Hufflepuff Head of House
Professor Ignatius Noble has served as our Hogwarts Potions Master since 2094 and is a man of great distinction and really lovely steely blue eyes that reflect the squishy teddy bear soul deep down. But Professor Noble is MUCH more than the sophisticated, brilliant man behind the cauldron - he is also the Hufflepuff Head of House and a true display of Badger diligence and dedication. This term in particular was a big one for the Papa Badger as he not only held acclimate Hufflepuff to their new surroundings at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, but he also fought fiercely in the face of injustices thrust upon his students! Here is what our Huffing Puffing Hero had to say as he reflected back on this term:
Hello, Professor Noble! Your name always reminds me of the Nobel Peace Prize...which also has awards in chemistry and medicine which coincide with your esteemed field of potioneering. So, I was wondering, if you were to win an award for doing something of "the greatest benefit on wizardingkind"...what do you hope it would be for?
Hello there, Rebecca! And apparently it does others too…I still get people spelling my name wrong on homework. That’s a huge question though…and I’m not honestly sure. Doing one big thing to benefit wizardingkind is kind of rare, you know? Generally those kinds of things come from lots of incremental pieces of work that build to the bigger picture…and one of the criticisms of the Nobel prizes is that they don’t recognise that smaller work along the way. I guess the obvious answer is for inventing some sort of potion though isn’t it? A medical cure, maybe.
This term the badgers were uprooted from the comfort of the Badger Den as we all relocated to Beauxbatons. Sharing a common room with Bellefeuille had it's difficulties, but you also must have been able to observe your badgers in a whole new light and gained some unique insight too! What have you taken away from this experience both as a Hufflepuff and as its Papa Badger?
Literally in new light in meetings in my office. It’s been lovely to have some windows and a view this year! I’ve really seen the adaptability of the Hufflepuffs during our time in Beauxbatons…I know there were plenty of complaints from the other houses, but I think the Hufflepuffs just settled on in, did their thing and made the most of it. I know it was a big adjustment, so I really appreciated that attitude…it made my job, and especially working with my French counterparts, much easier. I think me speaking some French helped some too.
You were instrumental during the trial back in February in which Hogwarts students were WRONGFULLY accused AGAIN for things they had no hand in doing. That must have been frustrating, especially after you found evidence yourself proving their innocence! I don't know if anyone has said thank you for all that...but thank you.
It’s part of my job, really…looking out for my students, and that can (and often does) take many forms. The trial was particularly frustrating though. Before I became a professor, I did forensic potions research and provided evidence to aurors and the Wizengamot on a few occasions…so it was a real throwback to my former career. Though obviously the trial itself was completely bogus, I hope it did a good job of reiterating why it’s important to collect evidence, and to have a fair trial.
May I also hug you to show my appreciation for everything you do for Hufflepuff?
I don’t do hugs. Dark chocolate and crystallised ginger are always welcome though.
I don't MEAN for this to be a button pusher kind of question but it really gets my wand in a knot when I hear people whispering in the corridors that you are too this or too that to be a Hufflepuff. Do you have anything to say to those people who doubt your badgerness or, well, otherwise fall back on stereotypes of what a Hufflepuff "should" be?
My badgerness? I don’t really care what they think of me. I’m not here to be their best friend, I’m here to teach and help my students reach their full potential. To my Badgers though, I’d say that you’re not defined by others…whether that be house stereotypes or in a relationship…or anything else. That’s something it took me a long while to learn. Hufflepuffs can be anything they put their mind to, and once a Badger puts their mind to something, the sky’s the limit.
Hello, Professor Noble! Your name always reminds me of the Nobel Peace Prize...which also has awards in chemistry and medicine which coincide with your esteemed field of potioneering. So, I was wondering, if you were to win an award for doing something of "the greatest benefit on wizardingkind"...what do you hope it would be for?
Hello there, Rebecca! And apparently it does others too…I still get people spelling my name wrong on homework. That’s a huge question though…and I’m not honestly sure. Doing one big thing to benefit wizardingkind is kind of rare, you know? Generally those kinds of things come from lots of incremental pieces of work that build to the bigger picture…and one of the criticisms of the Nobel prizes is that they don’t recognise that smaller work along the way. I guess the obvious answer is for inventing some sort of potion though isn’t it? A medical cure, maybe.
This term the badgers were uprooted from the comfort of the Badger Den as we all relocated to Beauxbatons. Sharing a common room with Bellefeuille had it's difficulties, but you also must have been able to observe your badgers in a whole new light and gained some unique insight too! What have you taken away from this experience both as a Hufflepuff and as its Papa Badger?
Literally in new light in meetings in my office. It’s been lovely to have some windows and a view this year! I’ve really seen the adaptability of the Hufflepuffs during our time in Beauxbatons…I know there were plenty of complaints from the other houses, but I think the Hufflepuffs just settled on in, did their thing and made the most of it. I know it was a big adjustment, so I really appreciated that attitude…it made my job, and especially working with my French counterparts, much easier. I think me speaking some French helped some too.
You were instrumental during the trial back in February in which Hogwarts students were WRONGFULLY accused AGAIN for things they had no hand in doing. That must have been frustrating, especially after you found evidence yourself proving their innocence! I don't know if anyone has said thank you for all that...but thank you.
It’s part of my job, really…looking out for my students, and that can (and often does) take many forms. The trial was particularly frustrating though. Before I became a professor, I did forensic potions research and provided evidence to aurors and the Wizengamot on a few occasions…so it was a real throwback to my former career. Though obviously the trial itself was completely bogus, I hope it did a good job of reiterating why it’s important to collect evidence, and to have a fair trial.
May I also hug you to show my appreciation for everything you do for Hufflepuff?
I don’t do hugs. Dark chocolate and crystallised ginger are always welcome though.
I don't MEAN for this to be a button pusher kind of question but it really gets my wand in a knot when I hear people whispering in the corridors that you are too this or too that to be a Hufflepuff. Do you have anything to say to those people who doubt your badgerness or, well, otherwise fall back on stereotypes of what a Hufflepuff "should" be?
My badgerness? I don’t really care what they think of me. I’m not here to be their best friend, I’m here to teach and help my students reach their full potential. To my Badgers though, I’d say that you’re not defined by others…whether that be house stereotypes or in a relationship…or anything else. That’s something it took me a long while to learn. Hufflepuffs can be anything they put their mind to, and once a Badger puts their mind to something, the sky’s the limit.
[ prefects this term were filled by NPC characters ]