A Gryffindor is a friend for life

...Although some Gryffindors have their faults and may be vain or arrogant; remember that for every Neville Longbottom, there was a Cormac McLaggen. But as the enduring friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione proved, Gryffindors can also be the most devoted of friends.

Not only did the friendship between the golden trio survive a Dark wizard, multiple near-death experiences and Ron and Hermione’s bickering, it also survived the test of time. As we saw in the epilogue in Deathly Hallows, Harry, Ron and Hermione still banded together at platform nine and three-quarters – this time sending their children off to Hogwarts. Yes, we cried.

A Gryffindor friendship can overcome (almost) anything

One of the other most enduring friendships seen in the series was between the Marauders. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew sure did wreak havoc and mayhem at Hogwarts – but we think they would also have done anything for each other when the laughs were over. When they discovered that Lupin was a werewolf, for example, the others spent three long years becoming unregistered Animagi just to support him. Talk about your squad goals.

The camaraderie between Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs was the stuff of Hogwarts legend – until, of course, Peter Pettigrew betrayed Lily and James. While that act well and truly cut him out of the friendship circle, the bond between Sirius and Remus survived. A moving scene in Prisoner of Azkaban sees the two old friends – rather the worse for wear – forgiving each other for their mistakes in the past.

‘Not if he thought I was the spy, Peter,’ said Lupin. ‘I assume that’s why you didn’t tell me, Sirius?’ he said casually over Pettigrew’s head.
‘Forgive me, Remus,’ said Black.
‘Not at all, Padfoot, old friend,’ said Lupin, who was now rolling up his sleeves. ‘And will you, in turn, forgive me for believing you were the spy?’
‘Of course,’ said Black, and the ghost of a grin flitted across his gaunt face.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

True friendship requires bravery

Bravery tends to come in useful when you’re duelling Dark wizards, but it also really helps when you’re confronting your friends.

After all, true, lasting friendship means sometimes having to let the people you love know when they’re being an annoying git. And, seeing as Gryffindors can sometimes cross that fine line between chivalry and being said annoying git, it’s good to have a comrade on the sidelines to give it to you straight.

Gryffindors are capable of being honest with you, because they’re courageous. But the reason they do it is because they care about you.

‘There are all kinds of courage,’ said Dumbledore, smiling. ‘It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom.’
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Gryffindors protect their friends

You’ve got to hand it to Gryffindors: they will burn Hogwarts house points like nobody’s business when it comes to protecting their friends.

Throughout the series, Gryffindors were seen sticking up for their pals in a whole manner of difficult and downright dangerous situations. There was Harry retrieving Neville’s Remembrall in Philosopher’s Stone, or Ron risking certain house point-culling by defending Hermione when Snape called her a know-it-all.

And then there was the more serious stuff: like Hermione and Ron never letting Harry face Voldemort alone, right from when he tried to sneak past Fluffy in their first year to when they left the safety of their families to hunt Horcruxes.

So Gryffindors may end up in a lot of sticky situations – but at least they’ll stick with you once you’re in one.

‘That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,’ said Snape coolly. ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
Hermione went very red, put down her hands, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, ‘You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?’
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Get yourself a Gryffindor best friend. Those lion-hearted folk have got your back.