Percy (Was: "What's Arthur been up to")

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 80925

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hermionegallo" > There is a 
clear change in Percy from the last we see and hear of him 
> in GoF to when he first shows up in OoP, and all the way through 
OoP, 
> each time we see him the point is driven home farther that he's way 
> over the top.  When did you ever see him guffawing along when the 
> Minister made a derisve comment, before OoP?  When did he ever 
write 
> such a long-winded, fawning letter?  And, as Entropy said just 
today 
> in post 80904, when did Percy ever refer to Harry as "Harry 
Potter," 
> or "Potter," or anything other than "Harry," for that matter?
> I'm open to speculations as to WHY Percy has changed, but I am 
> sticking by my observation that there has indeed been a change in 
him.


Jen Reese: I'm with you on this one. Especially after I read that 
post suggesting Percy didn't write the letter to Ron, or it was 
tampered with--that thought never occurred to me, but now that it 
has....here's my theory:

Clue #1:  The trio/Weasleys are discussing Percy's promotion in OOTP
(pg. 71, US). Harry is surprised because "Percy had committed the 
fairly large oversight of failing to notice that his boss was being 
controlled by Lord Voldemort."

Clue #2:  Farther down the page, George expresses surprise that Percy 
was promoted because "Percy got into a load of trouble about Crouch, 
there was an inquiry and everything."

Clue #3: Yet he's promoted anyway, into Fudge's office, where 
Umbridge also happens to be. And Umbridge also happens to have 
influence over Fudge.

OK, add in the fact that Umbridge is not above sending dementors to a 
Muggle area, and using the Crucio against a student....and I'd say 
Percy is under the Imperius Curse at the moment.

Yes, that's been done before with Crouch, so here's theory # 2, which 
I don't like but it's a possibility:  Percy was so wounded by his 
failure at his first job that he cast his scruples aside and made a 
deal with Umbridge to get into Fudge's office.  His ambition got the 
better of him, and in order to go through with his devious plan, he 
decided to shut out his family, who largely act as his conscience and 
are definitely a ballast for his ego.

Sink or Swim? Jen