[HPforGrownups] What was Mrs. Weasley Thinking?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 89995

On 30 Jan 2004 at 17:59, Robert Jones wrote:

> In OOTP ch. 9 (p. 63  US ed.), when Mrs. Weasley sees that Ron is 
> made Prefect she says "That's everyone in the family!" to which Fred 
> replies "What are George and I, next door neighbors?
<SNIP> 
> But maybe Mrs. Weasley was caught up in the excitement of the moment 
> and let something slip?  Maybe Fred and George are not really her 
> children?

I don't particularly believe this - and I don't know it's been 
suggested before. But this passage did get me thinking, and I 
wonder what people think of this idea.

Fred and George are Secret Prefects (-8

OK - let me make this absolutely clear to start with, because I 
often post explanations about how prefect systems really tend to 
work when threads arise here - I know of no real world system where 
you would have secret prefects. I'm not basing this idea on *any* 
real world situation.

But consider...

What is the function of a prefect at Hogwarts? There's some obvious 
stuff relating to helping to enforce discipline in their houses, 
perhaps acting as an advisor to younger students - we see prefects 
doing this in the series.

But there's more to it than just this. Prefects are also tasked 
with protecting their fellow students:

In the Philosopher's Stone:

""Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories 
immediately!"

Percy was in his element.

"Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the
troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way,
first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!""

In Chamber of Secrets:

"The journey through the dark and deserted castle corridors wasn't 
enjoyable. Harry, who had wandered the castle at night several 
times before, had never seen it so crowded after sunset. Teach ers, 
prefects, and ghosts were marching the corridors in pairs, staring 
around for any unusual activity."

In Prisoner of Azkaban:

"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or 
excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no 
reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy 
and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the 
dementors," he said."

""The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the
castle," Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall
and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. "I'm afraid that,
for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want
the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I
am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should
be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking
immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts.""

Just a few examples, of how Dumbledore has absolutely no hesitation 
in putting the prefects in charge of the safety of their fellow 
students. This is an important part of their function.

In "Order of the Phoenix", we see for the first time, a very 
different Hogwarts in many ways. We see a situation where Voldemort 
has risen again, and we expect that this will have implications in 
the school - and, of course, it turns out that it does.

Dumbledore, I think, has insight into what is likely to happen - he 
realises that situations may arise where the school will come under 
internal threats, and where the traditional structures of the 
school - such as the Prefect system - will be subverted to an 
extent - and again, this happens.

With Dumbledore's insight I can see him wanting to make 
preparations for this.

Is it plausible that one of these preparations was to appoint Fred 
and George Weasley as prefects - secretly, unbeknownst to most 
people?

It'd be an interesting choice... Fred and George don't seem like 
Prefect material on the surface - nobody would suspect them of 
having that type of power. But, I think, their hearts are in the 
right place, personally. I think when push comes to shove, they are 
the types who will do what is necessary. Yes, they'll break rules 
if they think they need to - and in the situation that develops at 
Hogwarts, breaking rules becomes a matter of opposing a corrupt and 
more or less evil regime - but when it counts they will do the 
right thing about the important things.

Why make them secret prefects? Maybe because it gives them some 
sort of special power or authority. I can't really justify that at 
the moment - although I do wonder if Fred's final order leaving the 
school is some sort of clue:

"'STOP THEM!' shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late. As the 
Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred and George kicked off from the 
floor, shooting fifteen feet into the air, the iron peg swinging 
dangerously below. Fred looked across the hall at the poltergeist 
bobbing on his level above the crowd.

'Give her hell from us, Peeves.'

And Peeves who Harry had never seen take an order from a student 
before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute 
as Fred and George wheeled about to tumutuous applause from the 
students below and sped out of the open front doors into the 
glorious sunset."

Consider back in The Philosopher's Stone:

"'"You want to watch out for Peeves,' said Percy, as they set
off again. 'The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him,
he won't even listen to us prefects. Here we are.'"

Percy seems to think Peeves should listen to prefects - now, this 
could just be pompous Percy - but it could also be a sign of 
something.

Of course, Peeves, could just have respected Fred and George as 
Master Mischief Makers - but maybe not...

See, I have a really hard time with the idea of Molly forgetting 
two of her sons - but if she knows that they have been secretly 
appointed - and frankly, if I was Fred or George, I would her to 
know - in her moment of pride about Ron, she may have let something 
slip. George's next door neighbour comment could just have been a 
reminder to her that - "Hey, that's secret. Remember."

As I say, I'm not sure how much credence I give this... it's just 
floating around. If anyone else has proposed similar before, I'd 
love to know message numbers so I can see if they make a better 
case than I am - or if anyone has any ideas now.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia