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I may be biased, but if there’s a Hogwarts house one should ask to belong to, it’s Hufflepuff. Maybe I wear my Hufflepuff pride a little too loudly, or perhaps it’s the matching golden retriever energy. Still, I find many of Harry Potter’s life lessons wrapped up in those we’ve met from Hufflepuff. With the new game nearing release, I’m even more excited to dive into my favorite house!
Valuing fairness, loyalty, and hard work, one can always find a friend in Hufflepuff. Often touted as the most inclusive house, we are also the most forgotten about the house. However, I’m working to change that with this Ultimate Guide to Hufflepuff. I’ll cover everything you need to know about Hufflepuff and then some!
Bottom Line Up Front
Hufflepuffs are unique and caring individuals. They value hard work, community, loyalty, and most of all, friendship. They are a grounded and welcoming group of people who will always have your back, simply because they want you to see you happy. To be sorted into Hufflepuff, you must value fairness, loyalty, and hard work over things like intelligence and bravery. The sorting hat cares about what you value, not what your talents are.
Those in Hufflepuff aren’t dumb or dimwitted, nor are we leftovers. We are simply people who value being kind and loyal over being intelligent, cunning, or brave. But we still possess those qualities in us, even if we may not be as courageous as a Gyrfinndor or as bright as a Ravenclaw. This is why Hermonie is a Gyrfinndor, not a Ravenclaw; despite possessing extreme intelligence, she values bravery over her intelligence.
Key Features
Founder: Helga Hufflepuff
House Animal: Badger
House Colors: Yellow and Black
Head of House (during Harry’s years): Pomona Sprout
House Ghost: Fat Friar
Common Room Location: Basement, next to the kitchen.
Element: Earth
Gemstone: Diamond
What It Means to Be A Hufflepuff
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those Patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil”
JK Rowling- Harry Potter and the Philosophers StoneÂ
At Hogwarts, your house is your home and your family. So it makes sense to start off with the meaty part. What does it actually mean to be a Hufflepuff?
In the sorting hat song in Philosophers Stone (Sorcerers Stone), Hufflepuffs are mentioned as being just, loyal, patient, true, and unafraid of toil. A mighty list of traits that, in my opinion, create a well-rounded individual. Despite Hufflepuff’s reputation as the house that takes the leftovers, even JK Rowling believes that everyone should strive to be a Hufflepuff for these reasons.
To be just is to be fair and follow your own morals and beliefs. This leads directly to being true. Hufflepuffs are true to who they are, even when it’s hard to do. Newt is always himself, quirky and obsessed with magical creatures. He is this way despite what those around him think or say; he knows who he is deep down and strives his hardest to stay true to that. He also believes in being fair; every animal he loves and cares for has everything needed to live comfortably without the worry of being hurt. He only wants every magical creature to have a chance at a comfortable life where they can flourish.
Patience is another hallmark trait of Hufflepuffs and another one that is expertly shown through Newt. To care for so many magical creatures and fight for what is right, he must be patient. Patience is the key to many things in life; after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. But it also goes hand in hand with compassion and loyalty. These are the traits that I resonate with the most when it comes to being a Hufflepuff.
In an interview, J.K. Rowling even alluded to this fact by pointing out that the majority of the Hufflepuffs stayed for the battle of Hogwarts because of their loyalty and love for the school. In contrast, the Gryffindors remained because they are fool hearty and want to show off (her words, not mine, I promise. I love my Gryffindor). Hufflepuffs saw the value in staying to fight for a school they loved and believed in, regardless of the recognition. They just wanted to do their part as students of the school. At the end of the day, this is the type of friend I want, someone who stays because they want to and someone who shows up even on the bad days.
A study done by Anthony Patterson and Stephen Brown titled Never Tickle a Sleeping Bookworm: How Readers Devour Harry Potter sorted literature readers into the four houses. They concluded that Hufflepuff fans take the time to delve into the world of Harry Potter. They are lifelong fans, the type who create and manage fan websites and contribute wholeheartedly to continuing the Harry Potter legacy. If that’s not loyalty, then I’m not sure what is.
Honestly, as a Hufflepuff currently writing a piece about Hufflepuffs for a Harry Potter fansite, I felt called out. But I can attest to Brown and Patterson’s words. I still remember excitedly waiting for a new book to come out on launch day, devouring every word carefully to make sure I got the most from the story and genuinely envisioning every single scene. I love the movies as well, and have, every year without fail, during the months of May and October, had a Harry Potter marathon. For a long time, Harry Potter was my major interest. While I’ve diversified my interest portfolio quite a bit over the years, I still find myself looking back on the lessons of Harry Potter. A loyal lifelong fan indeed.
