Prefect

> What would we want to be prefects for? It'd take all the fun out of life.
>
> George Weasley, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

A **prefect** at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a student who had been given extra authority and responsibilities by the Head of House and Headmaster. One male and one female student were chosen from each house in their fifth year to act as prefects. They would continue to be prefects in their sixth and seventh years until they left school.

## Organisation information

### Leader(s)

* Head Boy
* Head Girl

### Headquarters

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

### Intentions

Help regulate their fellow students' behaviours

### Affiliation

* Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
* Gryffindor
* Hufflepuff
* Ravenclaw
* Slytherin

### Enemies

* Misbehaving students
* Peeves

Thus, there were approximately six prefects per house and twenty-four prefects in the whole school at one time. Prefects could become Head Boy or Girl, and would still serve as prefect as well. Being a prefect didn't guarantee a student to become a Head Boy or Girl. In fact, the Head Boy or Girl did not have to have been a prefect at all.

The Weasley family was noted for having had several prefects among its sons — first Bill, then Charlie, then Percy, and finally Ron. Percy in particular was known to have been mercilessly persecuted by his brothers Fred and George, who once bewitched his Prefect's badge to read "Pinhead", and were once quoted by Ron as having "*always said that only prats become Prefects*".

## Role

**Molly Weasley**: " *I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!*"
**George Weasley**: " *What are Fred and I, next-door neighbours?*"
— Upon learning that Ron was appointed a Gryffindor Prefect, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Prefects were allowed to take House points away from houses, but they were not allowed to take points from other prefects. Prefects could give detentions as a form of punishment.

Prefects patrolled the corridors of the Hogwarts Express on the way to school, and attended a meeting in a special prefects' carriage where they were instructed by the Head Boy and Girl. They also patrolled hallways to ensure that other students were not breaking curfew. There was a bathroom with a large, pool-like bath on the fifth floor of Hogwarts Castle that was reserved for prefects, Quidditch captains, and the Head Boy and Girl. It was located at the fifth door to the left of the statue of Boris the Bewildered. The only known password to this bathroom was "pine fresh", which was used during the 1994–1995 school year.
Prefects had other responsibilities as student leaders. They showed the first-years the way to their dormitories on their first day of school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and supervised the decorating of the castle for Christmas (and presumably other events as well). They also watched the younger students when bad weather kept them indoors over break times.
Once a student became a prefect, they had a better chance of becoming Head Boy or Head Girl; however a student was not required to earn the former honour in order to earn the latter. This fact was exemplified in the knowledge that Remus Lupin was a Gryffindor prefect, but James Potter was later appointed the Head Boy.
Prefects were given a badge; the colours were the colours of the prefect's House and/or silver, They were supposed to wear the badge on their school uniform. The badge would have the letter "P" on it, while the Head Boy's badge would have "Head Boy" on it, and the Head Girl's with "Head Girl". If the prefect was on his or her house Quidditch team, he or she would not be required to wear the prefect badge on their Quidditch robes.

Hermione Granger was a sensible prefect, and took the role very seriously. Ron Weasley was a little less serious about it, to the point of neglecting several rules. In fact, he was extremely surprised to be chosen as a prefect, as he expected Professor Dumbledore to choose Harry. Dumbledore thought Harry would have too much on his mind and gave it to Ron instead. Ron received a letter from his brother Percy, stating that Ron might risk losing his badge by associating with the apparently dangerous Harry Potter. This seems to imply that if the prefects crossed a certain point of abusing their powers, they could have their position revoked.
Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson abused their positions greatly, to the annoyance of Hermione Granger, by being uncharacteristically harsh towards first years and deducting points from students who did not strike their favour.

## Known prefects

### Gryffindor

* Minerva McGonagall (unknown)
* Ron Weasley (1995–97)
* Hermione Granger (1995–97)

## Behind the scenes

* In the film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Chamber-Of Secrets*, ***Nathan Lubbock-Smith*** portrays a prefect of an unidentified house.
* It is also unclear as to who has the power to appoint a Prefect, the Head of House or Headmaster. It is likely that a Head of House nominates students they would like to be their house Prefects and the Headmaster simply approves or disapproves this. Alternatively, the Headmaster may offer their advice on the choice to the Head of House, which can be followed or not.
* It is unknown if the prefect system exists in other wizarding schools as well.

## Appearances

* *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film) (First Entire Appearance)
* *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film)
* *Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban* (film)

## Notes and references

1. ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
2. ↑ *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 7

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