The Hogwarts founders, also known as the Hogwarts Four, were four witches and wizards who established Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the medieval era, in the 10th century. These four founders are widely described as being the most brilliant witches and wizards of the time and were the following: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin.

Godric Gryffindor:

The founder of Gryffindor house. A fair man, he believed that any child who displayed magical abilities before their 11th birthday should be able to attend Hogwarts. Godric valued courage and bravery, believing these were the two most virtuous abilities a person can possess. Gryffindor was the original owner of the Sorting Hat, which he and his fellow founders enchanted to select people to be sorted into their houses, by seeing the qualities each founder valued the most.

Gryffindor also had a sword made, which would present itself to any true Gryffindor in a moment of need.The sword became an important item a thousand years later, and was instrumental in defending Hogwarts from Slytherin's descendant. He was allegedly the best friend of Slytherin before he left Hogwarts. His house corresponds to the element of fire.



Name/Crest: Gryffindor
Founded By: Godric Gryffindor
House Ghost: Nearly Headless Nick
House symbol: Lion
House colours: Deep red and gold
Description: Well known for courage, bravery, daring, nerve, and chivalry.

Common room: The entrance to the common room was on the seventh floor hidden behind a portrait of the Fat Lady. To enter, the correct password must be provided.

Helga Hufflepuff:

The founder of Hufflepuff house. A kind and warm woman, she believed that, in order to be sorted into Hufflepuff house, a person must possess the values of loyalty, patience, and be hard-working above all else. It is also known that she brought the house-elves to Hogwarts. She owned a fine golden cup which was fairly innocuous aside from being her possession. The cup was sought by Lord Voldemort nearly a thousand years later, for him to turn it into a Horcrux. She was the best friend of Rowena Ravenclaw. Her house corresponds to the element of earth.



Name/Crest: Hufflepuff
Founded By: Helga Hufflepuff
House Ghost: Fat Friar
House symbol: Badger
House colours: Yellow and black
Description: Well known for loyalty, patience, hard work, fair-play, honesty, and tolerance.
Common room: Located near the kitchens. To enter, one must tap a fake barrel in the rhythm "Helga Hufflepuff." It was the only common room to have a way to keep students from other houses out (by dumping vinegar on them).

Rowena Ravenclaw

The founder of Ravenclaw house. A sharp and intelligent woman, intellect is a highly valued asset to the students of Ravenclaw house. Due to this, it is likely that Rowena wanted to make Hogwarts the very finest Wizarding school on earth, teaching those children with the highest intelligence. Rowena also had a daughter, Helena, who later became the Grey Lady of Hogwarts as a ghost.

Helena stole her mother's diadem, and it became lost. It was believed to have been lost for so long, that no one alive had seen it, however, it had actually been found by Lord Voldemort with the aid of the ghost of Ravenclaw's daughter. He turned it into a Horcrux and later hidden once more, this time within the Room of Requirement, where it would remain hidden for at least 50 years. She was the best friend of Helga Hufflepuff. Her house corresponds to the element of air.






Name/Crest: Ravenclaw
Founded By: Rowena Ravenclaw
House Ghost: The Grey Lady
House symbol: Eagle
House colours: Blue and bronze
Description: Values intelligence, wit, cleverness, creativity, and wisdom.

Common room: Located in a high tower, and the interior was decorated with blue and bronze. To enter, one must answer a riddle from an eagle door knocker.
Salazar Slytherin

The founder of Slytherin house. Sly and cunning, he was not unlike many of the students he brought into his house. He believed strongly that only wizards of pure blood (i.e., those with a mother and father from wizarding families) should be allowed to attend Hogwarts. Slytherin caused great dispute over this with the other founders, and it eventually caused a permanent rift with Gryffindor, which led to Slytherin's departure from the school.Before he left, however, he created the Chamber of Secrets, complete with a huge statue of himself with a horrible monster lurking inside.

Almost a thousand years later, Slytherin's descendant, Tom Riddle, would seek to fulfil his desires of banishing Muggle-borns from Hogwarts, and exterminating them.One of his personal effects, a locket, was later claimed by Voldemort, to be used as a Horcrux. He was the best friend of Godric Gryffindor before the rift occurred and he left Hogwarts.His house corresponds to the element of water.

After Hogwarts was built, the founders co-existed peacefully for many years. Eventually, however, the pressure from Slytherin to admit only pure-blood wizards affected the other three founders greatly, and none more than Gryffindor. Slytherin finally left Hogwarts following a massive argument with Gryffindor over the issue, and he never returned.



Name/Crest: Slytherin
Founded By: Salazar Slytherin
House Ghost: The Bloody Baron
House symbol: Serpent
House colours: Green and silver
Description: Values ambition, leadership, cunning, determination, and resourcefulness.
Common room: Located in the dungeons, underneath the Black Lake, and hidden behind a stone wall. To enter, the correct password must be provided