James, Lupin, and the Head Boy Badge (was: More Questions.)

[ghinghapuss]

No: HPFGUIDX 85089

> Tonks asked the very important question: 
> ... Hagrid ... tells Harry that his mum and dad were Head Boy and 
Head Girl. I know we only have one instance (of headboy) in canon- 
Percy,> that we can directly derive any fact. So, if DD made Lupin 
prefect for> his year, why would he derail from this decision ...and 
appoint James > as Head Boy? 

> And Steve suggests:
> Pure speculation, we need our Brit school experts to weigh in on 
this one, but I concluded that Head Boy was based on different 
objectives than Prefect. Headship is based on general excellences and 
achievement, whereas
> Prefectship is based on trustworthiness, maturity, and ability to
> command respect and obedience from the other students as well as
> general academic excellences. 
> <snip>
> In a sense, Headship is like valedictorian, whereas Prefectship is
> like a hall monitor and related to the functional and orderly 
running
> of the school.

Abigail said:
> I'm not sure I can agree.  We've seen plenty of instances in which 
the Head  Boy is seen to be just as much of an administrative job as 
Prefect.  Percy's  behavior when he himself is Head Boy is consistent 
with this, Snip> 


Now me:
I believe you are both partially correct. The key work for the 
Headship in my school was Leadership.  

Head boy and Head girl were considered figureheads for the school and 
prized for their leadership qualities most of all.  Their role was to 
lead the school to excellence through example. I.e. Hardwork, 
adherence to rules, discipline, responsibility, confidence, respect 
and compassion.

However, having said this, it doesn't seem to fit with Percy's 
personality, who I do not consider to be an effective leader of 
people.  Ambitious and hard working, yes.  But a true leader, no. I 
am inclined to believe perhaps DD thought that the position might 
help him to develop his leadership qualities.
 
Abigail again:
> I do find, however, that the question of why James was made Head 
Boy as opposed to Lupin is an intriguing one.  <Snip> I think it all 
comes down to the Prank.  The Prank, in my opinion, was a pivotal 
moment in the lives of all the Marauders, and, of course, in Snape's.

Now me:  
It comes down to the Leadership qualities I mentioned above. Lupin 
again, like Percy is not a leader.  James and Sirius were. Lupin was 
and is hardworking, fiercely loyal, dependable, loving, kind, 
generous... the list goes on, but he is not capable as leader of 
others. He is too much of an outcast for that ever to be possible.  
Not all of us can lead and power comes from many different sources. 

As for why James was picked over Sirius, I think had to do with the 
prank. As you state above Abigail, the prank was a turning point in 
all their lives.  Sirius showed he was capable of inflicting real 
damage on another human and James was ultimately the better man and 
better leader by backing out of the prank at the end by turning from 
his friends to save his enemy  

It is hard to define what makes a Head girl or boy.  The decision of 
course rests in the headmaster.  But I could go through and tell you 
who I think were or should have been Heads in their day. James was 
definitely head boy material, as was Lily. Arthur is not Head 
material although Molly is. Lucius Malfoy is Head boy material, 
dangerously so, but Bellatrix is not.(Bella is a leader but far to 
unabashedly psychotic for any headmaster to responsibly give her that 
job.) Hermione and Harry both embody the qualities for Headship but 
Ron does not. (Although he might grow into it.) Cedric Diggory 
definitely head boy material. I can't remember if he was or not? None 
of the Dursleys are. Dumbledore and McGonagall are, Snape is not. 
Ginny Weasley definitely head girl material but I would have said 
Percy was not, so ultimately who knows?


Mandy. Who congratulates Abigail on her 200th post. A true fan.