I see the house of Slytherin get shaded more often than not and it's easy to see why. The entire series sets up the reader to hate the house. Voldemort, Snape, Draco, they all reign from the same place. The last two books made an attempt to help clean up the mess that is the Slytherin house, but it was simply too late to create a redemption line. Too much damage had been done with many of the teachers and the headmaster himself spending time talking about how awful the Slytherin house is throughout the first five books. We have to remember though, the series is written from Harry's perspective.

The Slytherins showcased throughout the series are largely antagonistic characters because they add excitement to the story. The Slytherin house as a whole is meant to be an antagonist. This helps draw contrast when characters from the perceived "lawful" houses act in ways that are less than such. Take Peter Pettigrew for example. He's a Gryffindor and that revelation helps create depth for his character. It shows that just because one might strive to be courageous and upstanding, they can still fall into the wrong hands.

Back to our main topic, not all Slytherins are bad just like not all Gryffindors are good, not all Ravenclaws are the top of the class, and Hufflepuffs are fully capable of betrayal. The house does not define the individuals inside of it, rather helps create a family of people with similar interests.

Let's look at the Battle of Hogwarts where Slytherins are forced out of the field and locked up as students cheer. Many Slytherins did have parents working for the Dark Lord, but that simply isn't their fault. These children would be fighting their parents, more than likely, to the death. That seems like a little much for a 16 year old who might not have anyone to go home to when all is said and done. Slytherins and any other student who didn't believe they could handle such a task should have been sent away, but not because they are cowardly or doing the wrong thing. Remember, these children simply do not wish to be the cause of their parents' death.

The Slytherin house honors achievement, leadership, ambition, the ability to be cunning, and a strong sense of self. These traits can be seen in many celebrities and stars that people look up to. These traits also don't necessarily reflect what you are, but rather, what you would like to be. Hermione isn't a Ravenclaw because she admires those that are brave and wants to be like them. The Weasleys are in Gryffindor because they step up for what they believe in, in one way or another. Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff because he strived to become someone that others could look up to and go to in their time of need the same way that Draco Malfoy is in Slytherin to become someone that his father is proud of.

The house does not define the person or people within, the house helps guide students to who they would like to become. How a student achieves such is entirely up to the individual. Slytherin is not a bad house, it just has a few bad apples, the same as every other house.