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Godric Gryffindor was born in a small West Country village in England which later came to be known as Godric’s Hollow. Not much is known about Gryffindor’s early years, but it is said that he was the best duelist of his time, a title given to him due to a popular myth. According to the myth, he defeated a hundred wizards back-to-back in a dueling contest. He was also very skilled in transfiguration.

He, along with three others known as Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin, and Helga Hufflepuff were the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was close friends with all three of them, but when Slytherin began arguing against letting Muggle-borns come to Hogwarts, Gryffindor opposed him and severed ties. Gryffindor house at Hogwarts is named after him, and children are sorted there according to his preference. Above all other qualities, Gryffindor liked courage and strength of heart best, and thus, the students that he selected for his house had ample bravery and daring. The colors of the house are red and gold, and the mascot is a lion.

To make sure students were sorted correctly after the founders died, Gryffindor took his hat from upon his head, which would later come to be called the Sorting Hat and all four of the founders enchanted it, ensuring that students would be sorted correctly. Gryffindor’s portrait can be found on the seventh floor landing of the Grand Staircase, and hides a secret passage between the seventh floor and the Entrance Hall side room.