The Percy Subplot: Explanation and Facts

From New Clues to Harry Potter: Book 5
by Galadriel Waters (The Ultimate Unofficial Guide)
Explanation by Eric of MuggleNet.com

The following clues were discussed on the New Clues Forums.
Related Threads: 'Percy's Loyalty', 'Fudge's Flunky', 'Percy. Apologise? - Ref: Percy's Loyalty', 'Wormtail's whereabouts - Ref: Percy's Loyalty'.

Introduction to Plots and Subplots

What many of you knew when you first paged through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, whether or not you'd read the clue guide to the previous books, was that it was immensely complex. Layers and layers of activities were happening at once, some in unison and others separately. What some readers may not have known, however, is that it seems as if there are a number of these 'background activities' going on that a first glance may not have revealed.

One of the discovered 'background activities' (appropriately called subplots) in HP5 involves Percy, and his whereabouts throughout it. Unlike other subplots, this was not shown to readers directly. Only a series of hidden clues, puns, and other mentions were there to resolve this. Thanks to the great HP Super Sleuths out there, we did!

In the Beginning...

It all starts with Percy himself. What do we know about where he is? What do we know about what he's doing? And, most importantly to some, what side is he on? Well, a lot of you understand from previous HP books that Percy hasn't always been the favorite. He's been known to enjoy authority and enforce the rules. In light of all that, he apparently hasn't gotten too bad with them. Though his brothers, sister, and Harry may not have liked his stiff way of living, none of them mind him too much.

So the first thing readers find out about Percy in Book Five is – he's gone! There was a big fight between him and Mr. Weasley, and he stormed out! Percy's now living somewhere in London and none of the family has heard from him since!

Once Harry and Ron are at school, a letter arrives from Percy for Ron. It's basically telling Ron to quit being friends with Harry and become, well, more like him. But wait! That's not all that could be brewing in this cauldron!

On to the clues....

It has been uncovered by the HP Super Sleuths on the forums (!) that Peter Pettigrew, seemingly absent in Book Five, may be controlling Percy using the Imperius Curse as well as impersonating him with Polyjuice Potion. The method depends on different times the Weasleys had seen or heard from Percy. The facts are continually emerging, but here's what the HP Sleuths have been able to find to support this idea so far:

        1.

            First of all, Percy's letter to Ron is entirely misrepresented in the book. Sure, it sounds like a bunch of really annoying statements to antagonize the readers into hating Percy, but there seems to be more to it than meets the eye!

            Super-Sleuth 'Hedwig at Heart' had cited at least a dozen phrases in this letter that point to "eyes" and "sight". As the Imposter Moody (Barty Crouch, Jr.) said in Goblet of Fire, "...the rest of you, pay attention - watch his eyes, that's where you see it..." This means that one can tell when somebody else is under the Imperius Curse very accurately by looking in their eyes. If they have a blank, sort of longing stare in them, it's a tell-tale sign that they're being controlled! And, as HP Sleuth 'Urgashi' pointed out, Percy doesn't look anyone directly in the eye!

            So here are all these eye clues right out front from Mr. Strangely-behaved himself. If Percy hadn't intended on putting them there, J.K.R. sure did. But even more interesting is his choice of words when he starts a sentence with "I feel bound"! It is highly likely that this is really Percy writing this letter, un-Imperiused. However, Percy was most likely forced to write it, so if he wasn't Imperiused he was probably under high scrutiny. If this were true, it would explain why he slipped all the clues into his letter instead of blatantly telling his problems. It was the only way he could warn them without whoever was holding him captive noticing!

        2.

            So, why is his captor Wormtail? Of all the bad people and Death Eaters whom are known, what can prove so certainly that it's him? Well, there are a ton of clues and references still being investigated by HP Sleuths right now, and it will be quite a while before all of them are found! The biggest telltale sign that it's Wormtail is based on running bits, or specific words used in many (even hundreds of) places throughout the book(s) to associate a common thing.

