Draco as prefect (Was: Ron as prefect... and then some)

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 91740

> jeanico2000 says:
> His biggest bone of contention with OOTP so far is not the fact that
> Ron is a prefect (though he says that, next to Hermione, Harry 
really
> deserved that honor), but that Draco Malfoy is a prefect! "What was
> Dumbledore thinking?" said my spouse... and he's right, IMO.
> Dumbledore, who is supposed to know his students well, appointed a
> Slytherin prefect who is a proven bully and who's father is a Death
> Eater! Were there no other deserving students in Slytherin House?
> Shame on Dumbledore!

Ginger here:

I agree with all those who have posted that Draco is the only 
Slytherin who seems to be firing on all pistons that we have met.  I 
also agree that the "mudblood" thing is not a good thing for a 
prefect to say.  

Perhaps DD saw himself in a bad situation and decided to make the 
best of it.  Draco is a leader.  Draco is the most intelligent (by 
default) of those we've met.  Draco's father would believe that Snape 
had been the one to "nominate" his son, which helps Snape and 
whatever he is doing for the Order.  

So we have the downside.  The boy is a vocal racist.  Not that I 
condone that, but it is probably more easily handled than a lack of 
intelligence.  Had Crabbe or Goyle been made a prefect, he would have 
looked to Draco for advise on every turn.  Had Blaise (assuming he is 
indeed a he) or Theo been made a prefect, either he would have been 
on Draco's side and just as far in his pocket as Crabbe or Goyle, or 
he would have met with serious opposition by Draco and his cronies.  
The same goes for any other Slytherin that may exist that we don't 
know of.  

So, the downside of choosing anyone but Draco is that Draco would 
either run things behind the scenes or make things impossible for the 
prefect.  The upside of choosing Draco is that he can't hide behind 
anyone.  He is the *prefect*.  His actions will be monitered.  Should 
he be heard throwing around "mudblood", he can be taken aside and 
told that that will not be tolerated from a prefect.  Prefects are 
representatives of the school, and all that.  Dumbledore would have 
an "in" to talk with him privately, and perhaps get him to see the 
error of his ways.  Personally, I don't think that will work with 
Draco, but DD is far more optomistic than I am. 

In other words, if you want to keep an eye on someone, the best place 
to have him is right in front of your nose. 

Ginger, still chuckling "Griffin door" Heeheehee.