[HPforGrownups] The Corruption Of Fudge?

[millergal8 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 45582



<< Evenflow writes:
 
 "Rumour has it that Fudge is either one of these:
 
 1) Working for Voldemort. A Death Eater and a faithful servent
 2) Used to work for Voldemort but doesn't now
 3) Is a corrupt official who is only interested in his own power 
 levels and allies with certain *people* to keep himself at a high 
 level
 4) A bumbling ignorant"
 Now Chris:
 1) I don't think this is likely.  If he was, why was he not fingered by 
Karakoff or Snape or someone else during the trials.  I don't think that 
Moody or Dumbledore would have allowed him to become MFM if he had showed 
even the slightest taint of DEism.  Other problems, why would he not want 
Dumbledore removed from Hogwarts permantly or lay the groundwork for 
Voldemort's return.   >>


It is actually quite feasible that none of the DE's about Fudge.  Voldemort 
thrives on being powerful.  Which do you think fits better, the evil overlord 
trusting his followers enough to allow them to know the other followers, or 
keeping the power to himself and only he knows who the supporters are?  The 
first scenario leaves Voldemort rather vulnerable.  First, if one DE is 
caught what is stopping that person from naming all the supporters?  Second, 
Voldemort, being the shrewd wizard he is, knows that he doesn't attract the 
most honorable of followers.  By keeping the membership secret, he protects 
himself from a supporter who suddenly decides he/she has more to gain by 
going to the other side, or even a revolt.  It would be awfully hard to try 
to stage a coup if the members didn't even know who each other were and 
didn't even know how to meet unless being called by Voldemort.  Now granted 
yes, some people did know the names of other DEs.  But total secrecy would be 
a nearly impossible feat.  But iby keeping the number of DEs who know each 
other to a minimum he safeguards himself.  We even have canon proving that he 
chose this policy.  From GoF, Scholastic paperback, pg 646 "All of them were 
hooded and masked."  This is when the DEs were apparating to the graveyard.  
Why would they need masks if the only people there were fellow DEs and a boy 
he was going to kill?  
Fudge may not have even been at DE meetings.  There really isn't canon to 
support this theory, but there also isn't canon to disprove it, so hear me 
out.  Suppose he turned DE after starting work for the ministry?  Even an 
entry level ministry worker would be a good asset as a spy.  So instead of 
running around killing people while wearing a mask, Fudge parades around 
pretending to fight, but he is really passing any info he gets on to 
Voldemort.  So through the years of Voldemort's terrorism, he works his way 
up the corporate ladder, getting ever closer to the inner circle where he 
would have the most important information at his disposal.  Then, suddenly 
little Harry Potter defeats Voldemort.  Nobody knows about Fudge because he 
never met with the DEs, he only met with the head guy.  What does Fudge have 
to gain by leaving the ministry.  Nothing, in fact, he stands to lose a lot 
by leaving.  First, he is apparantly the third most important man within the 
ministry at this point.  Second, by abruptly leaving right after the fall of 
Voldemort, he draws attention to himself.  It would seem suspicious to most 
people if a powerful man were to suddenly "retire" and leave, so soon after 
victory.  So he stays on for lack of anything else to do.  Then, oops, 
suddenly because two of his opponents for the top spot are gone, Fudge 
becomes the new minister.  Of course he takes it, what kind of nutter would 
turn down the job? (Keep in mind that Dumbledore is considered a nut by some 
people.)  So now Fudge is the head guy, by default.  But his true convictions 
never change.  He still remains a DE at heart, but is smart enough to keep 
quiet and is the number one man in the UK.  And years later, a rumor appears 
that Voldemort is on the rise.  Fudge, having never changed his beliefs would 
still be faithful to him.  And Voldemort isn't stupid enough to throw out the 
minister of magic as an asset.  Fudge now goes back to spying.  He's even 
more powerful now because who would mistrust the minister of magic?  And to 
ensure that nobody has reason to doubt him, he allows Dumbledore to stay at 
Hogwarts, for now anyway.  Even if he is considered to be insane by some, 
Dumbledore is still respected.  Firing Dumbledore would only call more 
attention to himself, something a successful spy would never do. 

Christy