            For these running bits, it is imperitive to go back to Imposter Moody's entrance in Book Four, chapter twelve ("The Triwizard Tournament"). Nearly half of the words, terms, and phrases used to describe this entrance are major running bits throughout the entirety of Book Five! And from what has been perceived, the ties to this imposter indicate that Percy as well is being imposed upon. Following the running bits such as injured or damaged fingers throughout the book, there's definitely an aura of rat in the air. Peter's only said remains, after he was 'blown to smithereens', were his finger. Hedwig pecks Hermione and Ron's fingers down about writing to Harry, and when Fred and George were using magic to help them in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place, everything went out of control and Sirius nearly got a finger or two cut off! Furthermore, Neville had the same thing happen to him while dueling at the end of the book!

            So if Wormtail's around in the clues, and Percy's being impersonated or controlled in the same clues, it makes sense that Wormtail's the one doing the controlling! What more is needed to prove that they're inter-related? Either way, the many bolt, shackle, and bondage clues (referenced by HP Sleuth 'Corgi') mean that wherever Percy is or whoever he is with, he sure isn't having a good time...

            Even more interestingly is a few mentions in Book Two, chapter twelve ("The Polyjuice Potion")! As HP Sleuth 'Evilrabbit' noticed, Malfoy, upon finding Harry and Ron (as Crabbe and Goyle) and bumping in to Percy, sighs and remarks "That Peter Weasley..." Ron quickly corrects him, but doesn't it seem like a foreshadowing of future events? Draco then directly tells them that he believes Percy was down there "trying to catch the heir of Slytherin single-handedly"! Certainly someone with one arm is hanging around Percy, even if they haven't lost their arm yet, like Peter. It can indeed be, once again, a foreshadowing!

        3.

            And finally, HP Sleuths 'Elizabeth' and 'Saskia' had pointed out that Percy could be an imposter using the Polyjuice Potion. One of the main reasons that this is believed is the fact that Percy is residing in London. He's closer to work, yes, but he can Apparate to work from anywhere! He doesn't need to worry about morning traffic, so why not move somewhere exotic like Egypt? It's certainly clear how much he enjoys the pyramids... =)

            Barty Crouch Jr. kept the real Alastor Moody in a trunk in his office. He was very close by, so whenever Imposter Moody would need to ask Moody a question about how he acted, he could easily aid him to perform just as well as the real him! And now, Percy's closer to work. He's closer to a lot of other people too, such as Lucius Malfoy - as he visits the Ministry quite occasionally. The idea is basically that Wormtail (or whoever) needs Percy close by for the said information, and when the Polyjuice Potion (or something like it) is being used, he is most likely locked up there as well.

            Possible proof that this is the case, or even in support of the Polyjuice Potion, is that Molly Weasley was unable to speak to Percy at his home. He, or someone who looked precisely like him from what she saw, slammed the door right in her face. If it was really Wormtail or someone else, she was probably a glance away from a tied-up Percy. If not, anyone could be controlling Percy to do just that, whether or not he wanted to.

Summing It Up

Still not convinced? Book One points out Percy was the first Weasley (before Ron) to get Scabbers the rat, who turned out to be Pettigrew anyway! It still hasn't been said how Percy got him, but from living with the Weasleys for that long, it is clear that Wormtail definitely should have picked up something about them! For that reason it is quite believable that Wormtail, despite his past unfaithfulness to Lord Voldemort, was chosen for 'Percy Duty'.

Finally, it may be unclear what 'the bad guys' want with Percy to begin with. Wouldn't he be more useful as a spy to the Order? To answer that question, imagine what it would have to be like trying to hide your secrets from Dumbledore, Snape, Remus, and possibly other Legilimens Order members every single day! With that many around, it would be impossible. So, unless Dumbledore knows what is going on (which has not yet been ruled out, but is not too probable), Voldy and his gang may not have any inside information about the Order at all.

Instead, a good explanation (or the best that has been uncovered) is Voldemort's old policy of Divide and Conquer. The Weasleys are no longer whole, and are sort of breaking apart from each other. Here's this honorable student and kid, not even accepting his own family. Whatever the reason, the many open clues out there await discovery, and may one day shine the path to a straight answer.

Prime-Time Sleuths: Elizabeth, Corgi, DADAGinny, Saskia, urvashi, hedwig at heart, florida.beachbum, and Evilrabbit!