AN: Hello Readers! I'm finally posting a new story. It's been a while, hasn't it?

1. I love criticism or complements and all reviews will be replied to with PM. I'm afraid now that the story is completed I won't be able to reply to Guest Reviews though.

2. If you see any spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, or fluff ups of any kind, don't hesitate to point them out to me so I can fix them.

3. Finally, I hope you enjoy my story!

Chapter 1: Winning or Losing

Every house has its secrets. This story is about Hufflepuffs'. Sorry if you wanted some exciting Gryffindor adventure, a thrilling Ravenclaw mystery, or even a ground breaking Slytherin scheme because that isn't what you'll find here. But that doesn't mean it's not worth reading because, believe it or not, Hufflepuff house is about to make a change that would shake the very foundations that held Hogwarts together.

That came out more dramatic than I originally intended. Oh well. Hi, I'm Danielle Finnigan and if you haven't already guessed, I am in Hufflepuff. I hear what everyone says about us; we weren't smart, brave, or ambitious enough to get into any of the other houses. I'm sure you can guess what I think about that. Despite what everyone says, I know Hufflepuffs value some of the most important concepts. Kindness, generosity, fairness, loyalty, hard work. These are all things that can get you sorted into Hufflepuff.

I knew before I even got to Hogwarts that Hufflepuff was where I belonged. Although my parents, Seamus and Lavender Finnigan, had both been in Gryffindor, I had always displayed Hufflepuff tendencies. I was happy to be sorted wherever I belonged so it didn't matter much to me. But I think my parents were disappointed when I didn't end up in Gryffindor. Despite this, I tried not to let their opinions upset me too much, as I knew they still love me as any good parent should.

Now I suppose I'm obligated to describe my appearance, aren't I? Well my hair is light brown…I think. It's actually kinda sad looking. It just hangs there at my shoulders and in my eyes. I like it though. My eyes are blue and have been likened to the ocean by my mother. That's good, right? Umm…I have small lips and a…nose. Okay, I'll just stop now.

Anyway, one of the first things you learn when you are sorted into Hufflepuff is the secret that all Hufflepuffs have been keeping for centuries. You see, many years ago the Hufflepuffs realised that the other three houses were all very bad at losing. Their pride and competitive nature made it very difficult for them to accept coming last place in a peaceful manner. Hufflepuffs however, were the perfect losers. We didn't mind defeat and we could lose graciously without kicking up a fuss.

We realised there would be much less fighting between the houses if we pulled back and let everyone else beat us. Someone has to lose after all, and it was better that it was someone who accepted it with a smile. It has been like that for a very long time and none of the other houses have ever caught on.

Unfortunately, there is a downside. As the constant losers we always get very little respect. Everyone else is convinced our values are not important simply because we don't use them to win. We are seen as pushovers, dimwits and cowards. That is why in my fifth year I decided enough was enough. I'm not usually the kind to care about my reputation but Hufflepuffs deserved respect, and I knew I wasn't the only one in my house thinking it.

~o0o~

This story begins on a relatively normal start of term at Hogwarts. The first day of classes had just ended and I was walking down to the Hufflepuff common room when I spotted a very miserable looking James Potter disappearing into an empty classroom. Perhaps if I had been someone else I would have decided it was none of my concern and kept walking. But I wasn't someone else. I didn't like the idea of anyone being upset so I decided to go and investigate.

I didn't really know much about James Potter. I knew he was famous of course, being the son of the great Harry Potter has that effect, but who didn't know that. I also knew that he was a chaser on the Gryffindor quidditch team, enjoyed pranking people mercilessly (especially Slytherins), and that he was constantly asking the smart, redheaded, muggle-born girl in his house to go on a date with him, despite her constant refusal. He'd always come off as quite arrogant to me but the confidence he has in his abilities is also quite admirable.

I knew his god brother, Teddy Lupin, because he comes around to our house a lot. My mother was attacked by Fenrir Greyback and turned into a werewolf during the Battle of Hogwarts so I was part werewolf like him. I don't turn during the full moon or anything, but I do get slightly grouchier and my senses go a little nuts. My father is working with Teddy and Hermione Weasley at the Ministry of Magic to gain more rights for werewolves and other magical creatures like them.

After I entered the empty classroom, I found him sitting quietly in the corner, slumped against the wall and staring at his hands in his lap. He didn't seem to notice me come in as he didn't look up when I walked a little closer. "Are you alright, Potter?" I asked gently, startling him into looking up. He didn't say anything for a while. It looked like he was struggling to decide what he wanted to say.

"I'm just tired of pretending is all," he finally told me quietly. I took that as an invitation to walk over and sit beside him.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"It's just…" he trailed off with a sigh before turning to me with a slight frown, "As soon as I got to Hogwarts I realised that everyone had this perceived idea of me. They heard my name and looked at me and thought, 'he looks like his grandfather, and has the same name as his grandfather, so he must love pranking and fall hopelessly in love with some redhead on the first day of school'.

