Hogwarts - Prefect (How Many?)

[prefectmarcus at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 22051

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Melanie Brackney <ilovbrian_99 at y...> wrote:
> 
> HP2, as Harry and Ron are approaching the Fat Lady, they do not know 
> the password because they had not yet seen a Griffindor Prefect.  
> Notice it is not "the" but "a", implying more than one.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Yes but does there have to be a male and a female?  And are there 
just 2, to my knowledge it isn't stated that there are only 2 prefects 
for each house.  I don't know though, it's just a thought.  
> 
> Melanie

For some reason I have always assumed that each house has two Prefects 
for each year above fourth.  I admit my assumption is on very shakey 
ground, but my reasoning is that unless the fifth year is an 
exceptional candidate, I don't see them aceing out an older student 
for the job.

There is a passage (in HP2, I believe) where Molly Weasley expresses 
displeasure that none of the twins had made prefect "yet".  If there 
were only one male Perfect per house, period; I don't see where she 
could complain when Percy has the job sewn up.  If she complains in 
HP3, she might have a case since Percy was made Head Boy that year.

Also, the Prefect bathroom is awfully large for only eight students, 
assuming only four members of one sex use it at any one time.  Even if 
you add the Head Boy and Girl, that makes only ten students using a 
massive bathroom big enough for a lot more.  Now if there are two per 
year for 5, 6, and 7 -- plus Head Boy and Girl, that makes 26.  That 
seems a far more efficient use of such an elaborate facility.

In HP1 when the Quirrell announced the troll and Dumbledore told the 
Prefects to lead their houses to their chambers, Percy immediately 
took responsibility for the first years.  What about the other six 
levels?  I would expect Percy, if sole Prefect, to say something like 
this, "Griffindors, follow me.  Especially you First Years."  But he 
didn't.  He only payed attention to the first years.  If he was the 
Fifth year Prefect instead of sole Prefect, Percy would be responsible 
for the First Years.  When did Percy ever let a chance of power to 
slip through his fingers?

Then there is the size of the student body.  There is the Big 
Hogwarts(1000 students per JKR) versus the Little Hogwarts(280 based 
on numbers in the books).  If the big numbers are used, each house 
would have about 250 students. That is a lot for only two Prefects to 
handle.  That is 125 per prefect.  Now if there were six Prefects per 
house, that would make it a more manageable 40 per prefect.

If you take the little Hogwarts' numbers, there would be only 70 
students per house, leaving 35 per Perfect.  That would be close to 
ideal.

So how many Prefects in each house?  I guess somebody needs to ask JKR 
that in one of those on-line chats.

:-)