Hogwarts: Transmigrated as the Top Student

As the singing gradually faded...

"Ah, music!" Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet and delivered the closing words of the feast. "It is more enchanting than anything we've done here! Now, it's time for bed. Off to your dormitories, everyone."

"First-years, this way!" Hufflepuff Prefect Gabriel Truman raised his hand high, signaling the new Hufflepuff students to gather around him.

From Gryffindor to Slytherin, the students filed out one house at a time...

Looking at the bustling crowd and the length of the tables, Jon noticed something surprising: the numbers for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin were roughly the same—but Hufflepuff had nearly twice as many students.

They followed Gabriel through the noisy hall, exited the Great Hall, and climbed the marble staircase.

"Congratulations, and a warm welcome to Hufflepuff House," Gabriel said as they walked. "Our house emblem is the badger—an animal often underestimated. It stays calm when unprovoked, but once angered, it can take on creatures much larger than itself, even wolves."

"The Hufflepuff common room is on the first basement level, down the same corridor as the kitchens." Gabriel led them down a hallway, paying no mind to the portraits whose subjects whispered and pointed as they passed.

Jon had the feeling they were now deep in the dungeons beneath Hogwarts.

"Up ahead is your Potions classroom. If you go right and through that stone wall, you'll reach the Slytherin common room... Not that I've ever snuck in, of course!" Gabriel added with a wink.

"Make way, Hufflepuff first-years!" came a cool voice from behind.

"Good evening, Miss Farley!" Gabriel called, motioning for the first-years to step aside as he fell to the back of the group. "And... welcome, Slytherin first-years!"

Slytherin Prefect Gemma Farley was leading her own group of first-years, and the two groups had met head-on in the corridor.

"Let's both move aside," Gabriel suggested.

"I agree," Farley nodded.

One group shifted left, the other right. The Slytherins turned off, while the Hufflepuffs continued forward.

Astoria Greengrass was just behind Farley. She brushed past Jon, but neither of them looked up.

"Don't be afraid of Slytherins—badgers are never afraid of snakes!" Gabriel said with a grin. "Now, where was I?"

"Oh, right—the kitchen's just ahead!" He led them down another corridor. "The entrance to our common room is hidden behind a stack of large barrels in the right-hand corner of the kitchen corridor... Here it is!"

"Watch closely. Tap the bottom of the two barrels in the middle of the second row to the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff'—just like this. The lid will spin open automatically. We're the only house at Hogwarts with a magical defense against intruders. If you tap the wrong lid or mess up the rhythm... hehe, the intruder gets a vinegar bath."

With that, Gabriel climbed into one of the large barrels.

Jon and the other Hufflepuff first-years exchanged a few glances—then followed him in.

They moved slowly through the passage, which felt as round as an oak barrel, and eventually emerged into a circular, low-ceilinged room with the scent of earth lingering in the air. It was filled with soft chairs and cushioned sofas.

They had arrived at the Hufflepuff common room.

"During the day, this place is full of sunlight, and you can even see swaying grass and dandelions through the round windows." Gabriel opened a round archway in the room. "Now, let me show you to your dormitories!"

The other Hufflepuff first-years followed him in.

But Jon stayed behind, lingering by the crackling fireplace... Above it hung a portrait of a witch.

Below the painting, a line of small text read:

"Helga Hufflepuff (964–1032) is widely recognized as one of the greatest witches in British magical history.

She was born in the valleys of Wales in 964 AD.

In 993, she helped found Hogwarts and advocated for the admission of all children with magical potential.

From 998 to 1032, she served as the second headmistress of Hogwarts.

Her greatest achievement was identifying the uses of over 200 different magical herbs.

She also made major contributions to culinary magic and the protection of house-elves."

In the portrait, Helga Hufflepuff looked to be in her twenties or thirties. She was beautiful, with a kind and gentle expression. She stood gracefully in front of the newly constructed Hogwarts Castle, her eyes gazing into the distance.

Jon bowed deeply and respectfully to the portrait of Hufflepuff—the founder of both the house and the school itself.

Every year, Hogwarts welcomed many new students. Gryffindor chose the brave and fearless, Slytherin chose the ambitious and pure-blooded, and Ravenclaw took the wise and clever...

But what about Hufflepuff? Did she only take the honest and hardworking?

No, she didn't... She took in everyone who hadn't been chosen by the other houses—regardless of whether they met Hufflepuff's typical standards.

Imagine a young wizard receiving their Hogwarts letter, excitedly rowing to the castle... only for the Sorting Hat to declare that they were not brave, not ambitious, not clever, not hardworking—not suited for any house. All that awaited them was a Memory Charm and a boat ride home.

What a cruel fate.

But Helga Hufflepuff would stop them. She'd say they could come to her house—even if she couldn't find a single talent in them. As long as they were a wizard, even the clumsiest or dimmest one, they still deserved a Hogwarts education.

Jon thought of the Hufflepuff students in the Great Hall—nearly double the size of any other house. Without Helga, perhaps half of them would've been turned away on the very first day...

After bowing, Jon lifted his head... and saw Helga Hufflepuff in the portrait wink at him.

He smiled back—then turned and walked toward the arched doorway Gabriel had opened.