"Everyone wanted me to be James Potter and when they found out I wasn't, they were let down. McGonagall actually appeared disappointed when I didn't get into any trouble my first few months at Hogwarts. It just seemed like everyone would be happier if I was my grandfather, so that's what I became." He didn't even seem to notice I was there anymore. It wasn't hard to see that this had been eating at him for a while.

"My cousins didn't even notice I was acting differently," he added bitterly, looking down again, "But I didn't have to see the disappointment anymore when people met me, and I didn't have to worry about people not liking me. Only now I'm just tired of putting up the front."

"Then why do you do it?" I asked, "Why did you do it in the first place?"

"It was easy not to care what people thought of me when I didn't have to be myself," he replied simply.

"But if you live your life being someone else, who will be you?" I countered. He looked up at the question.

"But how do I stop now?" He asked me.

"It's never too late to start being yourself," I told him, "Just let everyone else think what they want to and do what you want to."

"Thanks," he said with a slight smile. Then at my confused look he added, "For the advice." With that he stood up and headed for the door. But just before leaving he turned back and said, "You know you're actually pretty smart for a Hufflepuff." Before I could blink he was gone, probably thinking he'd just complemented me. I might have been angry with him if I didn't know he wasn't trying to insult me or my house. I tried not to get angry at anyone as it can lead to rash or mean behaviour. However, that was definitely the last straw for me. Something had to be done to bring Hufflepuffs' reputation out of the mud.

~o0o~

And so, I entered the Hufflepuff Common Room that afternoon full of determination. It was time for Hufflepuff to bite back…In a way that won't hurt anyone's feelings, of course. Great, now I'm worried about upsetting people. What if the other houses won't be able to handle losing? It may seem cocky to think Hufflepuff could beat all of them if they tried but we're diligent and we don't break the rules, so I really have no doubts we could win if we really wanted to. That's the thing about Hufflepuffs; we work hard until we achieve our goals.

I got up onto a table at the front of the common room and clapped my hands together until everyone was looking at me. Maybe if I hadn't been so determined I would have been embarrassed at my weird attempt to get everyone's attention. Public speaking wasn't really my thing but I was going to give it a try anyway. I've just gotta hope that what we covered in muggle primary school on speeches is enough to get me through it.

"I know this is a little strange but I have something to say," I began simply. Some people exchanged confused glances and my friend shot me a puzzled look but no one told me to go away so I continued, "After the war some of our parents fought in ended, the other houses broke their stereotypes. Hermione Granger proved that not all Gryffindors had to be reckless fools, Luna Lovegood proved that not all Ravenclaws were boring bookworms, and Severus Snape proved that not all Slytherins were evil manipulators. Those houses started to be seen as more than what people originally thought." People still didn't seem to know where I was going with this.

"But what about Hufflepuff?" I questioned, "What about us? Despite Cedric Diggory competing in the Triwizard Tournament, and many Hufflepuffs like Susan Bones fighting in the Battle of Hogwarts, we're still seen as the house for the spares. Now, usually I don't care about what people think of me, but the lack of respect for our great house is starting to get on my nerves. People think we're defenceless and stupid, our first years are targeted as easy prey, and the teachers who weren't in Hufflepuff thing we need to be babied! No one else recognises how important it is to be hard working, kind, patient, or fair." I saw people nodding in agreement and my confidence built slightly.

"I don't know about you guys but I think it's time for a change," I stated and some of them actually yelled out agreement and encouragement, "But a change isn't just going to happen. If we really want things to be different, if we really want to be respected, then we need to do something about it. I propose that this year we don't throw the inter-house competitions." There were gasps at the suggestion, which I understood. Hufflepuff had been throwing the competitions since before my great grandparents were born, and to suddenly stop would be strange. I knew it might be hard to convince them.

"We need to show everyone what we are really capable of, and we can't do that if we're not trying our very best to prove it," I told everyone, "Let's work hard and show the other houses that our traits do in-fact get you somewhere. Let's show everyone that we could have won the house cup and the Quidditch cup any time we wanted because we are formidable. We Hufflepuffs have exactly what we need to achieve anything we put our minds to and I think it's about time we exercised that right. The right to show some Hufflepuff pride! So who's with me?"

I was quite surprised when people started clapping and cheering. Maybe I can actually do this public speaking thing. I guess everyone was just as upset as I was. My best friend, Steve, looked absolutely stunned. I'm never usually so rebellious.

I carefully stepped down from the table I had been standing on and walked over to Steve. We had met on the train in first year and bonded instantly. "It'll be nice to try and win a match for a change," he told me with a grin. Steve was the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain this year. He had been shoving his new badge in my face since we met up with each other at Platform Nine and Three Quarters yesterday. Appearance wise he's a regular quidditch player. He's tanned with light blue eyes and is rarely ever without some kind of smile on his face. On any day he radiates good humour and it's hard to resist his constant and contagious optimism. Top that off with a mob of floppy chestnut brown hair and you have Steve. I don't play Quidditch (too violent) but I do enjoy watching it sometimes.

The other houses better watch out because it looks like this year Hufflepuff will be playing to win. It sure is going to be different.

~o0o~