The Year of the Prefect

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 27721

> Luke wrote:
> > 
> > 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?  

Megan wrote:

> Then why, in GOF when Fred and George are SIXTH years, does Mrs.
> Weasley mention something to the drift of "I see they haven't made 
you
> two prefects YET"?  Does this imply that students can be selected
> beyond fifth year for prefects, or does Mrs. Weasley simply have
> wishing thinking?
> 
> Correct me if I misquoted.

Well, OK.  After much painstaking and unbelievably timeconsuming 
combing of individual lines of text of GoF and PoA (which I dutifully 
report as evidence that researching this was very, very hard work), 
the reference you mention is in PoA (The Leaky Cauldron):

"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly.  "I 
notice they haven't made you two prefects."  

So I think Luke must be correct (as usual) about the way this works.  

But thanks for the assist, Megan.  In a way, you're right, though.  
If you want to be macabre about it, Cedric's murder opens up an extra 
prefect position for OoP, which could be filled by a Weasley twin, I 
suppose.

Cindy