Choices

Choice twenty six: Dumbledore

Another year has ended again and it's the summer holidays. I love watching my students leave knowing their going back to their families for some well deserved rest and the entire staff is happy when the pranksters leave for two months.

But what I hate is this is the time of year when I have to pick Head students and new prefects. It's always a difficult choice but at least I don't have to do it alone. The Head of Houses always give me a short list of students for prefects and that makes it a bit easier.

This year though is going to be a difficult choice for head students; there are so many likely candidates for the positions. This is always difficult and the fact that the other professors all have their views doesn't really help.

I've been given a short list two boys and two girls from each house and I always have to look through them all and pick the best for the role. So this year I think I'll start with the boys. From Slytherin I've been given Snape and Avery, Hufflepuff John and Shaw, Ravenclaw Dickens and Head and Gryffindor Lupin and Potter.

Okay so to start ruling them out I think I can safely say no to Avery he'll abuse any power he gets straight away he isn't the leader. Snape well that's a possibility. John he's too shy he wouldn't be able to stand up and make his point and as for Shaw nobody would listen to him.

Dickens he could possibly pull off the position but Head I don't think he'd be able to cope with the authority he'd have he cracks when he's given the task of handing out the homework sheets.

Lupin now this ones difficult he'd be good in the position but so would Potter. Okay so that's four candidates for Head Boy Snape, Dickens, Lupin and Potter. Okay so I'll leave that for the time being and move onto the girls.

From Slytherin well there's Inchbald and Napieralla, Ravenclaw Levin and Bird, Hufflepuff Lotus and Wood and Gryffindor Evans and Bacio. So now to whittle these down to four as well.

Inchbald well she's a good prefect but I'm not sure how she'd take being Head Girl, I've noticed the way that she already thinks herself better than the other prefects and I'm not sure if giving her this position will help matters.

As for Napieralla well she isn't Head Girl material I can't see her in charge of a group of prefects. Levin she is a possibility she has a good head and seems to be able to cope with stressful situations. Bird though I think she's afraid of power and authority she begged me before leaving in fourth year not to make her a prefect I have a feeling she wouldn't like to be Head Girl.

Lotus again she's a possibility she could handle the position but Wood she's afraid of work, I've seen the way she stares at her work and is forced to complete it by her friends I don't see her willingly doing more work than she has too.

Evans and Bacio now both would be good in the role but I think Bacio is looking for an easy time this year she just wants to survive I don't think she'd appreciate being Head Girl as much as Evans would.

So this year's short list looks as follows: Slytherin Snape, Ravenclaw Dickens and Levin, Hufflepuff Lotus and finally Gryffindor Lupin, Potter and Evans.

Okay so to whittle it down to one boy and girl is always harder and I can't ask the professors to help as they will chose those of their house and then I end up where I started so to chose. I wish that I could just put their names in a hat and pull out the names but then I wouldn't end up with the best.

Well lets start with Lupin I think the role would be good for him but I know that he doesn't like to upset people and the Head Boy must be willing to upset those around them without care. I think that he would try to prove himself and not be able to disappoint. As for Dickens he's too nice as well. He likes to make friends and not enemies and I'm not sure if he'd be willing to say no to those around him.

Potter well he's willing to argue with people, he can get on with them too. It would be good for him to have a few responsibilities too as then he wouldn't be able to cause so much trouble, but would he be willing to work with others.

Snape now again he doesn't mind upsetting people in fact I think he's happier when people are upset. Although there is the problem with the fact that most of the student body would probably be too afraid to speak to him and those that aren't afraid would just cause more trouble.

Okay so to decide, I think it will have to be Potter. He needs to wake up to responsibility and he can handle it. He's popular so the student body will listen to what he has to say but he doesn't mind disagreements with people as well so he should be fair and he has a brain so yes James Potter will be Head Boy.

That also gives the advantage that I don't have to find anymore male prefects as Lupin is the Gryffindor one so he can keep that position and then we will still have Snape, Head and John for the other houses.

Now this causes another problem for Head Girl it has to be somebody that will stand up to Potter and won't just go along with what he says. The girl will have to be head strong, smart and willing to work hard and be fair.

Okay so the three girls I have left are Lotus, Levin and Evans. Well all three have similar qualities and all could easily be Head Girl and have no trouble with it, except for the matter of working with Potter.

Lotus I've seen the way she looks at Potter I don't think she'd stand up to him she'd let him have his way at all times which would make the position worthless. Then there's Levin now they won't speak, they won't even stay in the same room together which will make it hard having her work close with Potter,

Evans though well she and Potter don't get along, she stands up to him and tells him what he doesn't want to hear. She doesn't let him get away with anything and that's what we need for Head Girl. Lily Evans will show Potter what for. Although that means we know need a new prefect for Gryffindor girls, well I think Bacio will take that position happily.

So there we go I've finally made my choices and I think they will work out this year. The seventh year prefects will be as follows: Slytherin Snape and Inchbald, Hufflepuff John and Lotus, Ravenclaw Dickens and Levin and for Gryffindor Lupin and Bacio.

As for the Head positions this year both will fall to Gryffindors with James Potter acting as Head Boy and Lily Evans as Head Girl. I believe this year is going to be one to remember.

I know this is like one of the longest chapters for choices and you'll probably not find another one this long for a while.

Annie yes Remus ROCKS he's the best.

Anyway enjoy this chapter

Kris