Yes, it was covered here (http://www.hpana.com/forums/topic_view.cfm?tid=83536) that she isn't. And I agree with all the evidence provided.

But the question of "why" has not been been answered to my satisfaction anyway.

The most common answer that I saw was that she's much more like Fred and George than Bill and Charlie. But there's little to support such a claim. We know very little about either, and in fact, what little anecdotal evidence we do have seems to imply just the opposite. They're both in the Order, one has rather long hair and a ponytail and the other works with dragons. From that evidence, it appears that neither is the "straight-laced suit-n-tie type".

While it's clear that Ginny is unlike Percy, it seems also to be true that Charlie and Bill are unlike Percy as well. And it may be that Ginny is more like Charlie and Bill than Ron is. She's clearly a very powerful witch, and is apparently a good student as well.

If she's a troublemaker, she's certainly no more of one than Harry is, and yet everyone expected him to be Prefect, so that's obviously not all that much of a limiting factor.

In fact, I think the most likely answer is that this is an oversight on Jo's part. While it's true that Molly would've made a big deal out of it if she'd been selected, it also seems likely that the twins would've made a big deal either way, i.e. "Great to see that you're following in our footsteps and not those of Won-Won" or "Fred, another one? Are you sure we're related to the rest of the family?" Since we saw neither, it implies to me that this was simply forgotten.

Maybe she was asked too. Maybe she refused for whatever reason. Maybe they thought that a she just shouldn't be one, for whatever reason.

From OP, it doesn't appear that the process works like that. She would've gotten the notice and the badge in the Owl Post first (that's what happened with Ron). I suppose she could decline at that point, but we would've at least seen the owl.

Instead, there's no mention. All we get is:
The day after this gloomy birthday tea, their letters and booklists arrived from Hogwarts. Harry's included a surprise. He had been made Quidditch captain.

Nothing about Ginny's letter at all.

I'm not trying to be argumentative. And I'm not saying that your idea is without merit. What I'm saying is that the fact that nothing was mentioned at all about Ginny being a Prefect seems downright odd to me.

I am guessing that Jo forgot to mention it too. They would have taken notice in either of the outcomes. SOMEONE would if she was or not. I could see Harry thinking that at least he wasnt the only one that didn't get what they deserved. Molly would have made a big deal out of it like what happened to Ron. it does seem very odd that Jo didn't even make any note of it at all. Hmmmmm.... Has she mentioned in an intervie anything about it?

If she's a troublemaker, she's certainly no more of one than Harry is, and yet everyone expected him to be Prefect, so that's obviously not all that much of a limiting factor.

Aah, but the thing with Harry is that he didn't go looking for trouble, trouble just finds him.. Or so he likes to think!

Ginny is a troublemaker - she couldn't make it to Hogwarts without hexing Zach Smith, and thought she would for sure get detention.

She doesn't have much respect for authority either, and doesn't trust people as easily as she use to before her first year. We know that she stands up for others, which is a key quality for a prefect, but we also know she has a vicious temper, and cannot think things through rationally when she gets going (telling Ron about Hermione's personal business wasn't one of her finest moments).

She idolises Fred and George, as she told Harry in OotP in the Library with the easter egg. She is wicked smart, sometimes showing the same amount of magic knowledge as Hermione despite being nearly two years younger, so this would also suggests that she doesn't slack off when studying.

I think on paper Ginny would make a great prefect, but she didn't need the ego boost that Ron desperately needed in OotP. Her being prefect will also not be of any use whatsoever in her post-Hogwarts life, so it would be wiser to give it to a student who would make the most of the position.

It also goes against the plot; if Ginny were a prefect, she would either have to be stripped of it in DH, or expelled (or something equally as harsh for a punishment) from Hogwarts for all her underground work. Ginny didn't have a responsibility for the students at Hogwarts, she was one of the students, her responsibility is with supporting Harry. Ginny's role was ultimately the romantic interest; Bill, Charlie and Percy were all successful so that the pressure would be on Ron, Ginny never felt that kind of pressure because she was 'different'.

It also goes against the plot;

It doesn't really go against the plot J.K.R had thought out. Ginny's role still could have remained being the romantic interest. If she had been made prefect I think that Harry might have given her a bit more respect as in that he could see her actually doing some leading. J.K.R. could have at least put in a sentence or two saying that she wasn't prefect and that she didn't think much of it.

If Ginny were a prefect, she would either have to be stripped of it in DH, or expelled

What would that be another two sentences saying that she got stripped of her title. That could easily be put into the chapter of Shell Cottage when Bill comes back from returning Muriel's tiara. He tells them hoe the Weasly's are doing. It was in DH.

