Prefects are those special students that are chosen apart from the rest, to bear extra responsibility and to set an example for the rest of the students. While not all prefects are noble in their reasoning for becoming a prefect, I am very proud to say that the prefects from Slytherin have shown their pride and honor during the interviews I have conducted with them over the last couple weeks. Shocker right? With all the stereotypes surrounding Slytherins and their thirst for power. Let these very special prefects prove you wrong. I hope that my words can do justice, and paint you a picture of these outstanding students.
The first prefect I had the pleasure of sitting down with was Linus Delaney. Linus is a 7th year Slytherin prefect. He also has a number of nicknames but for the sake of professionalism we will just go by Linus. Grabbing him after our house meeting we sat down on the couch in the Slytherin Common Room. Both still in uniforms we did our best to get comfortable for the interview. While it seemed he might have had some issues with last year’s articles, he was open and willing to chat with me.
We began by talking about his experience thus far as a prefect. He admitted that being a prefect is a bit of work, and that was to be expected. He went on to explain that the power he gets as a prefect isn’t why he wanted to become one in the first place. He cares about the students and wants to be there for them whether it’s helping them out or making sure they are staying out of trouble.
“To quote someone, from somewhere, some time… ‘With great power, comes great responsibility.’, or somethin’…”
Linus mentioned the prefects bathroom and how that is a perk of being a prefect, but he also talked about how he had to break up some fights last year. He explained that just like everything else here at Hogwarts, there will be the good and the bad to everything. It all balances out. He was proud to say that in his eyes, many of the other prefects wanted to be prefects for the same reasons, to help people.
” I think the prefects we got on board ‘ere actually give a f… care about how things are goin’… Don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks, like.
Being a prefect is a job in itself, let alone still being a student. It’s amazing that they find much time for other things but when asked, he had no shortage of interests to speak of. Linus likes to do things most teenage boys like to do such as Skating and hanging out with his friends. He also enjoys writing poetry and lyrics as well as playing in his band that has grown in popularity recently, The Yung Meaniez.
“More merch comin’ soon!” He was sure to mention, promoting his band a little bit during the interview. We will all make sure to keep an eye out for that merch!
We moved on to talk about what professions he might be interested in after he is finished with Hogwarts. Being a 7th year I expected it to be something on the front of his mind. He spoke of some work Experience with The Daily Prophet, but expressed that it wasn’t his cup of tea. He mentioned cutting hair before, and praised his skills on shaving and fading. – There you have it boys! Are you looking a little scruffy? Owl Linus for a good shave and cut! – Of course music is something he is interested in and he mentioned possibly getting a muggle van and getting by that way, “Singing for [his] supper.” A smile filled his face as he spoke of the prospect but with a shrug it was gone. That might not be the most practical way to live, so he also spoke of politics and dealing in artifacts like his father. I didn’t notice the spark in his eyes with those options like I had noticed when he spoke about music. I do hope he can follow his dreams and do something he enjoys.
Reaching the end of our interview I asked him to give his fellow classmates some of his prefect wisdom. For those that are interested in becoming a prefect themselves he suggested thinking long and hard about why you want to. Do you care about your fellow students or are you just looking for the title?
“Would you help someone who needed it? Would you jump in if you saw some kid gettin’ bullied? Would you back up a professor, even if your mates thought you were a prat for it? Do ya like bein’ up in the early hours of the mornin’? Do you like HUGE bathtubs? You know, the important questions…”
Yes, whether you like large bathtubs is definitely an important question when it comes to deciding whether a prefect is the right place for you. I inquired about what advice he would give first years that are just trying to find their place here in Hogwarts and this is what he had to say:
“I’d tell ’em not to get sucked into some daft thing they ain’t about, just to fit it, yeah? Like… find your people. Even if your people are a bunch’a misfits and even if it takes time to get to know ’em… or to know how things work around ‘ere. Be true to yourself, yeah? And get on with your own stuff… it’ll all work itself out. And if anyone’s givin’ ya rubbish, find someone to talk to who can do somethin’ about it. You can come talk to me… And I ain’t the only one who can help out, obviously. There’s a lot of people who would. Also, I’d say enjoy yourself. You’re magical if you’re here. And Hogwarts is legit the best school for magic, innit? So be proud of yourself. Make the most of stuff. Carpe diem, etcetera. And if someone’s makin’ it difficult for ya, uh… Illegitimi non carborundum, mate.”
