from Gryffindor house: James Potter (a stag), Sirius Black (a dog), Peter Pettigrew (a rat) and Minerva McGonagall (a cat). Gryffindor Hermione Granger was noted to be very talented in Transfiguration from her first class. James Potter's wand was also noted to be good for Transfiguration.
  • Neville Longbottom was an exception to this 'rule', as Transfiguration was among his worst subjects (Herbology was his best).
• In the films, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil's twin sister, is seen as a Gryffindor, while in the books she is a Ravenclaw.
• Rubeus Hagrid stated in the first book that all the wizards who went bad were from Slytherin, however, Peter Pettigrew, who was in Gryffindor disproves this. At this point, Hagrid was unaware that Pettigrew was still alive, or that he was working for Voldemort. (It should also be noted that Quirinus Quirrell, a Ravenclaw, was working for Voldemort at the time, although Hagrid was unaware of this as well.) Another reason why this is odd is that, at the time, Sirius Black was believed to have gone bad (Hagrid's comments in the Three Broomsticks prove that he knew nothing of the truth in this instance), and he was also a Gryffindor. So Hagrid would have known of at least one Gryffindor who had 'gone bad'. He most likely did not mention this so that Harry would not try to find out more about his godfather, or it could have been 'Gryffindor propaganda' since Slytherin and Gryffindor are known rivals. It is also possible that Hagrid did not remember these exceptions at the time.
• On Pottermore, the following actors and actresses of the Harry Potter films have been Sorted into Gryffindor house:
  • Evanna Lynch, the actress who portrayed Luna Lovegood.
  • Bonnie Wright, the actress who portrayed Ginny Weasley.
  • Tom Felton, the actor who portrayed Draco Malfoy.
• The colours and emblems of Gryffindor resemble the historical English coat of arms, specifically House Plantagenet (family of King Richard "the Lionheart" the First). Whether this was intentional on Rowling's part is unknown.
• Gryffindor House won the second House Cup in Pottermore; their reward for winning was Gryffindor-related downloadable material.
• Gryffindor's entrance changed locations once throughout the film series. In the first film, the students go down a long hallway to reach the entrance portrait. In the third film, the portrait is located very close to the Grand Staircase. It can only be assumed that this is its location for the rest of the series as the outside of the entrance would not be seen again for the rest of the film series.

Pottermore House Cup

• Gryffindor came second for the first house cup with 74,069,919 house points.
• Gryffindor won the second house cup with 48,538,348 points.
• Gryffindor came third for the third and fourth house cups with 26,740,444 and 24,610,105 points.
• Gryffindor came fourth for the fifth house cup with 27,299,570 points.
• Gryffindor came second for the sixth house cup with 32,279,991 points.
• Gryffindor came fourth for the seventh and eighth house cups with 49,335,378 points.

Translations

In translated editions, "Gryffindor" remains the same and is used for the Catalan, Croatian, Danish, Faroese, German, Icelandic, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Spanish, Swedish, and Vietnamese editions. The following translations have changed the name:

• Albanian: Grifarti
• Bulgarian: Грифиндор (Grifindor)
• Chinese (Simplified): 格兰芬多 (Gélánfēnduō) (phonetic)
• Chinese (Traditional): 葛萊芬多 (Gélánfēnduō) (phonetic)
• Czech: Nebelvír (nebe "sky", lvír → lev "lion")
• Dutch: Griffoendor
• Finnish: Rohkelikko (rohkea "brave")
• French: Gryffondor
• Georgian: გრიფინდორი (grifindori)
• Greek, Modern: Γκρίφιντορ (Gkrífintor)
• Hebrew: גריפינדור
• Hindi: गरुड़द्वार (garuḍ.advāra) ("Garuda-door")
• Hungarian: Griffendél
• Italian: Grifondoro (Grifon "Griffin", d'oro "golden")
• Japanese: グリフィンドール (Gurifindōru)
• Korean: 그리핀도르 (Gŭlipindolŭ)
• Latvian: Grifidors
• Lithuanian: Grifų Gūžta
• Norwegian: Griffing
• Persian: گریفندور
• Polish: Gryffindor (But the inhabitants are called Gryfoni; gryf "griffin")
• Portuguese (Brazil): Grifinória (Grifi from Grifo - gryphon - house's symbol)
• Romanian: Cercetaș ("scout")
• Russian: Гриффиндор
• Serbian: Грифиндор (Grifindor)
• Slovak: Chrabromil ("lover of bravery")
• Slovenian: Gryfondom
• Thai: กริฟฟินดอร์
• Ukrainian: Ґрифіндор (Gryfindor)
• Vietnamese: Nhà Gryffindor ("House Gryffindor")
• Welsh: Llereurol (literal "Griffin of Gold")

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - The Complete Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
• Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Dimensions
• J. K. Rowling's official site (Mentioned only)
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website)
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand
• The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac
• The Art of Harry Potter: Mini Book of Graphic Design

See also

• Gryffindor Quidditch team
• Sword of Gryffindor
• Hufflepuff
• Ravenclaw
• Slytherin