why is malfoy a prefect?

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 101067

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Mandy" <ExSlytherin at a...> 
wrote:


> Give the boy credit where credit's due.  Aside from Snape needing 
to 
> keep Lucius happy I have a couple of other good reasons:
> 
> Draco is an exceptionally good student.  He would be top student 
in 
> their year if Hermione hadn't beaten him to it.  Remember Lucius 
> berating Draco in Knockturn Ally for coming second to a mudblood. 
We 
> know Hermione was top, so that puts Draco in second place.  A far 
> better student than either Harry or Ron. 


You know, I've seen this idea of Malfoy being an exceptional student 
before and I still don't see how Lucius' remark can be interpreted 
as Draco being second only to Hermione academically.

"'I would have thought you'd be ashamed that a girl of no wizard 
family beat you in every exam,' snapped Mr. Malfoy." COS, Chap. 4.

The message here (to me) is that Malfoy Sr. is disgusted that even 
a "mudblood" like Hermione is able to outscore Draco in every exam; 
not that *only* Hermione beat him.  After all you could say that she 
beat Harry or Ron or Neville or anyone else, and it would be equally 
true because she out-scored everyone.  Later in the scene, Lucius 
states that Draco may only be fit to be a thief or plunderer if his 
marks don't pick up.  Frankly, after managing to get himself cursed 
by Harry & Co. on the Hogwarts Express for two years in a row, he 
seems like a real dim bulb to me ;-). 

 

Mandy continued:
> Draco is perfect Prefect material. Yes he's a Slytherin and a 
> complete wanker, but 20 years ago DD believed enough in another 
> complete wanker to make him head boy.  Mr James Potter.

Granted, we've seem James at less than his best in the pensive scene 
but he's not a complete wanker.  He did save Snape's life and gave 
his own fighting against Voldemort which is pretty non-wankish, IMO.

Jo Serenadust