Lastly I asked him to share a message with his fellow students here at Hogwarts.
“I ‘spose I’d say have a good year, don’t be a prat, have fun as much as you can and so long as it don’t mess with someone else… and if you need help, ask for it.”
There you have it. Linus Delaney. 7th year prefect. Decent guy who actually “gives a f- cares” about Hogwarts and its students. Remember, enjoy your time here at Hogwarts and don’t be a prat!
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A few days later I was able to grab Demian Katzen for his interview. Demian is a 6th year Slytherin Prefect. Upon getting comfortable (after sitting on the hard railings in the dueling room) I started asking the same questions, though this time the answers were very different, and actually gave me an interesting look into our German prefect.
When asked about his experience as a prefect so far he had only good things to say. Expressing how grateful he was that the other more seasoned prefects have helped him. He called it a great “honor to be in their company and learning the ropes.” He compliments the organization of the whole enterprise.
I asked about his hobbies and his strongest subjects here at Hogwarts. Demian likes most of the subjects here at Hogwarts, but he seems to be doing the best with Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology. He chalks it up to his family having a wilderness camp, so he has already learned a lot from his younger years. Apparently it is a nice place to learn survival skills, get training or even just for camping. It seems Demian enjoyed his childhood there with all the free space to get into trouble. He does also enjoy Art and Transfigurations, but understands that there is an importance to study Arithmancy too.
“Strongest subject is when I am working out with my free weights in my dorm room.” Demian teased during the interview. An opportune moment for that pun.
Moving on to his hobbies, he mentioned having quite a few things he enjoys. Apparently this smart prefect has been working with Caitlin Spector and Siren Resling on a potion book! They are hoping to have it done by the end of their 7th year. As a girl who loves potions, I will definitely be keeping my eye out for that one. Of course another hobby of his is Managing Yung Meaniez. He credits his leadership skills and management style to growing up at camp as well.
I went back to talking about the potion book, and if that’s where his true passion lies. Perhaps he would want to be an author or a professor after Hogwarts? He quickly let me know that he wasn’t interested in either of those but rather perhaps working with animals. His cousin already owns an animal rescue center so he hopes he can find his niche there.
“Nein, I am thinking that I will doing something more with animals. My cousin is having animal rescue centre. I am maybe to finding nice niche there. Well, who know? I have time right?”
As we were nearing the end of the interview I asked him to share a bit of his wisdom with the first years.
“I am think that is import to setting of personal goal. Making some standard to living up to. Is best way to finding your full potential. Shooting for stars! Aiming for moon! Be on gud behaviour und focus on studies. This is best way to making most of timing here in the Hogwarts. Is just my idea. Maybe it help, maybe not,”
Lastly, I asked him to share a message with the rest of Hogwarts students.
“Uhm, there is one thing that my cousin is always told me. Is not always making sense. Nor do I always agree with him. But, we should remember that the cake is not a lie. If you are living up to your dreams, you are never without your rewards. Sometimes the reward is just not what we think it should be. But, the cake nonetheless is still a reward.”
Such a wise message from this Slytherin prefect. I think both messages in reality apply for everyone, regardless of year or house. Remember that just because you might not see the ‘cake’ for what it is, try to see the rewards for your efforts… don’t be afraid to reach for the stars and do your best to take advantage of your time at Hogwarts so that you may reach your full potential.
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The next prefect I had the pleasure of interviewing was Abigail Grace Bluetooth. A sixth year Slytherin Prefect. We also met in the common room, and although we were interrupted a few times from students asking her questions, we were able to get the interview finished fairly quickly.
I started the interview by asking Abigail how she liked being a prefect and her experience so far. She shared that it is harder than she expected it to be but still enjoyable. Abigail l wanted to be a prefect ever since she was a first year, and made it happen! That shows how truly ambitious this true Slytherin is. She is hoping it will be a useful experience after Hogwarts.
Transfigurations is this prefects favourite and strongest subject here at school. When not busy with her prefect duties and studying she enjoys flying and reading. She has been a quidditch player since she was a second year. She used to be the keeper but now she is a Chaser.
“If I had to choose between that or prefect, I would rather stay a Quidditch Player.”
