Percy and the family row : characterisation matters

[deborahhbbrd]

No: HPFGUIDX 128196

Percy did not accept his mother's Christmas present, so Percy is on
the side of Darkness? Hmm – let's think this over.

Percy is not a well rounded character, but what we see of him
indicates that he is self-important and insists on recognition. Nobody
else rushes around Hogwarts shouting that he's a prefect, or Head Boy.
We don't even know who the head prefects, or any prefects, were in
Harry's first and second years, except Percy and Penelope, and if our
Perce hadn't been her boyfriend we would never have heard of her
either. This is what we see. What Ron says about Percy's ambition and
lack of a sense of humour isn't really evidence.

We also see him praised and favoured by his parents, who use him to
discipline their other children. This naturally backfires, and it is
possible that he might think that if he hadn't been presented as a
model son, Ron and especially the twins might have given him an easier
life. Or not – after all, he wants to be a model son.

When he leaves school and starts his career as an independent adult,
he loses Head Boy status and gains nothing but a job as a minor civil
servant, for which he gets teased by his brothers as if he was still a
mere schoolboy. Wouldn't it be a temptation to leave home, and allow
his fragile ego some time to feel good about itself? And wouldn't the
family row be an excellent opportunity to do this? Rather surf out on
a wave of righteous indignation than hurt your mother's feelings by
telling her out of the blue that home isn't good enough any more.

And now, think about the sweater. Who knows what colour code Molly
would use for "sweater, remote-control knitted, minor bureaucrat third
son, for the use of"? And would it have his initial in the middle of
the chest, like Superman? Percy has already hurt his parents, and he
knows that, but his pride will not allow him to apologise or explain,
especially since he believes he is in the right. (Similarly, though
with more justice, Arthur and Molly can't apologise to him because
they know they're in the right. Of such are family feuds made.) Isn't
this the perfect reason to return that ghastly, embarrassing sweater?
Now he's earning, he can choose his own clothes anyway, no doubt
pinstriped, and "enjoy" the visible signs of a clean break with the past.

Which is why I wouldn't be surprised to see, at some point in HBP or
Book 7, Percy in the kitchen at The Burrow, helping with the cleaning,
sleeves of his Christmas sweater determinedly rolled up ... . I don't
know how the cycle of hurt, distrust and guilt will be broken, but he
is a Weasley after all, and I'm sure it will. And if he's really
lucky, Penny will be handing him the mop and bucket!