Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw... Why do I get the feeling that these names will have no significance in the future? Will Dumbledore eliminate the separation of the houses? It may be the only way to save Hogwarts School and the lives of its students. The Sorting Hat warns us in OotP:

Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin.

Dumbledore surely will not ignore his trusted Sorting Hat, for this is a fate that Dumbledore himself predicted in Goblet of Fire: "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

What a great way to unite the school (and to add tension and excitement for us readers) by eliminating the houses. Of course this may cause some confusion with the sleeping arrangements, Quidditch, etc. But what is more important... the House Cup or Defeating Voldemort? Let the students eat at whatever table they like, be encouraged to hold friendships with any student they wish, and create new Quidditch teams. (Do you think Draco and Ron could work together as Seeker and Keeper on the same Quidditch team?)

The Tri-wizard Tournament was used for establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities. I believe that now ties will need to be created within the school. The DA was the first activity at Hogwarts that brought students from different houses together, with the exception of the short lived Dueling Club in CoS. Now that Umbridge is gone and the Ministry has accepted that Voldemort is back, maybe Dumbledore will allow the DA to continue so that the houses can come together for a common goal of learning to protect themselves against dark forces. How will the Slytherins feel about this? I am sure that not all Slytherins are evil, just because they are determined doesn't mean they lack morals. I for one would love to see a group of decent Slytherins...it could happen!

We know that something is going to happen concerning this subject because we know that JKR doesn't mention things without reason. That gives us two options; either the school will have to discontinue separating students into separate houses or they don't unite and Hogwarts will be destroyed from the animosity within. I shudder at the thought.

I'd love to hear any comments, or questions at jess_hickey@hotmail.com

3/5/04