The Virtues of Hufflepuff House and Cedric Diggory (Was: Snape and . . .courage)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 106316

Rebecca wrote:
<Lots of good Snape and Neville stuff snipped because I agree with it
and have nothing to add>
The Gryffindor-centric thing sort of gets on my nerves a bit at times 
(and I think it mostly comes from JKR, because its clearly the house 
she thinks is best). Honestly, what I've wondered about, is if 
someone were more loyal than they were courageous, or (to put it 
another way) valued loyalty more than intelligence, despite being 
very bright, would they be placed into Hufflepuff? After GoF, I was 
thinking yes, but after the sorting hat song in OotP, it appeared 
that Hufflepuff was only the "leftover" house (which I very much hope 
isn't the case, because being hardworking, loyal, and valuing fair 
play are IMO superior traits than being ambitious or courageous or 
clever).
 
Carol responds:
The quintessential Hogwarts student--intelligent, brave, loyal, and
possibly even ambitious in the best sense--was surely Cedric Diggory,
a Hufflepuff. He was even a Quidditch captain and a seeker, and though
I rather like Wood, Cedric was a much better sport and a thorough
gentleman. And handsome without being egotistical or arrogant.
Anything but a "leftover" student.

I think the Sorting Hat was making a point about Helga Hufflepuff and
her values, her willingness to teach everything she knew to any wizard
child willing to learn, than about Hufflepuff as a House in the
passage you're referring to. The essence of what Hufflepuff itself can
be, and perhaps is intended to be, summed up in Cedric Diggory. What a
tragedy that he died at seventeen. I only hope he's not forgotten in
the coming books.

Carol