Ron and Quidditch/ Head Boys (was Re: Umbridge, detention, scars etc)

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 126170


Lupinlore wrote:
<snip>
> At this point I think the whole head boy situation is entirely up 
in 
> the air.  I see the following candidates:
> 
> 1) Ron.  He certainly hasn't shown any Head Boy potential so far, 
> but being a prefect may put him on track for it, although I would 
> find it contrived;
> 
> 2) Harry.  Probably the most logical choice, although DD may well 
> not want to overburden him.  Then again, DD may feel he made a 
> mistake thinking that way, it's hard to tell from his speech in 
> OOTP.  Also, Harry may very well not want to be Head Boy even if 
DD  offers it to him.
> 
> 3)  Draco.  I can't think of any reason whatsoever this would come 
> about (barring DD dying and a completely new administration coming 
> into power), except that a lot of people think it would make for 
an  interesting set of conflicts.  I think it would be silly, myself.
> 
> 4)  Ernie MacMillan.  This name comes up a lot in the fandom.  
Once 
> again I can't really think of any good arguments for him other 
than  that he seems vaguely Percy-ish.

Hannah now:  
What do we know about past Head Boys?  They seem a mixed bunch:

Tom Riddle - prefect, academically brilliant, popular, saved school 
from closure (OK, he was an evil Dark Lord in training, but no one 
knew that at the time).  

James Potter - not a prefect, academically strong, popular, good at 
Quidditch, saved life of fellow student, but for at least his early 
school career had a reputation for being a prankster and even 
something of a bully.

Bill Weasley - prefect, academically strong, apparently not 'stuffy' 
in attitude.

Percy Weasley - prefect, academically strong, obsessed with keeping 
to the rules and respecting authority.

They are all wildly different, which makes it hard to say exactly 
what criteria are looked for in a Head Boy.  Being a prefect seems 
to help, but obviously isn't an absolute requirement.  All are 
academically able.  James and Tom both committed acts of 
bravery/ 'special service,' which probably helped their cases 
(especially James'), but can't practically be a requirement.  A 
responsible attitude and dislike for rule breaking would logically 
be the most important, but that does make the selection of James and 
possibly even Bill (who clearly isn't the same ilk as Percy) a bit 
of a mystery.

Of the most likely candidates listed by Lupinlore, I would agree 
that all have a good chance.  I think it is unlikely that Head Boy 
is going to be a minor character, given the emphasis placed on it in 
earlier books.  I'd say Ron had a better chance of being Head Boy 
than he does Quidditch Captain, and perhaps Harry will be the latter 
while Ron gets to be Head Boy.  

Draco is another possibility, though it would seem a bit irrational 
unless he does become in some way 'redeemed' over the course of 
HBP.  I've just read too many 'Draco is Head Boy and Hermione is 
Head Girl and they fall in love' type fanfictions to have any 
enthusiasm for Draco as Head Boy, though that's not a canon reason 
for him not to get it.

Ernie does seem to have some of the characteristics of Percy, and he 
is likely to do well in his OWLs, as well as being responsible, and 
a prefect.  It will depend on how he's developed in HBP.  If we see 
him taking a more central role, getting to know the trio better, and 
perhaps being helpful in whatever crisis hits the school this year, 
I'd say that was an indication he's in with a chance.

I suppose we should also consider the Ravenclaw male prefect, Terry 
Boot.  He could be in with a chance, though it seems unlikely to me 
since we know less about him than we do about Ernie.  If it's going 
to be anyone outside Gryffindor or Slytherin, I think it has to be 
Ernie.

I would tentatively add one other good candidate to the list, and 
that would be Neville.  He is beginning to come out of his shell and 
prove himself, and I would hope that DD will support that.  I still 
believe the 'other prophecy boy' has an important part to play.  I 
think it would be a JKR-ish twist to have Neville announced as Head 
Boy, and something which has been foreshadowed (if you're keen on 
foreshadowing) right from the conclusion of book one.

Overall, I agree with Lupinlore that it is very up in the air at 
this stage.  The events of HBP may make it a bit clearer, but even 
then, I suspect she may still surprise us.  Part of me thinks 'oh, 
it'll obviously be Harry, his not being made prefect is just a 
decoy, as well as making his Head Boyship easier to swallow for us 
cynical readers.'  But the other part thinks; 'but it seems so 
obvious and JKR is rarely obvious.'  I do think that, whoever it is, 
the choice for Head Boy will be an important feature of book 7.

Hannah