Ron as a prefect

[Eric Oppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 88766

I think that a lot of Ron's problems in his role as a prefect came from the
fact that he was in the same house as, and the younger sibling of,
Gred-and-Forge Weasley.

Firstly---they're seventh-years while he's a fifth-year.  At age 17 or 18,
I'd probably have resented taking orders and sauce from a kid several years
younger than I was, no matter what his title might be.

Second---they're his older brothers, and older brothers have a hard time
taking their younger siblings completely seriously.  Even if Ron had been
Quidditch Captain as well as a prefect, to them he'd still be "ickle
Ronniekins," whose nose they've seen their Mum wiping.  (Not that my own
experience as an older brother has anything to do with this, mind
you...*innocent look*)

AFAICR, other than dealing with Gred-and-Forge, Ron seemed to be doing all
right as a prefect.  Had I been in his boots, I might have asked the
_seventh_-year prefects (if such existed---did they?  Or were Ron and
Hermione the only prefects around?  The older ones might have already left
H'warts, having taken their OWLS and gotten job offers) to be the ones to
deal with the Twins.  Gred-and-Forge have problems enough acceding to the
demands of Authority Figures, but might be more amenable to such things if
the orders are coming from someone they at least see more-or-less as an
equal, rather than a jumped-up younger sibling.  Not to mention, a
seventh-year is their own size, and probably skilled enough with magic to
deal with them that way if needs be.