Dumbledore and the "Old Crowd

[Betty Landers]

No: HPFGUIDX 13591

Hello all!  Coming out of deep lerkdom to bring up a question.
Reading all this discussion of Sirius and the fifth question about the
old crowd made me think of someone who Dumbledore mentions and we've
heard his name a couple times, but only in passing. Mundungus Fletcher
(sp?).  Book 2: Arthur Weasley is checking for illegal (misused) muggle
stuff and rades Fletcher's place, and Fletcher tries to curse him.  Book
4: Toward the beginning, just before they get to HOgwarts, we here Percy
talking about all the howlers and stuff he's been getting after the
incident in the woods, and he mentions in passing that Fletcher has
tried to take out a claim on a 12 bedroom tent or something like that.
HOwever, according to Percy, Fletcher was sleeping under a cloak propped
up with sticks.  Also in book 4: Toward the end, when Dumbledore is
sending Sirius to alert the "old crowd", he specifically mentions
Fletcher.
What, in your opinion, does this little bit of information suggest about
Fletcher?  Is it even the same person?  Why might Dumbledore trust him?
D you think Fletcher has always mistrusted the ministry?  General
speculation?
OK, going back to the land of Lerkdom and waiting for your ideas.