Percy the PA (was Crouch's memory)

[David <dfrankiswork@netscape.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51236

Grey Wolf asked:

> Now, the real interesting question is: how does an absolute 
newbie, 
> that has been in the ministry for less than a year, manage to 
climb far 
> enough to be Crouch's personal assistant and substitute when he is 
> unavailable (for example, as Tournament judge)?

Just a bit of experience of the way the UK civil service works here.
Very senior civil servants, particularly those who are not merely 
general administrators but have some sort of specialist advice role 
(e.g. Chief Scientific Advisor) will usually have *two* assistants.

One will be a PA as conventionally understood, typically someone 
with extensive secretarial experience and organisational ability.  
That person will take up the burden of the servant role that Elkins 
describes (i.e. to the outside observer being the most powerful 
person in the organisation because they control the diary!).

The other will be a junior person who has been identified as having 
potential, and is intended should get a broad range of experience, 
in particular the opportunity to observe the workings of the upper 
reaches.  That person will support their boss in their specialist 
role, dealing with, for example more straightforward issues 
(cauldron bottoms anyone?) that still need the authority of the 
head. Drafting memos for signature, for example.  One might deduce 
that Percy has shown an aptitude for languages, for example, though 
where his education would have given him opportunity escapes me.  As 
a person with an outstanding academic record, he fits the bill, 
though.

I'd say it's a little unusual in the Muggle world for that to be a 
*first* job, but such people are usually fairly young and junior.  
Stereotypically male.

It could explain some of Percy's attitude to his father: he has 
deduced that the system has marked him out for the greatness Arthur 
has not achieved.  He hasn't yet learned that the number of people 
marked out early in their careers significantly exceeds the number 
of destination slots available.

I would dismiss Elkins' remarks about personal devotion as not being 
applicable, were it not that these people are known in the trade as 
catamites.

David