Alternity

At the Prefects' regular meeting this week, one of the subjects touched upon was a certain incident which took place during the first year Hufflepuff Transfiguration class on Wednesday, involving the administration of the Cruciatus Curse. This led in turn to a rather wide-ranging discussion amongst the Prefects about school discipline in general, and in particular, the role which the Prefects and especially the Head Boy and Head Girl should take in helping maintain proper school order and discipline.

The various House Prefects, Head Boy, and Head Girl are all chosen by the Headmistress and staff to serve as proper examples for the rest of the student body, and to provide leadership when needed. In certain situations, when staff are not present, we are authorised to act as proxy for certain school functions, i.e., directing students in an emergency, docking school points for infractions of school rules, etc.

As the older students are undoubtedly aware, the notion has been periodically raised that in order to help maintain order, the Head Boy and Head Girl should be authorised (as the school Professors are) to administer the Cruciatus Curse when necessary to enforce adherence to the school Code of Conduct. Needless to say, we would expect this authority to be invoked on only very rare occasions. It has been rather a point of vexation for the Prefects that this subject seems to keep coming up each year without ever being quite settled. Consequently, the Head Boy Ned Pennifold and the Head Girl Susan Yaxley have decided to hold a formal debate on the issue, leading to an up and down vote amongst the prefects to settle the question, once and for all.

The resolution shall read: Be it RESOLVED: That the Head Boy and Head Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are authorised to administer the Cruciatus Curse to students when necessary to enforce the student Code of Conduct.

Two prefects will present the case for each side. Xi Chang (Ravenclaw) and Serena Laverty (Slytherin) shall argue for the affirmative. Heidi MacAvoy (Hufflepuff) and I have volunteered to argue for the negative. This debate shall take place at the prefects' meeting a week from this coming Wednesday. You are invited to offer your comments on the Resolution to your House prefects, who will in turn pass these comments along to the two sides arguing the question. Please give the matter your careful consideration and let your voice be heard. We will consider your input to be crucial in helping us to finally resolve this important issue.