[HPforGrownups] ESE Fudge?

[bloubet at incanmonkey.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 48285

(I think I may rename my fudge recipe. This heading certainly describes it. <grin>)

Susan says:
>Upon re-reading PoA for the zillionth time, I noticed something on p156, in >the Three Broomsticks scene. Old Fudge, in GoF, is adamant that Voldemort >could not come back if his life depended on it. However, on p156, Fudgey says >that "give him back his most faithful servant, and I shudder to think how >quickly he will rise again." Now, Sirius Black, as far as Fudge is concerned, >is still a bad guy, and LV's right hand man. So when Sirius escapes at the end >of PoA, V has been, in Fudge's own words "given back his most faithful >servant". (Of course, it turned out Barty Jr was his most faithful servant, >but that doesn't cover FIE :) ) Why then, in Goblet, does Fudge find it so >hard to believe V is rising again? After all, Sirius has returned to him. >Another DE has been revealed in Crouch/Moody. All the signs point to it, and >yet Fudge denies it?

Fudge may just be foolish enough to believe that they'll catch Sirius again before he gets back to Voldemort, and is, thus, still confident that Voldy can't rise again -- he still won't have his most faithful servant. Besides, it's a lot more comfortable to believe that Voldy, once defeated, can't possibly come back. Certainly not strong enough to menace the whole WW again. 

I'm reminded of a sequence of lines from one of my favorite musicals, "1776", set during the Congress that ratified the Declaration of Independence for America. John Adams is arguing with one of the other representatives, who is supporting making peace with the King. (paraphrasing a bit here, since I don't quite have it memorised <grin>) Adams says, "Why can't you see what is already here? It's been over a year since Concord and Lexington. We're at WAR, man! WAR!" To which Dickinson replies, "YOU'RE at war! YOU! John Adams!" Fudge may be so far in denial that he can only see Harry threatened, or possibly, by extension, Harry and Hogwarts. Surely, Voldy will be stopped by Dumbledore before HE has to deal with it. Yes, that's the ticket. Dumbledore will stop him (because of course he CAN) and Fudge won't have to worry about leading the MoM during wartime. Because he would suck at it, waffling as he always does, and Crouch is gone.

JMHO, of course, and personally, I can't decide yet which Fudge I believe in more strongly...

bel