Prefects

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 156887

Shaun wrote: 
> It's also important to realise that depending on the school, a 
prefects position can be either 
> purely symbolic, right up to being a position of very real power - 
especially when you look at 
> history, at some schools in the past, prefects have been very 
important and powerful. 
> Hogwarts in many ways seems to be an old fashioned school in its 
operations, and prefects 
> are reasonably powerful and important. In such an environment, 
where prefects actually do 
> real and important work, you may need more of them than in an 
environment, where it's just 
> a privilege without real utility.


Potioncat:
In the HP stories, prefects seem to have power (Percy handed out 
strict punishments during test times) and duties (Ron and Hermione 
had to help patrol halls), but we only see prefects as they fit with 
the story. It was important for us to see Percy puffed up with pride 
over being prefect and Head Boy---yet we have no idea at all who any 
other Head Boys have been during Harry's terms. We don't know who hte 
other Gryffindor prefects are either. It was important to see Ron 
rather than Harry become prefect--yet nothing is said about the 
prefects for Ginny's class. I assume she isn't one.