Gryffindor's Prefects: DD's subtle put-down?

[Michael Vaccian]

No: HPFGUIDX 66997


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One of the interesting bits of the first few pages of OoP was the 
Prefect angle (I, like Harry, had forgotten about that). Ron's 
nomination raised interesting questions, and lead to an introspective 
debate for Harry. I've always liked Ron and Hermione because they 
proved to be competent sidekicks who are almost always in the loop. 
In fact, many of Harry's successes are the result of team effort. 

The danger for authors is sometimes to create perfect heroes. JKR 
seems to defuse this with Ron's nomination as prefect, and touches on 
the fact that Harry might not have all the skills required. Ron's got 
a special quality -- one that goes beyond wizards chess. Ultimately, 
Harry accepts this.

Thing is, DD's speech towards the end read like a slight put down for 
Ron. No one doubts the worthiness of Hermione's candidature to the 
position (no doubt a mixture of academic excellence and a tendency 
to "go by the rules") but there seemed to be doubt regarding Ron's. 
DD tells Harry in chapt. 37 that he's got enough on his shoulders 
without added responsibility... which begs the question: should he 
have been chosen in Ron's place? Did Ron really have extra je-ne-sais-
quoi which Harry, despite numerous advantages, couldn't quite match?

There's always the possibility that Ron, Hermy *and* Harry could have 
ended up as prefects of course (and methinks DD wouldn't chose Ron 
simply because he needed *anybody* to fill a vacant position and the 
first name out of a hat would have done). Still, when you balance the 
lingering doubt re: Ron at the onset with DD's assurance that Harry 
was without question prefect material, it gave me cause to wonder. 

Michael V.