[HPforGrownups] How many Prefects are there?

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 84813


Robert Jones asked


> Nothing in the plot turns on this question, but I would still like
> to know the answer: how many Prefects are there?  I mean, is being
> appointed a Prefect a one-year gig, or do those who are appointed
> Prefects in their fifth year remain Prefects in their sixth and
> seventh years?  In other words, at any given time, are there *two*
> Gryffindor Prefects or *six*?  Maybe someone who knows the British
> boarding school system can shed some light on this.
>

Me (K)

Well I think that once a prefect you stay one till you leave school (barring
any major trouble) but I think there's a third option. I think it's entirely
possible that as well as the two prefects appointed in the fifth year there
are more appointed in either the sixth or seventh year - so you would have
the six you mentioned plus a few more. I think even going with the minimum
size estimates for Hogwarts (approx 300) 24 prefect (possibly plus head girl
and boy) is too few.

K