Prefect badge

Prefect badge
Object information
Usage	To represent Prefect authority
Owners	Hogwarts prefects

"Ron, who still had not said a word, took the badge, stared at it for a moment, and then held it out to Harry as though asking mutely for confirmation that it was genuine. Harry took it. A large P was superimposed on the Gryffindor lion. He had seen a badge just like this on Percy’s chest on his very first day at Hogwarts."

— Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter looking at Ron's prefect badge

A prefect badge was given to fifth-year students who were chosen to represent their house as prefects. There were two students in each Hogwarts House, a boy and a girl. The prefect badge had a large 'P' across a background of the house's colours, as well as the house symbol (such as a lion for Gryffindor).

History

Over Christmas of 1992, Fred Weasley magically altered Percy's prefect badge to read "Pinhead" instead. He failed to notice this at the Christmas feast that year, causing bewilderment on his part as to what those around him were amused at.

During the 1993–1994 school year, a Gryffindor prefect lost their badge, and posted a note looking for its return on the Gryffindor pasteboard. Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger located the badge in the Entrance Hall, near the Hufflepuff hourglass, and were awarded ten house points for returning it.

Known recipients

Gryffindor

Ron's Prefect badge

• Albus Dumbledore
• Minerva McGonagall
• Remus Lupin
• Lily Evans
• Angelica Cole
• Bill Weasley
• Charlie Weasley
• Percy Weasley
• Ron Weasley
• Hermione Granger

Penelope Padgett's Prefect Badge

Hufflepuff

• Jane Court
• Gabriel Truman
• Cedric Diggory
• Ernie Macmillan
• Hannah Abbott

Ravenclaw

• Chester Davies
• Robert Hilliard
• Penelope Clearwater
• Anthony Goldstein
• Padma Patil

Slytherin

The badge worn by Tom Riddle

• Tom Riddle
• Lucius Malfoy
• Felix Rosier
• Gemma Farley
• Draco Malfoy
• Pansy Parkinson
• Penelope Padgett

Behind the scenes

• The description of how a Prefect badge looks has changed throughout the series. In early editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Percy's Prefect badge is described as a "shiny silver". However, Ron's Prefect badge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is red and gold, implying that the Prefect badges are coloured by house. Later printings of Philosopher's Stone change the description of Percy's badge to match Ron's. Oddly, the Prefect badge seen on Pottermore returns to the original silver design.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (GBA/NintendoDS version)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Appears in flashback(s))
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite