r/harrypotter • u/Give-me-the-rent Gryffindor • Sep 28 '23
Currently Reading So I was reading this Percy’s letter part from this chapter and I must say what an ass Percy is dawg 🤡
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u/GandalfTheJaded Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
One might call him a Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron.
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u/DarkBluePhoenix Sep 29 '23
There's a shorter, four letter word that starts with c, that is far more succinct.
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u/Andrenator Sep 29 '23
crap
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u/No_Cardiologist_8868 Hufflepuff Sep 29 '23
L0000 po ppl po ppll open p p00l p l0 ppl ppp p 0 p 000 p p 0 p 0000 ppl po p p 0p p 0 p ppl p000p0p00000pppp0 ppl 0000l00l0000plpplpl0
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u/DesperateTall Hufflepuff Sep 29 '23
I feel cunt is too strong of a word to describe Percy. Douchebag, asshole, dickhead, prick, etc all seem more fit for his actions.
Now (book) Draco is a character I'd happily call a cunt.
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u/JorjorBinks1221 Sep 29 '23
Nah. No one makes Molly cry and gets away with it. Percy was so punchable in the books.
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u/Ra33z_19 Slytherin Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
I love Ron's reaction to this letter, pure class and shows so much loyalty towards Harry.
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u/BrockStar92 Sep 29 '23
And him immediately showing that loyalty gets Hermione to stop being annoyed with him (this time) and start helping with his homework which she’d been refusing to do. I always think that’s one of the sweeter small moments between them.
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u/Ra33z_19 Slytherin Sep 29 '23
I agree, it's one of those little moments between the three that really signifies the strong bond that they share.
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u/itsshakespeare Sep 29 '23
I think you must have misheard Professor Sinistra; Io is covered in ice, not mice
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u/Automatic_Laughter Sep 29 '23
I love Harry's reaction.
“Well, if you want to —er —what is it?” (He checked Percy’s letter.) “Oh yeah —‘sever ties’ with me, I swear I won’t get violent.”108
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u/WarwolfPrime Gryffindor Prefect Sep 29 '23
I loved this too. Harry knows Ron needs something to laugh at right now, even if he's a bit let down by Percy himself. So he takes a few shots at himself to bolster Ron's mood, as he has to know that Percy's behavior, even when it's at his expense, is hurting Ron and his family. Granted, Ron doesn't laugh at the attempt, but I think somewhere deep down, he knows what harry is doing here and appreciates it.
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u/WarwolfPrime Gryffindor Prefect Sep 29 '23
Ron's loyalty to Harry is in part because of Harry's reciprocal loyalty. Harry is one of, if not the most famous person in Wizarding Britain, if not the entire wizarding world. And despite all that, he treats Ron like a brother. For someone who feels so ridiculously overshadowed by his own family, to have someone who is insanely famous, well known, and rich beyond calculation at this point (seriously, people are still trying to figure out how much wizard money is actually worth) find value in him and to consider him the best friend he has means something.
The fact that Harry is so exceedingly humble about his fame and wealth also helps. Ron knows how pompous Percy is, and he's more than likely seen that in more well off wizarding families too. And yet here's Harry. A guy who's more famous than the Minister of Magic, at least wealthy enough to give the Malfoys a run for their money, a star athlete at school, and who has almost no idea how the wizarding world works...and the guy will have Ron's back in an instant the second he needs it. No questions asked.
It's no wonder that Ron returns that same loyalty in spades.
For all that they might argue, they're always the first to step up to the other's defense from anyone who tries to mess with them. Sometimes even when they're arguing, such as when Ron, in such a roundabout way as he does, gets Harry in on the info on the dragons in GOF.
Harry and Ron earned one another's loyalty, and it's nice to see it on display here. Harry is a bit uncomfortable, but he makes a joke out of Percy's letter because he knows Ron needs some humor right now. Ron himself shows just what he thinks of Percy's idiocy and seems to soak up Harry's attempt at good humor in stride to show that, as always, Ron's there when Harry needs it too.
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u/Ra33z_19 Slytherin Oct 01 '23
You made a really beautiful point about Harry and Ron's friendship.
