Fudge is Way Evil and I have the acronyms to prove it

[dicentra_spectabilis_alba]

No: HPFGUIDX 35717

Dicentra said:

Is this the smile of a man who believes his leg is being pulled?
Perhaps. But Harry would have recognized such a smile. He would have
interpreted Fudge's smile correctly and the narrator would have said
so. But instead the smile is *strange.* What if it's the smile of a
man who's heard the news he's been waiting to hear, but is having a
hard time repressing his true emotions. Such a smile could only appear
odd to Harry, because Harry doesn't guess the truth. But our beloved
Auror--er--Author does know, and she's perfectly willing to drop bread
crumbs for those wise enough to see the trail.

Eloise said:

Perhaps, though it may equally be the nervous, disbelieving smile of
the man who's just heard the very last thing he wanted to hear. Not
all of Voldemort's former supporters are delighted to have him back,
are they? What would people like the Lestranges want to do to him,
particularly if they knew he had once been a supporter of Voldemort.

Dicentra responds:

I'll buy this as an acceptable variation on FIDEDIGNO-either way,
Fudge is reacting to Voldemort's return not as someone in the Old Gang
but as a covert supporter.

Dicentra says: 

...but as a side note, it means they weren't there when Sirius Black
was first put into Azkaban, nor were they there when the Aurors were
catching DEs during and shortly after Voldemort's Reign of Terror. It
also means that the dementors were preying mostly on Voldemort's
supporters, formerly their allies. Creepy.

Pippin says: 

Fudge didn't get to be Minister until *after* Crouch had been
discredited, his son was found out and his wife and son had "died."
Sirius, in GoF ch 27 p529," ..so Cornelius Fudge got the top job."
There were already Dementors at the Pensieve trials, bringing people
from Azkaban, so they were already there when Fudge took over. I think
Dumbledore's words are only to convince Fudge that he'll be held
responsible, as the politician who "lost" Azkaban, if the Dementors
defect.

Dicentra replies:

RATS!! I thought I was onto something interesting, there. However,
that little exchange between Fudge and Dumbledore seems to imply that
the dementors were not always at Azkaban, ne? So when did they arrive
and under what circumstances? Unless this is another flint, the canon
is silent. WAIT!!! If the dementors are ardent Voldemort supporters,
what were they doing at Azkaban during Voldie's Reign of Terror? It
appears that The Good Guys ultimately had control over Azkaban, or it
would be filled to brimming with Voldemort's ENEMIES, not his
supporters. What's up with that?

Dicentra says:

So, Black was laughing, was he? Do we hear that from Sirius when he
tells his side of the story? Does he say, "as soon as Peter
disappeared the absurdity of it all struck me and I couldn't help but
laugh?" No! Why would Sirius be laughing? I maintain that he wasn't
laughing at all--maybe sobbing, maybe convulsing in agony, maybe
standing there, stunned, but not laughing like a madman. I maintain
that Fudge willfully inserted that detail into his version of events
to make Sirius look bad. 

Eloise says:

No, sorry I agree with those who think that Sirius *was* hysterical,
and with good reason. Weren't there other witnesses? (shaky ground as
it doesn't seem to matter really in the framing-of-Sirius scenario)

Holly responds:

...I must strongly protest against Sirius being branded 'hysterical'
(although he had every reason to be).

Dicentra chimes in:

Hear! hear! There may have been other witnesses, but we don't hear
their story, only Fudge's. Barty Crouch was there, but he's dead now
(and he never shows up in PoA), and all the muggles can't remember a
thing. I don't know exactly what Sirius's demeanor was, but it wasn't
what Fudge says it was.

Eloise signs off:

Eloise, (who'd been wondering where her pipe and cape had got to.
Still, you're welcome to the pipe; I didn't get on with it either.)

Eloise later demands:

Dicentra, I want that cape and pipe back. Now. I can't do dramatic
swirls with only a deerstalker.

Dicentra responds:

Hey, the pipe and the cape go to whoever is making a dramatic
revelation at the time (rehashed or not). It just turned up whilst I
was composing the FIDEDIGNO speech. Honest. When you have something
important to say, it will turn up at your side. :D

Eloise continues:

P.S. I've always wanted to say how cool I think your name is.

Dicentra answers:

::blush:: Yes, it's a cool name-that's why I chose it! And 40 points
to Gryffindor if you can tell me what Dicentra spectabilis alba means.

Pippin signs off:

F.U.D.G.E.F.A.C.T.O.R. 
Fudge, Underestimating Dementors' Gross Evil, Feared Acting, Choosing
Temporizing Over Reform

Dicentra replies:

Yes, yes, you've got an acronym in your support. But I've got FIVE!!! 

FIDEDIGNO: Fudge Is Definitely An Evil-Doer-It's Not Generally Obvious

FIE Fudge. Is. Evil.

FISHFINGERS: Fudge's Incompetent Spinelessness Hides Foul Intentions
Governing Every Regressive Step

FIEONGOODNESS: Fudge Is Evil: One Nasty Guy Opposes Old Dumbledore,
Nixes Even Severus Snape

NEWLABOURCONSERVATIVE: Nefarious Evil Wizard Likes Appeasing Bad Old
Unmentionable Ruler. Cack-handed Official Not Simply Erring Randomly:
Versatile Actor Truly Is Voldemort's Employee (never mind where this
came from)

I win.