[HPforGrownups] Re: Prefects and Head Boy (was: thoughts on OotP)

[Meliss9900 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 64920

In a message dated 6/27/2003 8:43:06 AM Central Standard Time, 
magicalme9 at yahoo.com writes:

> That's been nagging me for a while now as well. Does the Head Boy and 
> Girl have to be Prefects? And are there only prefects in the 5th year 
> or in the 6th as well? If that were so, then we would have 16 
> prefects (taking, that in 7th year there aren't any prefects), 8 in 
> 5th and another 8 in 6th year. Wouldn't their authorities clash and 
> if you have two prefects cornering you :), whom do you listen to, the 
> 5th or the 6th year?
> B.T.W. Who are the new Head Boy and Girl in OotP? It never says that 
> in canon, does it?
> magicalme
> 

There was an excellent post by Abby on the Pyschic Serpent yahoo group 
dealing with the British Public School System and explaining how it appears that JKR 
is sticking quite closely to it. (it also explained quite nicely how the OWLs 
and NEWTs mimic  the GCSEs and  A-level exams).  

She gave me permission to post a bit of it:

<<<So anyway, how this relates to the prefect system... Who becomes head 
boy/girl is NOT related to the prefect system. As explained above, it 
is common for people not to carry on to A-Level studies and so 
prefects are chosen afresh every year. OK people who are prefects, 
usually get re-chosen because they are clever/good at sports. 
Prefects have completely different duties to head boy/girl. So the 
Head boy/girl, while being in charge of the prefects, is not 
necessarily one themselves. The head boy/girls role is to help the 
headmaster with the running of the school.... read anything into that 
you like! While the prefects role is to help oversee the students in 
different houses, years (grades) etc.

This means, it is perfectly plausible that Harry will become Head 
Boy, especially since he and DD already have such a good 
relationship. Same with James. Also remember that Head Boy is head of 
all houses/prefects - a more neutral role. I guess that Hermoine and 
Ron will remain the prefects for their year, unless Ron really didn't 
suit prefectship/did badly on his OWLS, then in 6th year someone else 
may be chosen in his place.>>>




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