So, unfortunately, MuggleNet has failed me and there is nothing for Miss Helga Hufflepuff. So this post will be a little shorter than usual.

I’ve always felt that Hufflepuffs were always “the other kids.” It was kinda like outcasts, which made me sad at first. But I kinda liked that all the misfits were together because they all bonded because they all didn’t belong together kind of thing. I guess that’s why I always identified with Hufflepuffs. In my family, I’m the youngest of four and there are two years between each of my sisters, and then three years between me and my one sister. So, though it’s only an extra year, I always felt like it was a lot more. Also, all of my cousins are either three or more years older (like my sisters) or 4 or more years younger. Right in the middle of everyone. So at times, it was hard to decide who I wanted to hang out with, the “cool” older kids, or the energetic younger ones. So I guess I kinda always felt awkward because I didn’t really belong in each of the other groups, but it’s nice to know that Helga Hufflepuff didn’t care if you weren’t perfect for the other houses, all that mattered was that you belonged at Hogwarts.

It always made me happy that Helga was such a strong advocator for muggle-born students. Obviously, if they only accepted pure-bloods, there wouldn’t be many students at Hogwarts, which would be rather sad. (Random thought, does Hogwarts have an account with Gringotts that allows them to pay the professors? Hmm…I’ve never thought about that before.) I think if I could meet any of the founders, I would like to meet Helga (sorry Rowena) because she always seemed so grandmotherly and nice and something about her brief descriptions always made her feel so inviting (I’d probably ask what a Hufflepuff is and why she chose a badger…).

Loyalty, Honesty, and Dedication: the traits valued by Ms. Hufflepuff. I feel like the Hufflepuffs are very loyal to the school, shown during the Battle of Hogwarts, and generally I feel like the Hufflepuffs were always very honest. Dedication is a hard one because we see so little of the Hufflepuffs. But one example is Professor Sprout who always has dirt somewhere on her, which shows just how dedicated she is to her plants.

One character I feel like belongs in Hufflepuff was Colin Creevey. I’m not really sure why, but I just do. Obviously, he was brave because he was so open about how much he admired Harry, and even more, he stayed at Hogwarts for the Battle even though he was supposed to go home because he was still underage. Poor Colin, RIP.

So, the semester is coming to a close, which is exciting and unnerving. But, before I finish this blog, I would like to know if any of you have requests before the year finishes! (Obviously I must do Salazar’s post first, but then I will try to do any of your requests that I can!)

Some more information on Helga Hufflepuff and the House of Hufflepuff!

The Sorting Hat’s words about Hufflepuff (from year 1):

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

Said Slytherin, “We’ll teach just those
Whose ancestry’s purest.”
Said Ravenclaw, “We’ll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest”
Said Gryffindor, “We’ll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name.”
Said Hufflepuff, “I’ll teach the lot
And treat them just the same.” (Year 5)

(More reasons to love Hufflepuff!)

Rowena – “Rowena” is Old English for “red hair,” which ties in with Jo’s fascination for those with red hair. It means “rugged” in Gaelic. In Welsh poetry, Rowena is named “mother of the nation,” which could link in to her being a founder of Hogwarts. She also is another character whose name surfaces in the great epic Ivanhoe.

Ravenclaw – Ravens are known to be smart birds. Makes sense that Ravenclaws are known as wise, quick learners.

YAY RAVENCLAW! Haha, I think it’s really pretty cool that we get a little bit of insight into Rowena’s life through her daughter Helena (aka the Grey Lady). Also, I obviously like her because she founded my house. (Plus, Luna’s in Ravenclaw, and I love Luna and pretty much everything associated with her.)

Jo’s fascination for red hair – this just makes me giggle. I love the Weasley family. I think it’s cool that Rowena means “mother of the nation,” maybe giving us more of an insight to the founders. Maybe Rowena was the most motherly out of the four of them, always looking out. I think it’s pretty cool that she’s so dang smart and yet still has that motherly air about her. Ravens are intimidating, but intelligent so I think that echoes that Ravenclaws should have a presence with their knowledge.

Obviously, Ravenclaw’s most important value was intelligence. I always found it really weird that Hermione wasn’t in Ravenclaw. I wonder if she had a situation like Harry and she asked to be put in Gryffindor? But that wouldn’t really make sense because she always values knowledge. Actually, after being un-petrified in Chamber of Secrets, she’s upset that finals were cancelled. I also believe that Ron and Harry joke about her not being able to study. Hermione always just seemed to embody all that was Ravenclaw, but I guess for the sake of the story, Hermione couldn’t have been in Ravenclaw because then they would never have been around each other.