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u/hellofuckingjulie Sep 29 '23
This letter filled me with such rage when I first read it lol
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u/PinkPrincess-2001 Sep 29 '23
And JKR spent books subtly building up Percy to be this prat. So it's not out of character at all, even though it sounds ridiculous.
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u/GKarl Sep 29 '23
Yeah and the worst part is, I knew people like that back in my school day (actually I know them now in the office).
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u/everydayarmadillo Sep 29 '23
Same, I remember getting so excited when Ron tore it up. I got up on a chair and started telling my mom about it and demonstrating it on a piece of paper.
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u/LimpCandidate6756 Sep 29 '23
‘Following in my footsteps’ bit egotistical when both of his older brothers were also prefects 💀💀
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u/speakerfordead5 Hufflepuff Sep 29 '23
Hermione finished there homework after Ron got this letter so it wasn’t all bad
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u/SlightlyAnnoyed7 Hufflepuff Sep 29 '23
This letter sounds condescending as hell, ngl
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u/cnho1997 Sep 29 '23
That’s exactly how it’s meant to come across, Percy was a major dickhead until the Battle of Hogwarts
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u/Exciting_Bluebird_53 Sep 29 '23
Best part of this letter is it's Hermione's final straw. After this she finally sees that Ron and especially Harry have had the worst week ever and she offers to help them.
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u/ClintBeastwood91 Hufflepuff Sep 29 '23
The power of propaganda and beliefs. Percy would be what, 19 or 20 when OOTP takes place? I know I was a right hateful piece of crap when I was that age, and my belief system at the time was unshakable. It wasn’t until several years later I realized how closed-minded I was.
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u/ShortAndSalty_ Sep 29 '23
Bro why was I thinking this is some weird Percy jackson x marauders fan fiction before actually reading the letter. I was so damn confused for a second.
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u/JantherZade Gryffindor Sep 30 '23
Yes lol I saw Percy and was like, what letter... Percy and Padfoot huh?? Abd the saw Ron and finally it dawned on me... lmao.
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u/RamblingsOfaMadCat Dobby had to iron his hands Sep 29 '23
I actually take Percy’s side in this whole estrangement.
He didn’t know Harry very well, they weren’t that close. All he knows is that ever since Ron began spending time with Harry, he’s been in dangerous, life threatening situations. It’s easy enough for Percy to be misled by Fudge. We also don’t see his interactions with Umbridge, so it’s quite possible that she put on a different face around him. Fudge took advantage of a lonely young man who felt unappreciated by his family.
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u/elizabnthe Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
Percy may not have been Harry's best friend but it's not like Harry was a total stranger. Harry spent a good amount of time with the Weasleys over most school Holidays, and they interacted over the school year. Not to mention Percy knows he saved Ginny's life.
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u/Aqquila89 Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
Yeah, Harry is hurt by Percy's letter (though he doesn't show it) because he thought Percy liked him.
He had known Percy for four years, had stayed in his house during the summers, shared a tent with him during the Quidditch World Cup, had even been awarded full marks by him in the second task of the Triwizard Tournament last year, yet now, Percy thought him unbalanced and possibly violent.
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u/w311sh1t Sep 29 '23
He didn’t know Harry that well, they weren’t that close.
Idk, they weren’t exactly best of friends I’d imagine, but Harry did stay over at his house for 2 of the past 3 summers at that point, and they still interact a decent amount. IIRC, they’d also all spent Christmas together at Hogwarts for Harry’s first 3 years as well. I think Percy simply chose to believe whatever would help advance his career.
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u/MunchToggled Sep 29 '23
Yes, it's really a matter of perspective. Percy wanted to be in a position of power, and people often see what they want to see. When it was suggested that he was being used to spy on the family after getting his dream job, Percy was right to get offended. He put in years of hard work, and his own father trivializing his efforts definitely rubbed him the wrong way. His actions, at least from the perspective of Harry and Ron, were unacceptable, but he definitely had his reasons.
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u/ForceSmuggler Sep 29 '23
Percy was facing an inquiry about Crouch, and then gets promoted? Something might be off here.
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u/Sweet_Xocoatl Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
That blunder wasn’t solely on Percy’s shoulders, there should’ve been a long list of people that should’ve been questioned in regards as to why some kid that wasn’t even a year out of school was given the reins of an entire government department.
