None of the four Hogwarts houses in the Harry Potter series are specifically associated with the color purple. However, there are connections between certain characters and purple that have led some fans to associate it with particular houses.
The four Hogwarts houses are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. Each house has its own colors that represent it:
| House | Colors |
|---|---|
| Gryffindor | Scarlet and gold |
| Slytherin | Green and silver |
| Ravenclaw | Blue and bronze |
| Hufflepuff | Yellow and black |
As you can see, purple is not an official color for any of the Hogwarts houses. However, some fans have made arguments for associating purple with certain houses based on connections with specific characters.
The Case for Slytherin
Some fans argue that purple could represent Slytherin house because of its connections to characters like Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge often wore purple clothes, and she was in Slytherin house when she attended Hogwarts.
In the books, Umbridge is described as wearing a fluffy pink cardigan the first time Harry Potter sees her in his Defense Against the Dark Arts class. However, in the movies, Umbridge is shown wearing varying shades of purple instead of pink.
Actor Imelda Staunton, who portrays Umbridge in the films, primarily wears purple throughout the movies. This includes Umbridge’s iconic pink tweed suit from the books which was changed to a purple tweed in the movies.
In addition, when Umbridge becomes Headmistress of Hogwarts in Order of the Phoenix, she decorated the headmaster’s office with violet drapes, cloths, and flowers. Her black quill which was used to torture students also had a purple feather plume.
So while purple is not an official Slytherin color, some fans theorize its connections to Umbridge are strong enough to associate purple with the cunning Hogwarts house.
The Case for Ravenclaw
Other Harry Potter fans have argued that purple best represents intelligent Ravenclaw house. Several key characters associated with Ravenclaw have connections to the color purple.
Most notably, Luna Lovegood is frequently depicted wearing purple clothing. This includes the purple Ravenclaw scarf she wears in the movies and a purple jumper she wears at the Hogwarts Christmas party.
Luna was sorted into Ravenclaw and valued intelligence and wit. Her unique fashion sense reflected her creative, individual thinking as a member of the house prizing wisdom and intellect.
Additionally, in the books, the Ravenclaw common room is described as having purple wall hangings. While the movies depict Ravenclaw colors as blue and bronze, this detail from the books links the color purple to the house.
Some fans have pointed out that purple is a mix of red and blue. Red is connected to Gryffindor while blue represents Ravenclaw. Purple could symbolize a balance of courage and intelligence, which are two key Ravenclaw traits.
So while not an official color, there are several connections between purple and Ravenclaw house.
Other Purple Associations
Beyond Slytherin and Ravenclaw, there are a few other potential connections between purple and Harry Potter characters:
– In the books, the Weasley twins, Fred and George, drive a purple Ford Anglia to rescue Harry from the Dursleys. The Weasley family was in Gryffindor, linking purple to that house.
– Horace Slughorn, former head of Slytherin house, wore purple pyjamas and a purple sleeping cap at Hogwarts. This could be another Slytherin connection.
– At Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour’s wedding, purple flowers are part of the decorations. The couple represented both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw houses.
– In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Hermione wears a purple sweater when they infiltrate the Ministry of Magic disguised as employees. Hermione was in Gryffindor but prized her intelligence and wisdom like Ravenclaws.
– Nymphadora Tonks, a Hufflepuff alum, was able to change her hair purple using her shape-shifting abilities.
So while individual characters from different houses have connections to purple, there is no definitive house represented by the color in the Harry Potter stories.
Conclusion
In summary, there is no specific Hogwarts house in Harry Potter that is represented by the color purple. Purple does not appear as an official color for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff.
However, through associations with certain characters, fans have theorized connections between purple and certain houses. Most notably, purple’s links to Dolores Umbridge could represent Slytherin, while Luna Lovegood and details in the books connect it to Ravenclaw.
Minor connections can be drawn between purple and other houses like Gryffindor and Hufflepuff as well. But ultimately, purple remains an unofficial color in the Harry Potter universe without definitive representation for a single Hogwarts house.
While individual fans are free to imagine and interpret purple however they wish, canonically purple is not the official representative color for any of the four Hogwarts houses described in J.K. Rowling’s novels. Slytherin has green, Gryffindor has red, Ravenclaw has blue, and Hufflepuff has yellow. Purple can only be associated with the houses through more indirect and subjective analysis of particular characters and details.
So in conclusion, since purple is not canonically associated with any one house, there is no definitive answer to the question “which Harry Potter house is purple?”. It remains an unofficial color open to interpretation and association by fans of the wizarding world.
References
[1] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hogwarts_Houses
[2] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Dolores_Umbridge
[3] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Ravenclaw_Tower
[4] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Luna_Lovegood
[5] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Nymphadora_Tonks
[6] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wedding_of_William_Weasley_and_Fleur_Delacour
[7] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Horace_Slughorn
[8] http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Ford_Anglia