Why Harry Potter Fans Think That Hufflepuffs Are Dumb?
Among the four Houses of Hogwarts, Hufflepuff seems to always be the joke. For some people, that association is upsetting.
Some fans point to the 2011 comedic YouTube video "Hogwarts Houses" as the point when the stereotype of Hufflepuff stupidity began. It shows a member of each house naming their grandest traits.
"I'm really brave; I'm a Gryffindor." "I'm ambitious; I'm a Slytherin." "I'm really smart; I'm a Ravenclaw." "… I'm a Hufflepuff."
After several prompts from the cameraman to "say what your thing is", the Hufflepuff can't name any of their skills. She does mention, however, that she's scared of "ghosts. And sheets with holes. And regular sheets."
Is it fair that Hufflepuffs have been deemed as dumb? After all, some of the bravest, most intelligent wizards were Hufflepuffs.
Newt Scamander devoted his entire life to studying creatures, even writing a textbook on the subject that was used for years. Nymphadora Tonks fought bravely in the Battle of Hogwarts before she was killed by her aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange.
As it turns out, the theme of Hufflepuff stupidity started long before YouTube.
Hufflepuffs Mentioned in the First Book
In the very first book, Draco is the first to ever mention Hufflepuff. He says to Harry that he's sure to be a Slytherin, but just imagine being a Hufflepuff.
"I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" Hagrid too mentions Hufflepuff to Harry, saying that everyone calls Hufflepuffs "a lot o' duffers."
Many fans point to the first book as the reason that the negative stereotype exists. The first few conversations about the house were all negative.
Some feel this wasn't the intention of author J.K. Rowling; it was simply a few of the characters who had perceived Hufflepuffs in that light.
But the image was set for Hufflepuff in the first book, and after that, readers developed a negative stereotype. But, as Hagrid said early, "Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin."
Lack of Hufflepuffs
A few fans never understood the stereotype at all. What's so wrong with Hufflepuff? There are a few snide comments about the house's intelligence, but outside of that, there's not much to be said. In fact, that might be the issue.
Fans argue the only Hufflepuff in the book who has any significance to the main storyline is Cedric. He's barely in the novels before his death.
Tonks was a prominent Hufflepuff in the films, but in the original books, her house was never named.
All other houses were featured prominently – Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger were Gryffindors; Filius Flitwick and Luna Lovegood were Ravenclaws; Snape and many antagonists were Slytherin. But to many fans, Hufflepuffs had a lack of representation.
While Newt was shown to be one of the most intelligent characters in the franchise, it seems many think of him as the exception, not the standard.
Loyalty, Hard Work
Many fans point not to the intelligence of Hufflepuff, but what their proven strength is: loyalty and hard work.
Ravenclaw is the house that most values intelligence as an asset. Both Slytherin and Gryffindor have members who are prominently labeled as "intelligent" in the books, including Dumbledore, Voldemort, Snape, and Hermione.
Gryffindor is proven to be the house most primed for battle, while Slytherins prove their cunning and resourceful ways.
Hufflepuff has a less flashy trait. They're often being shown as loyal followers who do what needs to be done. Fans believe that just because this trait isn't closely aligned with intelligence, it doesn't mean that they should be labeled as "dumb".
The Leftovers
Fans argue that the Sorting Hat treats Hufflepuff as the leftovers. Slytherin, Griffin, and Ravenclaw all wanted particular traits in the children they select.
Hufflepuff basically says she'll take anyone. Some take this trait to mean that Hufflepuff is inclusive and kind. But many instead have taken that to mean they'll take whoever the rest don't want: The Leftovers.
Helga Hufflepuff was one of the founders of Hogwarts and the namesake of the house. She's explained to be a lover of all wizards. Unlike her founding counterparts, she wasn't bent on having the brave, the cunning, or the intelligent in her house.
She was kind and wanted to see all wizards flourish. While her intentions were good, the other houses have used this as an indication that maybe the best of the best weren't sorted into Hufflepuff.
Fans Reaction
Many of the most intense Harry Potter fans associate themselves closely with a certain house. For those "sorted" into Hufflepuff, the insulting narrative of the dumb Hufflepuffs gets old.
They point to all the bravest wizards who'd come from the house and insist that Newt is not the exception to the otherwise foolish group of wizards.
They hope that as the Wizarding World franchise continues to grow with new films and series, a new generation of Harry Potter lovers will appreciate the greatness of Hufflepuff. And with their generation, the negative stigma of Hufflepuffs will die.