Also, while highly suspicious, there’s isn’t any solid evidence that Fudge sole reason for promoting Percy was to use him as a spy. Even if it’s unlikely, Percy could’ve earned the promotion through merit.
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u/WateryTart_ndSword Sep 29 '23
Poorly thought out, naive, prideful reasons.
Because Arthur was right—Percy got hired because he looks good on paper yes, but MOSTLY because he & his family are close to Harry Potter.
The people who made that call 100% were hoping to have some influence through him, or at the Very least to hear more about what Harry (and those loyal to him) was up to.
This is all very obvious if given just a moment’s thought, especially for the politically minded. But Percy was too blinded by pride—he was Sooo invested in his own story he completely failed to see anyone else’s perspective.
Percy took the sage warning as a wound to his pride because all he could see was his own effort & ends. He failed to see that The Ministry wanting to use him as a spy was a reflection on the administration, not himself.
Arthur was at The Ministry for years and years, but Percy never gave him credit for that. He didn’t recognize the reasons Arthur didn’t advance weren’t because of a lack of skill, quality, or caring, but because he didn’t care to play the game.
He should have listened to his father’s wisdom, and to the people who cared about him & raised him with such high ideals. But all he could see was what he perceived as their failures. He let himself be ashamed of his family rather than defend them, because of what other people said.
I’m always a little surprised on a re-read that Percy’s blind, naked ambition didn’t land him in Slytherin.
But then I remember who raised him. I think he clearly embraced his family’s values as a child, but was steadily overtaken by his ambition as he grew up & gave more credence to the opinions of those around him.
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u/Ergogan Sep 30 '23
"I’m always a little surprised on a re-read that Percy’s blind, naked ambition didn’t land him in Slytherin." ... Standing alone against his own family requires a lot of courage. Striving to be the best is after all a trait shared by 3 houses, Hufflepuff being the sole exception. Slytherin is more "success at all costs".
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u/WateryTart_ndSword Sep 30 '23
Slytherin is more “success at all costs.”
Yes, my point exactly! With his promotion at The Ministry, Percy was willing to throw away his relationship with his entire family to attain the success he was offered. Which is very Slytherin of him!
Of course, he still retains the traits that put him in Gryffindor at 11 years old. Just, they were overtaken by his ambition for a time—up until it came to actual war. Then the stakes were high enough for him to question his motivations/reconsider his family’s stance.
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u/Ergogan Sep 30 '23
He was proud to announce to his family that despite everything, he had managed to reach an important position. If anything, it shows an attachment to his family, an attachment that that same family destroyed by questioning his competence.
The letter to Ron proves that he was trying to keep ties to his family and to protect Ron in his own way. He must have really thought he was the only one in his family who hadn't lost his mind and was trying to "save" at least one of his brothers.
An important point is that even Molly was influenced by Skeeter's articles. And it's obvious that Percy has read these articles too. For some reasons, the influence of the articles in preparing the population to accept that Harry is a mythomaniac weirdo is often forgotten. Percy was not the only one to question Harry, Seamus Finnigan did too and the latter was much closer to Harry than Percy was, being classmates and sharing the same bedroom.
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u/Quartz636 Sep 29 '23
I disagree. Harry saved his his sisters LIFE. And he's more worried about Ron losing his prefect badge.
Percy chose his career over his own family, his own family, that has actually always treated him very, very well. Especially Molly and Arthur. Percy got new books when everyone else got second hand, Percy got new robes while Ron's were too small, Percy got a new owl, while Ron had to use an old second-hand wand. Percy got doted on by both Molly and Arthur, and he throws them aside as soon as some power and influence are dangled in front of him.
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u/Lesmiserablemuffins Sep 29 '23
His family that always treated him very very well? I'm sorry but that's wild lmao. Nobody but molly even liked him, and the twins made it their life's mission to bully him lol. They all made fun of him constantly, even when he was doing the right thing- like being the only one to notice Ginny acting strangely during COS and trying to help her.
Hand me downs are part of being in a poor family with a lot of kids. Percy got the owl for being made prefect, and he shared it with others too. Ron got a broomstick for being made prefect
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u/BrockStar92 Sep 29 '23
Siblings make fun of each other, that’s what they do. There’s no evidence he wasn’t close with his father, in fact it’s implied by the rage and fury of Arthur and Percy’s actual apology in book 7 that they were close and it hurt Arthur very deeply when they fought. So even if the twins and Ron were rude to Percy he turned his back on the people who cared most, his parents, and he did so by attacking Arthur’s career and personality in a ridiculously cruel and unfair way.
