Whatever you do, don't let the caretaker catch you infringing any rules, or there'll be hell to pay. Just ask Arthur Weasley... he's still got the marks to show for his punishment, that once when he and his girl Molly got caught out of their common room taking a midnight stroll. Ouch. But don't worry too much... Dumbledore wouldn't knowingly let harm befall you. Right?

HOUSE POINTS
Authorized figures can take points away from your House for breaking the rules, so you'll want to be careful. Lose enough points, and you'll be out of the running for the House Cup at the end of the year! That's just unforgivable, and you'll be attending Hogwarts with the same people for the next seven years. Make a good name for yourself, hmmm?

DETENTION
Serious misdeeds are punished by a detention. A student's failure to accept a detention could result in expulsion, so if you can't do the time, don't do the crime. Teachers may assign detention tasks as they wish and some detentions have been actually dangerous. Others, however, are just tedious and silly. Professors are able to punish students for relative impunity, and can hand out detention for even unsatisfactory grades.

HEAD STUDENTS & PREFECTS
There's one Head Boy and one Head Girl, and twenty-four prefects. Prefects have the authority to deduct points from students for infractions, though they cannot take points from fellow prefects. They may also give detentions. Quidditch house captains are given the some of the same privileges as prefects. Prefects may be stripped of their position for serious offenses.