Ginny's role still could have remained being the romantic interest. If she had been made prefect I think that Harry might have given her a bit more respect as in that he could see her actually doing some leading.

Harry's respect has nothing to do with it, as JK has already said that Harry and Ginny are equals, they already respect each other.

Ginny was already doing some leading for the students, recruiting members for the DA.

If Ginny was in the position that it was her responsibility to take care of the students (ie discipline with detentions, tutor, educate etc) she would not be able to afford putting those students at risk by being involved with the DA, vandalising the school and stealing school property. Slytherins would have ruled the school, and having Harry Potter's ex-girlfriend as a prefect would have made her an example, putting her at risk and the students she would have to take care of.

It would also affect her Battle at Hogwarts role. That scene clearly showed that she doesn't have respect for authority, fighting against her mother's orders and only settling down when Harry said no.. Until he turned his back. If she were a prefect she would have to leave the others and lead the students out, she would hate that. Imagine that, the climax of the entire series and Harry's love interest isn't there because she's a bloody prefect..

J.K.R. could have at least put in a sentence or two saying that she wasn't prefect and that she didn't think much of it.

But she didn't need to say that Ginny wasn't a prefect. It was obvious, when it wasn't announced in HBP that Ginny is a prefect, that she isn't a prefect.

But she didn't need to say that Ginny wasn't a prefect. It was obvious, when it wasn't announced in HBP that Ginny is a prefect, that she isn't a prefect.

She obviously did need to say that Ginny or else we wouldn't be having this conversation on this forum.

It would also affect her Battle at Hogwarts role. That scene clearly showed that she doesn't have respect for authority, fighting against her mother's orders and only settling down when Harry said no.. Until he turned his back. If she were a prefect she would have to leave the others and lead the students out, she would hate that. Imagine that, the climax of the entire series and Harry's love interest isn't there because she's a bloody prefect.

That's exactly what I am saying though at the battle of Hogwarts. If she were a prefect Harry may have let her fight. She was barely in the battle anyway leading children out would not make any difference. If that is what your worried about though there are two prefects for each house. The other prefect could have taken the kids of that housse while she fought.

The part where you had said that she would be putting students at risk. What i want to know is why????? They wouldn't be involved in the DA she was.

PS. This is still sleazyforweasly I just changed my name.

She obviously did need to say that Ginny or else we wouldn't be having this conversation on this forum.

It was confirmed in the other forum she wasn't a prefect. There is not a single arguement that supports that she is a prefect.

If she were a prefect Harry may have let her fight.

Harry wouldn't care of Ginny was the Queen of England, no amount of authority would have persuaded him to agree with her to fight. Everyone already knew Ginny was capable of fighting. And it isn't his place to 'let' her fight, he had a selfish moment that didn't last.

She was barely in the battle anyway leading children out would not make any difference

She was holding out her own, taking down the enemy with a force of power unknown for her age - JK said in an tinerview that she thought Ginny was very impressive in the battle.

She was also attending the fallen; not having her fight in the battle meant that Harry would not have hesitated in going into the forest, it would not demonstrate his strength, and it would fail to deliver his longing to come back from the 'dead'.

And, having Ginny in the battle allowed us to see the complete characterisation of Molly Weasley. Saying that Ginny was barely in the battle is just not plausable.

The part where you had said that she would be putting students at risk. What i want to know is why?

The prefects are meant to set an example for the younger students, either by taking or awarding points or giving detentions (the books are a little inconsistant with what can and can't be done). So, they would have a lot of influence on the students, and it would be up to them to represent the values of the school.

Under the ruling of Snape, the values of the school have changed. If it would have been found that a prefect was not upholding these values, but rather involved in illegal and political activities, this would have an influence on the other students. The students would lose the student-leader, and may also be punished if they too are involved or associated with those activities. Students would be questioned, eventually some will be dobbed in, and then it wouldn't be just the one prefect that is getting punished.

It isn't like in OotP where Ron and Hermione were able to go with the DA despite being prefects; in DH those students in the RoR were in hiding with massive injuries. By having Ginny as a prefect, she would engage in the illegal activities, get into trouble, get her students into trouble, have their families outside Hogwarts taken hostage, and then the novel would have to go into a dark place that may not be suitable for a children's series.

Why should we expect Ginny to be prefect in the first place? It's not like she was the only fifth year Gryffindor.

I wouldn't say it would be totally against the plot to have her as prefect because the Hogwarts situation in book 7 was relatively vague and we're not sure (well at least I'm not) whether they even upheld the idea of prefects in DH.

