Fourth-year Cedric Diggory was considered Hufflepuff's finest student in fifty years, and its finest Seeker in a century.
He had even received an invitation to a tryout from a Quidditch league club's scout after playing in just one inter-house match.
Although it was only a third-rate club, that was enough to show just how outstanding Cedric's performance in that match had been. Cedric had politely declined, however, saying he wanted to devote more of his energy to his studies.
Even so, the club's representatives still hoped Cedric could attend a tryout over the summer after completing his fifth-year Ordinary Wizarding Levels.
That did fit with Cedric's wishes. Many of today's top Quidditch superstars had attended tryouts at around that age.
Not only did Cedric excel academically and at Quidditch, but he was also extremely handsome.
If Harry, that oddball, had claimed the title of Hogwarts' prettiest boy in his own unconventional way, then the leaders in handsomeness were Cedric and Ravenclaw's Quidditch captain, Roger Davies.
At present, the prevailing private rankings among the school's young girls placed Roger first and Cedric second.
As a Ravenclaw, Roger Davies certainly had excellent grades. Yet he could never quite beat Hufflepuff's Cedric, who was in the same year.
In Quidditch, at least, Ravenclaw's performance this year had been slightly inferior to Hufflepuff's. And as a Chaser, Roger could not match Seeker Cedric in the limelight either.
Having only a slight edge in looks had long been Roger Davies's source of woe.
It was worth mentioning, though, that while the girls all agreed Cedric and Roger were more handsome when judged as boys, there was another consideration.
When it came to popularity at Hogwarts, Harry absolutely had the edge!
After all, Harry likewise ranked near the top of his year academically, and he was