[HPforGrownups] Keeping track of House Points

[Amy Tucker]

No: HPFGUIDX 31565

oz_widgeon wrote:

> Here's something I've been thinking about for quite a while.  With
> all the 5 points from Gryffindor, 10 points to Gryffindor, 10 points
> from Slytherin, etc, how do they keep track of it?  I mean McGonagall
> and Snape alone must take away points from students all day (in
> addition to what we see in the books, which generally only involves
> Harry's year and class) and we've seen I believe Sprout and Lockhart
> pass them out like candy.  I can barely remember to subtract checks
> in my checkbook, so how do they keep up on the point changes from day
> to day?  I have a theory, and would like to see what others think.  I
> think that there is some type of enchantment at Hogwarts that
> automatically 'updates' the points the instant a teacher or prefect
> says the words.  I think there must be some sort of central point
> location (we know the students can see the points from PS/SS when HRH
> lost so many points), and when points are given or taken, it
> registers the change to reflect the new standing.
> Anyone care to poke holes in this?  Have another theory?


I don't think the points are automatically added or subtracted as soon as
the teacher says the words. If that was the case, couldn't prefects and
teachers up to no good (Moody; Snape) just mutter "Twenty points to
Slytherin. Ten points from Gryffindor. Twenty points to Slytherin" all day
ad nauseum when no one was watching?

I think what's most likely is that they keep a small journal of everytime
they award or take away points with the incidents involved, and periodically
give the journals to Dumbledor to be tallied. That way, there are checks as
to whether or not the whole thing is legit.

Amy Tucker