Another (2) Flint(s)!-- Percy kissing Penelope in CoS

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 23021

Suzanne wrote:

> Okay, okay, I just have to dive in with this one. Do you remember 
> near the end of CoS when Ginny attempts to speak to Harry, but is 
> interrupted by Percy?
> 
> Later we learn that Percy believes she was going to tell them about 
> what she saw in one of the classrooms (quoting from memory here!!)"A 
> few days ago"-- he was apparently getting romantic with Penelope, 
and 
> Ginny walked in. I seem to remember thyat he was clear that this 
> happened very recently.
> 
> A few days ago??? Percy??? Wasn't Penelope PETRIFIED and in the 
> infirmary at that time (and for quite some time)? 

Good catch--his exact words are "the other day."  People do use that 
expression loosely, but according to the Lexicon timeline, it's a full 
three weeks between Penelope's petrification and that breakfast 
conversation.

Here's another Flint, or maybe it's a weakly-written red herring, from 
the same incident.  Percy sits down, Ginny flees, and this 
conversation ensues:

  "Percy!" said Ron angrily.  "She was just about to tell us something 
important!"
  Halfway through a gulp of tea, Percy choked.
  "What sort of thing?" he said, coughing.
  "I just asked her if she'd seen anything odd, and she started to say 
--"
  "Oh--that--that's nothing to do with the Chamber of Secrets," said 
Percy at once.

In most mysteries, a statement like that would set off alarm bells as 
a revelation of guilty knowledge.  How did Percy know that Ron was 
asking her about the Chamber of Secrets?  He was, but all he told 
Percy was that he'd asked her if she'd seen anything odd--why did 
Percy's mind go instantly to the Chamber if Percy himself weren't 
concealing something about the Chamber?  Hmmmmmmm?

It would make a good clue if Percy were indeed in on the Chamber of 
Secrets, but since he isn't, it's just a lapse on JKR's part.  IMO.

Amy Z

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 "Someone attacking you, Harry?" Seamus asked sleepily.
                           -HP and the Goblet of Fire
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