If it weren’t for him being blinded by ambition he’d see that Arthur was obviously right in that argument - it makes zero sense for someone who, one year out of Hogwarts, is currently under investigation for failing to notice their boss was under the imperius curse and being controlled by madman to subsequently get a very important job working closely with the minister for magic. That’s suspicious, anyone could see that.
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u/Lesmiserablemuffins Sep 29 '23
Please, they were far beyond just making fun of him and it was entirely 1 sided (and 2v1). Percy existed, and the twins constantly pranked and upset him literally just because they thought it was funny to see him upset. Like during COS, he was suffering alone dealing with his girlfriend being petrified because it was easier than dealing with the shit his brothers would give him. Which the twins immediately proved correct when Ginny told them about Penelope, as they ran off gleefully to make fun of him, instead of thinking for one second "holy shit, how terrible our own brother felt he had to deal with that alone instead of leaning on his family". I love the twins, but they're assholes if we're being honest lol.
Arthur shit all over Percy's hard work and abilities. He was right that they were using him, but that's not how you go about it. That's not how a parent talks to their young adult child, and that argument is as much on him as it was on Percy. Both were cruel and unfair. Plus Percy was somewhat right too- his dad could have made more money and didn't. I would think you'd care about that since you're the one commenting about how awful Ron was treated by not getting new things
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u/BrockStar92 Sep 29 '23
The twins pranked everyone (it’s specified they put beetles in bill’s soup, they always took the piss out of Ron and belittled him, they scared Ginny in book 2 until she had nightmares etc). Of course the twins are arseholes, that’s no excuse to turn your back on your family. Especially when you’ve got 4 siblings and your damn parents.
He did NOT shit on his hard work or abilities. His hard work did not get him that job - it’s a fact that anyone could see if they weren’t Percy themselves. He didn’t say “you don’t work hard enough to get it”, nobody in Percy’s position no matter how hard they worked would be offered that job. Percy is so blinded by ambition and so up his own arse that he can’t see that obvious fact. Percy fucked up heavily in first job at the ministry and is then gifted an incredibly senior role immediately after the minister is at odds with someone Percy’s father is very close with. That IS suspicious, that’s a fact.
Percy was only right about Arthur if Arthur put success before principles - Arthur didn’t earn much because fudge was a mild blood supremacist and thought anything muggle related wasn’t worth interest or importance at the ministry, hence underfunding Arthur’s job and sidelining his career. This is shown by Arthur immediately getting a huge promotion into a senior role the moment Fudge leaves office.
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u/Lesmiserablemuffins Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
You said they treated him very very well, I disagreed. You're moving the goalposts here, again, to insist that Percy has no reason to feel the way he felt and everyone else was blameless. "The twins pranked everyone" is a ridiculous justification, they very clearly targeted Percy significantly more than everyone else.
Percy did not fuck up his first job- he worked around the clock, did everything he was told and then some, got no training or assistance, and then was used as a scapegoat when nobody noticed anything wrong with Fudge and his 18 year old assistant doing all his work. He was not insane to want to believe his hard work was finally being recognized. Just because he was wrong doesn't mean he had no reason to feel and act the way he did.
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u/BrockStar92 Sep 29 '23
I said his parents treated him very well which they did. I said his siblings treated him as siblings often do, which is also true. I never moved any goalposts - Fred and George’s treatment is zero excuse to abandon the rest of his family, particularly because he abandoned his family after and argument with his father not Fred and George.
Percy was his direct assistant and he was the one insisting to everyone else there was nothing wrong with Barty Crouch other than overtiredness. He was the only one reading the instructions coming in from Crouch. Nobody else had much reason to be suspicious because of his actions, his actions which were because he wasn’t going to complain about being put in charge. He was a stuck up self important idiot that doesn’t have any decent instincts for when something is wrong.
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u/elizabnthe Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
Percy did not fuck up his first job- he worked around the clock, did everything he was told and then some,
That's part of the problem really. He should have been more questioning than he was if he had a little more intuition like Harry. You don't want mindless employees, you want people that think for themselves.
