Head Boy or Girl

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Hogwarts Legacy.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

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This article is about an in-universe title. You may be looking for the achievement in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.

"Our letters said we just get instructions from the Head Boy and Girl and then patrol the corridors from time to time."

— The Head Boy and Girl instruct the prefects^[src]

HeadBoyPin — A Gryffindor Head Boy badge

A Head Boy or Head Girl was a seventh-year student who had authority over prefects at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each year, both a Head Boy and a Head Girl were selected by the Headmaster or Headmistress of Hogwarts. The pair of students were instructed to perform duties to assist the school. They led both the prefects and (in many cases) the entire student body.

Appointment[]

At the beginning of the school year, the Headmaster or Headmistress appointed one Head Boy and one Head Girl from all of the seventh-year students. These students were chosen because of their academic achievement, outstanding reputation as a student, and a honest, good, and hard-working personality.

Prefects may have had a greater chance of being appointed to this position, as both had similar expectations on the student; however, this was not a prerequisite.

Duties[]

One of the duties known of the Head Boy and Head Girl was to instruct the prefects of their duties on the Hogwarts Express in the prefects' carriage. On the train, the Head Boy and Girl could be seen telling the prefects when they would need to patrol the train.^[1]

Head Boys and Girls also had special responsibilities whenever required. In 1993, when Sirius Black had broken into Hogwarts, Dumbledore asked the Head Boy and Head Girl to watch over the students in the Great Hall while he and the rest of the staff searched for Sirius in the castle.^[2]

Other duties of the Head Boy and Head Girl are unknown.

Recognition[]

The Head Boy and Head Girl were in charge of the prefects and should be an example to the other students. Head Boys and Girls also had the special privilege of being able to use the Prefects' Bathroom alongside prefects and Quidditch Captains, and the Trophy Room contained a list of Head Boys and Head Girls. Within the wider wizarding world, individuals who became Head Boys and Girls were also highly respected. Madam Villanelle kept a record of the favourite books of every Head Boy and Girl for aspiring students to browse.^[3]