That's exactly what I am saying though at the battle of Hogwarts. If she were a prefect Harry may have let her fight. She was barely in the battle anyway leading children out would not make any difference. If that is what your worried about though there are two prefects for each house. The other prefect could have taken the kids of that housse while she fought.
Um, what? I don't understand how her prefect status would matter, especially during such a chaotic moment.

Me either but aparentky WickedLoz does because that's the only arguement he has against me.

I'm going to stick with my original conclusion:

In fact, I think the most likely answer is that this is an oversight on Jo's part. While it's true that Molly would've made a big deal out of it if she'd been selected, it also seems likely that the twins would've made a big deal either way, i.e. "Great to see that you're following in our footsteps and not those of Won-Won" or "Fred, another one? Are you sure we're related to the rest of the family?" Since we saw neither, it implies to me that this was simply forgotten.

James Potter was a trouble maker, Harry Potter isn't but he finds himself in the wrong places at the wrong time and so fourth to where a lot of people think he is one. Ginny loves Harry, so how close she is to him may have ruled her out of being a Prefect at all.

There's also the possibility that Jo made Hermione and Ron a prefect to "aid" Harry through his times at Hogwarts and since there is already a load of stuff surrounding him, what would be the point of making Harry a prefect. I mean I can't really imagine it being a better story line if he was.

Well...I rambled about Harry but I think Ginny could have well been a prefect but she's not so much as a main character per say.

MissMalfoy001 -
Me either but aparentky WickedLoz does because that's the only arguement he has against me.

The Parvati Patil was actually quoting your arguement, not mine, when you said Harry would allow Ginny to get involved in the fight because she is a prefect.

And my name is Loz, short for Lauren, so I'm a girl not a guy!

The Parvati Patil makes a good point about the situation at Hogwarts in DH; I suspect there was a return to the days of the Inquisitorial Squad, the Carrows leading the way and Snape turning a blind eye.

On the subject of Ginny, I don't see how making her a prefect advances the plot of the story. If we are to believe JKR she had this mapped out from the very beginning, and Ginny had a specific role.

Prefects at Hogwarts take a leadership role, but do not always make great leaders later on in life. Percy, for instance, had a bullying style that made him a puppet for the Ministry until he came to his senses. Bill was a former head boy and presumably prefect, he shows a more laidback style but takes command when he has to. Didn't Lupin say in book 3 that he allowed James and company to run roughshod over him? What makes CJ and MissMalfoy so sure Ginny would have made a good leader if given that kind of position?

Again, why would Harry have treated Ginny any differently if she were a prefect? Harry tends to respond poorly to negative authority (Snape, Scrimgeour, Umbridge; anybody who criticizes him, like Dumbledore and McGonagall occasionally do) and I think he would have resented Ginny as he (briefly) resented Ron for grabbing the brass ring. Indeed, his relationship with Hermione hardly changes when she becomes a prefect (remember, DD told Harry in King's Cross that he was counting on Hermione to slow Harry up because he had a tendency to go off half-cocked and act stupidly) and if the story were written that way it would have deviated from the finale.

I don't think it matters that Ginny was never mentioned either way as being a prefect in book 6. And note that while JKR never said she was a prefect, she never said she wasn't. We have to infer from later events that she wasn't. I thus have to disagree with CJ's conclusion that this was a JKR "oversight", as something that important to the plot certainly wouldn't have been left out - if JKR was considering writing the story that way.

it's possible that because she was possessed by Lord Voldy, she was not allowed to be a prefect....it might make the children nervous to have someone that had gotten that close to Voldemort as their leader.

Why should we expect Ginny to be prefect in the first place? It's not like she was the only fifth year Gryffindor.

That's what I think. I don't think we can question Ginny's character just because she wasn't a prefect. I don't recall any of the other Gryffindor girls in her year, but it's very possible that someone was more suited for the role.

Also, can you picture Ginny being a prefect? I can't imagine Ginny telling someone off because they're throwing a Fanged Frizbee in the hallway, unless they were annoying her. Of course, you could say the same for Ron - he wasn't exactly a stickler for rules. But I believe DD gave him the role of prefect to help boost his confidence, and I don't think Seamus, Neville, or Dean would have suited the role better. Ginny is already confident.

There is no doubt in my mind that Ginny is a bright, compassionate, and intelligent young witch. Just because she wasn't given a certain role doesn't take that away.

HLG

Like I said before, maybe she just didn't want to. Of course, this is just random, so don't take my word. I really have no idea why.