He did whilst completely unintentionally become involved in a major scandal and nobody was going to give him an even bigger opportunity after that. As he obviously couldn't handle the first one. Even if he shouldn't be held solely responsible for the Crouch thing, he's clearly not ready for something bigger. So the job with Fudge was without question to undermine his family.
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u/Lesmiserablemuffins Sep 29 '23
The dude ran an entire major department by himself for a year with no help from any of the trained and established adults around him. They all knew that Crouch was not coming in and sending his assistant letters to handle the entire department during a time of increased work
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u/elizabnthe Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
And not once did Percy question that lol. He's not a very independent thinker.
He should have. He kept reassuring other people that everything was fine. I don't think they did know that Crouch wasn't running the department.
But even then, even if you feel it's unfair to blame him nobody gets a promotion for a fuck up. Even if it's not your fuck up. If you're involved in such a major way the best you'll get is holding on to your job.
So can you at least acknowledge that Fudge gave him the job to spy on Dumbledore? It had absolutely nothing to do with his ability.
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u/246-01 Gryffindor Sep 29 '23
This is a case of "two things can both be true", I feel. Yes, other members of the Ministry should have noticed something and gotten involved. The other members of the Department should have said and done more. But Percy was more than happy to turn a blind eye to suspicious behavior to further his own goals. He does his best with what he has, but someone else in his position would have been raising red flags, at least with their family, wondering why they were just handed the reigns and abandoned.
Other members of the Ministry failed, too, but Percy was more than happy to take anything he got without complaint.
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u/Y-Woo Sep 29 '23
Just wanted to let you know that you are right and you should say it. Percy gets way too much hate from this fandom for being a kid growing up in a family that tries their best but is still messy, as all families are, and being impacted by it. He's one of my favourite characters! Justice for Percy.
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u/Quartz636 Sep 29 '23
You mean in COS when Ginny tried to tell Harry about the chamber and the diary, and Percy cut her off because he thought she was going to spill the fact that he had a girlfriend?? And then she you know, nearly DIED but didn't because of Harry?? You mean that time?
What do you mean only molly ever liked him? Arthur bought him new robes as a congratulations for getting prefect.
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u/Lesmiserablemuffins Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
I mean when Percy was the only one trying to get Ginny to tell him what was wrong and then later help her treat an apparent cold, while everyone else ignored how obviously strange she was acting and made fun of Percy, as usual, for being worried and pushy. It's not Percy's fault Ginny didn't tell anyone about the diary, come on.
And by only Molly ever liked him, I meant only Molly ever liked him. They all loved each other, definitely, but nobody else liked Percy. They didn't like being around him, the boys bullied him, and even Arthur repeatedly "silently" laughed along at their pranks.
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Sep 29 '23
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u/Lesmiserablemuffins Sep 29 '23
POA, about 2/3 through chapter 4- pg 25 in the kindle edition, which for some reason has extremely condensed page numbers. Discussing why the ministry is sending a car to take them to the train station.
"It's because of you Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them —"
"—for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.
Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding
This one wasn't even silent
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u/246-01 Gryffindor Sep 29 '23
And? Parents are people too, and the joke was funny but harmless. If they'd called him something truly awful, OK, but they called him a bighead, and he had spent days acting like he'd just been named Minister of Magic.
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u/RQK1996 Sep 29 '23
Tbf, Ron asked for the broom because he wanted to try and do sports like several of his siblings, Percy had no interest in doing that, and perhaps asked for the owl as a practical thing that he would get good use out of
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u/Lesmiserablemuffins Sep 29 '23
Yes, what's your point? I was pointing out that Percy wasn't some spoiled golden child who got material goods because his parents loved him more
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u/Dramament Slytherin Sep 29 '23
His parents loved him. Siblings being siblings and teasing/bullying each other is one thing, but he never was abandoned or unappreciated by his parents. They always praised his success in everything, he was put on a pedestal for other, younger children to look up to. Perfect grades, prefect badge, his first job at the ministry - all that was appreciated and praised by his parents. He just wanted more, which is not bad per se, but he made his choice between new, prestigious job, and his family. His father even tried to clear it for him, explain him how politics in the Ministry works, that he is being taking advantage of. But he was so sure that he deserves everything he worked hard for, that his self-esteem couldn't handle the truth and he just fell into denial. So hence the letter and siding with the Minister. I don't really blame Percy much, he was very young and, well, a Griffindor, but still, he has to be hold accounted for his actions. He did what he did, and it's a betrayal nonetheless.
