I'm not sure if I agree on the premise that they actually are the same people, but there certainly is the theme throughout the whole series where Harry struggles with the knowledge that he could have been "great" in Slytherin. It's a scary thought to Harry in large part because he knows how terrible some Slytherins have been and he wonde…
I'm not sure if I agree on the premise that they actually are the same people, but there certainly is the theme throughout the whole series where Harry struggles with the knowledge that he could have been "great" in Slytherin. It's a scary thought to Harry in large part because he knows how terrible some Slytherins have been and he wonders if these terrible things are part of his heart as well. Later, it's explained to Harry in some detail that although he could have been "great" in Slytherin, it's his disposition and choices that made him a true Gryffindor. The series comes back around to that at the very end of the series when young Albus is nervous about where he will be sorted, and Harry assures him that even in Slytherin, he's still capable of working toward the good.
Oh, sorry—I should have clarified that the essay was a sort of psychoanalytic spoof. (It also made jokes about how Harry Potter grows up to be a cop, to give you an idea.) They are definitely not the same people in the books nor in any way intended to be so.
I'm not sure if I agree on the premise that they actually are the same people, but there certainly is the theme throughout the whole series where Harry struggles with the knowledge that he could have been "great" in Slytherin. It's a scary thought to Harry in large part because he knows how terrible some Slytherins have been and he wonders if these terrible things are part of his heart as well. Later, it's explained to Harry in some detail that although he could have been "great" in Slytherin, it's his disposition and choices that made him a true Gryffindor. The series comes back around to that at the very end of the series when young Albus is nervous about where he will be sorted, and Harry assures him that even in Slytherin, he's still capable of working toward the good.
Oh, sorry—I should have clarified that the essay was a sort of psychoanalytic spoof. (It also made jokes about how Harry Potter grows up to be a cop, to give you an idea.) They are definitely not the same people in the books nor in any way intended to be so.