Percy's Letter

A Complete Translation of Percy's Letter

by Bob Rozak

For those that don't think Percy was actually Wormtail on Polyjuice in OotP, stop reading now. This won't do you much good, and it will save you a long read!

If you choose to keep reading anyway, please keep one thing in mind:
If Percy is acting of his own accord, and Wormtail is impersonating Percy, then it doesn't matter what Wormtail is doing, it matters what Percy is doing. There is a clue in this letter that that even confirms what JKR has already told us- Percy is not under the Imperius Curse. The letter confirms that Percy is acting of his own accord.

Percy managed to send a letter, using his own owl, despite his capture. How? Wormtail would have been using Hermes to simulate Percy, so as not to arouse suspicion. Someone sent a reply addressed to "Percy Weasley," and Hermes took it to the real Percy. (See below.)

The letter fits into a technique JKR uses in her writing: teaching the reader about an idea and using it later in a more complex way to see if we can figure it out. For example, the Animagus ability has been used three times in the storyline, each time in a more complex way. The Polyjuice Potion is another example.

Harry's coded letter to Sirius was the tutorial for Percy's letter; both appear in the same chapter. (OotP, chapter 14)

The letter was written to Ron, but Percy would have known Ron wouldn't be able to spot the clues. Luckily, Percy has a similar intellect to Hermione, which is why Hermione's always gotten along better with Percy than his brothers have. Percy knew that Hermione would be able to translate the letter. She may have even caught some of it on her first read- her reaction is oddly different than Ron and Harry's. Too bad Ron burned it so quickly.

Percy's letter uses many of the same techniques JKR uses when hiding clues and making hints in the story. In the letter, we find literary clues, deductive reasoning hints, and even a keyword- Dumbledore. Appropriately, the information found from the keyword is meant for Dumbledore himself.

[Edit: Thanks to Gandolf the Wizard, another word I suspected as a keyword has been resolved: afraid. Also appropriately, it refers to Percy's capture and imprisonment.]

Keep in mind that the only information Percy has to give comes from the return letter he just received by accident, what the Death Eaters have told him, and what he's overheard.

Dear Ron,

I have only just heard (from no less a person than the Minister of Magic himself, who has it from your new teacher, Professor Umbridge) that you have become a Hogwarts prefect.
-(Fudge sent the return letter to Percy.)

I was most pleasantly surprised when I heard this news
- I was surprised but happy when Hermes showed up.

and must firstly offer my congratulations.
-same old Percy, just being formal

I must admit that I have always been afraid that you would take what we might call the "Fred and George" route, rather than following in my footsteps, so you can imagine my feelings on hearing you have stopped flouting authority and have decided to shoulder some real responsibility.
-I didn't think you'd be in any danger, but now that Dumbledore's made you a prefect the ministry's going to be very suspicious of you. You can imagine I'm feeling concerned for your safety.
-[Edit: Keyword: afraid - "Fred and George" route(Ron went with the Twins to rescue Harry from his imprisonment at the Dursleys in CoS)]

But I want to give you more than congratulations, Ron, I want to give you some advice,
-There is more to this message than it first appears, I want to give you information

which is why I am sending this at night rather than by the usual morning post.
-(an excuse for the reason the letter arrives at night in case it is intercepted by those who are watching the mail in and out of Hogwarts)

Hopefully you will be able to read this away from prying eyes and avoid awkward questions.
-Do not let the wrong people see this letter!

From something the Minister let slip when telling me you are now a prefect,
-In the Minister's letter that Hermes "accidentally" delivered to me instead of my impersonator...

I gather that you are still seeing a lot of Harry Potter. I must tell you, Ron, that nothing could put you in danger of losing your badge more than continued fraternization with that boy.
-It appears the ministry is taking an interest in the loyalties of the students, especially those who are close to Dumbledore and Harry. (Ron represents both, as a prefect and a friend of Harry's. This warns about the ministry's fear that Dumbledore is training an army to use against Fudge)

Yes, I am sure you are surprised to hear this --
-(no code necessary)

no doubt you will say that Potter has always been Dumbledore's favorite --
-(Keyword: Dumbledore- "favorite")

but I feel bound
-I am bound (Shackled, chained up, or bound by an anti-apparation jinx)

to tell you that Dumbledore may not be in charge at Hogwarts much longer and the people who count have a very different -- and probably more accurate -- view of Potter's behavior.
-The ministry plans to force Dumbledore out. Fudge has his suspicions that there are people in the ministry who believe what Dumbledore is saying.
-(Keyword: Dumbledore-"people who count" -- instruction to count people; Percy names ten people in this letter)

I shall say no more here, but if you look at the Daily Prophet tomorrow you will get a good idea of the way the wind is blowing -- and see if you can spot yours truly!
-You can find my location by looking in the Daily Prophet article tomorrow
-("the way the wind is blowing" is a reference to direction. to "spot" someone is to try and find them.)
-(Note: the article does not show a picture of Percy, so one cannot actually "spot" him, but one can browse through the article itself to look for a location. Only one is mentioned: the Malfoy's Wiltshire mansion. Also note that in CoS chapter 12, Draco mentioned that his family had their own secret chamber, under the drawing room floor. This gives us Percy's location, the location the interviews took place, and how Percy knew about the article.)

Seriously, Ron, you do not want to be tarred with the same brush as Potter, it could be very damaging to your future prospects, and I am talking here about life after school too.
- Constant vigilance! Associating with Harry could put your life in danger! Here's why...

As you must be aware, given that our father escorted him to court, Potter had a disciplinary hearing this summer in front of the whole Wizengamot and he did not come out of it looking too good. He got off on a mere technicality if you ask me and many of the people I've spoken to remain convinced of his guilt.
-The only people I've spoken to since my imprisonment are Death Eaters- and they seem to think the order for the dementor's attack on Harry did not come from You-Know-Who! Someone in the Ministry tried to take Harry out, and at least succeeded at making him look bad.
-(Percy was right about this! It was Umbridge!)

