The Perfect Prefect: In Defense of Percy Weasley
Percy Weasley was a rather arrogant older brother for the first few books in the series. He is someone who is proud of his status as a prefect and makes it clear to everyone what his achievement is. This is also the case when he becomes head boy in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and joins the Ministry in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. However, once Voldemort returns, he doesn’t support his family’s efforts against him – instead choosing to remain with the Ministry. It isn’t until the final battle that he sees the error of his ways and joins the fight. It can be hard to see why Percy would not believe his family and remain with his job; however, after re-reading the series and looking at his character fully, a possible explanation for his actions comes out.
Percy’s ambition for the future is made known early on in the series when Ron tells Harry and Hermione “‘Course, he’s very ambitious, Percy, he’s got it all planned out. . . . He wants to be Minister of Magic ” (CoS 58). After his time at Hogwarts, he manages to get closer to his dream by getting a Ministry position and joining the Department of International Magical Co-operation. It isn’t until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix that we understand the reason behind Percy’s ambition:
He [Percy] said he’s been having to struggle against Dad’s lousy reputation ever since he joined the Ministry and that Dad’s got no ambition and that’s why we’ve always been – you know – not had a lot of money, I mean -” (OotP 72)
It’s around this time that Percy is promoted to Junior Assistant to the Minister, which causes the first rift in the family. Arthur believes that Percy only got this position so he could spy on the Weasleys and Dumbledore. However, Percy’s pride makes him believe that he earned this position, and he is highly offended by Arthur’s statement, which leads to a huge argument between the two.
He said Dad was an idiot to run around with Dumbledore, that Dumbledore was heading for big trouble and Dad was going to go down with him, and that he – Percy – knew where his loyalty lay and it was with the Ministry. And if Mum and Dad were going to become traitors to the Ministry he was going to make sure everyone knew he didn’t belong to our family anymore.” (OotP 72)
It’s clear that Percy’s ambition and superior attitude blinded him to the reality of the situation. Like many others in the wizarding world, he was happy to go with the status quo. This attitude and loyalty allowed him to secure a good position at the Ministry, something he never would have gotten if he had spoken out and sided with his family.
But while his actions during Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix can possibly be justified, it’s hard to explain his thought process during Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when it becomes known that Voldemort has been back all along. Possibly, Percy was ashamed of his actions, and it was easier to continue along as he was instead of being courageous and facing his family. Ultimately, he sees the error of his ways and the reality of the situation, and he joins the fight against Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
‘I was a fool!’ Percy roared, so loudly that Lupin nearly dropped his photograph. ‘I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat, I was a – a -‘ ‘Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron,’ said Fred. Percy swallowed. ‘Yes, I was!” (DH 605-6)
Percy’s pride, ambition, and desire for a more secure financial status led him down the wrong route. However, he faced up to the truth and managed to redeem himself before it was too late.
