OOP~ What was Dumbledore thinking?

[zanelupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 65927

> >Rhianyn mewses:
> >
> >Has anyone else wondered what on earth Dumbledore was thinking 
when he made
> >Draco a prefect?  <Snip, snip> 

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Carol Bainbridge <kaityf at j...> 
wrote:
> I was expecting much more debate about this.   I have wondered a 
great deal 
> about this and haven't come up with a single idea.  If Dumbledore 
was so 
> careful about his choice of Ron over Harry, saying that Harry had 
enough to 
> worry about without being made a prefect, wouldn't it also stand to 
reason 
> that making Draco a prefect would give Harry even more to worry 
about, 
> particularly if he is also not a prefect?  The logic of this just 
escapes 
> me.  I can't believe that the 5th years are all worse than Draco.  
I mean, 
> I can understand not appointing Crabb or Goyle, but is there no one 
> else?  I don't think that Dumbledore thinks that this appointment 
is going 
> to redeem Draco in any way.  Draco is the type of git who abuses 
power and 
> giving him more power is likely to make him even more abusive, not 
less.
> 
> I'd love to hear more about this.
> 

> Carol Bainbridge
> (kaityf at j...)
> 
> http://www.lcag.org

As important as Harry is to Dumbledore, he cannot factor Harry into 
every decision he makes regarding Hogwarts.  The only time Harry 
should have factored into who was to be prefect was when Dumbledore 
was considering whether or not Harry should be one.  Yes, Draco only 
adds to Harry's problems, but it's not fair to Draco, or any other 
student, to consider Harry's feelings and situation over everyone 
else's at Hogwarts.  It would not do for the Headmaster to take sides 
like that no matter what is going on.  
Now, as far as Dumbledore making Draco a prefect, my total guess (not 
actually knowing how Dumbledore goes about making his decisions)is 
that he takes into account the opinions of his Heads of Houses.  
They, after all, know their students the best and should be able to 
offer sound opinions as to who should be made prefect.  Snape is the 
head of Slytherin.  It seems that he favors Draco particularly among 
his Slytherin students.  Whatever the reasons for this favoritism, I 
believe Snape recommended to Dumbledore that Draco be prefect.  
I also wonder who else in Slytherin was worthy of the position.  
Crabbe and Goyle are portrayed as Malfoy's ever-present followers.  I 
can't recall if we know the names of the other fifth year Slytherin 
boys.  But anyway, Draco is apparently the ringleader of his group.  
Perhaps he is the most influential Slytherin in his year.  As far as 
we've seen, he's the only one of them to have shown any sort of 
leadership role, whether that role be positive or negative.  Prefects 
are supposed to be role models and leaders.  It's likely that even if 
there is someone in Slytherin who would make a better prefect, I have 
seen little evidence that anyone stands up to Malfoy.  And what good 
is a Prefect who won't stand up to anyone?  (I'm thinking of Ron and 
Lupin in this instance, but don't feel like moving on to another 
topic)
I'm sure that Dumbledore thinks that everyone can be redeemed, given 
time and opportunity.  I like to think that he hopes making Draco a 
prefect might help him to become a better person.  But as we know, 
Dumbledore makes mistakes.
Okay, I hope I have made a little sense.  

Have an action-packed, fun-filled day!

KathyK