Meet the Prefects – Slytherin
With our first term coming to a close, you may have had some time to get to know the Slytherin Prefects already but, for those of you who have not spoken to them yet, or are looking for more, the Owl Post has you covered. This year, you can find Alara Ravenhurst, Noelle O’Brien, Troy Mercer, and Zenith Kovalainen at the helm, providing support and dishing out disciplinary action as required. All four were kind enough to agree to meet with me to discuss their experiences so far.
Alara Ravenhurst
As the winner of last year’s Brewing Competition, Alara Ravenhurst is well-known for her potioneering prowess. You likely recognise her as the current Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team, too. However, she also enjoys Divination, with Taromancy being one of her favourite branches and Tessomancy being one she has found intriguing to learn more about this year. Other subjects at the top of her list include the ever-valuable Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Arithmancy thanks to Professor De Leon’s oft-humorous approach. Of her own Head of House, she stated, “Rask is bloody brilliant.” A sentiment with which most snakes would likely agree.
Speaking on her new role and the responsibilities that come with it, Alara may have to deal with a rather sticky situation regarding a wand, but she believes that one of the most challenging aspects of being a Prefect, particularly for Slytherin, is ensuring that everyone receives the new password whenever it changes. I am sure that I am not the only one who has been left sitting outside the common room once or twice, reciting an outdated password. Hopefully, her plan to remain on patrol longer in order to usher any wayward snakes in the right direction will help to ensure we all end up where we need to be, when we need to be there. Despite the challenges her new role presents, she assured me that she does enjoy it, and that she feels like she is “… helping the house and keeping [her] peers on the right track.”
Most of all, Alara wants students of all ages to know that, while Prefects do have a duty to enforce the rules, they are also a safe space to seek help. No matter your house or your age, Alara is happy to support you when you need it most.
Noelle O’Brien
The proud owner of a chubby cat, Noelle O’Brien informed me that, while patrols can be awfully long sometimes, they are a perfect opportunity for her to take him for a walk to get some exercise. She also finds her new position as a Prefect challenging at times, but noted that it has its advantages, including making new friends and helping more people than might be possible generally. Noelle enjoys the challenge of deciding when a detention is warranted, and when it might cause deeper problems. For example, she discovered a First Year out of bed one night and realised that, in this case, kindness was more necessary than discipline, so as not to leave the young student feeling more lost than they already seemed. After some time talking to them about what was troubling them, she gave them some advice and walked them back to their house.
As for favourite subjects here at Hogwarts, Noelle enjoys three subjects that she believes go hand-in-hand perfectly. Herbology does indeed lend itself well to both Potions (and vice versa), as well as Homemaking Magic, all three of which are top of her list of classes. Noelle assured me that she is always happy to help with plants and potions.
As well as scholarly assistance, Noelle aims to provide a friendly ear to all those who need it, as this castle can be daunting at times. She believes that the plethora of clubs, classes, and the friends that you will make during your time here, make everything worthwhile. No one should ever be afraid to ask for help or advice, as we are all here to learn and grow. She did have one last word of warning, though – “Don’t tick off Professor Rask. She means serious business.”
Troy Mercer
The only Seventh Year of the group, Troy Mercer is proof that success does not mean you cannot have fun. This year, he finds himself juggling NEWT preparation, Prefect duties, and Quidditch, and he is doing it well. So far, it has not been as difficult as he expected to keep on top of all of his responsibilities. He did, however, make it clear that one of the hardest things about being a Prefect is that he now has to police students that he has known for a long time. This is something that many Prefects likely find challenging and it is understandable; most of us would struggle to remind our friends of the rules, let alone be responsible for enforcing those rules.
With his impressive display of Quidditch ability over the last year, it would not be a surprise if a career in the sport was in the cards for Troy. He has considered that possibility for his future, but he has other interests you may not yet know about. He enjoys writing, has an interest in metal charming and spoke happily of his work experience placement with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Other plans after graduation this summer include travelling back to Brazil to reunite with the culture and, perhaps, spend time with some of his family there.
Troy’s most important advice for other students is to be willing to try something new, but be safe about it. The safety part is paramount, no matter what year you are in. A non-exhaustive list of new things you should not try includes: attempting to create your own experimental spells or potions, petting a dragon, hugging the Whomping Willow, and trying to befriend Jeeves. According to Troy, “[Jeeves’s] loyalty changes more often than the moving stairs.”
Zenith Kovalainen
Last but not least, Zenith Kovalainen certainly did not complain about missing out on sleep due to late nights patrolling the castle for students out after curfew. On the contrary, she enjoys walking the halls when things are quiet. While she might find it difficult to juggle Prefect duties, studying, and Quidditch, she assured me that it is a worthwhile endeavour. Zenith also has some prior experience as a Prefect, as she was granted the position for a short while at the end of last year, too. What she finds the most challenging about being a Prefect is when students do not listen, despite the advice or instructions being given for their own safety. Her example? The amount of students still being burned by chickens.
With a name like Zenith, it is of no surprise that one of her favourite subjects is Astronomy. Other subjects she finds intriguing are Potions, Charms, DADA, and Magical Theory, and it does not do any harm that she is good at them! Even if she does find one of them a little more taxing, that is not enough to deter her from learning and enjoying the process, which is an attitude we all ought to take towards our own studies.
Zenith had plenty of advice to share, with the key being that everyone learns at their own rate, so do not stress if you see others improving faster than you. She wants to urge everyone to follow their own path, experience what life and school has to offer, and continue to grow. She did also want to remind us all to stay out of trouble or, at the very least, abide by what seems to be a motto for the Slytherin Prefects, “… don’t get caught.”
Alex J. Halsey
