Prefect

"*What would we want to be prefects for? It'd take all the fun out of life.*"
—George Weasley[src]

A **prefect** at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a student who has been given extra authority and responsibilities by the Head of House and Headmaster. One male and one female student are 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 leave school.

Thus, there are approximately six prefects per house and twenty-four prefects in the whole school at one time. The Head Boy and Head Girl may be chosen from among this number and may not be replaced. However, the Head Boy or Girl does not have to be a prefect.

## 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[src]
Prefects are allowed to take House points away from houses, but they are not allowed to take points from other prefects. Prefects can give detentions as a form of punishment.

Prefects patrol the corridors of the Hogwarts Express on the way to school and attend a meeting in a special prefects' carriage where they are instructed by the Head Boy and Girl. They also patrol hallways to ensure that other students are not breaking curfew. There is a bathroom with a large, pool-like bath on the fifth floor of Hogwarts Castle that is reserved for prefects and Quidditch captains. It is located at the fifth door to the left of the statue of Boris the Bewildered. The only known password to this bathroom is "pine fresh", which was used during the 1994–1995 school year.

Prefects have other responsibilities as student leaders. They show the first years the way to their dormitories on their first day of school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and supervise the decorating of the castle for Christmas (and presumably other events as well). They also watch the younger students when bad weather keeps them indoors over break times.

Once a student becomes a prefect, they have a better chance of becoming Head Boy or Head Girl; however, a student is 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 are given a badge; the colours are the colours of the prefect's House and/or silver. They are 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 is 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 would have chosen 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 may mean if the prefects cross a certain point of abusing their powers, they might 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 do not strike their favour. In his sixth year, Draco ceased to live up to his prefect duties any further, in preference of his Death Eater mission of assassinating Albus Dumbledore, as he did not even show up to the Prefects meeting on the train. This could mean that students have the right to reject the position of prefect any time they desire, or that Draco was given sanctions for rejecting his obligations.

## Known prefects

### Gryffindor

* Minerva McGonagall (1951–54)
* Remus Lupin (1975–78)
* Angelica Cole (1984–87)
* Bill Weasley (1986–89)
* Charlie Weasley (1988–91)
* Bella Thorn (1994–97)
* Brett Talbot (1994-97)
* Cheryl Dewitt Bukater (1995–98)
* Alec Tate (1995-98)

### Slytherin

* Joshua Dunbar (1966-69)
* Lucius Malfoy (c. 1970–73)
* Garrett Douglas (1975-78)
* Derek Hale (1985-88)
* Matthew Whittemore (1993-96)
* Santana Lopez (1994-97)
* Alisha Daniels (1995-98)
* Draco Malfoy (1995–98)

### Ravenclaw

* Gabe Howell (1994-97)
* Quinn Fabray (1994-97)
* Frannie Fabray (1995-98)
* Jonas Patterson (1995-98)

### Hufflepuff

* Carole Howell (1966-69)
* Christopher Hudson (1966-69)
* Hugo Howell (1978-81)
* Jane Court (1984–87)
* Finn Hudson (1994-97)
* Isaac Lahey (1995-98)
* Brittany S. Pierce (1995-98)

## Behind the scenes

* There was some confusion about the point-taking ability of prefects after the original release of *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*. It had previously been stated in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* that prefects could dock points, but in a scene in the first printing of *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* Ron Weasley, Ernie Macmillan, and Draco Malfoy all either state outright or imply that prefects are not allowed to take points. This was pointed out as a mistake, and subsequent printings had a slightly different version of the dialogue, making it clear that prefects *can* take points, just not for actions other prefects have done.
* Quidditch captains are given similar rights as the prefects, like the password to the prefect's bathroom, but are not allowed to dock points.
* In 1994, Harry Potter first experienced using the prefects' bathroom on the fifth floor of the Hogwarts Castle. Despite the fact that he didn't have the privilege at that time, Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff prefect, gave him the password and permission to use it prior to the second task of the Triwizard Tournament.
* In the film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, the subplot of Ron and Hermione being made prefects is dropped, and is likewise omitted from film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*.
* 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.

## Notes and references

1. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Chapter 21 (*The Eye of the Snake*)
2. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*