OOP Percy is Not Evil (V. Long Winded!)

[psion_x]

No: HPFGUIDX 65639

I have to speak up in Percy's defense here (even though he reminds me 
of my very annoying older brother ;O)
No-one here has mentioned the fact that the arguement between Percy 
and his father was stared by Arthur!

" ...Dad reckons Fudge only wants Percy in his office because he 
wants to use him to spy on the family-and Dumbledore.'
Harry let out a low whistle.
'Bet Percy loved that'..." P.68 Harry Potter and the Order of The 
Pheonix Aus. Edition 2003

Now I don't know about anyone else, but if MY father had completely 
trashed any achievement I had made (and as far as Percy's concerned 
his promotion IS a big achievement) and suggested that I wasn't there 
beacuse of talent, or hard work or anything I'd be mad. And probably 
say a bunch of stuff that makes Percy look like a Saint!

Granted I probably wouldn't have remained angry for a whole year, but 
it seems to me, that this break with the family was the sort 
of 'straw that broke the camel's back'. I don't think Arthur really 
notices Percy and they're so different that it probably grates on 
Percy's nerves no end.

Of all the ways Arthur couldn't broken this 'spy' news to Percy that 
has to be the worse, its obvious his overjoyed about it (as Ron 
indicates) and it probably seemed to Percy as if his father was 
acting out of petty jealousy. It's well established that Arthur isn't 
very popular with Fudge and is 'going nowhere' and his worked there 
for years. Then along comes Percy who gets into a higher position in 
just two years! In Percy's mind I'm sure it looks as if his Father is 
trying to burst his bubble because his doing better than he (Arthur) 
ever could. (I'm not saying that I think that, but it's easy to see 
how Percy could).

It is interesting to note, that Percy once became extremely angry at 
Ron (even going so far as deducted five points from Gryffindor) when 
Ron suggested that he cared more about possibly been Head-Boy than 
about Ginny (P.119 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Aus. 
Edition 1998. It appears that accusations about family loyalty is a 
hot-spot for Percy.

Someone mentioned previously that Percy was showing no family 
loyalty, but I also see that the Weasley's don't show much family 
loyalty for Percy either Fred and George go out of their way to make 
him look like a fool, Ron would disown him if he could, and Arthur 
appears less than interested. I just thought it was a bit rich for 
them to be all hoity-toity about it when they don't return the 
favour. Molly is the exception to the rule, and his behaviour to her 
was very upsetting.

All the same I suspect that for reasons unknown Percy never got the 
information that Arthur was in hospital, prehaps the owl with the 
Weasley Sweater was intercepted the message to Percy removed and the 
sweater sent on. We know Arthur's condition wasn't reported in the 
Daily Prophet in which case Percy wouldn't know it happened. A bit of 
stretch I suppose, but the Ministry WAS watching the owl-post IIRC.

I also suspect all is not as it seems, as I found Percy behaviour 
when Harry was called up to Dumbledores office about the DA meeting 
in Chp. 27 'The Cenataur and the Sneak' exteremely odd. Someone 
pointed out it was very unprofessional and un-Percy-like. We saw in 
GoF how he acted around Mr. Crouch Snr. he could hardly speak! Yet 
his practically BABBLING at Fudge who holds the very position Percy 
aspires too, I'd have thought he'd be much more tongue tied! Very odd 
indeed.

All the same I didn't much like how Percy bagged out Harry AND 
Dumbledore behind their backs during the arguement with his father, 
or 
the low blow about the Weasley family wealth (although he MIGHT have 
had a tiny point, if you're going to have 8 kids its expected that 
you work as hard as you can, Arthur just seems to coast a lot of the 
time). Although I'm not exactly sure whether talking about it behind 
Arthur's back (like Ron and Ginny and the Twins) makes it any better.

Anywho, I do hope that Percy comes back to his family in the end, 
although I understand why his really desperate for an apology: in his 
letter he writes " I sincerely hope that, in time, they will realise 
how mistaken they were and I shall, of coures, be ready to accept a 
full apology when that day comes...." (p. 268 HP and the OoP Aus. Ed. 
2003)They're are plenty of times I'VE wanted to force an apology out 
of my various family members (never gotten one though :O)I say Percy 
has always had to be sorry, but never had anyone apologise to him! 
And that would peeve anyone!

Psion_x
(who knows only to well what life is like been the butt of family 
jokes with no-one coming to defend me!)

PS. How does one join P.I.N.E it sounds like a very worthwhile 
organisation indeed! ;O)