Head Boy

A Head Boy is a seventh-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who is given authority over all other students, including Prefects. Along with a Head Girl, the Head Boy is chosen by the Headmaster to serve as a liaison between the faculty and the student body. The position is the highest honor a male student can achieve at Hogwarts and is reserved for those who have demonstrated exemplary academic achievement, responsibility, and moral character.

The Head Boy's primary role is to serve as a model student and a leader within the school. Their responsibilities are an extension of those held by Prefects and involve maintaining order and discipline throughout the castle.

• Leadership: The Head Boy, along with the Head Girl, leads the entire team of Prefects, giving them instructions and organizing patrol schedules. Percy Weasley is seen doing this at the start-of-term feast.
• Discipline: A Head Boy has the authority to deduct House Points from any student, including Prefects from his own House, and assign detentions.
• Guidance: On the first night of the school year, the Head Boy and Head Girl are responsible for leading the first-year students to their respective Common Rooms after the Sorting Ceremony.
• General Duties: They are expected to patrol the Hogwarts Express and the school's corridors, break up fights, and generally ensure that school rules are being followed.

In recognition of their status, the Head Boy is granted several exclusive privileges.

• Badge: The Head Boy wears a silver badge on his robes, distinct from the one worn by Prefects. Percy Weasley's badge is described as being on his chest with the words “Head Boy” on it.
• Prefects' Bathroom: The Head Boy has access to the Prefects' Bathroom, a luxurious and large bathroom on the fifth floor equipped with a swimming-pool-sized bathtub that has multi-coloured water taps. The password to enter this bathroom during Harry Potter's fourth year was “Pine Fresh”.
• Authority: The Head Boy holds authority over all other students, including the Prefects from all four Houses.

The Head Boy is personally chosen by the reigning Headmaster before the start of the school year. The selection is based on the Headmaster's judgment of the student's character, leadership potential, and academic standing. A key aspect of the selection is that a student does not need to have been a Prefect to be chosen as Head Boy. Remus Lupin reveals to Harry Potter that James Potter was made Head Boy in his seventh-year despite never having served as a Prefect, a testament to his significant personal growth.

Over the history of Hogwarts, several notable wizards have held this prestigious title.

• Albus Dumbledore: Mentioned in his obituary in the Daily Prophet as having been Head Boy during his time at Hogwarts.
• Tom Riddle: Held the position in his final year, using the trust it afforded him to conceal his activities with the Chamber of Secrets.
• James Potter: Appointed Head Boy in his seventh-year, paired with Lily Evans as Head Girl.
• Bill Weasley: Was Head Boy during his time at Hogwarts, a fact his brother Percy Weasley often cited with pride.
• Percy Weasley: Served as Head Boy during Harry's third year at Hogwarts, paired with Ravenclaw Prefect Penelope Clearwater.
• Teddy Lupin: Mentioned in the epilogue as being Head Boy during his final year at Hogwarts.

The position of Head Boy serves as a significant character development tool in the series. Percy Weasley's intense ambition to become Head Boy defines his early character arc, highlighting his pomposity and obsession with rules and authority, which later leads to his estrangement from his family. Conversely, the revelation that James Potter became Head Boy is a crucial moment for Harry's understanding of his father. It shows that James matured significantly from the arrogant bully Severus Snape remembered, earning the highest position of student responsibility. The role also demonstrates how esteemed figures can be deceived; Tom Riddle's tenure as Head Boy shows how he masterfully manipulated the school's staff, including Albus Dumbledore, while secretly being the Heir of Slytherin.

• J.K. Rowling stated in an interview that had Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger returned to Hogwarts for their seventh year, Hermione Granger would have been appointed Head Girl (J.K. Rowling interview).
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Horace Slughorn is shown with a photograph of a young Lily Evans wearing her Head Girl badge, visually confirming the title mentioned in the book (film).