[HPforGrownups] Canon question re: prefects

[rayheuer3 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 60785

jwilliamson at rocketmail.com writes:

> I can't remember whether it's been introduced in canon, or if there 
> is a typical "traditional" selection re: prefects, but do we know if 
> there is only one prefect per house?  2 prefects, a boy and a girl, 
> per house?

To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a discussion *in the books* 
of how many prefects there are or how you become one.  There must be at least 
4, since Dumbledore says in the Troll scene (well, the scene just before in 
the great hall, actually), "Prefects, lead your houses back to their 
dormitories immediately."

We know Percy was a Prefect, and became Best Boy in his seventh year.  It is 
implied that he earned these honors (at least in part) with an excellent score 
on his OWLs.  We know James and Lily Potter were Best Boy and Best Girl, 
respectively, in their seventh year, and Tom Riddle was a prefect in the flashback 
scenes in CoS.  That's about the sum total of our canonical knowledge of 
Prefects and Best Boys/Girls. 

My personal opinion is that there is only one Best Boy and one Best Girl for 
the school, probably chosen from among the prior term's Prefects by the 
faculty.  It is logical to assume that there is a male Prefect and a female Prefect 
for each House.  The simplest way to choose them would simply be the highest 
scorers on the OWLs, but that is never stated.  I've seen some speculation that 
fifth-years can be Prefects, but Percy didn't make until sixth year, and I 
suspect that the OWLs are given between fifth and sixth years.

  --  Ray


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