[HPforGrownups] why is malfoy a prefect?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 100989

On 12 Jun 2004 at 7:22, stefaniealexisread wrote:

> If prefects are chosen upon merit, why on earth is Malfoy one? I 
> think that's all I have to say. 

There's a few possible reasons.

(1) My personal favourite is the idea that Prefects are chosen by 
the Housemaster or mistress (though the Headmaster has some say as 
well), based on who is the best exemplar of the prime 
characteristics of their house.

(Under this theory, the Head Boy and Head Girl are those who best 
exemplify the characteristics of the school - all Houses combined. 
I like this idea, personally, because I can see it leading to Harry 
and Hermione as Head Boy and Head Girl (Hermione has revealed she 
could have gone to Ravenclaw - which means she is suitable for two 
Houses - and Harry could have gone to Slytherin - giving him two as 
well. (Note - the time the Sorting Hat took to decide on Neville 
suggests he is in a similar boat - a possible Hufflepuff, perhaps. 
Malfoy, on the other hand is an instant Slytherin).

(2) Based on the way prefects are sometimes appointed in real 
schools, it's possible that it was hoped given Draco some 
responsibility would help him to develop into something better than 
he is - I mention it as a possibility only - because frankly, I 
can't see this in his case.

(3) Malfoy may simply be the best of a bunch of bad choices - the 
only guy available. If there are only five Slytherin fifth year 
boys - and there's some reason to suppose that - then Draco might 
well be the best choice, considering we know two of the other four 
are Crabbe and Goyle.

(4) It may have been expedient for Snape to keep Lucius Malfoy on 
side by appointing his son.

Just some possibilities.


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