JKR and Hufflepuff (was: Wizarding Education)

[justcarol67]

Catlady noted in response to Dave's request for evidence that JKR has
a low opinion of Gryffindor:

> > GoF: << It was plain that the Hufflepuffs felt that
> Harry had  stolen their champion's glory; a feeling
> exacerbated, perhaps, by the fact that **Hufflepuff house very
> rarely got any glory**, and that Cedric was one of **the few
> who had ever given them any**, having beaten Gryffindor once
> at Quidditch. >> (Emphasis added.)
> 
Suaznne responded:
> Sorry, but I don't see how this quote in any way
> supports the theory that Rowling has a low opinion of Hufflepuff. 



Carol adds:
I think that the Sorting Hat's assertion in OoP that Helga Hufflepuff
took "the rest" and taught them all she knew has led to the assumption
by some posters that Hufflepuff House is a sort of dumping ground.
That, to me, is confusing the House with its founder (who also valued
hard work and loyalty, qualities that the Sorting Hat uses to place
students in that house). A similar assumption has been made that
because Salazar Slytherin chose only purebloods as his students, pure
blood must be a requirement for placement in Slytherin House (whereas
the Sorting Hat seems to use cunning and ambition as the criteria for
being sorted into Slytherin, with purebloods brought up on Slytherin
principles as the most likely students to end up there--but so did the
half-blood Tom Riddle).

While JKR definitely favors Gryffindor and places all her favorite
characters in it, I don't think she has a low opinion of Hufflepuff.
Consider that Cedric Diggory--"brave, kind, and good"--came from that
house. In fact, in terms of virtues, abilities, and looks, Cedric is
the closest we've seen to an ideal student--a handsome athlete who
values sportsmanship and courtesy, a prefect who (IIRC) makes good
marks, a gentleman--really, there's nothing bad to say about him. He
could have been placed in any house except possibly Slytherin and done
it honor, but JKR placed him in Hufflepuff. Also, loyalty and hard
work are admirable qualities, but they don't often lead to glory.

Carol, who hopes that Ernie Macmillan (a Hufflepuff) will become Head
Boy in Book 7, since neither Harry nor Ron has the marks to justify
giving them that honor