OoP: Percy as a Slytherin? (Long) (Was: Re: OOP Percy is Not Evil)

[M. J. Pascual]

No: HPFGUIDX 65326

Those who don't care for long rambling posts can skip ahead. :)

--- In HPforGrownups, "spedlegs4169" <rjpuntoni at a...> wrote:
> Percy isn't evil, I agree he's just power hungry.  He acted like he 
> did  because he was trying to move up in the MoM.  The Ministry 
> refuses to believe Dumbledore and will not have anything to do with 
> him. Percy listens to the ministry so he separates himself from his 
> family since they are in the Order.  I would expect that he returns 
> to the family in the 6th book seeing as the MoM and the Order are on
> the same side now.

Percy's behaviour makes me think he should have been in Slytherin.

Observe qualities of House Slytherin from the only authority on
House qualities there is -- The Sorting Hat:

'Or perhaps in Slytherin
 You'll make your real friends
 Those cunning folk use any means
 To achieve their ends.' 
(Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 7, "The Sorting Hat") (A)

'And power-hungry Slytherin 
 Loved those of great ambition' 
(Goblet of Fire, Chapter 11, "The Triwizard Tournament") (B)

'Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach just those
 Whose ancestry is purest.'' 
(Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 11, "The Sorting Hat's New Song") (C)

We know that Percy is a pure-blooded wizard(1), which takes care of 
the pure ancestry bit.  As one who was both a Prefect and Head Boy, 
we assume his academic performance and his behaviour were above 
average, meriting the prestige and responsibility (and privileges) of 
Prefecture and Head Boyhood.  He was repeatedly conspicuous about his 
achievements(2) and in fact, any time he achieved a promotion, was 
unabashedly smug and self-satisfied about it(3).

It's no stretch of the imagination that Percy is ravenously ambitious,
clinging to those in power and using "the rules" as both justification
and reinforcement of his authority and power(4). We know he was 
fawning over Crouch(5), and later, over Fudge.  Months before his 
promotion, his own brother expresses doubts about his family 
loyalty(6) when it came to his career in the Ministry of Magic.  His 
affectation of his superiors, in dress, in mannerism, in policy(7), 
indicate clearly where his loyalties lie -- to those in power who 
might one day put him in power(8).  Power-hungry?  Oh my, yes. 
Positively Napoleonic.

When the unexpected promotion to a prestigious post in the Ministry 
arrives, one close to the most important (political) wizard in the 
Wizarding World it blinds him and fills him with such lust for power 
that he violently repudiates his own blood to further his career. 
For 
most people who got along relatively well with their families -- there
is no previous canon that suggests significant amounts of disapproval
of his parents or siblings -- this is a drastic move.  His goal
was a high placement in the Ministry and with his family in the
way, he was amenable to 'any means' (c.f. B) to protect his agenda.

It is my feeling that this promotion, despite of the events damning 
him in the matter of Crouch's betrayal, reinforced Percy's notion
that 
loyalty to the Ministry, to the power structure rather than to the 
people, is rewarded.  After all, he went from being investigated to 
a spot that wizards take years to accomplish.  By playing the rules,
he got what he thought he deserved for his towing the party line.

There are numerous posts here already about Percy not being truly
'evil'.  Evil, of course, being defined as the willful infliction
of suffering on others.  Good, on the other hand, is painted in
the books as the willful assistance of others to the greater good
in spite of personal agendas.  Self-sacrifice, in other words. 

Where does that leave people like Percy and Fudge?  I suggest
that they belong to a third group, the self-absorbed.  They hold
the dubious honour of not being truly evil, yet dangerous all
the same, because they are willing to put their own interests 
even when the welfare of the community is threatened.  I will 
grant that such people may honestly believe they are doing 
the right thing; that they act in good faith.  But let us not
forget the old adage: The way to Hell is paved with good 
intentions.

So, where should Percy have been Sorted differently?  Perhaps
the Sorting Hat considered him for Slytherin, just like Harry.
Perhaps this is just one of those numerous cases where we wonder 
why certain characters were sorted into the Houses they were,
and not in another.

--
(1) Says Dumbledore, "The Weasleys are one of our most prominent 
pure-blood families."
Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18, "Dobby's Reward"

(2) "Harry glanced back at the photograph.  Percy, who was in his 
seventh and final year at Hogwarts, was looking particularly smug.  
He had pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez perched jauntily on top 
of his neat hair, his horn-rimmed glasses flashing in the Egyptian 
sun."
Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 1, "Owl Post"

(3) "When the champions and their partners reached the table, Percy 
drew out the empty chair beside him, staring pointedly at Harry.  
Harry took the hint and sat down next to Percy, who was wearing 
brand-new, navy-blue dress robes, and an expression of great smugness.
  'I've been promoted,' Percy said, before Harry could even ask, and
from his tone, he might have been announcing his election as Supreme
Ruler of the Universe."
Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23, "The Yule Ball"

Also, Ron's recount on his Promotion to Junior Assistant to Fudge:

"He came home really pleased with himself -- even more pleased than
normal, if you can imagine that -- and told Dad that he'd been 
offered a position in Fudge's own office.  A really good one for 
someone only a year out of Hogwarts: Junior Assistant to the 
Minister."
Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 4, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place"

(4) "[Harry] had always imagined Bill to be an older version of 
Percy; fussy about rule-breaking and fond of bossing everyone around."
Goblet of Fire, Chapter 5, "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes"

(5) Ron notes: "Just don't get him onto the subject of his boss. 
According to Mr Crouch ... as I was saying to Mr Crouch ... Mr Crouch 
is of the opinion ... Mr Crouch was telling me ... They'll be 
announcing their engagement any day now."
Goblet of Fire, Chapter 5, "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes"

(6) After discovering Crouch's son was sent to Azkaban:
"'Percy would never thrown any of his family to the Dementors,' said
 Hermione severely.
 'I don't know,' said Ron. 'If he thought we were standing in the way
 of his career... Percy's really ambitious, you know ...'"
Goblet of Fire, Chapter 27, "Padfoot Returns"

(7) After Harry's Hearing:
"Last of all to pass was Percy.  Like Fudge, he completely ignored
his father and Harry; he marched past clutching a large roll of 
parchment and a handful of spare quills, his back rigid and his
nose in the air."
Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 9, "The Woes of Mrs Weasley"

(8) Ron on Percy during his fight with Mr Weasley:
"He said Dad was an idiot to run around with Dumbledore, that 
Dumbledore was heading for big trouble and Dad was going to go 
down with him, and that he - Percy - knew where his loyalty lay and 
it was with the Ministry."
Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 4, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place"




--Mark