I'm afraid you don't know Patil very well. Sad to say, I've spent more than a little time with her over the last year. I believe it's fair to say, regardless of Professor Dolohov's reasons for choosing Daphne, Padma will consider the loss as a deficiency in her record. That's not to say she might actually bally well consider why she wasn't selected or find any fault in herself that might explain the choice, what, only that she jolly well thinks of every academic position as a race, if you follow me, and that if Daphne has earned the accolade, then by definition, Padma has not won.

You're probably quite right that she is using the Council as a sop to her ego, however.

I say, she'd likely be well furious to discover that she wasn't the top student in the year, either, what!

-Justin