One for Sorrow

I have a theory, by the way, that Percy is indirectly a Jane Austen allusion (Jane Austen, Rowling has said, is her favorite author, and we see she has worked other references in, e.g., Mrs. Norris). I believe she modeled him on Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice. Certainly Percy's pompousness is an object of ridicule to his family, just as Mr. Collins' is with the Bennett family. Compare Percy's letter in Order of the Phoenix, suggesting to Ron that he should cast Harry off as a friend to Mr. Collins' letter to Mr. Bennett when Lydia runs away with Wickham.