Undercover Percy: who notified Dumbledore?

[Grey Wolf]

No: HPFGUIDX 81035

Grey Wolf wrote:
> > I don't think Percy is a spy for Dumbledore, but if he is he's so 
> > undercover (looking that much of a git means he's *really* 
> > undercover, IMO) he wouldn't risk blowing it for such a minor 
> > matter as a change of time for a hearing.

> Geoff:
> I'm afraid I don't agree at all that this is a "minor matter". I get 
> a distinct impression that the change of time and venue had been 
> deliberately designed so that Harry would be late which would count 
> against him in the eyes of those who supported Fudge and Dumbledore 
> would miss the hearing and that it was a plot to discredit Harry and 
> also find him guilty. 

We agree on that, but I think you have missinterpreted what I mean by 
minor matter. Lets consider for a moment that Percy is, indeed, an 
undercover agent for Dumbledore. Why is he there? it cannot be for some 
quick spying, certainly. Percy has severed all connections to his 
family (some have suggested that his parents might now he's a spy for 
Dumbledore. I very much doubt it. They certainly don't need to know and 
their knowing it might endanger Percy's cover). This is something you 
do not do lightly. Even if he is a spy, he might never regain the 
confidence of his family once his job is finished.

No, if Percy is there to spy (and again, I think he's just an idiot), 
he shouldn't blow his cover (and contacting Dumbledore as has been 
suggesting *is* a major hit to his cover at that point, one that he 
shouldn't attempt lightly in case he is dicovered) for just Harry's 
trial. Lets see why

> "A cold male voice rang across the courtroom. 
> 'You're late.'
> 'Sorry,' said Harry nervously, 'I - I didn't now the time had been 
> changed.'
> 'That is not the Wizengamot's fault,' said the voice, 'An owl was 
> sent to you this morning. Take your seat'".
> 
> "'Very well,' said Fudge, 'The accused being present - finally - let 
> us begin....'"
> 
> Not guaranteed to help the state of mind of a 15 year old being 
> trated as if he was guilty of a triple murder judging by the number 
> of Wizengamot members present.

Yes, I agree the whole show was trying to bend the rules so they could 
expell Harry from Hogwarts because they knew they had no case.

> "'Ah,' said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. 'Dumbledore. 
> Yes. You - er - get our - er - message that the time and - er - place 
> of the hearing had been changed then?'
> 'I must have missed it,' said Dumbledore cheerfully. 'However, due to 
> a lucky mistake, I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no 
> harm done.'
> 'Yes - well - I suppose we'll need another chair - I - Weasley, could 
> you - ?'
> 
> My reaction at that point even on first reading was "Liar. You 
> weren't expewcting him because you'd tried to stop him. I bet an owl 
> never went."

This is most certainly not the case. Owls eventually arrive, even if 
they arrive late. If no owl had arrived, Dumbledore could've used that 
to demonstrate that the change had been invalid. Look at the rules you 
quoted:

"That is not the Wizengamot's fault,' said the voice, 'An owl was sent 
to you this morning."

No owl, big trouble. Remember that even if Fudge is running the show, 
the decission rests in Mrs. Bones, who is throughout fully impartial 
and all-around good judge.

> If Dumbledore had not been there, Harry would probably have had to 
> try to defend himself and what would the outcome have been? Were they 
> preapred to pack him off to Azkaban or just expel him to remove any 
> influence he might have?
> 
> Definitely smacks of modern totalitarian states...

OK, now my turn. What, indeed, would have been the result? Harry might 
have been sent to Azkaban, bu that is very doubtful - Fudge is 
dellusional, but not even him is so all-powerful he can send a 15 year 
old to Azkaban. Harry *might* have been expelled, and his wand broken 
indeed, and of all this, only the wand is a big deal since it is a nice 
anti-Voldemort weapon. Dumbledore would have found a way to get Harry 
into Hogwarts, even with Umbridge around. He managed it with Hagrid, 
and he was suspect of murder, after all.

What is more, we know that Dumbledore expected something like that time 
change, which is why he was 3 hours early (he says it is coincidence. 
It is obvious he is lying, but if you have doubts, how is it that a 
squib that doesn't work at the ministry was 3 hours early too?). The 
time change and place change is a hit bellow the waist, but one that 
Dumbledore was expecting, and thus Percy didn't need to blow his cover.

Or maybe you mean Percy knew a couple of days beforeand told Dumbledore 
then. But sincerely, since the very first moment I could tell that 
Fudge would use every dirty trick on the book to get Harry, and 
Dumbledore is much more intelligent than I am (and knows the MoM 
better). Thus, my point: it *is* a minor matter. Dumbledore was keeping 
watch over the entire thing and he had friends inside the judge panel 
and so on. If Percy is the ultimate spy (and he must be, to not 
communicate with the rest of OoP, just with Dumbledore), it is 
downright dangerous that he threatens his cover over this manouvering 
that Dumbledore could probably see coming from a mile away.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf