Is Percy a Spy? + Comment on Fudge & Umbridge.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 111076

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "scoutmom21113"
<navarro198 at h...> wrote:
> Brandy wrote:
> ...now that the Ministry is on the Order's side. 
> 
> Bookworm:
> Are you sure? The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.  
> 
> There are a number of us who have questions about Fudge's true 
> allegiance. Is he just a weakling who is scared to death? Is he an 
> agent for Voldemort?  Is he a closet DE?
> 
> Too many opinions, not enought clues. <eg>
> 
> Ravenclaw Bookworm


b_boymn:

Excellent point, bookworm. I can only give my personal opinion and
speculation on Fudge and Umbridge. I don't think they /were/ Death
Eaters or Voldemort supporters, but the word "were" in that statement
is critically important.

Fudge and Umbridge were people in power, and people who were growing
very fond of the power and the status it brought them. So fond of it,
that they let it cloud their judgement. The power and position become
so important to their own self-definition that they were willing to do
 anything to hold on to it, and equally willing to do anything to
anyone who threatened it. Fudge became blinded in a way that any
rational man could have seen would ultimately lead to his total and
complete destruction. Umbridge become so entrenched in her belief in
her own power that she was willing to casually (as good as) kill Harry
simply because he had become and annoyance. Power corrupts; absolute
power corrupts absolutely.

So, while they may not have been Voldemort supporters, they are now in
total disgrace. At the very least, they will be shunned by the wizard
world, and very likely they will be despised, ridiculed, and even
hated by some. They are persona non grata; unwelcome people without
status in the wizard world. OK, that hasn't quite happened yet, but it
will happen very quickly in the next book. 

Their unconscionable lust for power has destroyed them. But those who
have feed heartily at the hog trough of power are not satiated easily.
Once you have had a rich luscious taste, you can't help but want more,
and heaven help anyone who stands in your way. Sort of like cheesecake.

Now that Fudge and Umbridge are, to some extent, outcasts from the
wizard world, they are very vulnerable to anyone who might come along
with a sympathetic ear and a plan to restore their lost glory. In
otherword, they are ripe for the picking by Voldemort and his band of
merry men. I don't think they /were/ Voldemort supporters, but the
humilation, shame, and continued hunger for luscious power /now/ makes
them likely candidates.


Now on to Percy, I don't think Percy is or was a spy because I think
his /blow-up/ with his family was real, and I sympathize with him
because I think I can very clearly see his position. As far as I'm
concerned Arthur hold equal if not greater blame for the incident than
Percy, although Percy is certainly carries a significant share. 

However, I could conceive of the possibility that after the Quibbler
interview with Harry came out, Percy might have been swayed from his
position. And, considering this possibility, Dumbledore might have
made a 'no hard feelings' peace offering. Essentially, contacting
Percy and trying to talk some sense into him. While that would not
have healed the riff between Percy and his father, it could/would have
brought Percy back to Dumbledore, and in the process laid the
groundwork for a more complete reconciliation. 

I don't think this beak between Percy and his family is directly
related to Voldemort's return. I think Percy is seriously offended
that his own father didn't believe that a Perfect, Head Boy, student
with 12 outstanding OWLS, and a significant number of highly graded
NEWTs could get a job on his own merit. That is the true heart of this
misunderstanding.

Percy has spent his life doing it /right/, being the 'Good Son' and
following the rules, certain that his path of /right/ would lead him
to recognition and success. When he has his first crowning achievement
that proves his 'follow the rules' way was superior to Fred and
George's 'outlaw' ways, the people whose recognition he values most
complete discredit his achievement. As a result, Percy was mad, and I
say, fairly so.

Others have suggested that Percy completely cut himself off from his
family, including Christmas presents, to prove absolutely and beyond
any doubt that he could succeed on his own merit, and that he was
indeed worthy of and capable in the position he was given.

I firmly believe there will be a reconciliation, but when it happens
BOTH SIDES will have some serious apologising to do.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Steve/b_boymn (who is not the Lexicon Steve but the other one)