Blundering Dunderhead (Was: Chapter Discussions: Chapter 8, The Hearing)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 87832

> Diana L. wrote:
>    I think your assessment of Fudge and Percy as "Blundering 
> Dunderheads" is quite accurate.  And I just love the name you came 
> up with!  LOL  I also don't think Fudge is ESE or that Percy is a 
> secret spy for Dumbledore.  Sometimes basically good characters do 
> dumb things that end up helping the villian and, IMHO, this is the 
> case with Fudge and Percy.  
<snip> 
>    I wonder if the Weasleys are going to have a hard time forgiving 
> Percy?  <snip> I also wonder what Percy's girlfriend, Penelope 
> Clearwater, thinks of Percy's break from his family?  Or does anyone 
> else think they broke up as soon as they both graduated from 
> Hogwarts?  


I agrtee completely with your assessment of Fudge and Percy as
basically good people who have made a serious error in judgment,
Fudge's because he's ambitious and not very bright and Percy's because
he's young, ambitious, and misunderstood (or underappreciated--take
your pick). As for Penelope Clearwater, I mentioned in a previous post
that no one responded to that she has a common bond with Ginny--she
was a victim of Tom Riddle (one of the petrified muggle-borns). If
Penny knows or suspects that the cause of her petrification was a
previous incarnation has something to do with Voldemort, she probably
would not be at all pleased by Percy's refusal to believe that
Voldemort has returned. I wonder if she and Ginny together could
somehow convince him to apologize and come back to the family. More
likely, though, they'll find it harder to forgive him than Bill and
Charlie will. B and C are adults, after all, and presumably wiser at
thirty-something than Percy and Penny at twenty and Ginny at fourteen.
Or so I would hope. (The twins and Ron may be another matter.)

Carol