CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 14, Percy and Padfoot

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 93126

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:


> Percy, after a rocky start, has a new job that recognises his 
worth,
> something he has struggle to get his family to do, he came home 
proud
> as can be after having been forgiven by the Ministry and given a 
job
> fitting his talents, and what does his family do to him in this 
proud
> moment? They crap all over him just like they always do. I, for 
one,
> don't blame him for being mad.


Er...."crap all over him just like they always do"?  Where exactly 
is the support for this statement; ie (apart from Fred & George) 
when has Percy's family ever treated him badly? Was it when he got 
the new owl for being a prefect, or perhaps when he was the only one 
to have his own room?  My impression of Percy's place in the family 
is that he got more privileges and parental support than all the 
rest put together.  I very much blame him for being mad, the 
ungrateful little snot <g>!

Steve continues: 
> On another point, Percy is doing the right thing. He is standing by
> his duly elected (or appointed) government, he is supporting the
> authorities that are empowered by their offices to guide and 
protect
> the wizard world. 


Percy's in a better position than anyone else to know the truth 
about the MoM, after his experience with Crouch the year before. 
It's not that he isn't intelligent enough, it's his intense ambition 
and egomania that prevents him from seeing what's right in front of 
his nose.

 

Steve again:

> I think the best explanation of Percy's actions that I've read, 
took
> the line that Percy cut himself off from his family to prove to 
them
> that he could get and keep his job based on his own abilities, and 
not
> because he could offer inside information about his family or about
> Dumbledore. By cutting himself off, he could prove the his father
> accusations had no foundation.
> 
> Now, having said that, I will admit that Percy continues to act 
like a
> first class pillock. But we have to understand that Harry and
> Dumbledore offered no real proof that Voldemort was back. There is 
no
> evidence, and given the nature of government to self-preservation 
and
> preservation of the status quo, their attitude is very predictable.
> Percy being loyal to the government and having no proof, simply 
shows
> support for his elected/appointed government.


Percy *is* a first class pillock.  Why would Percy need any 
more "proof" than Harry and Dumbledore's word?  When have either of 
them betrayed him or lied to him?  When have his parents ever 
betrayed or lied to him?  Why would he trust his MoM superiors over 
his own family? There is evidence if not proof that Dumbledore and 
Harry are telling the truth.  Percy just refuses to consider it 
because it will threaten his position in the MoM.  Unlike Arthur, 
Percy is choosing what is easy over what is right.


 I can't imaging that the entire wizard world won't call for
> a vote of 'no confidence' and get rid of Fudge altogether. 

I'm not so sure about that.  Remember that The Daily Prophet has 
completely reversed course on the topic of Harry and it won't take 
much for them to start questioning the leadership of the Ministry 
and it's failures.  Based on JKR's statement in the chat concerning 
there being a new Minister of Magic, I think that Fudge's days are 
numbered as far as his job goes.

 
> I'm a firm believer that there will be reconciliation between Percy
> and his family, I just hope we get to see it. It would be 
unfortunate
> for the next book to casually mention in passing that Percy and his
> family made up, and move on from there.

I agree that we will have to be shown the reconciliation if there is 
to be one.  I'm sure Arthur and Molly will be forgiving, but I have 
a hard time imagining that Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny will be 
eager to reconcile with Percy.  As it is, he's going to have to do a 
lot of groveling before I'll be willing to accept an apology from 
him.


Jo S., accepting that Percy Is Not Evil, but refusing to ever 
forgive him for making his mother cry on Christmas :P