Disclaimer: I don't own stuff. JKR does.
Note: I finished this series awhile ago. It's 30 drabbles, all about Hufflepuff and the students that live there. They're already all posted on my livejournal. I'll post them here now, whenever I remember to. :)
#1 Beginnings
Helga Hufflepuff looked nervously around the common room of Badger house. It was neatly decorated in bright yellow with black to offset it. Her robes matched in sunny yellow, if only the students would hurry up and arrive!
"Ready yet?" Salazar stuck his head in through the door. He smirked at the sight of her perfect looking display. "I pity the soul who arrives first. You'll smooth him to death with your excitement."
Helga looked angrily at her close friend. Sometimes his comments hurt more than he intended. "And what about you? Have you realised that no one's going to come to the dungeons this year? I can't understand why you'd make your home there."
Salazar shrugged. "I've already got three students. Of course, they aren't mine yet. But by nightfall they'll be snakes. Officially." He grinned openly and took a seat on one of the overstuffed couches. The Badger common room reminded him vaguely of something that he'd find in a fussy old lady's house. It was too bright, stuffy and tightly packed.
The discussion that the four founders had held on sorting the students still stuck out in Helga's mind. All of her friends declaring which students they thought were worthy, which they would train as their own. Helga was disappointed. Usually they could get along and work together. The system of houses just struck her as. . .wrong. Dividing the students, turning them against each other.
And what about those who didn't fit into any of the houses? If they were pureblood and brave and intelligent? Those who made witty banter would be welcome as snakes or ravens, depending on their blood. Helga feared for her friends. They were arguing among themselves and school hadn't even started yet! She was determined to welcome everyone. Those who wanted to be in Slytherin without the blood, those who weren't strong enough for Godric or smart enough for Rowena.
"Well then." Salazar got to his feet and straightened his dress robes. They were neat and tidy, the same way he was. Helga never understood how he managed to keep such a pristine appearance when he taught Defence Against the Dark Arts. Spells flew hectically around the classroom. Godric always ended up covered in goo by the time classes in the potion labs had ended. "I'd better be going. See to my snakes."
Helga nodded, giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek. They were still best friends, even if he got on her nerves more often than he helped them. It was almost as if he were an annoying brother. "See you tonight. At the feast. And maybe some of your snakes will join the badgers."
Salazar left, humming under his breath. Things were looking up. Maybe his friends would finally understand why he wanted to keep muggleborns out, if his luck kept on coming.
"Professor?" Octavius Diggory stepped into the Badger common room. "Professor Slytherin said that I could find you in here. He mentioned something about a new house system."
Cynthia Longbottom entered and stood next to her boyfriend. "Hello Professor. Have a good summer?"
Helga looked at the two students in front of her and gave them a huge smile. These are the students I want in Badger house, Hufflepuff – my house!