Defending Percy ( was Percy Weasley )

[pcaehill2]

No: HPFGUIDX 104943

Del wrote:
> I posted some time ago to defend Percy, saying that he's only a 
true Weasley, and not evil or a traitor (post number 97645). 

Pam:  I went and read this--very well thought-out, and quite 
persuasive!  Percy has the Weasley family traits, yes: stubborness, 
loyalty, and cleverness, but in his own unique expression & 
combination.  But I believe that Percy willingly makes some bad 
choices, too; he's not just duped into being "on the wrong side".

[snips--Del wrote:]
> Percy did not abandon his family. He distanced himself from people 
who were accusing him of being a blind, stupid pawn, while not 
giving him any proof of it. 
>
> Percy did not slander Harry, he tried to protect Ron. As far as he
> knew, Harry was indeed a liar. 
>
> There was indeed a Crouch fiasco, but definitely not on Percy's side.

Pam: well, I see your point re: distancing himself, but I can 
also see the other side--why react so strongly to people who love 
you and have given you every reason to trust them so far?

And re: slander & protecting Ron, well I think he did both. He had 
no proof that Harry was a liar any more than he had proof that H. 
was telling the truth; the accusation was unfounded.

The 'Crouch fiasco'--here I was just remembering canon (Harry's 
thoughts/opinions, of course): "Percy had committed the fairly large 
oversight of failing to notice that his boss was being controlled by 
Lord Voldemort..." (OoP, chapter 4)--Granted, this is Harry's not-so-
clear thinking, but it did make sense to me at the time!


[snip--Del wrote:]
> A betrayal? Sure, could be. Nobody's perfect. *Everyone* could 
turn traitor, given the right incentive, so why not Percy?

Pam: True enough.  I see Percy as imperfect, and not without strengths--not evil, but having very befuddled values.  Thanks for the deeper exploration of Percy!

Pam