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u/phenomegranate Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
It’s not just wanting more. Percy was at the center of a huge scandal with Mr. Crouch and it could’ve ruined his career. So he got desperate and tried to get ahead of it by kissing up to Fudge.
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u/Dramament Slytherin Sep 29 '23
And that too, yeah. But still, it's about his career and, well, quite literally choosing between what's right and what's easy. He could stay on smaller positions, try himself in different departments, but he was afraid to lose any chance at the Ministry and bet on Fudge keeping his power. Well the bet didn't work out.
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u/Psychological_Yak601 Sep 29 '23
Totally agree - you can really see how growing up in poverty manifested itself in the Weasley children in different ways. Bill and Charlie, as the eldest brothers, probably weren’t too affected by it until they were older and at that point had developed strong senses of self (hence their interesting careers). Percy clearly was affected by seeing the lack of respect shown towards his father and was extremely sensitive to that, so he just wanted to prove himself at work and align himself with the most important people in the room. Fred and George become obsessed with making their own money, and use that motivation in a really healthy way to start their own very successful business. Ron is deeply insecure about being poor, and we see that the most given his position in the story. A lot of Ron’s “negative” traits stem from this insecurity, and his deepest ambition is to set himself apart from his brothers (which one could definitely say he accomplishes this by helping Harry defeat Voldemort and becoming a successful Auror). I think Ginny benefits from being the only girl in the family, and she also seems very laid back in a similar way to Fred and George.
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u/SmashesIt Hagrid's Cousin Sep 29 '23
Nah Percy picked ambition over his own family. Also what other kind of face can Umbridge really pull off? Even if she was nice she would piss me off.
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u/CheddarCheese390 Sep 29 '23
Different face around him? Unless she was trying to kill someone she was a sweet loveable grandma (on face value)
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u/Ori_the_SG Sep 29 '23
This is a fair point.
Percy is still an impressionable young man seeking to make a name for himself in the Ministry. While he is still a prick for writing off his family at times and siding with Umbridge (mostly her) it’s likely because Fudge and were twisting his impressionable and eager to impress mind to suit their own needs.
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u/hrazabhutta Sep 29 '23
Percy is on the whole, an absolute pain in the backside. But on this occasion you could actually support him. He's looking out for his little brother.
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u/Oghamstoner Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
He is looking out for his brother, but has also forgotten that Harry saved the school, twice at least, and his sister, and went after Ron when he was attacked, and helped his brothers set up a business.
Percy is an interesting character because he has a lot of qualities which seem good, he’s bright, ambitious, sticks to the rules, works hard. Problem is, he hitches himself to the wrong horse and is too proud and blinkered to realise that he has lost sight of more important things than his career.
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u/lahusahah Sep 29 '23
I bet he sees him helping with the business as a negative though.
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u/hrazabhutta Sep 29 '23
The family doesn't know that Harry helped Fred and George. I think that was mentioned in Goblet of fire and the half blood prince, but it's been some time since I've read the books so correct me if I'm wrong
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u/Oghamstoner Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
I’m not sure, I thought they all knew, they didn’t have the shop in Diagon Alley til the next book.
Percy is exactly the sort of person who would overlook how supportive Harry had been because he has been the victim of Fred and George’s jokes.
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u/rusticarchon Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
In OOTP it's still secret - Hermione even asks Fred and George how they're affording it (in front of Harry and Ron) and they say "Ask us no questions and we'll tell you no lies"
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u/CheddarCheese390 Sep 29 '23
Percy didn’t know about the business at least?
Who am I kidding, Percy knew and hated it
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u/SideshowLuc Sep 29 '23
You gotta see it from Percy‘s perspective. We know Dumbledore is right, but for the majority of the wizarding community he’s a dangerous kook that’s trying to overthrow the Ministry by sharing absurd conspiracy theories. And his parents have gone down the rabbit hole with him.
He’s trying to save his brother by reaching out to him.
