Taking a look at the Ravenclaw Prefects

By Probity Bywell and Harrow Muir.

As we continue to learn more about the students who keep us all out of mischief, this week we meet the Ravenclaw prefects. Over the last term we sat down with them and asked about everything from favourite meals to their time at Hogwarts. Here’s a look into the lives of Ravenclaw prefects Violette Twiggs, Riven Redwhisper and Argyle Demoray, and Head Girl Imogen Paige.

Violette is a young lady of refined tastes with a particular passion for pumpkin pasties, which she calls “creamy and delicious.” She warned that bribes of such treats are unlikely to get you far, but leaving one unattended nearby might distract her long enough for a dash to the common room.

Riven’s choice is more down‑to‑earth, a British staple; fish and chips. She admitted it might not be the most special Sunday lunch, but it’s the thing she’d take the longest to get tired of.

Our head girl, Imogen — or Immy, as we like to call her — politely declined to suggest additions to the Hogwarts dining menu and instead complimented the house‑elves on their cooking, noting how they “always seemed to know what she wanted before she did.” When she’s not sampling house‑elf fare, Immy gardens with the Gardening Club and sings in the Frog Choir. Her favourite way to unwind, like many Ravenclaws, is an evening on the couch with snacks and a good book.

Argyle’s Hogsmeade pleasure is simple: taking a quiet spell to watch people and treat himself to a chocolate frog or two. I can’t blame him — I’m partial to chocolate frogs myself, especially the caramel ones.

For Violette, the best thing about being a Ravenclaw is family; “We can all be oddballs together and no one is judging us. If a discussion starts about mooncalves controlling the tides, someone will be bringing charts, and picking up six new hobbies in one day is perfectly normal. Dream up a crazy theory in the common room and someone will be fetching the biscuits and tea because it needs in‑depth analysis.”

Riven sees herself as balancing the house; she brings a different perspective to the bookworms, showing us that we don’t all have to spend our lives in a library to be a Ravenclaw.  She confessed that Mythology has surprised her, “Gods, heroes, villains, epic adventures. It’s all pretty wicked, innit?”

Argyle urged first years to enjoy themselves, forget the worries and not be anxious. He reminded us it will feel like a big deal now, but you’ll soon look back on your first year with fondness.

Immy admitted one regret, she didn’t take her studies seriously enough in her first four years and only worked hard when exams loomed. 

This combined advice is simple, have fun, but remember you’re at school to learn as well.

Hogwarts can be perilous for the unwary, and prefects help professors keep pupils safe. Violette – known for her survival articles and tips on avoiding the hospital wing – struck a pragmatic note about the Castle’s dangers, “There’s danger,” she says, “but there’s also the fact that every single Ravenclaw in my dorm has my back… and me theirs. And half the professors, that counts for something. Plus, wizards are dramatic. We’d be in danger anywhere. At least here we’ve got wards, teachers, and about twelve overly‑protective prefects yelling at you to duck.” In short, use common sense, and don’t lick cursed door‑handles.

Immy reminded us of specific hazards she’s seen; a basilisk that required mirrored glasses, and a terrifying incident early in her prefectship when students became trapped in mirrors while doppelgangers roamed the castle. And there we thought Fire-Breathing Chickens were bad.

None of the prefects expected every twist of the job. Argyle said he hadn’t wanted to be a prefect in his first few years; he was inspired by Assistant Professor Eric Hyland, “an excellent prefect and Head Boy.” Riven felt the badge sometimes chooses you [editor’s note: when it’s really the Headmaster] — surprised to be named a prefect after a few troubled years, she has a strong sense of right and wrong and simply wants to help and protect people. Immy confessed she was in shock when her Head Girl letter arrived and told only her little sister Ellie, whom she “swore to secrecy.”

Riven’s practical advice for would‑be prefects is blunt, many want the shiny gold badge but don’t ask themselves the important question — why? If you’re a pushover, kids will walk all over you, if you’re heartless, they’ll make your life miserable. Violette described the downsides — the reports are “dull, mind‑numbing, and parchment‑wasting” and admitted it’s hard being responsible when you’re still a kid and sometimes want to mouth off. She enjoys the perks though, like “catching someone sneaking around after curfew and watching them panic like they’ve just committed an international wizarding crime.” Her greatest joy is in helping younger students, guiding them toward the library or away from trouble.

Argyle reflected that both his parents and grandparents were sorted into Gryffindor, and he expected the same. “It was a shock when the hat said Ravenclaw but, looking back, the Sorting Hat made the right call,” he said. For the future he has modest plans: “I want to open a Quidditch sporting‑goods shoppe back on Skye.” Best of luck to him.

Violette’s happiest memory is watching the Quidditch final last year as her house nearly came back to win the House Cup. “My heart still hasn’t forgiven me,” she confided. She hopes her time at the Owl Post will set her up for a life as a journalist — from what we’ve seen, she’s well on her way.

We’ll leave the article as I did my interview with Immy. In trying to show the school what it is to be a Ravenclaw through her time as Head Girl, she said; “Having wit and wisdom in how to handle difficult situations will be a true highlight of our house.” That’s what prefects are for — to inspire, help us be better, and act as guides and mentors for the rest of us. So when you see them in the hallway, say thank you for what they do, and perhaps slip them a pumpkin pasty or a chocolate frog.