[HPforGrownups] Prefect Privileges/Powers

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 84095

On 4 Nov 2003 at 18:30, hermowninny719 wrote:

> While re-reading COS (again!) I noticed that Percy took 5 points from 
> Griffindor when he caught Ron in the Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. (COS 
> pg 157-158 approx).
> 
> Do these two events conflict, or is there some way both could be true?

Yes - if we assume that prefects have the power to take points from members of 
their own house, but not from members of other houses. Given the way the 
system at Hogwarts operates - where they seem to have 'House Prefects' (ie, 
Prefects are appointed by house), such a system wouldn't be unprecedented at 
all. It would also function as a control on prefects ensuring that they are likely to 
only punish reluctantly and moderately, because if they go too far, they will suffer 
themselves.

With Slytherins around (especially!) you'd need to have some sort of control like 
that.
 
> Also, what powers do prefects have to hand out punishments, 
> detentions or other discipline?  Do we have any canon to show what a 
> prefect actually is there for?

As far as I can recall, we never see a Prefect hand out any punishment besides 
taking points away. And presumably they are there for similar reasons as to why 
they exist in other schools.

> I always looked at them as middle-men between the teachers and 
> students--the best students lifted up and taught to be leaders.  
> However, handing out punishments doesn't really seem to fit with 
> that.  Imagine a 5th year Hufflepuff Prefect giving detention to a 
> 7th year Slytherin--I would hate to be that poor little Hufflepuff

Bear in mind, Prefects are *real*. There are plenty of schools that *really* have 
them. I was one of them at my school.

There's no single model for how prefects function in a school - in some cases they 
can be as you describe - the best students raised up to leadership, and as 
middle-men. But that's only one model.

And handing out punishments can be part of the job.

Hogwarts situation is moderately unusual in that most schools that have prefects 
(not all) draw them only from the most senior students. But let me tell you - 
disciplining people your own age can be difficult enough, so I wouldn't envy that 
Hufflepuff either - but also bear in mind that a Prefect should have the system 
backing them up. On one occasion, I stepped between a boy who was much 
bigger than I, and much stronger than I, and a younger boy he was attacking. He 
could have pounded me to dust - but I relied on the fact that he knew that if he hit 
me, he was gone. The institutional fury of the entire school would have 
descended upon him. That backup made it work - and it could work even with 
regards younger prefects.

But, personally, I think in a system like Hogwarts, the older prefects should be 
looking out for the younger ones, and doing everything they can to make sure that 
the younger ones don't have to deal with people older than them under normal 
circumstances. As Ron and Hermione find, it isn't easy to control those like Fred 
and George even if they are in your own house (-8.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
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