Percy's Letter

[ericoppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 141475

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" 
<dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
>
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ericoppen" <oppen at m...> 
wrote:
> >
> > One thing I'd be curious to know is just _what_ Percy was 
supposed 
> to 
> > say to Ron in his letter..._given that Umbridge, or someone loyal 
> > to/reporting to her, was almost certainly going to have a chance 
> to 
> > look the letter over before Ron ever saw it!
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Hmm, why do you think that Umbridge would definitely had a chance 
to 
> look the letter over ? 

It wasn't a dead cert, but a distinct possibility.  We know that she 
could fool with owl post, IIRC.  As Percy's superior in rank, she has 
powers beyond his.  

Are you saying that it would have happened 
> before Persy sent the letter or that it would be interposed in 
> Hogwarts?

I think you mean _intercepted._  And it could have happened either 
way.  I don't know how the Ministry handles owl-post; it could well 
go through a central dispatching point.  

> 
> If you are arguing that it would be interposed in Hogwarts and 
Persy 
> would foresaw such possibility then I would say that for him the 
> best cause of action would be well, not to send ANY letter. Unless 
> of course  you are arguing that the letter contains some kind of 
> secret message to Ron. If it is your argument, I would ask you to 
> clarify what kind of message it contained, because I cannot figure 
> out any.

Yes, I would say that the letter could be read as a secret message to 
Ron.  Basically, between the lines, we find out that Umbridge is 
planning changes, and that the Ministry's out to get Harry for daring 
to say that HWMNBN is tanned, rested, ready and about to begin his 
Second World Tour. 

We've seen Harry write a letter that looks innocuous, but would mean 
more to the recipient: When he wrote "Snuffles" about the new regime 
in Hogwarts..."our new Defence teacher's almost as nice as your 
mum."  To someone not familiar with Mme. Black, this sounds fairly 
OK...most people wouldn't say that a person's mum was a shrieking, 
addle-pated old lunatic to their face, after all, now would they?   


> 
> I would not exclude the possibility that Persy in his mind was 
> looking out for Ron by telling him to stay away from Harry, but 
> well, it does not make him to be any less of the git to me.

He's "no less of a git" for trying to look out for his brother?  What 
would it take to make you think he's not a git?  

> 
> Ericopen:
> <SNIP>
>   
> > Ron, unfortunately, is Thick As An Asphalt Sandwich, and took the 
> > letter at face value.  I wonder what would have happened if 
> Hermione 
> > had had the opportunity to read it?  <snip> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Again, could you clarify, please? Are you saying that Hermione was 
> supposed to figure out some kind of hidden message in the letter?

Yes, I think she might have, if she'd been let see it.  

--Eric, who wonders whether wizards know about Muggle cryptography.