What makes a Hufflepuff? It can be hard to pin down (mostly because they get, like, zero representation in the series beyond Cedric. Thanks, JK.) but there are a few key qualities:
Hufflepuffs value loyalty, justice, and hard work. They’re patient and dedicated to their cause, their work, and their relationships. This house often gets a bad rap — not for being “evil” like Slytherins (another a stereotype!) but rather for being the miscellaneous, castaway bunch.
Maybe that’s why SlytherPuff relationships are so strong? Either way, this Huffle-hate is unfounded!
Hufflepuffs are the rock in their relationships. They keep crews together. They’re generally tolerant and even-keeled. And they’re far from being a doormat. These people have an incredible moral compass and deep reserves of inner strength. When the going gets tough, they roll up their sleeves and get to work. There’s an understated but steady strength in these badgers.
Check out these Hufflepuff power couples:
Anne Elliot & Frederick Wentworth (Persuasion)
Quiet. Effective. Pining. These words pretty much sum up the hero and heroine of Persuasion.
Anne and Wentworth share a sense of duty and loyalty. They care about their community and the people in their lives — sometimes too much, as her family’s opinion was the whole reason Anne turned down his proposal in the first place.
But when things are going wrong and everyone is panicking, it’s the Hufflepuff who steps up to help. Quiet Anne takes command when a family member is ill or injured. She doesn’t complain when she’s left behind to take care of moving house while her family goes to enjoy all that Bath has to offer. There’s a job to do and she will get it done. It’s as simple as that.
And the crux of the issue is not that Anne turned Wentworth down all those years ago — it’s that she sacrificed her true feelings to do it. She had a lapse of faith in herself and her relationship with Wentworth, which cuts a Hufflepuff deep.
Also, the PINING. Look at these saps taking that Hufflepuff patience and willing to toil to a new level.
Melinda May & Phil Coulson (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
Melinda and Phil are the Team Mom and Dad of SHIELD. These agents are at their best when they have a crew to lead and protect. They work in the background, helping the younger members of the team find their strengths and shine. They take a similar approach to their relationship, too.
At first glance, Melinda and Phil display…pretty different styles of Hufflepuff. Melinda, AKA “The Cavalry” is stoic, tough, and not a huge fan of most people. She’s not your classic cozy, fuzzy Hufflepuff. At least on the outside. Because underneath it all, she still cares deeply about her community. She can’t ignore the call of duty — she has to help people (even stupid people), some way and somehow. She’d just prefer to do it in a way that’s less violent than her past work.
Plus, she’d follow Phil to the ends of the earth. Melinda trusts Phil’s moral compass and his dedication to his team.
Melinda puts up a hard front, but Phil knows her. That’s why he to her for help when he’s at SHIELD. He trusts her more than anyone else, and it’s not just because she’s one of the best agents around or because they share a past. It’s her integrity. In a world of superheroes and alien attacks and sleeper agents, Phil needs someone real he can trust to protect the world, get the job done, and help keep him on the right path. Oh, and occasionally save his ass.
I haven’t even kept up with this show and I ship Philinda. How could you not with these two fiercely protective fierce cinnamon rolls?
Marshall & Lily Erikson (How I Met Your Mother)
Marshall and Lily are the glue that hold the How I Met Your Mother crew together. They’re the strongest (and longest) relationship on the show with their perfectly synced high-fives, telepathic conversations, and fierce support for each other.
The Eriksons are proudly quirky, kitschy, and enthusiastic. They’re both the cheerleader and the shoulder to cry on for their loved ones. Marshall and Lily are always part of the shenanigans, but they also keep their friends honest. They back each other up, too. Lily isn’t afraid to throw hands or call someone a son of a bitch when they try to walk over her husband, and Marshall will take one for the team and throw himself in the line of fire of an embarrassing situation
These Hufflepuffs are fierce defenders of their relationship and their individual causes – art for Lily and the environment for Marshall. They dedicate their lives to protect and nurture the things they care about, even if it’s not making a lucrative amount of money. Marshall could work at a hotshot law firm, but he prefers being an environmental lawyer that helps the little guy. Lily could work at a snooty art gallery, but she wants to teach children and create her own masterpieces.
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