Ravenclaw is the house of Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang. It is the house of “wit and learning” and would have been a fine place for Hermione Granger to have landed on her Hogwarts journey (though that wouldn’t have been great for Harry and Ron). Ravenclaw, like Hufflepuff house, is home to a variety of students.
From Luna to Roger Davies (quidditch captain) there are popular kids, oddballs, and brainiacs. Looking at the sign of the crab in the zodiac and it’s clear Cancer would fit right in to Ravenclaw tower in quite a few ways, while a few personality traits might be a strange mix in the house of bronze and blue.
Typical – Imaginative
Cancer are known for being a very imaginative sign on the zodiac, and Ravenclaw is certainly home to a number of very imaginative characters. No one can top Luna Lovegood on the imagination scale at Hogwarts, which means that Ravenclaw house would be a great fit for the more creative Cancer members.
Add to that the fact that Ravenclaw tower is full of books and a beautifully painted starry ceiling and it’s the perfect retreat for the most imaginative Hogwarts students.
Not – Loyal
Ravenclaw is no Hufflepuff house. The loyalty of Cancer does not transfer well to Ravenclaw house members. Think about Cho’s friend, and fellow Ravenclaw, Marietta Edgecombe, who gave up the existence and the location of Dumbledore’s Army in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
She was under duress, of course, but she still named names and that makes her a little bit less loyal than members of the other houses. Loyalty doesn’t translate perfectly from Cancer to Ravenclaw.
Typical – Persuasive
Sure, Cho Chang can’t persuade the rest of the DA to forgive her for standing by Marietta, but Gilderoy Lockhart is perhaps one of the most persuasive characters ever and he, at one time, was a student in Ravenclaw house.
He is able to persuade Dumbledore to give him a job, the general public to believe he’s a great warrior against the dark arts, and a completely trustworthy and lovable celebrity. He may not be a great guy, but that’s still a very impressive track record. Persuasion is common among Ravenclaws and Cancer both.
Not – Sympathetic
Again look at Marietta and Gilderoy. Neither of them are very sympathetic characters when they are finally punished for their actions. They also don’t offer much sympathy to others. Unlike Cancer there isn’t much sympathy coming from other Ravenclaw students. Cho doesn’t feel for the rest of the DA, she’s just mad that Hermione cursed Marietta’s face.
Gilderoy has no sympathy for the people he memory charms or the fact that he plans to steal the memories of two boys (Ron and Harry were only twelve when they went with Lockhart to the Chamber of Secrets). It’s just not a house trait overall.
Typical – Insecure
Look at Lockhart, his insecurities made him into a liar. He needed to look smart so he did everything he could to look like something he wasn’t.
Ravenclaw know they are the smartest house at Hogwarts, and that can lead to a lot of second-guessing about skills and talents. It’s a competitive house, there is going to be a lot of insecurity when a student is surrounded by the brightest at all times. Look at Marietta, or even Quirrell (he was also a member of Ravenclaw as a student). There’s a reason that Cho, who second-guesses her relationships at every turn, is in Ravenclaw.
Not – Suspicious
Cho and Marietta never suspected that Hermione might have cursed the sign up sheet for Dumbledore’s Army. Beyond not being suspicious of others, people aren’t usually suspicious of Ravenclaws either. Look at Lockhart and Quirrel, they get away with many of their misdeeds because no one suspects them as being able to do any of the evil acts that surround the years during which they each teach.
Cancer have suspicious natures, but Ravenclaws, oddly enough, do not.
Typical – Manipulative
Lockhart is all about manipulating everyone around him. From his adoring reading public, to Dumbledore, Lockhart manipulates everyone to get the fame and position he desires.
Just like those born under the sign of Cancer, Lockhart is a great manipulator. He’s successful (for a while at least) due to his manipulative tendencies and his skill with memory charms. It may not be something to be proud of, but effective manipulation can lead to quite a bit of success.
Not – Nurturing
Looking for a shoulder to cry on? Look for a Cancer but not a Ravenclaw. Ravenclaws are a bit too smart, and too competitive, to be a great nurturing presence. Luna is a great friend, but she’s also a bit too pragmatic or a bit too dreamy to sit still and let a person cry on her shoulder.
Cho is in need of nurturing, she’s not really in a place to offer it. Ravenclaws have other good traits, nurturing personalities isn’t one of them.
Typical – Self Protective
Like Cancer, Ravenclaws know all about self-preservation. Cho takes care of Marietta and her own needs over those of the DA in general. Lockhart is all about preserving his reputation, even above saving the life of an eleven-year-old girl. It’s not always a good look, but it’s an effective one.
Ravenclaws and Cancers know all about putting up walls and protecting themselves against the outside world.
Not – Intuitive
Intuition is based on feeling and Ravenclaws are much more fact and knowledge-based. It comes with “wit and learning”. Ravenclaws like to back up information with reading and evidence.
Intuition, while a large factor in Cancer personalities isn’t a major presence in Ravenclaw tower. Intuition is a trait found in other Hogwarts houses, but not so much in the tower of Rowena Ravenclaw.
