Ron as a Prefect ( was : SHIPs)

[Doriane]

No: HPFGUIDX 74325


Pshemekan stated:

Firstly, Hermione's disapprovement of Ron's behaviour as prefect is 
only about his avoidance to properly police his brothers. Canon 
states nothing about other situations where Ron as a prefect didn't 
do something as he should.

"Erika L." answered :

Actually, that's not quite true. After Umbridge's speech when 
everyone is dismissed from the hall, the Prefects are expected to 
lead the first-year students. Hermione must remind Ron of this since 
he "had obviously forgotten". He proceeds to address the first-years 
as "Midgets" and when Hermione berated him, he protests "Well, they 
are, they're titchy" (Canadian ed 194). I'd say a lack of respect for 
younger students, particularly a group of already nervous eleven-year-
olds qualifies as an example of Ron being less than exemplary as a 
Prefect.

I, Del, answer :

I agree, but we must keep in mind a few things :

1. This scene takes place right at the beginning of the year. Ron is 
just beginning to learn how to be a Prefect. He had his first Prefect 
meeting barely a few hours before on board the train.

2. He never expected to become a Prefect, unlike Hermione. This all 
came as a surprise and I guess he never seriously took time to ponder 
about what being a Prefect meant.

3. The only Prefect he knew closely was... Percy ! And we all know he 
doesn't want anything to do with Percy's behaviour. So I guess he 
could unconsciously be trying to be exactly the opposite of Percy as 
a Prefect. While Hermione, on the other hand...

Erika :

Assuming Ron is a good Prefect offstage is just that-- an assumption. 
In terms of canon I think we have more indication of Ron being an 
ineffective Prefect than of anything else. I can't recall an example 
of his doing anything useful as a Prefect. Since this is all we've 
seen of him, I assume he's doing the same thing off stage. I will 
have to see something in canon before I assume otherwise.

Me : 

Do we see Ron and Hermione do *anything* as Prefects ? Except for 
those few times when she's trying to prevent the twins from wreaking 
havoc ? In fact, we don't even know what Prefects are supposed to be 
doing on a daily basis, except for disciplining rowdy students. So of 
course we can't know if Ron is a good Prefect.

I'd like to point one thing out though : Ron was *chosen* as a 
Prefect. Okay, I know, it was originally supposed to be Harry (though 
I can't start to figure out WHY !?!?), but still Ron came as second 
choice. Not Dean, not Seamus, not Neville, nor any of the supposedly 
invisible other 5th-year Gryffindor boys (I don't believe they exist, 
sorry ;-). Ron. Why ? He must have something the others don't. He 
can't be that bad a Prefect. I know nobody can tell before-hand 
exactly how someone else is going to fill in a job, but I'm sure DD 
must have trusted Ron to be a reasonably good Prefect for a reason.

And now that the twins are gone, I'm sure Ron will grow in self-
confidence, maturity and responsibility. As far as we know, he might 
still fulfill his heart's desire, and become Head Boy and Quidditch 
captain :-)

Or maybe he won't.

Del