Chapter 565 - Prefect Compartment

The Prefect compartment at the front of the Hogwarts Express is vastly different when in comparison to the rest of the train compartments. The Prefect compartment is rather large to fit the Head Boy and Head Girl plus eight other Prefects, two from each respective house. And unlike the rest of the train compartments, it is rather elegant with four small dining tables, and a complimentary table in the middle filled with food for them to snack on during the train ride.

As instructed in their Prefect letter, all eight Prefects arrived early. If Severus was hurt at seeing Lily, he did not act like it. He nodded at her like usual except for the fact that he kept his twin, Rowan firmly between Lily and him.

Rowan did not protest Severus's actions as she studied the other Prefects. Lily and Lupin were for Gryffindor. For Ravenclaw, it was Pandora and David Goldstein. And for Hufflepuff, it was Andrew Abbott and Olympia Branstone.

Olympia Branstone was a bit serious for a Hufflepuff with light brown hair, light-colored eyes with her hair in an updo, and a bit of bangs around her face. Olympia looked a bit like Eleanor Branstone, the future Hufflepuff, most likely her aunt or relative. Personally, Rowan had seen the girl in past Herbology classes, and in her Ancient Runes, but they had never really interacted with each other beyond a brief hello.

Severus glanced with concern at Rowan, when they saw the Head Boy and Head Girl enter the compartment. The Head Girl instantly garnered the attention of the boys as it was Matilda Madley, the curved beauty with glossy russet hair and big doe eyes. She would be giving out plenty of detention and loss of points this year, no doubt, in a futile attempt to gain her attention.

While, the Head Boy gained the attention of the girls, Darcy Travers. Scholarly looking with pink lips, pale skin, and lightly tossed chocolate-colored hair. Darcy Travers was certainly pleasing to the eye. Though Rowan and he certainly had not gotten along the prior year before. Hopefully, now that everything was done and over with, they would hopefully be able to be civil to each other at least.

Head Boy Travers nods at them and says, "As all of you should be aware that our responsibilities are to maintain peace, order, and to aide our fellow students. We will all be patrolling the corridors at the start of the Hogwarts Express. And then we will take turns in shifts for the rest of the ride until the hour before the end. We are to help the first years as needed and aid them in putting on their robes and so forth."

Seeing Travers paused to allow Head Girl Madley speaks up, "Now all of you should have read your letters. Please note though we can take points from each house, we cannot take points from each other nor restore the points taken by another Prefect. You are advised not to ill-use your newfound powers, especially when assigning detentions. Nor are we permitted to assign each other detention. If there is a problem, please speak to your respective Head of Houses."

Head Girl Madley paused for a breath. "Now this year will a bit more complex than the year before. Unlike prior years, we will have a record number of students enrolling at Hogwarts this year. Said students are all children who were once classified as werewolves." There is a tense pause as the Prefect's glance at each other, but Lupin, Rowan, and Severus, all shared a pointed glance.

"These children all are wizards and witches, but since, the law did not permit registered werewolves to possess a wand, these children were not enrolled at Hogwarts," Head Girl Madly pointed out. "As such, any of these children below the age of fifteen will be able to attend Hogwarts. These children will be entered into class years according to age groups.

Our first years will comprise of eleven and twelve-year old's. This should be the easiest group to deal with since they will be of similar ages and be starting all at the same time. However, the second and third years will be a problem as this is where these children will be transferring into said groups. The transfers into the second year will comprise of thirteen-year-olds and fourteen-year-olds, while the transfer into the third year's will be of fifteen years of age."

Seeing the concerned expressions on their face, Head Girl Madly hastily says, "The Ministry and parents of these children have done an excellent job on catching up, the children to their respective years. However, there are bound to be conflicts within the grade given the age differences when in comparison to their same class year mates and those belonging to the same age group but are placed in higher years. We ask that you all try to be as attentive as possible to their plights and remain always alert."

Head Boy Traver's steps in to give Head Girl Madley a chance to breathe. "Please note, James Potter suffered an accident during the summer. Apparently, he has partial amnesia, where some of his memories of select individuals and events have simply vanished. We have already been informed that one such student is Peter Pettigrew. As such, Prefect's Lupin and Evans, please keep an eye on any ongoing tensions between them for there will certainly be."

All the Prefect's in the room seemed shocked including Rowan. Rowan suddenly recalled the dream as she clearly hears James' voice in her head say, "I came to say sorry, sneaky snake. -But I won't be the same anymore. -Please look after Wormtail and the rest of them for me."

Rowan must seem in shock because Severus gently reaches over and gives her cold hand a firm squeeze. Rowan blinks back to herself and squeezes his hand in thanks before letting go. They return to listening to the Head Boy and Head Girl explain their various duties at Hogwarts.

Head Boy Travers adds, "Please remember that beyond our policing here, there will also be shifts in which to patrol the corridors at Hogwarts for any curfew breakers. The schedule for patrolling the corridors will be assigned for an entire month. If there are emergencies or other such issues in the said shift, please exchange said shift with another Prefect.

Do not forget that beyond leading the 1st years to the dorms, we are also to provide tutoring as needed. They are to be supervised and when the weather is bad not allowed to go outside and play. And with the new influx of transferees, we are tasked with the same responsibilities."

Seeing Head Boy Traver's taking a breath, Head Girl Madley steps in to continue, "Please remember that all of you must remain alert for any signs of trouble in the dorms. Your Prefect badges must always be on. And do not forget that beyond these duties we are also to aid in any request of a Professor with a student. For example, when Professor Adric went missing all the Prefects were asked to aid in the search. Not excluding we also aid in the decorating of Hogwarts for Christmas and other holidays. We are usually excused from various classes in order to aid with the decorating. Those schedules are handed out by the Head of House a week in advance."

Rowan's frown deepens as she knew for a fact this should be considered child exploitation. She would rather the position go to Bethanie, who would have loved to lead the first years, but Slughorn no doubt said otherwise. Either way, if anyone tried to get her to be Head Girl, heads would roll!

Seeing their pale faces, Head Boy Travers chuckles and says, "Though not all is that bad. We do have select privileges such as the Prefect bathroom." Travers proceeds to explain more of their privileges.

However, in Rowan's mind, it is not worth it. She would rather be paid for her hard labor than being bribed with a fancy bathroom for private use. But then again, she was fairly certain there weren't child labor laws in Victorian-era until much after that time period. It would make sense that the wizarding world would see it that way too.