The Podmore Connection--Percy as DD's Spy

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 93749

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "scoutmom21113" 
<navarro198 at h...> wrote:
> 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.

Exactly. If he was only given the position so Fudge could spy on 
the Weasleys and Dumbledore, why did Fudge let him
 continue in it when he'd broken off relations with them? If Fudge 
wanted him to spy on the Weasleys, wouldn't he have ordered 
Percy to make up with his family and visit his poor dad in the 
hospital?

Bookworm: 
> 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.  <snip examples>

> 
> If Percy were spying on Fudge, he didn't have to be quite so 
> enthusiastic about it.<<

Are you sure he's not  *acting*?  We know he's a good actor, 
since he managed to conceal his relationship with Penelope for 
an entire year. Percy is definitely one of the sneaky Weasleys,  
like Fred, George, and Ginny. Ice mice woudn't melt in his mouth. 
<g>

> 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).<<

Percy left home the same night as the argument.
"It was the first week back after term ended," said Ron, "We were 
*about to come and join the Order.* Percy came home and told 
us he'd been promoted." (emphasis mine)

 So if Percy  tried to get in touch with his family immediately after 
that, he'd have found them gone.  According to Ron, Percy said 
he'd decided his loyalties were with the Ministry rather than 
Dumbledore. But Dumbledore believes in second chances, you 
know. 

Bookworm:
> 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. 
> 

Or Dumbledore's? "Mad?" said Percy airily."He's a genius! Best 
wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry/"
-PS/SS ch. 7.

Pippin