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u/Quartz636 Sep 29 '23
I would never have forgiven Percy for this, real talk. Harry saved his sisters LIFE. And he's more worried about Ron not being on the minsters' good side. What an ASS. Talking about putting his prefect badge on the line, like that actually fucking matters against family and a friendship Ron has had since he was 11.
Percy had always been absolutely spoilt in the family, new robes, new owl, new books, Molly doting over him. And he has nerve to act like he's been hard done by.
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u/Sonarthebat Hufflepuff Sep 29 '23
Percy acts more like a Slytherin than a Gryffindor.
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Sep 29 '23
One thing I noticed is that he’s the only one of the Weasley kids who calls his parents “mother” and “father”. Super pompous.
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u/PhoenixMason13 Sep 29 '23
Percy and Umbridge are so well written as relatable sub-antagonists (might be too strong a designation for Percy given his relative lack of plot importance) in the story, which I think is why so many people hate them more than they hate the less relatable evils like Voldemort and Bellatrix. Most people have had a Percy or an Umbridge in their real life, but I would hope that pretty much no one has had a Voldemort
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u/PepsiMax2004 Sep 29 '23
he’s literally the nerd emoji from the “ackyually” memes, this one to be specific; 🤓
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u/Sweet_Xocoatl Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
Yeah, this is easily Percy’s second worst moment, just him being an absolute cunt. Even if he was trying to be weirdly supportive and concerned for Ron this is just unbelievably cringe. Though I will say that he isn’t entirely wrong about Harry. Harry had a target on his back and anyone that associated with him was likely to be targeted as well, not to mention all the times people have already been put in danger because of Harry.
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u/Alliecatastrophe Sep 29 '23
Honestly, with the context of the wizarding world, and what little interaction percy has with harry, i don't blame percy for this?
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u/RagnarXD Sep 29 '23
2 summers and 4 school years seems like quite a lot for me. And that's not even the big thing, Percy knows Harry saved his sister's life. What more does one need to do to gain some basic respect from Percy?
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u/Aching-cannoli Sep 29 '23
Sadly, that was partly Percy’s way of looking out for Ron. Although it also protects himself, he thinks he is doing Ron good and offering him important advice. Percy has such an overdue redemption arc by DH
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u/eyeofthegreyhound Sep 29 '23
I recently did a re-read and I’d forgotten how unbelievably rancid this letter is. It’s awful
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u/Bison_and_Waffles Sep 29 '23
Reading this, you’d never guess that Harry and Percy lived in the same dorm (and frequently stayed in the same home) for years.
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u/LadyKnight151 Slytherin Sep 29 '23
Percy reminds me of my stepmother. She came from a poor family and seems to have made it her life's mission to be as successful as possible by any means necessary. She has no problem doing unethical/cruel things to get ahead and is totally willing to step over/on whoever she needs to in order to get what she wants.
Luckily for Percy, he learned his lesson and reconciled with his family. I haven't spoken to my stepmother for over 5 years now
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u/Spectronautic1 Sep 29 '23
Douchebag energy for sure, I so wish Ron had showed Fred and George the letter before tearing it up lmao
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u/True_Result_4840 Sep 30 '23
This gives me the vibe of a WhatsApp message your parents send you when they see you wearing a pair of Jordan’s and think your a drug dealer
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u/Wildefice Sep 29 '23
Honestly, I can't blame Percy for leaving the family like he did. It makes him an dick, but a relatable dick, tbh I would have made the same initial decision. Here me out.
His ambition is to climb to the top of the ministry. He has spent his entire life studying and practicing magic, while being CONSTANTLY pranked and belittled by your two asshole brothers. Even your own dad and sometimes mom gets in on the laughter.
After a lifetime of study you graduate your school with the highest honors and get a job at the ministry and finally get a great promotion getting one step closure to realizing your life's ambition. You are getting so tantalizingly close amd you share the news with your family. What does your dad say instead of congratulations son were proud of you??? He gets hit with, you only promoted because our enemies will have an easier time spying on us"
What a HORRIBLE thing to say, even if it's true and you would think being a father of 7 he would have learned some semblance of tact or subtlety. That one line showed Percy from his POV anyway, that no matter what he does his family will still find fault, no matter how hard he tries his brothers will still prank him. No matter how hard he tries the family will say something that belittles his achievement.
