OOP: prefects & head boy

[ewdotson]

No: HPFGUIDX 61444

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "doseylel" <doseylel at a...> 
wrote:
> I'm not sure I understand the process of selecting Head Boy and 
> Girl.  I was under the impression that head boy and girl were 
chosen 
> from the prefects.  We already knew that James was Head Boy, but in 
> OOP we learned that Lupin was made prefect in 5th year.  Of course, 
> if they were in different houses, this wouldn't matter, but I've 
> always pictured MWPP as being in the same house.  Am I way off base?

I don't think so.  While I always kinda liked the theory that each 
Maurader was from a different house, the penseive seen seemed to 
shoot that down.  They definitely all seemed to be Gryffindors.  
Also, in The Woes of Mrs. Weasley, she says to Ron after finding out 
that he made prefect that "...you could end up Head Boy just like 
Bill and Percy, it's the first step!" (OOP, pg 163, US hardcover)

Now, as I see it, this leaves us with four possibilities as I see it.

1.  Hagrid's statement the James was Head Boy is a flint.  I don't 
buy this for a second.

2.  For some reason, Lupin had to step down as prefect between 5th 
and 7th years, and James was chosen to replace him.

3.  Additional prefects are chosen in 6th year.  As far as I know, 
there's nothing in cannon that flat out contradicts this, and Mrs. 
Wealey's exhoration to the twins in GoF that she noticed that they 
hadnt been made prefects could be used to support this.  Certainly 
the total number of prefect has never been set in stone afaik.  For 
some reason, I dont know that I really care for this possibility 
though.

4.  Being a prefect, while it counts towards becoming Head Boy/Girl, 
is not an actual requirement.  I can certainly see a system where 
being a prefect counts X points, each OWL y points, etc. when 
figuring up who the new HB/HG will be.  And JKR does observe that 
James and Sirius were the cleverest wizards of their age.  Of course, 
Lupin was supposed to be smart as a whip too, but this is the theory 
I find most palatable.  YMMV, of course.

ewdotson