======Head Boy's Badge======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Badge]] of Office
  * **Owners:** [[Tom Riddle]], [[James Potter]], [[Bill Weasley]], [[Percy Weasley]], among others
  * **Maker:** Unknown; presumably commissioned by [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
=====Description and Appearance=====
The [[Head Boy's Badge]] is a silver badge worn on the school [[robes]] of the student appointed to the position of [[Head Boy]]. The design is similar to that of a [[Prefect's Badge]].
[[Percy Weasley]]'s badge is described as being made of silver. It featured the letter 'H' for [[Hogwarts]] and a scarlet banner beneath it, upon which the words "**[[Head Boy]]**" were inscribed.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary function of the badge is to serve as a visible symbol of the wearer's authority and status as the [[Head Boy]] of [[Hogwarts]]. While the badge itself is not explicitly stated to be enchanted with specific spells, it is intrinsically linked to the privileges of the office.
  * **Authority:** The badge signifies that the wearer has authority over all other students, including [[Prefects]]. This includes the power to deduct [[House Points]].
  * **Access:** It grants the wearer access to restricted areas, most notably the [[Prefects' Bathroom]]. The password for this bathroom is given to the [[Head Boy]], [[Head Girl]], [[Prefects]], and [[Quidditch]] captains.
  * **Duty:** The wearer is expected to patrol the [[Hogwarts Express]] and the school's corridors, maintain order, and assist the [[Hogwarts staff]].
=====History=====
The [[Head Boy's Badge]] is part of a long-standing tradition at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. Each year, one seventh-year boy is selected by the [[Headmaster]] to serve as [[Head Boy]]. Upon selection, the student receives the badge, typically via [[owl post]] along with their school letter before the start of the term.
The badge is worn for the duration of the school year. It is presumably returned at the end of the year so it can be passed on to the next student appointed to the role. Notable former [[Head Boys]] who possessed this badge include [[Tom Riddle]], who used the position to mask his nefarious activities, and [[James Potter]], whose appointment surprised some given his reputation as a troublemaker.
=====Role in the Story=====
The [[Head Boy's Badge]] serves as a significant symbol of achievement, responsibility, and ambition within the [[Hogwarts]] student hierarchy.
  * In //[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]//, [[Albus Dumbledore]] tells [[Harry Potter]] that his father, [[James Potter]], was a [[Head Boy]], which adds a layer of complexity to Harry's understanding of his father beyond his schoolboy rivalry with [[Severus Snape]].
  * In //[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]//, Harry sees in a memory that [[Tom Riddle]] was a [[Head Boy]], a fact that highlights Riddle's cunning ability to deceive authority figures like [[Armando Dippet]].
  * In //[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]//, [[Percy Weasley]]'s appointment to [[Head Boy]] is a major event for the [[Weasley family]]. He polishes his badge obsessively and wields his authority with great pride, much to the annoyance of his younger siblings. His badge represents the peak of his school career and his adherence to rules and ambition.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptations of the series, the [[Head Boy's Badge]] is often depicted as a shield-shaped badge, sometimes with the [[Hogwarts]] crest, differing from the book's simpler description of a silver badge with a scarlet banner. (film)