Percy's Character Flaw (was:Re: Official Discussion Questions ...: Question #1)

[uncmark]

No: HPFGUIDX 37298

In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny Linsenmayer <pennylin at s...> wrote:
> In GoF, Ron remarks, 'Percy loves rules,' and he wonders whether 
> his brother would send a family member to Azkaban if it would 
> advance his career (GoF, pg 463).  Does his tendency to side with 
> bureaucracy make Percy susceptible to the same sorts of errors made 
> by Cornelius Fudge and Barty Crouch, Sr., errors that ultimately 
>(if unintentionally) help Lord Voldemort?  Might we expect him - 
> albeit unwillingly - to aid Voldemort by following the letter of 
> the law instead of its spirit?  Will he side with Crouch or with 
his family?>

In HPforGrownups at y..., "scaryfairymary" <scaryfairymary at h...> wrote:
> Well, I hate to play devil's advocate here but..... Percy HAS to be 
> EVIL.  I really havn't been able to warm to his character at all 
>(not for lack of trying!) He really is very very power hungry 
> ("Prefects Who Gained Power") and I don't hold up much hope for his 
> redemption.  From his sheep like following of Crouch Sr. to his 
> mere lack of ability to 'let his hair down' he really hasn't shown 
> any ability to survive in the real world, let alone in a war 
> situation. 

Excuse Me? I'm not overly fond of Percy either, but I am of the 
Weasley's... and I can understand his motivations.

Bill and Charlie both did well at Hogwart's and Percy worked his best 
to keep up to the family honor. Plus he's a middle child and want to 
stand out. Prefect AND Head Boy (I think Bill or Charlie did similar) 
His job must have seemed like a dream come true. He was the personal 
assistant of one of the leading wizards in Britain! Through no fault 
of his own he suddenly becomes the acting head of the Department of 
International Magical Coorperation. Pretty good for 18!

Agreed he probably has more ambition than his Dad, but the sorting 
Hat DID place him in Gryffindor! He NEVER acted dishonest or 
approaching evil. Plus he did very well in NOT showing favoritism to 
Harry, the boy who saved his sister's life!

He's going to face a TOUGH summer after GoF.  Would Fudge even want 
him as an ally? A 19yo wizard who took control of a Ministry Office 
under suspicious circumstances? 

Fudge may decide to destroy Percy just to spite Dumbledore. "Well, I 
missed Crouch's jailbreak conspiracy and murder, but I'm tough on 
crime! See? I caught his son who killed him and here's the kid that 
took over his office!"

If given the choice, I could NOT see Percy picking Fudge over his 
family! He is SERIOUSLY dissillusioned after fawning over a top 
wizard who committed jailbreak and Unforgivable curses. With the 
upbringing of Arthur and Molly, I couldn't see ANY of the Weasley's 
going bad.

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