The Podmore Connection--Percy as DD's Spy

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 93786

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.

Pippin:
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: 
That's assuming that is the reason Percy got the job in the first 
place. Percy is like a junior Fudge – they are kindred souls. I 
think like recognized like and Fudge took on an apprentice.

Pippin:
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 wouldn't melt in his mouth. <g>

Bookworm:
I agree Percy was sneaky about his relationship with Penelope, but 
that doesn't mean he is a good actor. We only found out he had a 
secret when he thought Ginny was about to tell.

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).

Pippin:
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:
I'm still not sure why he couldn't find his parents. There were 
several references to Molly or Arthur going back to the Burrow, so a 
note could have been left there.  And Percy definitely knew where 
his father worked! <g> If he really is sneaky he could have gotten a 
note to his father somehow. But given the way he snubbed his father 
and Harry and the enthusiasm he showed when Fudge was around, I 
don't think he tried.

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. 

Pippin:
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.

Bookworm:
That was four `years' ago when all was well in the wizarding world. 
As you quoted Ron above, Percy sided with the Ministry instead of 
Dumbledore. I think if Percy opens his eyes and sees what Fudge is 
really like (and maybe he is doing that right now <g>) he will be 
able to reconcile with his family. At least with Arthur. Molly and 
some of the others will be a tougher sell.  

Ravenclaw Bookworm