Helga Hufflepuff: The Founder
While you ponder who in your life is a Hufflepuff, why don’t we get to know the lovely founder, Helga Hufflepuff. Unfortunately, not a lot is known about her early life. She is thought to be both the kindest and the most accepting of the four original founders. She was born some during the 10th century. During her early life, she met Rowena Ravenclaw, who would come to be her closest friend, along with the other founders, Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor.
Around the year 993, they built and established Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, united by the common goal of creating the best magic school in the world. A lofty goal, whether they have achieved it, will depend on who you ask.
Outside of establishing the Hufflepuff house, Helga was most known for bringing the house-elves to Hogwarts and establishing a safe place for them to work in the Hogwarts kitchen. She also had a gift for food-related charms, and many of her recipes are still used as part of Hogwarts feasts. She loved bringing the entire community of Hogwarts together in harmony and laughter!
Helga’s Choice in Students and Vision for Hufflepuff
Helga decided to focus on a group of traits that create a well-rounded adjusted person. These values point to kind and selfless humans who recognize their contribution to the world isn’t based solely on their quantifiable achievements. Still, on the overall ripple effect they create through their actions and choices in life, along with students who value community overall individualism.
She wanted to create a house where students may have many of the same qualities as students in other houses. They may be brave, smart, or even cunning but value and see the world just a little bit differently. One could even say home for outsiders who don’t place their value on internal factors but instead depend on external factors like their interests, what they do, and what they contribute to the world to drive their passion, creativity, and love for life.
I definitely resonate with this and her goal to find like-minded people to create a safe haven, so to speak. My drive for life is driven by my creative process and what I bring to the world. I love seeing my work finished and knowing it’s something I did, but I really love seeing people take something away from my work.
Whether it’s a few minutes of entertainment or knowing that something I said touched their heart and helped them that day. The ripple effect of what I do is what keeps me happy. I’ve never been happier than when I’m with those who live life the same way. A supportive environment is exactly what is needed for souls like these to Flourish, and that’s what Helga wanted the most for the students who came to her.
Helga’s Cup
Like all founders, Helga had a unique item that was passed down to her descendants. Her cup is a small golden goblet with two finely wrought handles on each side and an engraved badger, the houses animal. Is it thought that the cup may be one of the first items used as transportation for food from the kitchens to the great hall. The cup was eventually passed down to Hepzibah Smith, who was murdered by Tom Riddle.
Tom Riddle split his soul into each of the four Hogwarts relics to create Horcruxes, eventually leaving the cup in the care of Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry, Ron, and Hermonie stole when they broke into Bellatrix’s Gringott’s vault. In part, they barely escaped with their lives due to the protective enchantments placed on her vault and the blind dragon hidden deep in the caves under Gringotts. The goblins weren’t much help either.
During the final battle of Hogwarts, Helga Hufflepuff’s cup was destroyed by Hermonie and Ron in the Chamber of Secrets. You may remember it as the part where Ron and Hermonie kiss in the movies for the first time. Talk about an awkward ending for this lovely cup.
The Common Room
The Hufflepuff common room is located in the basements of Hogwarts, right next to the kitchen. Like every Hogwarts house, it’s hidden to everyone but Hufflepuffs, and only those in Hufflepuff can gain access. To access the common room, you must go past the entrance to the kitchen, which is a giant painting of fruit in a bowl (tickle the pear to gain access and say hello to the house-elves) until you find a large shadowy recess off to the right side where a pile of large barrels is stacked.
To open the common room entrance, simply tap the barrel second from the bottom in the middle of the second row to the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff (Hel-ga Huf-fle-Puff). If you tap the wrong barrel or tap it the wrong number of times, one of the barrels will explode with interloper vinegar. Be careful breaking into common rooms, kids!
Common Room Aesthetics
The common room embodies the element of earth and the badger’s home. As you follow the earthy cave passage, it’ll open to a room that resembles a badger’s den or sett. In other words, it’s round with rather low ceilings. Not quite perfect, but it’s home. The common room is decorated in yellow and black, a reminder of the hard-working and loyal bee. There’s a large fireplace where a portrait of their founder hangs, toasting her prized goblet to her loyal students. The highly polished wood used for the tables chairs, and the large round doors leading to the dormitories are honey-colored, another nod to the bee and the house’s colors.
