The Year of the Prefect (was Re: Speculative analysis on the trio as prefects)

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27718

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Cindy C." <cynthiaanncoe at h...> wrote:
> Yes, but in PoA (Grim Defeat), Cedric is specifically noted to be a 
> fifth year, and there is no mention that I recall of his being a 
> prefect.  But he's a prefect as a sixth year when he meets his 
> untimely death in GoF.

Indeed, but this does not necessarily mean he wasn't one during 
his fifth year either.  It wasn't really relevant information at the 
time (it doesn't matter for purpose of a Quidditch match whether he is 
a prefect or not) and hence we only learn his year, position, and 
captaincy.  For a random "BTW, he's also a prefect, for future 
reference" note to have been included would seem a bit silly.  It's a 
good idea with exposition to give the minimum amount of information 
necessary for the reader to fully comprehend what's going on at that 
particular moment.  Otherwise, we'd get overloaded.  Anyway, I'm sure 
you realize all that.

So from Percy's case, we know at least some prefects are chosen in 
their fifth year.  It is a likely assumption that *all* are, because 
otherwise, if some are chosen in fifth year and some not until their 
sixth then one has to account for why not choose them all the same 
year?  The only possibility I can think of is under the following 
circumstance:

Say the school wants X number of prefects total.  Every year they lose 
Y number of prefects, who were seventh year prefects the year prior.  
Hence, they replace this vacancy with Y number of newly assigned 
prefects who they take from either the fifth or sixth year, with no 
regard to or interest in quotas (i.e. Z number of people from a 
particular year or house).

But there is some mildly suggestive canon evidence that there is a 
sort of quota, so the above seems unlikely.

Therefore, I assume that all the prefects are chosen when they reach 
the fifth year and continue on from there.

> Is it possible that they make prefects in the fifth year, but once a 
> prefect, always a prefect unless promoted to Head Boy or Girl?

Oh, I see.  Here's the real point of confusion, I think.  Yes, I 
assume that all prefects chosen in their fifth year automatically 
carry over in their duties for their sixth and seventh year.  I don't 
think they're re-chosen every year, and I don't think that their 
prefect duty only lasts for a single year.  And the two students who 
become Head Boy and Girl just take on additional responsibilities 
(though in actuality the difference may be purely nominal and 
honorary).

Of course, I'm entirely the wrong person to answer this question, 
being American, and therefore having no life experience with a similar 
system.  But when I first joined this topic was being discussed and, 
if I recall correctly, this seemed to be in keeping with what most of 
the British members had experienced in their own schools.

Anyone care to correct me, please, if necessary?

Thanks,
-Luke