The Podmore Connection--Percy as DD's Spy

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 93409

Pippin wrote:
> We have puzzled over whether Percy was secretly working for 
> Dumbledore in OOP and if so, what  secret information Percy 
> might have tried to convey in his letter to Ron. (OOPch 14) I think 
> I have it. It is this: "(If you are writing to Mother at any point, 
> you might tell her that a certain Sturgis Podmore, who is a great 
> friend of Dumbledore's, has recently been sent to Azkaban for 
> tresspass at the Ministry.)"
> 
> Now, if the Ministry at large knew that Podmore was a friend of 
> Dumbledore's, the Daily Prophet would have mentioned it. But 
> SecretOrderMember!Percy knows.  Of course it would be 
> awkward (though not fatal)  for Umbridge to realize he'd 
> neglected to mention this little detail, so Percy sends his 
> message secretly.  


Susan:
I'm trying to follow this, Pippin, and for some reason I'm not doing 
very well [Brain Fuddle has taken hold of me this Friday].  ANYWAY, 
if I'm understanding your argument about Percy--that in fact he 
*hasn't* left the Good Guys but is working for DD--then what do we do 
w/ this comment from the World Book Day chat?

Echo: Was Percy acting entirely of his own accord in Order of the 
Phoenix? 
JK Rowling replies -> I'm afraid so. 

Will your theory still fit?  I suppose this questioner was trying to 
get at whether Percy was acting under the Imperius Curse...and JKR's 
answer would mean he is *not*.  So I suppose one could argue that if 
Percy is SecretOrderMember!Percy, it *would* fit JKR's answer that he 
was acting of his own accord.  However...the use of the words "I'm 
AFRAID so" [emph. added] makes me think JKR is saying Percy was 
behaving badly because he did truly turn bad; there seems to be 
disappointment or disapproval in her choice of words.

Or is she just toying with us?  ;-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan