(Just skip this part and go straight to the list if you don't care. I'll understand. Honest.)
Disclaimer: Have I not explained this part already? I'm sure I have. Go back and check. It'd be easier for all of us.
Apologies: We were without computers for five whole days in the fluorescent-lit hell-hole last week. Which means that I spent quite a while at ridiculously old typewriters and fax machines. It took me four hours to send a memo. By the end of it I was in need of psychiatric help. Then we got it back up and had a backlog of work, which I was expected to help out with (even though it's not my job and they weren't paying me any more AND the boss got to go home grumble grumble). So my Harry-Potter-list-making Time has been rather minimal, I'm sure you'll agree. So now I'm doing them at home until their completion.
In response to all the "Is it so-and-so" questions I can safely say…: Yes.
10 GOLDEN RULES FOR HUFFLEPUFF STUDENTS
1. If at first you don't succeed; try, try, and try again. And again. And again. And again. Never stop trying no matter how miserably you crash and burn. Change nothing in your attempts as you do this, merely repeat yourself. This is a display of a good work ethic rather than stupidity. The chances of you just doing something wrong to begin with are slim so ignore them completely. People respect you for this.
2. Everyone wants you to help them. Despite what they may tell you, no one wants to be left alone. Not even foul-tempered Slytherins who threaten to start using Unforgivable Curses on you if you don't get lost. They are strange creatures. This is just their way of reaching out.
3. You are a morning person. There is no way around this. Be happy every single morning, be alert every single morning, wish people 'Good Morning' in your cheeriest voice and wave enthusiastically at them. This is particularly effective before they'd had a morning coffee.
4. You have no biases. In this respect you are superior even to the messiah, however you should never be less than modest about this fact. You are "just". This means you love everybody equally until such times as they prove themselves unworthy of such care. There is no possible way you could hold a prejudice or two like the rest of the world. You are Hufflepuff.
5. Feel free to repeat the facts stated in Number 4 at your leisure to anyone who'll listen. In fact repeat them even to those who don't listen. Try to educate them and make them fairer, more equitable individuals. Ignore any requests to shut up and go away.
6. Be patient. Always be patient. Never assertive, emphatic, insistent or even frustrated. Patient. Always.
7. Always be honest. If caught out of bed by a teacher at night, be honest. If asked by your best friend if that skirt makes her rear look huge, be honest. If asked about your sexual orientation by a priest, be honest. Lying is never a better idea. Nope. Not ever.
8. Despite the rules outlined in Number 4, feel free to judge Harry Potter and condemn him as the heir of Slytherin no matter how unlikely this may be. The fact that his best friend and mother were both muggle-born means nothing.
9. Work hard. More than everyone else in fact. If even the teacher is dossing off that day, continue to work hard. Make others feel guilty by doing so. Remain certain in the knowledge that you are doing this for their own good to make them work harder themselves. Any hateful comments directed at you for this are not meant.
10. Be happy, light-hearted and downright chipper at all points in time. Never grow tired of doing this. Should your mother, father, sister, grandmother and dog all die simultaneously in front of you, you are still not permitted to be surly. Spread the joyfulness around and ignore any death threats you receive from realists. When they say "Stop your incessant cheerfulness or I will rip out your eyeballs" what they really mean is "Thank you for bringing light and happiness to my life." They just don't know how to express their gratitude.
