How did everyone know? (OOP pages 610-625 -- American Hard Cover)

[tonihollifield]

No: HPFGUIDX 123105



Hi everyone.  I've been lurking for a few weeks now, but this is my 
first post.  I'm currently re-reading OOP (as I'm sure many of you 
are), and I'm wondering if this topic has come up in the past.  I 
can't figure out how to access the archives effectively, so I 
couldn't look it up.  I'm sorry if this has been discussed-to-death!

After the altercation between DD, Fudge, etc. in DD's office, we're 
told that notices of Umbridge becoming Headmistress have gone up all 
over the school overnight, but that 

       "they did not explain how every single person within the 
castle seemed to know that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the 
High Inquisitor, the Minister of Magic, AND HIS JUNIOR ASSISTANT to 
escape." (My emphasis, sorry about the caps, I couldn't figure out 
how to italize.)

Now, I know that I've read past discussion about who it was that 
started to spread the news around the school, but I don't think I've 
seen anyone suggest that it was Percy. I would argue that the 
information spread is classic Percy.  We know that Percy was not 
present in DD's office during the altercation, as he had been sent by 
Fudge to copy his notes of DD's "confession" and send them on the the 
Daily Prophet for the morning addition. Let me add that I believe 
that Percy is working for the Order as a spy at the Ministry, and has 
not betrayed his family.  

This said, I think it makes sense that Percy/the Order would want the 
truth about what occurred in DD's office to be known before 
Umbridge/the Ministry has a chance to put their own spin on it.  In 
addition, the inclusion of the Minister's "Junior Assistant" in the 
list of those DD had to overcome serves noone's interests other than 
Percy's.  From what we know of Percy from the earlier books (I'm 
sorry, I can't cite canon from them, I only have OOP with me right 
now), he wants to be highly regarded, and looked up to by those 
around him.  While I believe that Percy is working for the Order, it 
stands to reason that his general personality traits would remain 
intact. Why not throw himself into the mix while spreading the true 
story of what occurred.  

Any thoughts?

Toni (who's sorry that she rambled in her first post, and really 
wants to believe that Percy wouldn't betray his entire family.)