Snapedom

I'm not at all convinced that's the case. Are you basing this off Hermione's comment that Harry being Gryffindor captain in HBP gives him "equal status with the prefects"? I've never been quite sure what she means by that, other than that he can now use the special bathroom (although I don't know if we actually see him do so). He does not join Ron and Hermione in the prefects' carriage on the train. He doesn't seem to gain any disciplinary powers, nor have we seen other Captains attempt to exercise such. In short, while it may give him a couple of perks, I don't think it equates to actually having been a prefect for this purpose. I think James was either made a special case (which I would very much hope was an attempt to calm him the hell down by saddling him with responsibility, and not a reward for who-knows-what), or that we are wrong to suppose someone must have been a prefect at all to be eligibile to be chosen (even if it is more usual).

Can anyone who's been in a school where this kind of system exists make any comment?