Hufflepuffs have always been given the short shrift in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. They always seem to come in last in Quidditch, they never came close to winning the house cup, and have been generally considered the lamest Hogwarts house since the beginning of the Harry Potter fandom. From Malfoy's snide comment in the Sorcerer's Stone, saying that he would rather leave Hogwarts if he was sorted into Hufflepuff, to Hagrid's remark that Hufflepuffs are "a lot o' duffers," Hufflepuffs receive a lot of flack. Not to mention the fact that their names sounds like a big-bad-wolf-with-a-head-cold asking for some off-brand tissues.

I never considered myself a Hufflepuff growing up. As a kid, reading the Harry potter books, I identified with the gallant and exciting Gryffindors of the series. As I got older and more dedicated to my school work, I began to identify as more of a Ravenclaw. (This interest also coincided with the debut of the ever-fantastic Luna Lovegood.) I even thought of considering myself a Slytherin for a period of time, but that was a short phase. Never once did I consider the possibility of being a Hufflepuff.

That is, until I took the Pottermore Sorting Hat Quiz. I would bet my boots that this quiz has caused more identity crises than there are secrets hidden in the Department of Mysteries. Despite my solid Gryffindor/Ravenclaw identity I was sorted into Hufflepuff. I scoffed. A couple of years later, I took the Pottermore Sorting Quiz again, and the bloody thing told me again that I was a Hufflepuff.

I was perplexed. Bamboozled, even. How could I be kin with the boring, unimportant, students at Hogwarts—the students who were always passed over, ridiculed, disregarded by J.K. Rowling's narration? During this time of strife I turned to those closest to me, and they helped me see the light: Hufflepuffs are by and large the most underrated House at Hogwarts. I had been blinded by an undignified name and disproportionate lack of major characters, but my friends reminded me that Nymphadora Tonks, easily one of the best characters in the series was a Hufflepuff. My friend argued that Hufflepuffs aren't featured as often in the books because they tend not get involved in the sort of high-drama disputes that come along with having gallantry, ambition, or as defining characteristics. They aren't as prideful as their more popular Hogwarts counterparts, but that doesn't mean that Hufflepuffs are pushovers. Cedric Diggory was a Triwizard Champion, and Nymphadora Tonks gave her life to fight against the Dark Lord, not to mention Professor Sprout, who was patient and tough in equal strokes.

J.K. Rowling herself has said that Hufflepuff is her favorite house at Hogwarts, referencing the fact that at the Battle of Hogwarts at the end of the Deathly Hallows, nearly all Hufflepuffs remained to fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters. All of the Gryffindors stayed to fight as well, but according to Rowling, that's just the sort of people Gryffindors are, brave, but also "show-offy," and that they hardly ever back down from a fight. Hufflepuffs aren't always the most confrontational, but they stayed because they know the importance of Justice, and of fighting for what is right.

This summer, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be released in theaters. I, for one, am thrilled not only for the release of another film set in the Harry Potter universe, but for a film that will feature a Hufflepuff as a protagonist. Hopefully Huffle-hate, which I used to harbor as bad as anyone, will become a thing of the past, and this summer will be the summer of the Hufflepuff!

So don a black and canary-yellow scarf and show off your Huffle-pride! Because after all, what better to be than kind, just, loyal, and accepting of all people?