Historical Information

The Slytherin Common Room is one of the most atmospheric locations in Hogwarts. They show the specific values of its founder, Salazar Slytherin. Secrecy, ambition, and a connection to the aristocratic. Around 990 A.D., the Slytherin Common Room was established by Salazar Slytherin during the founding of Hogwarts. He favored the dungeons since he appreciated the secretive nature of the dungeons and the protection it offered. So he located his house’s headquarters deep within the castle’s rock foundation, creating something close to a snake's lair for his students. The room was designed to extend underneath the Great Lake, too.

This choice was deliberate, as it would bathe the room in a mysterious, greenish light and show the connection to water, the element that is connected to the Slytherin house, as it stands for adaptability and depth.

The entrance to the Slytherin Common Room is famous for being difficult to find, designed to keep non-Slytherins and specifically those Salazar deemed unworthy. It is located in the dungeons behind a bare stone wall. There is no handle or keyhole. So to enter, a student must speak the password to the stone wall. When the password is right, a stone door will slide open. The Slytherin Common Room has a mysterious aura, a bit like an underwater shipwreck. There are greenish lamps hanging on chains, but the primary light source comes from the tall windows that look directly out into the Great Lake.

Students can see the giant squid or other creatures swimming past. The furniture consists of low-backed, black and green button-tufted leather sofas and carved, dark wooden chairs and cupboards. The atmosphere is grand but somewhat cold. It is more aristocratic than cozy. The room has those carved mantelpieces with serpentine motifs, and the walls are hung with tapestries showing the adventures of famous medieval Slytherins. This is to remind the students of their ambitious lineage.

For over seven centuries, it was rumored that no non-Slytherin had successfully entered the Common Room. This streak was broken in 1992 when Harry Potter and Ron Weasley entered in disguise as the Slytherin students Crabbe and Goyle by using the Polyjuice Potion. They did that to question Draco Malfoy about the Heir of Slytherin. The password at that time was Pure-Blood, showing the tension because of blood status during the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. During the Carrow Regime,

1997-1998, Severus Snape was Headmaster, and the Carrows were responsible for discipline. The Slytherin Common Room became a stronghold for the so-called new order at Hogwarts. While other houses suffered, Slytherin students were favored, and their common room was one of the few safe havens from the Carrows's brutality. During the Battle of Hogwarts (1998), Slytherin student Pansy Parkinson attempted to give Harry Potter up to Lord Voldemort from within the Great Hall. This led to the evacuation of the Slytherin House. Professor Slughorn, a Slytherin Head of House, later returned with reinforcements, including Slytherin students, to fight against Voldemort, reclaiming at least some of the House’s honor.

While many Dark Wizards famously walked these floors, the Common Room also hosted witches and wizards of great renown who were not villains. For example, the legendary wizard Merlin was a Slytherin. He is often used as a sign to stand against the stereotype that the house produces only dark wizards. Before becoming a headmaster, Severus Snape was the head of Slytherin House for many years. He ruled the common room with a strict hand, favoring his own students while protecting them from school-wide scrutiny.