While trying to answer a question I tried to find some information on how passwords are distributed around Hogwarts. From what I remember, Harry and co always seem to learn the Gryffindor Common Room password from a prefect, but how did the prefects learn the password in the first place?
As explained in this question, each password protected area appears to have the password set by its somewhat sentient guardian (such as the Fat Lady). How does this guardian then spread the word to only the people who should be in the know (in the Fat Lady's case, only the Gryffindors)?
My educated guess would be that their level of sentience means they recognise at least the headmaster/mistress and their head of house as a reliable authority to initially give the password to, who then tell their respective prefects the password who in turn tell the students of their house, although I'm stumped to find a quote to back this up/refute it.
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