"I can't leave," Percy replied, miserably, voicing the very items that Oliver considered. "If I leave now, I might be seen as protesting the Minister's policies and placed on 'The List'. As it is, I'm already being eyed with suspicion, Merlin knows for what! I've done my best to keep my nose clean for years. I don't know, I just don't know. And even if I did leave, where would I go? What would I do? For the past twenty some odd years, all I've ever done was work at the Ministry? I couldn't begin to imagine what other job I could do!"
Percy's heart sank as he gave the only answer, "They're so afraid of another resurgence of Death Eaters that they're willing to sacrifice personal freedoms."