Fred and George - Prefects?

[Richard Jones]

No: HPFGUIDX 125143



Shaun Hately argues that Fred and George were appointed "secret 
Prefects" by Dumbledore and offers three reasons for it.  I disagree 
with all of them.

First, the scene we have been discussing about Molly saying "that 
makes everyone in the family."  That means that Molly knew they were 
Prefects, and George's response was a subtle reminder that she's 
risking blowing their cover.  But there is nothing in the way JKR 
wrote the scene that suggests that.  It wasn't as if Fred and George 
exchanged quick glances and George blurted out something -- George 
apparently just acted with indignation.

Second, Peeves apparently obeyed Fred and George, unlike other 
students.  "And Peeves, who Harry had never seen take an order from a 
student before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a 
salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from 
the students below and sped out of the open front doors into the 
glorious sunset." (OotP, p.595).  But I don't think this passage 
should be read as Peeves taking orders from anyone.  He was going to 
give Umbridge hell anyways and didn't need to be commanded.  He is 
just enjoying the moment (as much as we all did, I think).

Third, George knew the password in COS.  Shaun admits the argument is 
weak.  And wouldn't Fred and George be too young that year to be 
Prefects at all?  They are two years older than Harry, so they would 
only be fourth years in COS.

But the main reason I doubt this theory is that Fred and George have 
now left school and we haven't heard anything about them 
being "secret Prefects."  If they did anything at all during their 
school years as secret Prefects, wouldn't we have heard about it by 
now?

Richard Jones