The Kissing of Barty Crouch (was: Fudge and the Longbottoms)

[Edblanning at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 40954

Uncmark:
> Consider why Fudge was so quick to administer the Dementor's Kiss. 
> Would he do this if he unknowingly working for LV? I think that's a 
> stretch.

Various people have been blamed for the admistration of the Dementor's Kiss 
on Crouch Jr., or at least for not preventing it - McGonagall, Snape and 
Fudge have all been either found wanting or accused of deliberately allowing 
it.

What I find interesting is that we are never told that Fudge ordered it; we 
*are*, however told  in POA that the Dementors had *permission* to administer 
the Kiss directly to Sirius, if he were captured, implying that was not their 
automatic right.

Which implies either that they had been given prior permission to *Kiss* 
Barty Crouch Jr. (implying that that Fudge or someone in authority in the MoM 
*did* know he was still alive), or that Fudge gave the Dementor in question 
instructions on the way up to the castle (again implying that Fudge knew, or 
accepted what was going on, somewhat surprising, if we are to believe his 
performance in 'the Parting of The Ways'), or, perhaps even more worryingly, 
that the Dementors are out of Fudge's control.

Is it consonant with Fudge's character to believe at first hearing some story 
about a DE known to have died in Azkaban being still alive and in Moody's 
office?
What did Snape tell him that made him *so* concerned for his safety that he 
needed the protection of a Dementor? 

Isn't his acceptance of Crouch Jr.'s presence just a little bit casual?
He is concerned about how embarassing the escapes of Sirius and Buckbeak are 
for the Ministry, but even when he apparently doesn't accept Voldemort's 
return, the escape of another prisoner from Azkaban and the collusion and 
murder of of a senior member of the Ministry apparently give him no pause for 
thought.

Which actually gives me a reason for 
Weak-But-Not-Currently-Actively-Evil!Fudge to ensure that Crouch Jr. is 
disposed of quickly.

It has been pointed out recently that Fudge must have some political nous, 
even if he is pretty stupid in other ways. 
Well, it happens, doesn't it? ;-)

Perhaps Snape did tell him the story convincingly enough for him to realise 
the implications of what had happened and the embarassment that would be 
caused to himself and to the Ministry if the story were to become public. So 
the Kissing of Barty Crouch became a matter of political expediency, the 
first stage of a cover-up. No embarassing trial of a criminal supposed 
already to be dead. No need to admit that Crouch Sr. was murdered - everyone 
knew that he was ill, didn't they?
The Dementor was there for his political protection, rather than for his 
personal safety.

So his casual reaction is explained by the fact that he has just dealt with a 
potential short-term political crisis. The Crouch episode is over. Finito. He 
cannot see further than that. The bigger picture, of Voldemort's return, is 
just too much for him to take in.

Eloise
who still thinks there is plenty of scope for Fudge to have been actively 
evil *before* Voldemort's fall, just in case anyone thinks she's deserted 
Camp Evil!Fudge.
And who also wonders why Fudge isn't affected by the Dementor. 
And won't ask why Snape isn't (having already heard Cindy's part-Dementor 
theory).






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