Plants are abundant throughout the common room, keeping the students connected closely to the house’s element of earth. Cacti line the walls on specially carved shelves, and ivy hangs from the ceiling, gently reminding you of its presence as you walk by. The small windows are usually envisioned to sit close to the ceiling in the common room and flush with the castle’s ground giving the students plenty of homey light and a beautiful view of the grass and flowers that grow outside.
The dormitories are furnished similarly to other houses, with comfortable wooden beds and patchwork quilts to keep the students warm. Not much information is given about the rest of the dormitories. Still, I imagine they have many of the same amenities as other common rooms and dormitories.
I envision the Hufflepuff common room as very homey, warm, and comfortable. With large overstuffed chairs and couches to sit on and plenty of space to work and spread out. I also imagine it must smell amazing and fresh with so many plants. Truly a great place to relax after the end of your day or work on homework during free periods.
The Badger
Using the badger as the symbol for the Hufflepuff house is honestly genius. Badgers are very docile animals when left to their own devices. You generally wouldn’t consider one super threatening if you passed it during a hike. But if you provoke a badger, they will defend themselves and their territory viciously. They are capable of taking down predators much larger than themselves and do so unapologetically.
Hufflepuffs are the same; while often seen as nonthreatening and docile, they are very capable of defending what they hold dear to themselves. This is shown in both Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Where many Hufflepuffs stay to fight with only the brave Gyrfindors outnumbering them. And again when Newt fearlessly defends his creatures, those he loves, and most of all those who are in need.
In addition to being fiercely loyal to those they love, they also work hard and live humbly. Quietly constructing small dens under the earth, working side by side to achieve a comfortable home with plenty of space.
Fat Friar
A Hufflepuff guide wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t include the Fat Friar. He was once a student at Hogwarts and was taught by Helga Hufflepuff herself. After leaving school, he decided to join the Mendicant religious order as part of their clergy. Basically, he begged for money for charity for his entire life; I’m assuming he used magic to help with his endeavors.
Unfortunately, his choice in comedy and ability to perform miracles started to raise the suspicion of the senior churchmen. The Fat Friar would often cure those inflicted with the pox by poking them with a stick, and his go-to joke during mass was to pull a rabbit out of his communion cup. This led to his execution by the church, for I’m assuming, being a witch.
After his death, he returned to Hogwarts as the house ghost. He makes a few appearances throughout the book and movies, although none that are terribly notable. He’s mostly used for comedic relief in the movies during feast scenes.
Hufflepuff’s Reputation as the Worst House
Hufflepuffs have been given the reputation as the worst or least desirable house. I’ve done a lot to showcase just how amazing Hufflepuff is, and by now, hopefully, you see just where my pride for this house comes from. But why is Hufflepuff the least desired and loved house?
Mostly, in my opinion, this just comes down to a lack of representation. We only meet a few Hufflepuff students in the original Harry Potter series, and only two have any notable screen time or legacy. Cedric is one of the most notable Hufflepuffs in the series. He’s shown to be loyal, hard-working, and willing to help others even if it takes away from his own rewards. A true Hufflepuff through and through.
The other character we get to know is my favorite, Nymphadora Tonks, who is truly a kick-ass character. A skilled Auror, she was one of the most accomplished in the department. She was also a member of the Order of the Pheonix and fought during both the Battle of Seven Harrys and The Battle of Hogwarts. Unfortunately, during the Battle of Hogwarts, Tonks was killed, and her husband, Remus Lupin. Leaving behind their young son Teddy Tonks. This loss broke my heart almost as bad as Sirius’s death did.
When Fantastic Beasts came out, I noticed a significant rise in popularity for Hufflepuff; this confirmed my suspicion that it’s simply down to representation. Still, some may say that Hufflepuff is full of idiots or the leftovers that didn’t fit anywhere. I say that Hufflepuff is filled with a group of intelligent, dedicated, and loyal students who are capable of any greatness they set their minds to. It just happens that many choose to live a humble life instead of chasing fame, glory, or money. They choose to chase the people that bring joy to their lives, the passions that give them life, the feeling of comfort, home, friendship, love, and unwavering loyalty. A Hufflepuff will always have your back.
However, those who are called to greatness will step up to the plate humbly and with the best intentions possible. Never doubt the excellence of a Hufflepuff, for they can achieve anything they want. Their desires may just be a bit different than yours.
Notable Hufflepuffs
Professor Pomona Sprout- Head of Hufflepuff house during Tonks and Harry’s years. She officially retired in 2020 from teaching.
Justin Finch-Fletchley- Member of Dumbledore’s Army
Ernie Macmillian- Member of Dumbledore’s Army and member of the Sacred 28 pureblood families.
Hannah Abbot- Member of Dumbledore’s Army and Hufflepuff Prefect. Skilled at charms.
