Prefects question.

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 86463

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Tanya Swaine <swaine.t at x> wrote:
> This has been bugging me for some time.  In the books it says that
Remus 
> was the
> prefect in that group, not James.  However, in other instances, they
say 
> that Lily and
> James were head boy and girl.  Now what I cannot figure out is this.  I 
> assumed that
> the head boy and girl were chosen from the pool of prefects from all
the 
> houses.  Now,
> this might work if Remus wasn't in the same house as James, but again, 
> there is no
> mention I can find that James was ever a prefect.
> 
> Thoughts anyone?
> 
> Tanya

I think the simplest explanation is that while Prefects are appointed
primarily for their leadership potential, Head Boy and Head Girl are
academic honors. Remus was appointed Prefect instead of James because,
as Sirius pointed out, he spent too much time in detention. A boy like
that is unlikely to inspire others to follow the rules. OTOH, his
marks were higher than Remus's (probably the highest in the school) so
he became Head Boy.

Most Head Boys, Percy, for example, start out as Prefects, but one is
not a prerequisite for the other.

I was sure there was a short explanation to this effect in the FAQ,
but I can't find it. It's not on the Hogwarts FAQ, though there is a
less concise discussion of Prefects there. Can anyone point the way?

Thanks,
Carol