“You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,

And unafraid of toil.”

-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

I am a Hufflepuff. To most people, this would be a letdown.

From the first book, we are taught by the other characters that being a Hufflepuff is equivalent to social suicide; we are taught that Hufflepuff's are those who aren’t brave enough, smart enough, or cunning enough for the other houses.

But most of us who are Hufflepuff understand that it is not that we aren’t brave or smart or cunning, it is about how we can possess all of those traits and still choose to be loyal to those who have stood by us.

I love being a Hufflepuff. There are a lot of reasons why.

1. It's about loyalty and friendship

Loyalty to those who are loyal to us is a founding principle to Hufflepuff. We have a very strong sense of protecting what's ours and our own, and while having this doesn’t automatically make you a Hufflepuff, not having it will most certainly rule you out.

2. No one “pretends” to be a Hufflepuff

We all have that friend who will swear that they are a Gryffindor or a Slytherin, even if they’re actually not. But, because of that predisposed bias against Hufflepuff, most people won't say that they’re in Hufflepuff if they’re not. And, while there is nothing wrong with feeling more connected to a house that you aren’t “apart of” in Hufflepuff, most people are there because that is where they were sorted.

3. Have you seen Nymphadora Tonks?

Sure, the other house have notable members, but none have Nymphadora Tonks. We are the only house with a confirmed metamorphmagus. But, besides that, she is just an all around amazing woman. She is a rebel and Auror who is probably one of the bravest and smartest characters in the series. Sure, J.K. Rowling could have put her into Gryffindor, but it is her kindness that makes her a Hufflepuff. It is her willingness to be a steady and solid support system for those that she loves that sets her aside from all of the other characters.

And not only is she a member of our great house but so is her son and fellow metamorphmagus, Teddy Lupin.

4. Everyone always Underestimates a badger

Everyone assumes that because you’re a Hufflepuff, you’re weak. But, that is simply not the truth. With many strong-willed characters having passed through our house, you would think that people would have learned that you should never underestimate a badger. But hey, no one will ever see us coming.

So, this, of course, isn’t all of the reasons that I’m proud to be a Hufflepuff, but that list would be crazy long.

The point is, I love being a Hufflepuff, and so do a lot of other people.