Teddy Lupin- Nymphadora Tonks and Professor Lupin’s son.
Artemisia Lufkin- First woman to hold the title Minister of Magic.
Hengist of Woodcroft- A founder of Hogsmeade.
Silvanus Kettleburn- The care of magical creatures professor before Hagrid took over. He retired to spend time with his remaining limbs.
Grogan Stump- One of the most popular Ministers of Magic. He was in office from 1811 to 1891. He campaigned for creatures’ rights and introduced Being, Beast, and Spirit to the Ministries Department for the control of Magical Creatures.
Theseus Scamander- Newt’s brother, Head of the Ministry of Magic’s Auror Office.
The Hufflepuff Handshake
If you plan to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, then you have to know the Hufflepuff secret handshake. While there, look for those that wear black and yellow colored ties on their costume and ask them if they know the handshake! It goes like this.
- Fist bump a fellow Hufflepuff and say “potato.”
- While maintaining fist contact, rotate your fist one-quarter position like you are going to have a thumb war, have a thumb war but don’t actually begin a thumb war.
- Yell “Mashed Potatoes!” then blow up the fist bump by pulling your hand away and wiggling your fingers.
- Then yell “French Fries!”
- Congrats, you just made a new Hufflepuff friend!
Hufflepuff Fun Facts
- Hufflepuff represents the gemstone diamond.
- Deadpool is a Hufflepuff; this was shown in Deadpool #7 and confirmed by the colorist Nick Filardi. Apparently, the editor insisted.
- Hufflepuff’s are J.K. Rowling’s favorite house.
- Hufflepuff is the only common room Harry didn’t venture into during his time at Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling couldn’t find a logical reason to send him there.
- Hufflepuff has yet to produce a dark witch or wizard.
- We’re basically the hobbits of the Wizarding World. I’m not sure how I feel about this comparison yet.
- In the hilarious Harry Potter parody A Very Potter Musical, Hufflepuffs are stated as being excellent finders. While this certainly isn’t true for every Hufflepuff, I find it to be one of the most random and hilarious lines in the play. I do, however, have a knack for finding objects that have been lost. However, I do find a lot of joy in my ability to research and find the answers to questions. I may not know all of the information by heart, but I can certainly find it!
FAQ
Answer: I’d like to buy my official Harry Potter merch from Hot Topic. I’ve gotten several Harry Potter-based outfits for casual cosplay and full-on Halloween, and this is my costume cosplay. They cater to various sizes, along with several accessories and bags.
If you want more authentic Harry Potter merch, the official Warner Brother store has many options for Hufflepuff merch; it’s grown significantly over the years. Lastly, for our friends across the pond, the Harry Potter Shop sells very similar and sometimes cooler items than the Warner Bros store.
Build-A-Bear has several Harry Potter-based stuffies, Hogwarts house bears with uniforms and accessories like brooms, wands, and the house relics if you really want something special. Along with House mascot studies as well!
Answer: Yes, of course, any person can go dark and do things out of character if put into a situation to bring that on. That is the balance of dark and light. In the Cursed Child’s alternative timeline, Cedric proves this by going to the dark side. He’s pushed to go dark after being humiliated during the second task of the Triwizard Tournament and causing him to lose the task.
This caused Cedric to become bitter and join the ranks of the Death Eaters, murdering Neville Longbottom before the 7th book. Personally, I can’t imagine that this would be something that would push someone like Cedric to the breaking point. He seems much more grounded than that and has great family support. But this timeline of events is considered canon, even if I don’t accept it!
Answer: Of course, we all grow and change over time as people. Our core values and beliefs will change, and along with that, so will our Hogwarts house. Your Hogwarts house depends on what you value the most. If you always value your intelligence first, you will always be a Ravenclaw. Still, if you valued your intelligence first, but your views shifted to say value courage more, you would become a Gryffindor.
I like to take a house quiz every few years to see where I’m at. You can take it at Pottermore or through this site! I love how it shows the percentages and where you lay in what you value. Mine shows that I mainly value the same things as Hufflepuff, but I also value intelligence quite a bit.
Hufflepuffs are #1
Even J.K. Rowling agrees that Hufflepuffs are number one, and she’s a hardcore Gryffindor. Hufflepuffs are unique individuals who strive to find a home, their soul family, and something that brings meaning to their lives. While they may not be the type to chase fame and fortune, they pursue things that are just as vital to a functioning society. Passion, love, and most of all, friendship!
If you find yourself placing value in how you treat your friends and remain fiercely loyal to those you love, you might just be a Hufflepuff!