Ron as prefect?

[Arya]

No: HPFGUIDX 105929


Arya wrote:
Well, I might ageree with you, Del, if it weren't for JKR telling us
herself that Ron wasn't the best prefect and didn't even know by the
end of the year that prefects could dock points. (Referencing her
website's FAQ page.) I just don't see Ron having taken his
responsibilities very seriously - and you'd think for someone with
such ambitions as to be Head Boy one day, he might want to work a bit
for it.  Taking points seems to be a pretty basic principle in the
duty of a prefect to enforce rules but, erm, Ron never even *knew* he
could or should do this.  That doesn't make him look too stellar with
any spin you might put on it.

Shaun wrote:
> OK - JKR, does *not* say Ron isn't the best prefect. From the FAQ.
 
"Can prefects take points or not? A prefect took points from 
Gryffindor in the Chamber of Secrets, and then there was a 
reference to prefects not being allowed to dock points. What are 
the rules?

Ron got it wrong in 'Phoenix', from which we deduce that he hasn't 
been a very authoritarian prefect thus far; he clearly hasn't been 
taking points from anybody."
 
> What she says is that he is not a 'very authoritarian prefect'. 
> That is *very* different from whether or not he's a good or a bad 
> one.
----------
Sorry, yes, I paraphrased and "was not the best prefect" is my
combined interpretation of JKR's comment and the fact that Ron didn't
know even this most basic element of prefectship.  I do apologize for
any confusion. 
----------


> Shaun wrote:
> When I was a prefect at school, I had disciplinary powers - and I 
> used them a lot. I had to, because for me it was the only way I 
> could impose my authority on some other students.
> 
> The people I would consider though to have been the *best* prefects 
> I worked with - some of them virtually never had to use their 
> disciplinary powers. They had a knack of being able to get people 
> to do what they were supposed to do without punishing them. They'd 
> do it when they had to - but they had to very seldom.
> 
> Yes, taking points is a prefect's duty at Hogwarts, and it does 
> worry me slightly than Ron doesn't even seem to know he has the 
> power. But it's possible that he simply hasn't had the need to use 
> it. He may be getting results in other ways. We don't really get to 
> see much of what he does.
>----------------

This makes me think of the saying about the most awesome display of
power being one where the one with power refrains from exerting it
when the otherwise could.  Like granting mercy when you could order
the axe or like giving a warning when you could give a detention.  I
would agree--these are nobles folks who can do this and their kindness
and sparring of the rod is often more endearing and encouraging of
obediance than a heavy-handed authroitarian.  However, I don't think
this is what is true of Ron--that he simply didn't need to use it--
since he knew not about the power he had (to take away points) he
wasn't being sparing in not excercising that power.  

Erm, now I can't help but wonder if the prophecy has to do with Ron
and the 'power he knows not'.  Perhaps the answer to defeating
Voldemort is in docking points from Slytherin whenever he terrorizes
people???  Okay, maybe not.  

Arya
(whoc knows she's being a bit vague and pointless...)