Why is Malfoy a prefect?

[bethg2 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 101050

Shaun wrote: 
> 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).


This reasoning fits well with what we know about the MWPP era - that 
Remus was the prefect but James was head boy.  Now, we don't know 
that Minerva was head of house when the boys were in school only that 
she was there. However, it does make sense that she would select the 
bookish and more responsible Remus as prefect. Then Dumbledore, 
looking for more general qualities, would pick James for Head Boy. We 
know that James showed leadership quailities regardless of his 
troublemaking. 

Beth Gaughan