James, the Head Boy, but not a Prefect

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 107483

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "gelite67" <gelite67 at y...> wrote:
> Hagrid told Harry in SS that James was Head Boy and Lily was Head 
> Girl.  But in OOP, we find out that James was not a Prefect; in 
> fact, Harry is comforted by the thought. I would think you couldn't 
> be Head Boy unless you were a Prefect first.  But I guess DD can do 
> whatever he likes!
> 
> Angie


Asian_lovr2:

In our past discussions of this, with the help of someone very
knowledgable, we have established that Head Boy is not an extension of
the Prefects. In other words, he is not Captain of the Prefects.
Although at some school, that would be valid.

It appears that at Hogwarts Bestship (boy/girl) is more of a general
academic honor along the lines of Valedictorian. Not necesarily
identical to Valedictorian, just more along that line. In that sense,
it is literally the 'best' boy and girl in the school, although I
suspect it based on more than pure academics. Whereas Prefects are
chosen not for their overal excellence but more for their maturity and
reliability. Also, note that Prefect is a house honor, and Bestboy is
school wide; one Bestboy and one Bestgirl for the entire school.

That said, the people who are mature and reliable who are likely to
become Prefects are probably also excellent students, so frequently it
will be a former Prefect who becomes Bestboy. But that is only
coincidental.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/asian_lovr2