If I remember correctly, Rowena was upset with Helena for stealing the diadem (she died of a broken heart), and sent the Bloody Baron after her (so she could see her daughter once more before dying) (who ended up killing Helena, then himself because of the guilt because he loved her). What a mess…anyway, I think it’s pretty cool that a different founder (besides Slytherin) was sort of portrayed as not as wonderful as everyone thought. Obviously, it has to be taken into consideration that it was coming from her bitter daughter and Helena was bitter about everyone. Also, boo Helena for going to Albania (where of course none other than Lord Voldemort also goes in hiding – jk it’s not a coincidence) and leaving the diadem there!

Ravenclaw is my favorite common room, even though we only get a brief description, but mostly I love how you enter the common room. I think it’s so cool that you have to answer a riddle, though I feel like it would get annoying when you just want to get into your room or are trying to get away from someone. But it was so perfect when the Carrow sibling was trying to get in there while yelling at the knocker. So funny. I also think it’s cool that Ravenclaw Tower isn’t really hidden like the others. I don’t think a giant eagle-shaped bronze knocker is really secretive…but Slytherin is a certain part of the wall, Gryffindor is behind the Fat Lady’s portrait, and Hufflepuff is in a nook, behind barrels, and in the basement.

“Another cool thing about Ravenclaw is that our people are the most individual – some might even call them eccentrics. But geniuses are often out of step with ordinary folk, and unlike some other houses we could mention, we think you’ve got the right to wear what you like, believe what you want, and say what you feel. We aren’t put off by people who march to a different tune; on the contrary, we value them!”

This is from my welcome message on Pottermore from prefect Robert Hilliard, but I think that this is wrong. At least, for Luna’s case. Luna gets picked on and her stuff goes missing all the time, and the only people with access to her stuff are the other Ravenclaws which makes me sad. If your own house can’t accept you, that’s not fair.

Here’s a list of fun facts about Ravenclaw – the house and the founder!

(also this really awesome livejournal all about how awesome Ravenclaw is)

This seriously needs to happen! (but I really want a story about all of them!)

Also, why is the symbol an eagle?

The Sorting Hat’s words about Ravenclaws:

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw
If you’ve a ready mind;
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind;

Godric – Means “power of god.” Derived from the Old English “god” combined with “ric,” meaning “power” and “rule.” Name became conmmonly used after the Norman conquest. – Godric of Finchale is an Anglo-Saxon saint.

Gryffindor – A “griffin” was “a creature in mythology with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle.” Also known in Greek Mythology as the “gryphon,” it was the protector of a god’s gold from mortal men. In Greek, “gryphon” means “protector of wealth.” In French “d’or” means “of gold,” one of the Gryffindor House colors. The gryffin is fitting, considering lions are characterized as brave and courageous and eagles are desrcibed as being noble birds, all traits of the Gryffindor House.

I’ve always loved the four houses of Hogwarts. Before Pottermore, if I ever sorted myself into a house, I never really cared which one it was. Then, because I’m a Ravenclaw, I must be true to my house. I think part of me loved it because of me and my sisters. Bekah was Slytherin because she was always kind of cunning and sarcastic. Stef was Gryffindor, always fighting for what she believed in. Jess was Ravenclaw because she was so smart. And I was in Hufflepuff because I never felt like I fit into any of the other houses.

As always, the name is so cool. “Power of god,” you say? Interesting that the Chosen One was in that house. Also, if there were a hierarchy at Hogwarts, I feel like Gryffindors would be the top, with Slytherins close behind… The lion is obviously important. Lions are very proud obviously, and so are most Gryffindors. Also, lions live in groups called prides. Just saying. Eagles represent strength and courage. Again, obviously very important to the Gryffindors.

Is it just me or does he look rather lion-like here?

I really wish we knew more about each of the founders. I know that the traits that are valued within the houses are traits that the founders possessed, but how cool would it be if Jo wrote a story about the founding of Hogwarts? Like where the name came from, how they made the sorting hat, etc. etc. It would be epic. Also, there definitely should be more information about them on Pottermore.

I think the interesting thing about the founders is that each and every one of them has qualities that should be valued in a person. Sometimes I hate that there are houses, now that I sit here and think about it. I feel like it kind of promotes segregation. In the Great Hall, you sit with your house. You live with your house. You go to class with your house. I never felt like there was much of a chance to really bond with those people outside of their houses. For example, in Chamber of Secrets when everyone thinks Harry is the heir of Slytherin, the Hufflepuffs wouldn’t have been worried about Justin Finch-Fletchley getting petrifyied because they would have known that Harry would never do stuff like that to him. (Obviously, Harry’s ability to speak Parseltounge doesn’t help him here, but it’s all Voldemort’s fault, really.)

One thing I found really interesting is that Gryffindor was a supporter of letting Muggle-borns into Hogwarts. I’m not sure why, but I always felt like Gryffindor was a bit of a jerk, but needed that to be able to first be friends with Slytherin and then turn him away like that. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me.

Here’s a list of Gryffindors for your enjoyment!

A bit more information about Gryffindor himself here!

The Sorting Hat’s description of Gryffindor:

You might belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave at heart;
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;