[HPforGrownups] Re: Fred and George - Prefects?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 125160

On 24 Feb 2005 at 18:09, Richard Jones wrote:

Richard:
> 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.

Cool. I like disagreement. (-8
 
Richard:
> 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.

Well, while I am presenting this as a possibility not necessarily 
something I believe to be true, I see no reason at all that Fred 
and George would have needed to 'exchange quick glances' before one 
of them responded. Fred and George seem to be to be pretty good at 
keeping secrets, and if you are trying to maintain a cover of any 
sort, you need to act quickly if someone puts it at risk.

As for there being nothing in the way JKR wrote the scene that 
suggests this, probably true enough - except for the fact that she 
has a mother who, if anything, seems to be *overly* involved in her 
son's lives, apparently forgetting about two of them.

Richard:
> 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).

On this I disagree, this passage should be read as Peeves taking 
orders from someone because it explicitly says just that. He also 
responds by saluting them which is the traditional response to the 
acceptance of an order, but whether JKR would be aware of that.

Richard: 
> 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.

Ah, no - you're incorrect here. 

George did not know the password in CoS. George knows the password 
in Goblet of Fire (p.69). When he is a sixth year, and therefore 
would be old enough to be a prefect

Richard:  
> 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?

No, definitely not, in my view. In fact, if this was the case, it'd 
be a serious mistake to expose them for a number of reasons.

Firstly, who could say that only Fred and George were appointed in 
this way? If there is some reason for appointing secret prefects, 
perhaps to do with the magical defences of Hogwarts, or the ability 
to give ghosts orders, etc, it's possible that a few of them were 
appointed. If Fred and George revealed they had been appointed in 
this way, it would make it far more likely somebody would look for 
others who might still be within the school. It would also make it 
more difficult for Dumbledore to do it again. If something like 
this was being done, you would keep it secret for as long as 
possible.

Secondly, I suspect quite strongly that Fred and George are now, or 
soon will be (if they can get around their mother (-8), members of 
the Order of the Phoenix. If it became known, somehow that they had 
been given an office of special trust by Dumbledore while they were 
at schoool, then those under Voldemort, would certainly be more 
likely to suspect them of possibly being tied up in the activities 
of the Order.

Thirdly, from what I can recall, Harry has had a total of about 
five minutes with the twins since they left school, so even if they 
wanted to tell him (and they might not, if they have an ounce of 
tact, considering Harry is not a prefect) they haven't really had 
time. We see things mostly through Harry's eyes. We know things, 
mostly, because Harry knows them.

Like I say, I'm not convinced of the ideas I am arguing for here. I 
do think there is likely *something* going on with Molly Weasley's 
misstatement - this is just offered as a suggestion.

Of course, if it somehow turns out to be true, I will proudly claim 
all kudos being offered (-8



Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]