It may be that you are afraid to sever ties with Potter -- I know that he can be unbalanced and, for all I know, violent --
-You might be afraid to leave Harry to defend for himself, but when he's put in danger, he can be quite a threat himself.
-( Edit : To clarify, "unbalanced" refers to catching Harry offguard, "violent" refers to Harry's reaction, or capability of defense."For all I know" makes the reader think about how well Percy actually does know Harry.)
-[Edit: Keyword: afraid - sever ties(reference to being tied, needing to be free)

but if you have any worries about this, or have spotted anything else in Potter's behavior that is troubling you, I urge you to speak to Dolores Umbridge, a really delightful woman, who I know will be only too happy to advise you.
-If you are still worried about Harry, or you find that Umbridge has been mistreating him, the best way to help Harry might be to cozy up to Umbridge.
-(Note: I think Percy's description of Umbridge is amusing, compare it to Harry's description of her in his coded letter to Sirius.)

This leads me to my other bit of advice. As I have hinted above, Dumbledore's regime at Hogwarts may soon be over.
-Dumbledore won't be at Hogwarts much longer, but there's something you can do...
-(Keyword: Dumbledore-"As I have hinted above" -- this is the key to the keyword used in the letter. This makes the reader go back to the previous mentions of the name Dumbledore and clarifies that his name acts as a hint.)

Your loyalty, Ron, should be not to him, but to the school and the Ministry.
-You can help Dumbledore out by keeping your loyalties to the school, but also pretending that you are loyal to the ministry. In doing so you can help to keep Dumbledore informed about what Umbridge is up to!

I am very sorry to hear that so far Professor Umbridge is encountering very little cooperation from staff as she strives to make those necessary changes within Hogwarts that the Ministry so ardently desires (although she should find this easier from next week -- again, see the Prophet tomorrow!).
-Umbridge is having trouble trying to make the changes the ministry wants at Hogwarts. The Ministry is even about to take some drastic measures. They're getting desperate! Umbridge is desperately seeking help. Be the one to help her, and she may let you in on some inside information.

I shall say only this -- a student who shows himself willing to help Professor Um-
bridge now may be very well placed for Head Boyship in a couple of years!
-Pretending to help Umbridge will give you a lot of valuable information that Dumbledore can use. He'll remember that when it comes time to choose a Head Boy!

I am sorry that I was unable to see more of you over the summer.
-In other words, you did not see me over the summer.

It pains me to criticize our parents,
-I would not criticize our parents.

but I am afraid I can no longer live under their roof
-[Edit: Keyword: afraid- no longer live under their roof (taken from home, kidnapped)

while they remain mixed up with the dangerous crowd around Dumbledore
- (Keyword: Dumbledore- "dangerous crowd")

(if you are writing to Mother at any point, you might tell her that a certain Sturgis Podmore, who is a great friend of Dumbledore's, has recently been sent to Azkaban for trespass at the Ministry. Perhaps that will open their eyes
-I offer this proof that I have not turned against our family. I know what has happened to Sturgis Podmore- the ministry will surely be trying to keep this information from Dumbledore's associates. Please make sure they are informed. (Make note that the article in the Daily Prophet was only one inch by one inch, and Percy had no way to know about it.)
-(Keyword: Dumbledore- "Azkaban")

to the kind of petty criminals with whom they are currently rubbing shoulders). I count myself very lucky to have escaped the stigma of association with such people
-I escaped the curse Pettigrew put on me.
-( Petty criminals/ rubbing shoulders = Pettigrew/Scabbers. Scabbers used to ride around on Ron's shoulder, as depicted in the photo of the Weasleys in Egypt in PoA.)
- Stigma: a mark or scar. This makes us immediately think of Harry, who got his scar from a curse.

and I do hope, Ron, that you will not allow family ties to blind you to the misguided nature of our parents' beliefs and actions either.
-Don't believe what you see just because everyone else does.

I sincerely hope that, in time, they will realize how mistaken they were and I
shall, of course, be ready to accept a full apology when that day comes.
-(No code necessary.)

Please think over what I have said most carefully, particularly the bit about Harry Potter,
-This letter is written in code. Think about it carefully. The parts about Harry are really important.

and congratulations again on becoming prefect.
-(no coding again)

Your brother,
Percy

Dumbledore keyword:
favorite
people who count
dangerous crowd
Azkaban

Percy is trying to warn Dumbledore about ten people, favorites of Voldemort, a dangerous crowd, in Azkaban. Percy knew about the breakout of Voldemort's most loyal servants months in advance.

Afraid keyword:

First, the JKR quote:
Is Percy acting of his own accord?

"I'm afraid so." - A literal clue to:

Keyword: afraid
"Fred and George" route - reference to Harry's imprisionment
sever ties - reference to being tied (needing to be freed)
No longer live under their roof - kidnapped!

So JKR did use a clue from Percy's letter - and shows that her response was directed at the letter, the only thing the real Percy actually did in OotP!

This letter took weeks to figure out completely. Percy had a good idea of what was going on during OotP. He knew someone at the Ministry had sent the dementors after Harry, he suspected Umbridge and knew she would give Harry a rough time at Hogwarts, he tried to warn Dumbledore about the Azkaban breakout. He tried to give Ron a way to protect himself and help Dumbledore. He tried to convey what happened to him, where he was and how he managed the letter.

Yes, Percy is acting of his own accord. Considering what he's going through, his actions show true Gryffindor spirit.

Also see: "Peter" Weasley

Get inspired by the music! Listen to Free Percy on Bob's website.

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