The Podmore Connection--Percy as DD's Spy

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 93715

Kimberly wrote:
I really don't think Percy is acting for the Order.  There are 
plenty of DD's spys in the Ministry (Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arthur, 
Tonks), and everyone in the Order is allowed to know about them.  

Pippin: 
Well, Arthur was obviously wrong, because Percy continued his upward 
rise even after he broke ties with his family. 

Bookworm:
Percy didn't continue to rise after breaking with his family. He 
broke with his family because of his promotion. He stayed in the 
position of Junior Assistant to the Minister during the whole book.

Percy acts pompously so much in the first books that his enthusiasm 
stands out in OoP. IMO, this is because he is excited that the 
Minister Himself recognizes Percy's worth when his own family 
doesn't. 

At the beginning of the Hearing (p138 US):
"`Very well,' said Fudge. `The accused being present – finally – let 
us begin. Are you ready?' he called down the row.
`Yes, sir,' said an eager voice Harry knew. Ron's brother Percy was 
sitting at the very end of the front bench."

In Dumbledore's office after the DA was caught by Umbridge (p619):
"`Weasley!' cried Fudge, now positively quivering with 
delight, `Weasley, have you written it all down, everything he's 
said, his confession, have you got it?'
`Yes, sir, I think so, sir!' said Percy eagerly, whose nose was 
splattered with ink from the speed of his note-taking.
`The bit about how he's been trying to build up an army against the 
Ministry, how he's been working to destabilize me?'
`Very well, then,' said Fudge, now radiant with glee. `Duplicate 
your notes, Weasley, and send a copy to the _Daily Prophet_ at once. 
If we send a fast owl we should make the morning edition!' Percy 
dashed from the room, slamming the door behind him, and Fudge turned 
back to Dumbledore."

If Percy were spying on Fudge, he didn't have to be quite so 
enthusiastic about it.  Remember how pompous he was when he first 
introduced himself to Harry, how Fred and George made fun of his 
formality when he saw Harry again in Diagon Ally, and the whole 
scene with the cauldron bottoms? Why not just continue to act the 
same way? He snubbed his father after the Hearing, and the times we 
see him with Fudge he is such a sycophant it is irritating. (Have we 
ever seen Percy "dash" before?) 

Pippin: 
And have you noticed that he seems to be able to anticipate Fudge's 
every move?

Bookworm:
It may not have been one of the Order members Kimberly mentioned, 
but that doesn't make Percy the source. OTOH, I do agree that 
Dumbledore has resources we don't know about yet.

Pippin:
What if Percy had second thoughts after the argument, found that his 
family had already left The Burrow, contacted Dumbledore to relay 
his apologies, and was recruited as a spy instead?

Bookworm:
Did the family leave the Burrow? Molly wasn't at Grimauld Place when 
the kids got there after Arthur's injury. Dumbledore hints that she 
was at the Burrow: "`But she may already know...that excellent clock 
of hers...'" (p471).

We know that Percy cares for his family (see his reaction to Ron's 
return after the second task in GoF) but, IMO, he is not close to 
any of them.  He feels unappreciated by them.  I can easily see how 
his stiff-necked pride and ambition would have him desperate for 
Fudge's approval. 

Ravenclaw Bookworm