Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the Hogwarts professors in Harry Potter were once students. Especially older Hogwarts teachers such as Dumbledore. It’s hard to ever imagine them as young, but they were all students once, and when they were, they were sorted into Hogwarts Houses just as everyone else in the books is.
Some are easy to guess because the house traits are so prominent, but there are some which are a little more difficult, or professors like McGonagall, who is Gryffindor but often seems more Ravenclaw. And of course, there are a few Professors whose House is not known, or who did not attend Hogwarts. The Centaur, Firenze, was not a Hogwarts student, and neither Madame Hooch or Professor Moody’s House has been officially revealed.
Updated October 23rd, 2021 by Rose Graceling-Moore: With the upcoming release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Harry Potter fans will undoubtedly learn a whole lot more about the enigmatic Headmaster of Hogwarts - and perhaps about some other professors, too. Of course, Dumbledore will be a professor at this point in the series, not a student, but perhaps some other future-professors will be attending Hogwarts in the prequel… and if not, fans will at least learn some more about what makes these professors who they are.
Albus Dumbledore: Gryffindor
Some people show traits from multiple houses, and although Dumbledore is definitely one of those, his passion and courage make him a clear Gryffindor. Of course, by Harry’s time at Hogwarts, his bravery is a quieter kind, as he has learned from the mistakes of his youth (that will undoubtedly be a central part of the storyline in the new Fantastic Beasts film). Still, his search for the Horcruxes alone show his bravery.
However, it would have been hard to argue with the books if they had later revealed he was actually a Slytherin, due to his ambitions as a young man. Even after deciding that he should not be trusted with ‘power’, he becomes a member of the Wizengamot and the Headmaster - clearly there is still some ambition left in him.
Minerva McGonagall: Gryffindor
Minerva McGonagall was a Hatstall, according to the creator of the books. A Hatstall means that that Sorting Hat took longer than usual to decide on her House, and usually happens when a student would be equally suited to two different houses. She was a Hatstall between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, which makes sense. She is clearly incredibly intelligent, and in the books, solves the Ravenclaw tower riddle with ease.
Ultimately though, her fiery nature and her bravery when Hogwarts in threatened makes it clear that Gryffindor was absolutely the right call for her. She does battle with the best of them, even running out to take on multiple Death Eaters in one scene. She’s also extremely passionate about the house, clearly delighted whenever they win a Quidditch game and devastated when they lose house points.
Filius Flitwick: Ravenclaw
The Head of Ravenclaw is Filius Flitwick. He isn’t seen much throughout the series; it is only known that he teaches Charms and is head of Ravenclaw, so it is reasonable to assume he’s very creative and intelligent since those are the prominent traits of that house.
He also seems willing to fight for what’s right. He enters the battle of Hogwarts more reluctantly than, say, McGonagall, but he does so happily, meaning that although he’s a Ravenclaw, that doesn’t mean he isn’t brave or loyal. It just means that his intelligence outshines everything else. It seems like a lot of these professors could convincingly be in a couple of the houses.
Pomona Sprout: Hufflepuff
Professor Sprout teaches Herbology in the books and is head of Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs are often misjudged when it comes to the series. Because their traits aren’t as fiery or obvious as some of the other houses, they’re dismissed as being the house people are sorted into just because they don’t fit elsewhere. This, however, just isn’t true.
Hufflepuffs are loyal and kind. They stayed to fight at the Battle of Hogwarts because they knew it was the right thing to do and took no convincing, even though bravery isn’t one of their listed traits. Pomona Sprout clearly fits here - she is supportive and loyal to her students (especially Neville), and stays with Hogwarts throughout the battle.
Severus Snape: Slytherin
Snape is, of course, Head of Slytherin. There tends to be an assumption that most of Slytherin House is evil, and for a while in the books, Snape did nothing to disprove this. The truth is that Slytherins aren’t inherently evil, though. They’re resourceful and ambitious, and the latter means that they sometimes come across as cutthroat.
Snape’s own ambition can be traced in large part to his upbringing - and an early life in poverty and loneliness that made him want to learn all he could, and move up in the world so he wouldn’t have to live like that again. However, he is also quite cunning, and can be a bully - which are some of the more negative Slytherin traits.
Dolores Umbridge: Slytherin
Everyone’s least favorite tea-drinking, pink-clad, Fudge-loving, just generally awful defense against the Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge was introduced in The Order Of The Phoenix, starting work at Hogwarts on Ministry orders.
In her years as a student of Hogwarts, it is no surprise that she was sorted into Slytherin. While the vendetta against Slytherin and the stereotype that they are all evil is unfair, Umbridge does not help diminish it. She is cruel, power-hungry, and unbelievably prejudiced against many groups, including any magical race other than humans, and even Muggle-borns and Squibs. She is also clearly ambitious - the primary Slytherin trait.
