Thanks for reviewing! You’re right of course - it is unfair what Snape does to the pupils who were unable to attend school the previous year. He justifies his decision by stressing the importance to study for the exams. In his mind, he probably thinks he is helping them. But he is high-handed and disregards the problem that he is at the same time punishing them, like you pointed out.

It's possible, however, that the employers of the wizard society, being aware of what happened during the war 1997-1998, will give the students who graduate after an extra year at Hogwarts priority over those who stayed during Voldemort’s regime. Maybe it will be the purebloods who will have to justify themselves? Maybe its them who will be at a disadvantage when applying for the leadership positions in the wizard world, prefect status or not?

It sounds rather depressive and disturbing when you put it like that - ”creating a society where people are held back at the whims of a few people with power”  - I had not thought of it that way, but it is interesting to consider it now that you point it out. I generally see myself as an optimistic and trusting person who find my way in societey, but I guess that I have encountered enough of those people in life (and have we not all done that?) who behave capriciously for reasons of their own. I think I merely want to point out that those people exist and particularly for young people who have not yet learnt to argue against authorities and stand up for their rights, the encounters with persons like that (Healer Schufflert, Professor Vector) might actually have great impact on their lives. 

More about the legal aspects of Harry’s actions in Paris in the next chapter.

More about Harry’s and Ginny’s relationship in a few chapters….