Hufflepuff House Dichotomies: Moral Goodness, Opinionated, Loyalty

Potter fans around the globe take their Hogwarts Houses very seriously. How many times have you met a new friend or reader and the first question out of your mouth was, “What is your House?” Perhaps you’re like me and have arguments with friends about their House or your House or a mutual friend’s House, constantly disagreeing or debating the intricacies of each trait. I have a Hufflepuff friend who believes their secondary House is Gryffindor, but I vehemently believe it is Slytherin (yes, don’t come at me, I know “it is our choices” – just bear with me!), and we are constantly bickering over this. Our continued disagreement got me thinking about the dichotomies between Houses. Are Gryffindor and Slytherin essentially opposite sides of the same coin? Would this hold true for the other Houses?

After speaking to around 100 readers and friends, I have narrowed down each House pairing to what I believe to be the shared prominent trait. Part 2 of the series takes a look at (arguably) the kindest and most accepting House. Be sure to check out the other articles in the series for Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin.

Hufflepuff & Gryffindor – Moral Goodness

I would bet that if you are a Hufflepuff, a majority of your closest friends claim Gryffindor as their secondary House. When folks value fair play, honesty, and equality, it is easy to see how these two Houses could get along fairly well. I chose moral goodness as the shared trait, a synonym for all of our respondents’ selections.

Hufflepuffs’ moral goodness comes from their inner compass. Because they value fairness and equality above all else, they have a strong sense of what is right, what is wrong, and what is simply easy. The just badger will do everything in their power to ensure every situation and encounter is balanced, using their fierce protective instincts to be sure all involved follow the rules. Hufflepuffs always – always – play by the rules and inspire to carry others along with them rather than leave them behind.

Gryffindors’ moral goodness comes from their devotion to justice. Because they value truth and honesty, they often stand tall and strong for everyone, particularly for the disenfranchised or marginalized. The impassioned lion will be at the front of every picket line, chanting and screaming for their beliefs, and they may even be the one who organized the demonstration. Gryffindors are strong believers in doing what they believe is right, rules or no rules.

Hufflepuff & Slytherin – Loyalty

According to our survey, Hufflepuff primary and Slytherin secondary are the rarest of combinations. I had a hard time finding even a handful for my research and eventually had to crowdsource answers on Twitter (to which we only received three responses!). Still, I was surprised to see the answers from the small group were quite similar and consistent. I chose loyalty as the shared trait, the first and only response I received.

Hufflepuffs’ loyalty comes from their strong sense of community. Because they are unafraid to toil, they will always stand up for their friends and peers, and the friends and peers of those friends and peers (read: basically everyone). The kind and thoughtful badger is never weak and often stubborn in their convictions, but this just means they will fight all the harder for you. Hufflepuffs have nerves of steel, and it will take a lot to shift them away from, or even a step from, their ideals and beliefs.

Slytherins’ loyalty comes from their need for self-preservation. Because they are known for looking out for their own, they tend to have small circles of close friends rather than large groups of acquaintances. The dutiful snake will not go too far out of their way to do something for another, but if the situation arises where they can boast about someone they know or a strong connection they have, they will not let the opportunity slip away. Slytherins are wonderful, loyal friends to have – as long as you don’t try to cross them.

Hufflepuff & Ravenclaw – Open-mindedness

Hufflepuff primary, Ravenclaw secondary is a fairly common combination, and it isn’t hard to see why. Both Houses share a lot of similarities, and – at least through the lenses of Harry’s story – are both considered underdog Houses. I chose open-mindedness as the shared trait, a word I boiled down to based on respondents’ selections.

Hufflepuffs’ open-mindedness comes from their unbiased nature. Because they believe in fairness above all else, they are good listeners who enjoy hearing multiple perspectives. The gentle and kind badger is good in a debate since they usually have the knowledge from another’s point of view to help broaden and expand their conversation partner’s argument. Hufflepuffs are excellent advice givers and nearly always the perfect supportive shoulder.

Ravenclaws’ open-mindedness comes from their worldliness. Because they value knowledge and love to have their noses stuck in books, they are exposed to many different viewpoints. The accepting eagle will have a conversation with just about anyone, albeit in a quiet corner away from others, as they are not typically extroverts. Ravenclaws have a diverse friend group and love to bring new and interesting folk into the fold.