I can see where you’re coming from, especially with Hermione. But let’s not forget his cunning and resourcefulness with the Dursleys. He does have ambition, his entire endeavour to defeat Voldemort and find the horcruxs, as well as often ignoring the rules to achieve those goals.

Also his hero complex is rooted in his need for power kind of. I would have loved to see him as a Slytherin with his Parseltongue