I see the numbers are against me, but realistically, unless Voldemort has a reason to hang on to an incompetent if enthusiastic Ministry flunky, why wouldn't he and Peter agree to toss Percy? I don't envy you, having to rationalise a successful tossing of Voldemort! Next step, of course, is exit Peter.

Has anyone brought up the issue that if Dumbledore could get out of Azkaban, no probs (and he said he could), why couldn't he get safely out of a sinking balloon? wandless or not - wandless magic is rather a thing of his. I've been assuming this was his aim - to get rid of some at least of the worst threats to the wizarding world (Voldie too, if he got lucky) then come back and declare peace.