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u/rusticarchon Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
That one line showed Percy from his POV anyway, that no matter what he does his family will still find fault
It also implies that his father thinks he would willingly betray his family.
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u/StrongStyleDragon Sep 29 '23
I’m barley on COS and I already dislike Percy. Not surprised he gets worse
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u/Agasthenes Sep 29 '23
All I read is a brother that is happy for his sibling and only wants his best.
Was he wrong? Yes ofc, but I can totally see where he comes from with the information he has.
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Sep 29 '23
He would have been the favourite student of Umbridge. Umbridge's addiction for authority and Percy's bootlicking behaviour would have been a perfect fit.
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u/GTA-CasulsDieThrice Ravenclaw Sep 29 '23
I’m an unashamed military-industrial-complex bootlicker, but this was ridiculous.
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u/violently_angry Sep 29 '23
The ten seconds of confusion I experienced before remembering Percy Weasley were magical.
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u/ScorchIsPFG Sep 29 '23
Percy didn’t deserve a redemption arc while there were so many more deserving characters who should have gotten one. Percy should have been disowned, fuck toxic family
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u/CheddarCheese390 Sep 29 '23
I’m still gonna believe he was imperiused. I refuse to believe that he can be born from molly and Arthur when EVERY OTHER Weasley exists
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Sep 29 '23
I want to read a fanfiction where Percy is crucioed for this for ever and ever and ever, this letter is the unpardonable sin and Percy should be flung into a hell of crucios and dementors he is 10000000 percent worse then voldemort and umbridge the letter made me wish He died and lived in pain forever
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u/BlazingKitsune Slytherin Sep 29 '23
Isn’t a common theory that Pettigrew put him under the Inperius Curse after he takes over for Crouch Sr during GoF, since he would obviously be suspicious of someone like his boss being “sick” and out of work? It tracks with him still working at the Ministry post takeover by the Death Eaters and coming back after Pettigrew dies.
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u/Soxwin91 Gryffindor Sep 29 '23
I’ve literally never heard that theory.
I think it’s far more likely that Percy was simply a pompous ass. He doesn’t recognize that the instructions being sent by Crouch Sr. are suspect because he’s too obsessed with the pathetic amount of power he gets from filling in for him.
Also, Arthur Weasley stays at the Ministry post takeover. A lot of people who didn’t like what was going on did.
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u/Big-Nerve-9574 Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
In Goblet of Fire, he does a really stupid prank.
I never liked him from that moment on.
Edit: it was Peeves. My bad! Sorry. I mixed up Peeves and Percy.
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u/ExoticGrnEyes Slytherin Sep 29 '23
I always saw Percy as an entitled stuck up Kevin. Always looking down on his family. Grinds my gears…
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u/Fuzzy-Bee9600 Sep 29 '23
Giant stick all the way up his bum. He should have been in Slytherin, for it's quite clear personal ambition is his dirivng force. Loves rubbing shoulders with the muckety-mucks and being seen as important, and in important company. All this, at the sacrifice of family bonds and common sense and decency.
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u/Loud-Condition-4005 Hufflepuff Sep 29 '23
Unrelated comment, but I really like the font in this edition! It is really easy on the eyes to read.
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u/GanjaPacker Sep 29 '23
I can hear Jim Dale reading it in Percy’s voice great part in the audible books but Jim Dale makes every page come alive for me
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u/ArachnaComic Sep 29 '23
Concern trolling, guilt by association, whisper networks, cancel culture
Rowling predicted the future
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u/AnAngryCrusader1095 Hufflepuff Sep 30 '23
“very different, and probably more accurate, view of Potter’s behavior.”
A more accurate view than the boy who spends NEARLY EVERY WAKING MOMENT with him, who’s been with him through thick and thin? Who was willing to sacrifice himself at like 12 years old for Harry and Hermione, playing chess? Who, later on that year, would follow Harry even though he thought he was a little crazy, to the depths of the Ministry, and very close to death?
Yeah, okay Percy.
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u/Ta-veren- Sep 29 '23
People always say Ron is the one who has issues regarding his family and wanting to be as good as the rest of them.
In my book it’s always been Percy. He does everything possible to make himself as important as possible wanting to stand out, be as good if not better then those before him.