Malfoy, the Prefect (Was: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. . .)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 91462

Juhu wrote: 
> <snip>And besides, doesn't the Headmaster pick prefects? I
> suppose the Heads of House would have some input.
> 
> JuHu, who wonders why DD or Snape would ever hand
> Malfoy more bullying power

Carol:
The decision wouldn't have been Snape's alone; it would have been
Dumbledore's with Snape's input. But, as usual, I'm sure they have
their reasons. First, assuming that there are only five fifth-year
boys in Slytherin, that doesn't give them much to choose from. We can
eliminate Crabbe and Goyle as prefect material. We don't know enough
about Theo Nott or Blaise Zabini to know their qualifications, but
both appear to be quiet, possibly a bit intimidated by him. Can you
imagine his reaction if he hadn't been made prefect or his obeying
Theo or Blaise if they told him to stop doing something? "You give me
a detention, Zabini, and I'll hex you!" In any case, Draco is already
the leader of the Slytherins and leadership is the main quality a
prefect needs. He seems to me to be the natural choice, and perhaps
the only one (just as Pansy probably was for the Slytherin girls).

There's also the important matter of Snape's connection with Lucius
Malfoy to consider. If, as I suspect, Snape was getting most of his
information about the DEs from Malfoy at the time the prefects were
chosen, it would be dangerous, maybe even lethal, to sabotage that
relationship by choosing someone other than Malfoy's son as prefect.
And Snape also needs to be on good terms with Draco to prevent him
from realizing which side Snape is really on. And, oddly, it's a way
of keeping Draco under control. As long as Draco thinks he's Snape's
favorite, he's not going to do anything to sabotage that relationship.
And really, what has Draco done so far, aside from cheating at
quidditch, making snide remarks to HRH, and passing out "Potter
Stinks" badges to the Slytherins? He's been hexed by Harry and friends
a lot more often than they've hexed him. True, he abused his powers
when Umbridge made him a member of her Inquisitorial Squad, but IIRC
he never handed out detentions when he was merely a prefect. Ron and
Hermione could have done the same to him and his friends. 

Things will be different now, of course, with Lucius in Azkaban, and
Draco may stop being just a nasty little brat and start being a real
threat to Harry and his friends, maybe even in danger of joining the
Death Eaters. Snape is going to have his hands full.

Carol