You can be creative rather than academic and be a Ravenclaw
Those who belong to Ravenclaw house are thought to be the brainiest students at Hogwarts. Many assume that means all Ravenclaws are very academic and enjoy nothing more than spending their time in the library. While there are plenty of Ravenclaws who fit that description, there are many others who demonstrate that cleverness doesn’t just apply to book learning. In fact, intelligence can mean being creative and Luna Lovegood is certainly one example of that. From her carefully crafted vegetable-themed jewellery, to the painting of her friends that adorned her bedroom ceiling, she was a Ravenclaw that was incredibly artistic. And she wasn’t the only one. Professor Trelawney could also be described as being rather creative. We reckon it would take a lot of out of the box thinking to keep inventing so many fake predictions in her Divination classes. If you’re a Ravenclaw that doesn’t see the appeal of getting bogged down in the nitty gritty of academia, it doesn’t mean you can’t belong to this wise house.
In this image:
You can be sporty and a belong to Ravenclaw
The problem with being known as the house which is obsessed with learning is that it gives way to a lot of stereotypes about nerds – specifically that they can’t be sporty. However, this isn’t necessarily true. There are many Ravenclaws who have a knack for games and sports – without them there wouldn’t be a Ravenclaw Quidditch team. One of the members of that team who encapsulated this was Cho Chang. She was a sports enthusiast who was a long-time supporter of the Tutshill Tornadoes, not to mention an exceedingly talented player herself. She was even able to give Harry Potter a run for his money as a Seeker. When they faced one another in Prisoner of Azkaban, it was only because Harry’s Firebolt was faster than Cho’s Comet that he managed to win the match. So, just because you might be a Ravenclaw with a natural talent for learning, there’s nothing to say you can’t also be a whizz at sports.
In this image:
You can be motivated by kindness and be a Ravenclaw
When you think of the kindest house in Hogwarts, Hufflepuff is probably the one you would settle on. Nevertheless, Ravenclaws can be caring and empathetic too. Though some may come across as a bit distant and detached (thanks to their habit for having their heads in the clouds), many could still give Hufflepuff a run for their money in that regard. Professor Flitwick was one of the warmest and most welcoming of all the Hogwarts professors. He was supportive and always seemed to be happy to praise his students – especially when they needed a little boost. Luna was another person who had tonnes of empathy and was highly intuitive. On more than one occasion she helped Harry out when he was struggling – from helping him cast a Patronus in the Battle of Hogwarts, to explaining what Thestrals were to make him feel less alone. It might not be their most stereotypical trait, but thanks to their insightful natures, Ravenclaws can be a very compassionate bunch.
In this image:
You can be the life and soul of the party and be a Ravenclaw
Ravenclaws are often thought to be introverts who would rather not be the centre of attention – they’d rather leave all that to the Gryffindors thank-you-very-much. Many would assume that they would shy away from a good knees-up. Yet there are quite a number of them that don’t fit this description – you could hardly call Gilderoy Lockhart a wallflower. He relished his fame – even if it wasn’t well deserved. He wasn’t the only Ravenclaw who broke the introvert mould. The former Minister for Magic, Millicent Bagnold, did too. She was the Minister before Cornelius Fudge and was in office on the night that Harry survived Voldemort’s attempt on his life. She let the wizarding community celebrate and party – even though it got her in trouble with the International Confederation of Wizards for breaching the International Statute of Secrecy. Millicent didn’t care about that and responded by declaring: ‘I assert our inalienable right to party’. If you’re a Ravenclaw that is more outgoing than you think you ought to be – don’t worry you’re not alone.
In this image:
Just because Ravenclaws prize individualism it doesn’t mean they don’t help others
If there is one house known to be filled with many different eccentric characters, it’s Ravenclaw. They pride themselves on their uniqueness as free thinkers and are always looking to push magical boundaries. You may believe that they’re little self-involved and could possibly struggle with teamwork as they are so focussed on being one of a kind. Yet, that doesn’t seem to be the case a lot of the time. Luna Lovegood undoubtedly did a lot to help others – she was loyal to her friends and stood with them on numerous occasions including the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Additionally, plenty of Ravenclaws decided to stay behind to help fight in the Battle of Hogwarts, putting themselves at risk to help defend the wizarding world. Just because Ravenclaws come across more like a bunch of individuals than a collective group, it doesn’t mean they don’t know how to work together.
In this image:
You don’t have to be stuck-up to be a Ravenclaw
If you know that you have a reputation for being the most intelligent students in your school, it’s no wonder that it might go to your head, and you may come across as a bit arrogant or superior. Although Ravenclaws were known for sometimes being rather self-important (Gilderoy Lockhart clearly was), they weren’t the only house that had a big-headed streak, both Gryffindor and Slytherin were guilty of this too. Having said that, there were some who weren’t like this at all. Luna was never one to care about her reputation or status – she wouldn’t compare herself to others. The head of Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick, was someone you wouldn’t call conceited. His helpful and charming personality didn’t lend itself to that kind of attitude. While being humble and down-to-earth is often more associated with Hufflepuff, you can have easily have these characteristics and be a good match for Ravenclaw.
In this image: