Percy

[Carla (Ball) McCulley]

No: HPFGUIDX 166062

> Eggplant:
> Let me ask again a question that I received no answer to, would anyone bother to mount
> such a ferocious defense of Percy if he had a different last name?

> Hickengruendler:
> Yes, I would. Because even if his name wasn't Weasley, he would still be the guy, who
> ran into the lake after Ron, who fought the Death Eaters after the Quidditch Worldcup,
> etc. These are doubtless some positive character moments for Percy, and why should
> JKR have written them, if Percy is evil through and through?

Carla:
I can't completely address the Percy issue.  I'm torn on that one.  Frankly, I don't think we know enough yet to make a call.  I think authority impresses him and since his Father doesn't have that much authority within the Ministry, he chooses to align with those who do.  I would like to see Percy come back to his family, but I think it will happen because of a great tragedy that opens his eyes.

As for the Azkaban question.  Yes, I believe that sending Harry to Azkaban was a very real threat.  Here is why.  The very people trying to silence Harry by sending Dementors after him in the first place are the very ones holding the trial.  Umbridge sent the Dementors and since she works for Fudge, it may have been on his orders.  If Umbridge would submit a child to the torture of a Dementor's Kiss, do you think for a minute she would hesitate to push for his imprisonment in Azkaban?  Silencing Harry was the whole objective.  Not to mention, we may not have seen Dementors at the hearing, but that doesn't mean they weren't waiting in the wings somewhere.

Carla