Quirinus Quirrell: Ravenclaw
Another villain of the trilogy who also happened to teach defense against the Dark Arts is Quirinus Quirrell, and it’s difficult to really judge how he fits into his House because of his situation with Voldemort. By the time Quirrel was teaching at Hogwarts, he was possessed by Voldemort, which must have altered his behavior to an extreme degree!
However, while this information may be enough to make people jump to the conclusion that Quirrell was a Slytherin, he was actually a Ravenclaw. Quirrell was always very timid and nervous but wanted to prove himself and was a gifted child, and was also shown to be unique and curious, two primary Ravenclaw traits.
Alecto & Amycus Carrow: Slytherin
Amycus and Alecto Carrow were twins and a part of the famous pure-blooded Carrow family. For a solitary year between Dumbledore’s death and the Battle of Hogwarts, they taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - and like many characters, they are more deeply explored in the books.
Amycus taught Dark Arts while Alecto taught Muggle Studies, while both served as Deputy Headmaster/Headmistress under Snape, putting them in charge of punishment across the school. It is no surprise the twins were sorted into Slytherin, keeping in line with their family and their nature as cruel purists, shown to torture students and be viciously judgemental to muggle-borns.
Silvanus Kettleburn: Hufflepuff
Definitely not the first professor that comes into fans’ minds, Silvanus Kettleburn is a character who gets a mention in The Prisoner Of Azkaban but did not get seen until the game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
Kettleburn taught Care of Magical Creatures prior to Hagrid’s appointment to the post, and his care and love of these animals, as well as his sense of duty towards them, point towards him being a good fit for Hufflepuff, where he was sorted during his Hogwarts years; despite his famous recklessness.
Patricia Rakepick: Gryffindor
Sticking with Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, another professor in the game, which happens to be her only appearance, is the world-famous curse breaker Patricia Rakepick.
Her role in the game shows her to be daring, proud, and extremely confident, which makes her a perfect fit for Gryffindor. Unsurprisingly, then, this is where she was sorted during her years at the school where she would later teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Remus Lupin: Gryffindor
Remus Lupin was only a teacher at Hogwarts for one year, thanks to the curse on the Defence Against The Dark Arts position. However, he was still very much a Hogwarts professor!
Remus could also have been a convincing Ravenclaw but instead, he was put in Gryffindor with the rest of his Marauder friends. Remus fought in the war against Voldemort bravely while facing his own troubles every month; namely, the fact that he was a werewolf and had to undergo an excruciating transformation when the full moon was out.
Horace Slughorn: Slytherin
Horace Slughorn is an example of a Slytherin a little different from Snape, another Potions Professor. He’s not so ambitious that he’s deeply unpleasant to others, he’s just dismissive of those he doesn’t find worthy of his time. When he appears in Half-Blood Prince, he’s very interested in Harry because of his fame, just as he was in Tom Riddle.
He’s by no means a bully, though, and as the books go on, he becomes willing to do the right thing. He even mentions a fondness for Harry’s mother, who was Muggle-born, proving that not all Slytherins are prejudiced against those they consider to be of lesser blood.
Gilderoy Lockhart: Ravenclaw
This one is hard to believe, in many ways. Gilderoy Lockhart is pretty much an idiot. The only thing he seems to be good at is memory charms, erasing the memories of great witches and wizards, and taking credit for their achievements. He’s not particularly brilliant at other spellwork, and he’s not witty or bright enough to make people like him on a personal level.
However, there are some other clear reasons that he is in Ravenclaw. He is clearly brilliant at memory charms, and even creating his own. He is quick on his feet, and clearly intelligent enough to manipulate his way to fame. Ravenclaws can also be known for bending the rules, as they love to find loopholes and are deeply independent. Of course, most fans would still assume that this ambitious manipulator would be better off in Slytherin.
Sybill Trelawney: Ravenclaw
Sybill Trelawney was also in Ravenclaw. This might seem surprising at first glance. She isn’t particularly interested in traditional knowledge and inforamtion, most of what she says isn’t at all correct, and she doesn’t seem to have her life together.
However, like Luna Lovegood, Professor Trelawney is a great example of another type of Ravenclaw: the unique, quirky, truly eccentric type. Becuase Ravenclaws are generally brilliant, they are also creative and open-minded, and this can mean that Ravenclaws are the ‘quirkiest’ of houses. Perhaps this is why Padma Patil, another Ravenclaw, was so drawn to her.
Rubeus Hagrid: Gryffindor
Hagrid was eventually given the Care of Magical Creatures Professor post at Hogwarts, despite having been expelled from the school when he was a student.
Hagrid is a Gryffindor alumnus, and unlike a lot of the other professors, this seems to be the only house that would adequately fit him. He’s eagerly brave, willing to do what’s right, and seems to care deeply and passionately about people. Hagrid is one of the best people among the professors and although a little clumsy and tactless, is very well-meaning, and this is what makes him perfect for his house.