After Hogwarts, Abigail is hoping to play Quidditch professionally. However, if that doesn’t work out for her she is hoping that she can study more to become a healer. Possibly finding a position here at Hogwarts in the hospital wing.
It was now the time in the interview to get some wisdom and advice from this prefect. First was a message to first years:
“Let us see… I would like to tell our first years, the Slytherin ones, that fraternity isn’t just for our house. Especially if you are trying to find your place here. A good way to get far is having different shoulders to stand on. For first years in general – get the basics down first, skill comes with time and practice. As for the rest of the houses for finding their place, my advice is…. don’t worry too much about it. Things will happen naturally.”
When asked for advice for those hoping to be prefects in the future she responded:
“Well, basing my information on past heads and prefects, just be willing to help others and not worry about who is who.”
This cunning Slytherin only had a simple sentence to leave with her fellow Hogwarts students this year.
“Never count a Slytherin out.”
I will let those words of wisdom soak in to all of you in other houses.
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Lastly, I met with my fellow dorm mate Octavia Amelia Callyn Dechants II. Octavia is a 5th year Slytherin Prefect. While I was late to meet her for the interview (something extremely rare for me, I assure you) she was rather accommodating. Not wanting to keep her longer than necessary I jumped right in, asking about her experience as a prefect so far. She had quite a few things to say about it. There are positives and negatives to being a prefect. She so far has enjoyed helping Slytherins get off to a good start this year and the new firstie snakes get settled in. Having to deal with other houses for her is less than ideal but the biggest problem she has found is that the prefect badges are Jinxed! They have been Jinxed for the better part of a decade and are spelled to change the word ‘Prefect’ to ‘Pinhead’ periodically. Understandably, that is very upsetting for a new prefect. Who would want to wear a ‘pinhead’ badge through the halls. She even asked to have them fixed, and the response she got was less than ideal.
“When I asked to have something done about it, our head boy – specifically him – laughed at me.”
Seems to me, our headboy might need to learn a little about manners. Seems to me he just might not know how to fix it. I am really surprised that after so long, with so many gifted students and professors that nobody has yet found a way to remove the jinx. Or shoot, buy new badges! This is Hogwarts after all… Let us hope this article brings attention to the badges so that something can be done about it.
While Octavia is fairly talented in most subjects here at Hogwarts, her favourite classes are Charms and Transfigurations. While humbly acknowledging the fact that she does well in all her classes, she wanted to extend an arm to those in younger years that might be struggling a bit in any subject. She will happily meet with you and share her knowledge. Just shoot Octavia an owl and she will help. Isn’t that such a great quality in a prefect? A willingness to help others.
Octavia spends most of her time studying, both inside and outside the curriculum. Outside of studying she does enjoy quidditch and likes to keep up with the Holyhead Harpies. She name dropped a certain Persephone Vitrac as a close personal friend like it was no big deal.
“If what we learned in class was enough to make a Wix great the country wouldn’t be full of mediocre ones.” she said regarding studying well beyond what is required.
When asked about the future, Octavia has hers already planned out. Mostly in part to her family. She is the eldest child in a large Pure Blooded family and expectations from the sort are high. Once finished with Hogwarts she will begin shadowing her father to learn to do as he does. She plans on taking a job at the Ministry to be closer to him while he works as a part of Wizengamot.
Reaching the end of the interview, it was time to ask for advice for first years that need a little help.
“Simple enough. If you’re in Slytherin, ask me. If not… I suppose you could try prayer?”
Her message to the students of Hogwarts was simple:
“A warning. Don’t force me to give you detention, because I am /going/ to make it as awful for you as I legally can on pure principle. My time is too valuable to stand and watch people scrub the Owlery floor for the fifty millionth time.”
I don’t think any would take pleasure watching students scrub the Owlery, especially during their own free time.
After all four interviews I took a little time myself to compare them all. They have many similarities, beyond just Slytherin house. They also have many differences. I think the contrast is what makes them ideal prefects. A perfectly mixed bag so we have a well rounded house. I know that I am very proud to claim all four of them as our house prefects. I do hope that other houses feel the same about their own. All together they show compassion, understanding, knowledge, and above all else a high ethical standard. They also aren’t likely to be pushed over.
Keep up the hard work prefects!
Until Next time – Aiyana P. Dubois
