This clip from AVPM pretty much says it all - good guys in Gryffindor, bad guys in Slytherin, and the rest can go wherever they want. Even Ravenclaw is well-respected due to its members intellect. Hufflepuff, though touted by the sorting hat as loyal and true, is often viewed as an unimportant house.
Our first exposure to Hufflepuff is Hagrid explaining what the houses are to Harry in The Sorcerer's Stone: "Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but -" (80). We don't ever get to hear Hagrid's defense though, as Harry cuts him off. All we're left with is the impression that Hufflepuffs are nothing but "duffers."
I stand in defense of Hufflepuff, as a honorary member of said house, according to Pottermore.
You might belong in Hufflepuff,Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,
And unafraid of toil (The Sorcerer's Stone, 118).
I'll admit, at first when the sorting hat gave its Hufflepuff decree, I was a little disappointed. It's true though that I am not quite a Gryffindor, almost a Ravenclaw, and zero percent Slytherin, so Hufflepuff by deduction would be easy enough.
Being described as just, loyal, patient, hard working, and tolerant, though are some pretty awesome attributes. As I turn away from the way Hufflepuff is the ignored or teased in the books, and look at the actual traits of a Hufflepuff, my respect for the house grows immensely.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
[...]
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission (The Goblet of Fire, 117).
The sorting hat describes how when the other three founders were divvying up which students they wanted, Helga Hufflepuff responded with acceptance and faith in all students:
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 Order of the Phoenix, 205).
Plus, we've got Cedric Diggory, who was the one person chosen from Hogwarts as most worthy to participate in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, above any Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. (Remeber Harry was chosen under a different school's name, so he doesn't count.)
We also have Nymphadora Tonks, who I love on the same level as my love for Luna! How could you not love the quirky, eccentric, not caring what anybody else thinks attitude? Love her!
If my defense isn't good enough, here's J.K. Rowling's reasoning for why you shouldn't be offended if you were sorted into Hufflepuff by Pottermore.
The A to Z Challenge continues tomorrow with I is for Invisibility Cloak!
