Percy Ignatius Weasley

Percy Ignatius Weasley is the third son of Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley, and an older brother to Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ron Weasley, and Ginny Weasley. A model student at Hogwarts who became both a Gryffindor Prefect and Head Boy, Percy is defined by his immense ambition and a rigid adherence to rules and authority. This ambition leads to a painful estrangement from his family when he chooses loyalty to a corrupt Ministry of Magic over them. His character arc culminates in his eventual realization, heartfelt reconciliation, and valiant participation in the Battle of Hogwarts, serving as a powerful lesson on the dangers of misplaced priorities and the enduring strength of family.

Percy began his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1987 and was sorted into Gryffindor house. He proved to be an exemplary, if officious, student. In his fifth year, he was made a Prefect, an achievement he took immense pride in, much to the amusement of his younger twin brothers. As a reward, his parents bought him a screech owl he named Hermes. Percy excelled academically, ultimately achieving twelve Outstanding O.W.L.s. During his final two years, he began a secret relationship with Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw Prefect. In Harry's second year, Percy was horrified to find Penelope had been petrified by the Basilisk of Slytherin. In his seventh and final year, Percy was appointed Head Boy, the pinnacle of his school career. He graduated from Hogwarts in the spring of 1994.

Upon graduating, Percy secured a position at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of International Magical Cooperation under the stern leadership of Barty Crouch Sr., whom Percy deeply admired. He served as a scribe for Mr. Crouch during the Triwizard Tournament and briefly stood in for him as a judge during the Second Task. Following the return of Lord Voldemort, Percy was offered a prestigious promotion to Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Arthur Weasley suspected that the promotion was a ploy by Fudge to use Percy to spy on the Weasley family and their connections to Albus Dumbledore. This suggestion led to a furious argument between father and son. Percy accused his father of having no ambition and being the reason for the family's poor reputation. He renounced his family, declared his loyalty to the Ministry, and moved into a flat in London, becoming estranged from the entire Weasley clan. He even callously returned the Christmas jumper his mother sent him. Throughout the following year, Percy fully supported the Ministry's smear campaign against Harry Potter and Dumbledore, and upheld the authority of Dolores Umbridge. He was present at Harry's disciplinary hearing and later at the capture of Dumbledore's Army.

Even after Fudge was replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour, Percy remained at the Ministry. He made a brief, awkward appearance at The Burrow during Christmas with Scrimgeour, but his attempt at a greeting was stiff and the visit was merely a pretext for the Minister to question Harry. When the Ministry fell to Voldemort's control, Percy remained in his position, an action he later admitted was born of cowardice and the realization he had nowhere else to go. The turning point came during the Battle of Hogwarts on 2 May 1998. Percy, finally accepting the depth of his error, rushed to the castle to fight alongside his family. He offered a tearful and sincere apology, which was immediately accepted. In the battle, he fought alongside his father against the Imperiused Minister, Pius Thicknesse, and later dueled Death Eaters alongside his brother Fred. He was witness to Fred's tragic death in an explosion, a moment of profound devastation that saw Percy shield his brother's body from further harm before being pulled from the fight by Harry.

After the Second Wizarding War, Percy returned to the Ministry of Magic. He eventually rose to become the Head of the Department of Magical Transportation (Pottermore). He married a woman named Audrey and had two daughters, Molly and Lucy Weasley (J.K. Rowling interview).

Percy is described as tall and thin, with the trademark Weasley red hair and horn-rimmed glasses. His bearing is often stiff and pompous. His personality is dominated by ambition, a love for rules, and a deep-seated desire for status and respect. He is officious, condescending, and often lacks a sense of humour, making him a frequent target of Fred and George's pranks. For several years, his ambition blinded him to the truth and corrupted his judgment, causing him to prioritize his career over his family's love and safety. However, his profound grief over Fred's death and his desperate need for his family's forgiveness reveal that, beneath his stuffy exterior, he possessed a deep, albeit suppressed, love for them all.

• Academic Prowess: Percy was a highly intelligent and accomplished wizard at Hogwarts, proven by his attainment of twelve O.W.L.s.
• Transfiguration: Percy demonstrated a particular talent for Transfiguration. As a student, he was able to alter his Prefect badge. During the climax of the Battle of Hogwarts, he skillfully transfigured Pius Thicknesse into a sea urchin, a piece of advanced and effective combat magic.
• Bureaucratic Competence: Despite the political reasons for his initial promotion, his continued career and eventual rise to Head of a Department suggest he was a capable administrator at the Ministry of Magic.

• Wand: The wood, core, and length of Percy's wand are unknown.
• Scabbers: Percy's pet rat during his early years at Hogwarts. He later gave the rat to his brother Ron. Scabbers was eventually revealed to be the Animagus form of Peter Pettigrew.
• Hermes: A screech owl Percy received as a gift from his parents for becoming a Prefect.
• Badges: Percy owned both a silver Prefect badge and, later, a Head Boy badge, both of which he kept polished to a gleam.

• Arthur Weasley & Molly Weasley: Percy had a complex relationship with his parents. They were proud of his achievements but were deeply wounded by his ambition-fueled betrayal. The ideological clash with his father was the catalyst for their estrangement, but their reconciliation during the final battle was immediate and complete.
• Weasley Siblings: He often adopted a bossy, authoritarian tone with his younger siblings. Fred Weasley and George Weasley delighted in mocking his self-important nature. His estrangement was a source of great pain for the entire family, and his grief over Fred's death underscored the love he held for his siblings.
• Penelope Clearwater: Percy's girlfriend during his time at Hogwarts. Their relationship was kept secret for some time.
• Barty Crouch Sr.: His first boss at the Ministry, whom Percy idolized for his strict adherence to rules and dedication to work. Percy defended him even when Crouch was clearly behaving erratically under the Imperius Curse.
• Cornelius Fudge: Percy became a sycophantic supporter of Fudge, blindly following the Minister's anti-Dumbledore agenda in exchange for career advancement and a sense of importance.

• Percy: Short for Percival, a name of aristocratic French origin. Sir Percival was one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, renowned for his purity and role in the quest for the Holy Grail. This could be an ironic choice, as Percy's quest was for worldly status rather than spiritual enlightenment.
• Ignatius: A Latin name meaning “fiery.” This may allude to the Weasley family's red hair or the “fiery” argument that fractured his relationship with his father. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, was known for discipline and order, traits Percy valued highly.
• Weasley: J.K. Rowling has stated that she has a fondness for weasels, which are a maligned creature in British folklore. The name may also connect to the reddish-brown fur of the animal, mirroring the family's hair color.

• In the film adaptations of the Harry Potter series, Percy Weasley is portrayed by Chris Rankin.
• Percy's storyline is significantly condensed in the films. His major falling-out with his family is omitted, as is his specific, verbal reconciliation during the Battle of Hogwarts. He is, however, shown fighting against the Death Eaters in the final film.
• In a 2007 interview, J.K. Rowling revealed Percy's post-war life, including his marriage to a woman named Audrey and the names of their two daughters, Molly and Lucy.