House Hufflepuff is probably one of the most universally beloved of the four Houses at Hogwarts that appear in Harry Potter (even if some people say it's the worst). Time and again, the members show themselves to be generous and kind, and very few of their members show any outright cruelty, as opposed to, say, either Slytherin or Ravenclaw, both of which have had their fair share of nasty students. Even Gryffindor has had some members that are less than appealing.
However, that’s not to say that all of the students who belong to Hufflepuff are universally liked, for while there are several students that fans love, there are also several that they can’t stand.
Likable: Newt Scamander
Newt Scamander is one of those characters that it’s almost impossible to hate. He just seems to have such an innocence about him that he’s instantly lovable (part of this no doubt stems from the fact that he’s played by Eddie Redmayne). Among other things, he seems to have a genuine love for the magical creatures that he takes under his care, and anyone who can do that, particularly considering how dangerous some of those animals are, is very lovable indeed. And, in some important ways, he's like Harry himself.
Can’t Stand: Justin Finch-Fletchley
Justin Finch-Flecthely, on the other hand, is one of the few Hufflepuff students who just... isn’t that great, or even that nice. He showed himself just a bit too eager to believe that Harry was the heir of Slytherin, and he likewise became very hostile to Harry when he was chosen as one of the two Champions (the other, of course, being Cedric Diggory).
Though he might not be as bad as some of the worst characters, he’s also not a particularly nice one either.
Likable: Pomona Sprout
It would be, quite literally, impossible to dislike Professor Sprout (even if she is often underrated). This is the woman, after all, who seems almost relentlessly cheerful as she instructs students about the best ways to handle the various magical plants and flowers in their care. When one sees her on the screen, furthermore, she’s just the type of professor that one can imagine wanting to have, full of compassion, good cheer, and a deep core of bravery. What’s not to love?
Can’t Stand: Ernie Macmillan
Like so many of the other members of Hufflepuff, Ernie seemed to take a rather dim view of the fact that Harry was going to be competing with Diggory. Now, of course, one can’t blame him for this bit of resentment, but one would think that supposedly being Harry’s friend, he might have proven at least a little bit unwilling to wear one of the “Potter Stinks” badges put out by Draco. Unfortunately, he did, and that really doesn’t say very much for his character.
Likable: Nymphadora Tonks
It’s probably not too much of an exaggeration to say that Tonks is one of the best-loved of the secondary characters of the Harry Potter universe, even if there's a lot of fans don't always know about her. It’s important to remember, for example, that she remained loving and loyal to Remus Lupin (one of the series's most complicated characters) even though she knew that he was a werewolf. It really does say a lot for her character that she was willing to even die with him in the Battle of Hogwarts, each of them struggling against the forces of Voldemort, both of them sacrificing their all for the cause of good.
Can’t Stand: Cedric Diggory
Now, it might seem a little strange to have Cedric Diggory as one of the Hufflepuffs that fans can’t stand, but it has to be said that he’s one of those characters who’s just a bit too good and noble. While this makes him good enough for a secondary character, he really does sometimes grate on the nerves. One sometimes wishes that he could show some sign that he’s just as flawed and unreasonable as most of the other characters. It's also worth pointing out that, in some important ways, he and Harry weren't very good friends to each other.
Likable: Susan Bones
While most Hufflepuffs are likable in a bland sort of way, Susan Bones becomes something special. While she does leap into the Harry dislike a bit too easily (like many of the other members of Hufflepuff), she also proved herself very brave and willing to join Dumbledore's Army. What’s more, she had to endure the death of her family members at the hands of the Death Eaters, but this didn’t stop her from continuing to be the best student and warrior that she could be.
Can’t Stand: Zacharias Smith
Zacharias Smith is one of the few members of Hufflepuff who is genuinely and extremely dislikable. Not only does he go out of his way to dismiss and say cruel things about Gryffindors, but he also proves himself to be nothing less than a coward during the Battle of Hogwarts.
One can’t help but wonder whether the Sorting Hat might have made a mistake in allowing him to be put into a house that is supposed to value loyalty and morality above almost anything else.
Likable: Teddy Lupin
Poor Teddy Lupin. It must have been very difficult growing up without either of his parents (both of whom lost their lives during the Battle of Hogwarts, a tragic fate for two people who were obviously soulmates). However, from what has been revealed about his life and youth, he seems to have done pretty well for himself, managing to find love and happiness, and all of this despite the fact that the malicious Rita Skeeter seemed to take a particular delight in smearing him with the rumor that he was a werewolf. Though he wasn’t, he was able to change his shape as his mother had done.
Can’t Stand: Hannah Abbott
Throughout most of her time in the books (and somewhat in the movies), Abbott shows herself to be a rather credulous sort of person. She believes, for example, that Sirius was able to turn himself into a shrub. One would have thought that even a young student would recognize the patent absurdity of such a thing. More importantly, like so many other Hufflepuffs in her friendship group, she proved herself very willing to turn on Harry the minute that he became another competitor. That wouldn’t be so bad, except for the fact that she, like many others, also decided to sport the “Potter Stinks” badge.