OOP Percy is Not Evil
naamagatus
naama_gat at hotmail.com
Sat Jun 28 19:27:46 UTC 2003
No: HPFGUIDX 65457
--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "joywitch_m_curmudgeon"
<joym999 at a...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jenny_ravenclaw"
> <meboriqua at a...> wrote:
> >
> > So because Percy had a falling out with his parents and said some
> > nasty things in anger, he might decide to join a group of witches
> and
> > wizards who actively torture and murder?
<snip>
> >
> > Unless Percy is tricked (which is possible), I just don't think
> this DE will happen with him. Haven't we all argued here that one
can be an asshole without being truly evil? Can't Percy just be one
>>of those assholes?
>
> Yes, but assholes can *allow* a lot of evil things to happen --
just look at Fudge. People who are ambitious and self-centered can
> convince themselves that it is ok to do a lot of very slimy things,
> like appoint Umbridge to be Headmaster of Hogwarts. And Umbridge
> might as well have been a Death Eater, considering the damage she
> did.
>
> I tend to agree that Percy is unlikely to ever visit the Dark Mark
> Tatoo Parlor in Knockturn Alley, but he could do plently of
damage. I think he will be an active opponent of the Order in Books
6 and 7, since I'm sure Fudge will declare groups such as
Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix to disband.
>
I disagree on both counts (sorry!): I don't think that Percy will do
damage to the Light side, and I don't think that Fudge will go
against DA and the Order.
Regarding Percy. I was surprised, very surprised, when Percy went
against his family so bluntly. Ever since GoF, I expected to see
Percy having to choose between family and his ambition (cloaked by
loyalty to the ministry). But I was sure that Percy was inherently
decent enough to stick to his family and Dumbledore (eventually - I
did expect him to take the ministry side at first, but then having a
crisis of conscience and affection that will show him as loyal his
family). OotP apparently showed me wrong. The rift was much deeper
than I ever thought it would be.
However, I still think that in the next book, Percy will return to
Dumbledore's side. And for the same reason that Fudge won't fight
Dumbledore: the shock of finding that Voldemort was truly back. Percy
truly believed Fudge and the ministry regarding Voldemort's return.
That's my impression at least. (Of course, he also, unconsciuosly,
wanted to believe that, because it enabled him to side with Fudge,
thereby furthering his ambitions.) So, what will be his reaction when
he finds that Voldemort has returned? I should think, first and
foremost, shame. He has vilified his father, broken ties with his
family, broken his mother's heart, sided with their rivals - and njow
he finds out that they were right the whole time. Guilt, that's what
he should feel, and from what we know of Percy (who has an
overdeveloped sense of duty) I think that's what he will feel. It may
take a while for him to admit it, but my prediction is that he'll do
the prodigal son, including trying very hard to make up for his
atrocious behaviour (I have a vague vision of Percy requiting himself
by saving one of his brothers at considerable risk to himself).
As for Fudge. He will seem so pathetic now, so ridiculous, so inept ,
that he won't dare, and nobody will let him, go against Dumbledore in
any way. After telling the entire WW that it's just a story, that
it's just a foolish rumour, the effect of having to retract all and
admitting that Voldemort is truly back will completely undermine his
prestige, and therefore his power. He will be expected to resign. In
fact, I can even see Dumbledore doing the noble thing and using his
influence to help Fudge keep his position.
Naama
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