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

[Lisa C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 123211


Toni <tonisan9 at h...> wrote:
> 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.)
> 
> <snip> 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 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.  
> <snip>


My first thought when I read it was that the portraits had spread the 
information. I'm glad to know that's what mostly everyone else thinks 
too. As for Percy, as much as I wish it to be true that he's working 
for the Order without anyone else's knowledge, I just don't see it 
that way. We were given a clue in GoF about Percy and the Ministry. 
I'm sorry that I can't quote verbatim but I don't have the book on 
hand right now. Hermione says something to the effect of Percy not 
handing over any of his family to the dementors and Ron replies 
something about Percy being very ambitious. 

I also hope that if and when Percy realizes he was wrong and starts 
coming back around, he is not inducted into the Order because then he 
would be the cert for the traitor and that is just a little too obvious. 
My favorite for the traitor from almost the start has been Ernie Macmillian
...a little far-fetched but something about the way his character is 
written just rubs me the wrong way and no, I don't really expect to be 
right about that either...just wishful thinking that it won't be any of 
the good characters. 

Casil
---who is seriously needs to quit rambling