'You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil'

'For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission'

***

'Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad'

'Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."'

'Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew'

~ The various songs of The Sorting Hat

Alas, after a thousand years, we cannot truly know the character and soul of any of our beloved founders, and it seems our main source - The Sorting Hat; perhaps the only creature on the planet who can remember her - gives what can only be described as conflicting information on her intentions. Did she prioritise the hard workers, the loyal, the just? Or did she, as the hat so bluntly said, take "the rest", the unwanted cast offs of the other houses?

This common (mis)conception associated with the house of Hufflepuff, the idea that Helga "took the rest", as it has been said, is one that I hope to dissuade you of, dear reader. The idea that any lacking in desirable qualities would be taken in by Hufflepuff is, though understandable when it has come from the mouth of our own trusted hat, in my belief, widely misunderstood.

When we look at the Hufflepuffs themselves over the millenium that has passed, we can clearly see some uniting qualities that the members of the house carry with them. Remember, the noble school of Hogwarts is itself a choosy institute, so to think a quarter of its members could lack in admirable qualities is folly in itself. In the Great Wizarding Wars of recent times, it is said that no single member of Hufflepuff House has ever 'turned bad'. Whatever this means - that none have ever set out to harm their fellow human, perhaps - it shows a strength of character and fortitude that is not reflected in the conception of the house as "the duffer house".

While we cannot truly understand the workings and motivation of those long departed, it is my belief that the sorting hat does in fact attribute these intentions - to "take the lot" as it were - to Helga Hufflepuff, to give us an idea of her character, and through that, the traits that are nurtured and glorified in the Hufflepuff house. To say that Helga was willing to take anyone who will learn, not just those that already show admirable skills and traits, shows us that Helga was a woman of principle and compassion; someone who would take a more difficult and controversial path in order to pursue a cause she believed in - that is, educating all magical students who so wished to be educated.

Not to say too much on a topic that will be further discussed in a later chapter, it took bravery to contend Slytherin's decision to refuse those from outside trusted pure blood families in a time of trial between the muggle and wizarding worlds. But good Helga did so, in order to educate all the rest that Slytherin did not choose for his own. It took fortitude to accept responsibility for students Ravenclaw had not snatched up for their intelligence, to put her efforts into teaching them if they may not be so fast to learn - in principle. For it must be said that the house of Hufflepuff has produced its own brilliant and intelligent witches and wizards - those who were perhaps more suited to the house because of their honour. So to hear that Hufflepuff "took the lot" should, in my heart, be heard by Hufflepuffs alike with great pride. It shows that Helga was a noble and virtuous woman, and to belong to her house can only be considered a great honour.

Hufflepuff has produced over time a number of notable witches and wizards, such as Bridget Wenlock, the famous seventh century arithmancer. Though often cited as a Ravenclaw because of her remarkable intelligence, she was, in fact, a Hufflepuff. Recent heroes such as Cedric Diggory, who faced the Dark Lord in his last moments, and Nymphadora Tonks who gave her life in the Battle of Hogwarts, were both courageous and talented Hufflepuffs. Indeed, the whole of the house of Hufflepuff at the time of the Battle of Hogwarts stayed to defend their school, and that shows great bravery. So what is it that distinguishes them from the brave Gryffindors? It is that, in making the choice to stay, they did not do so because it was heroic, and courageous. They stayed for no more than because they believed in the cause, and it was right.

Though Helga would indeed have taken anyone who desired to be a member of her house, it seems that her strength of character has produced a house perhaps more full of honour than any other. So do not hear of Hufflepuff's humility, and consider it a weakness when compared to the other noble houses; that would be a grave mistake indeed: for it is fact their greatest strength.