Prefect position's duties...

[Jotomicron]

I think this was discussed once, but I don't find out where...

I'm talking about the second book, 'Chamber of Secrets', in the last two pages of chapter IX, (I think... I don't have the english version). Percy, Gryffindor prefect, says something like: I'll take five points from Gryffindor.

In book 5, OotP, Ernie McMillan says prefects can't take points from other students (i can't remember where, though... it's when Malfoy takes points from Hufflepuff because he can because he is in the Inquisitorial (sp) Squad)

So... what's wrong?

[Scellanis]

Are you sure Percy wasn't just threatening them....trying to take advantage of the fact that at the time he said it they didn't know he couldn't and so would be forced to behave until they figured out that he couldn't......

[Won Wheezy]

You see, I think a prefect can't take points off OTHER houses, but he IS allowed to do it to his own house. So Percy could take the points from Gryffindor cause he is one himself, whereas Malfoy couldn't cause he's a Slytherin.
I think this rule is there to make sure they don't take points off other houses just to win the house cup. Makes sense, doesn't it?

[Scellanis]

yes, that does make brilliant sense...because otherwise you'd get losts of filthy tricks happening between the prefects the houses would never have any points at all.....cos they would all be sneaking around trying to take points away from their enemies....especially the house in second place for the points cup....

[Jotomicron]

Yeah... it wasn't fair mostly to Gryffindor since Slytherin perfects would always be taking points from them... and I think that would lead to the most awful atmosphere in the castle...!

But Percy was really a bad person when he did that... Bad Percy

[Aberforth]

Percy just wanted to impress his power over others. He should have been in Slytherin.

[Athena Appleton]

Percy just wanted to impress his power over others. He should have been in Slytherin.

you know, that same thought crossed my mind a bunch of times... Percy really isn't showing that bravery that Gryffindor is known for... was he "misplaced", put in Gryffindor because he's a Weasley, or will he redeem himself in later books?

Joto, I think either the prefects can't take points off other houses (so Malfoy couldn't knock off Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff's points) OR he said it meaning he'd have a talk with McGonagall, therefore being responsible for points being taken off without actually taking them off himself. With his big ol' ego, he would have phrased it to make it sound like he had he power to take the points away...

Either way... bad percy! bad!

[jarvan49]

you know, that same thought crossed my mind a bunch of times... Percy really isn't showing that bravery that Gryffindor is known for... was he "misplaced", put in Gryffindor because he's a Weasley, or will he redeem himself in later books?

Whoa! that is interesting. It has me thinking now! wonder what'll happen to him!?

[Nobby]

yeah so far it seems percy should have been in ravenclaw or slytherin. ron and ginny have shown there bravery etc, percy will prove himself soon! the sorting hat said it hasn't been wrong yet so percy musta been sorted correctly.

[darkcloak]

IMO the sorting hat sees potential but it doesn't know what people will do with it.

The sorting hat may have put Percy into Gryffindor because he had the potential to be brave, but he has yet to make the choices in his life which will actually confirm this.

On a slightly different note, reading the Sorting Hat's last song (OotP) it seems that Gryffindor was as bad as Slytherin in its 'selection' of students. It will only have people who are brave, Ravenclaw will only have people who are clever and Slytherin do it by blood or (in the case of Voldie or Harry) ambition.

Indeed, only Hufflepuff 'takes them all'. It seems the the other three houses all have something to learn if there is to be unity.

[darkcloak]

Apologies for double post!

Percy just wanted to impress his power over others. He should have been in Slytherin.

Perhaps Percy wasn't feeling 'himself', perhaps he was under the 'control' of others

We may find out in the next book.

[Athena Appleton]

I don't think so... According to Ron in (i think) GoF, it would be just like Percy to behave the way he has. So, unless he's been under the Imperius Curse from the crib, I think he was acting of his own accord. I think he's one of the people Sirius was talking about when he tells Harry, Ron and Hermione that the world is not made up of Death Eaters and good guys.

[Loony_4_Snape]

doesn't Percy once threaten Draco about knocking points off Slytherin..i thought Ernie meant that only Prefects should be alllowed to knock points off

[Athena Appleton]

I don't remember, but, even if Percy threatened it to Malfoy, I think he was either saying he'd talk to mcgonagall (who does have the power to knock off house points), or he was just making an empty threat because he's got a big prefect head.

Ernie wouldn't have meant that he thought only prefects could knock off other house points because he was upset when Malfoy (Slytherin prefect) said he was taking away another house's points.