Fudge: DE or not? (was Re: 50 Questions I would like answered..)

[grace701]

No: HPFGUIDX 55106

> Greicy asked:
> 46) Is Fudge a "Voldemortist", or just in denial of
> his return because he's a wimp? Is Bagman a "Voldemortist"?
> 
> Tom replied:
> By `Voldemortist,' do you mean `Death Eater?'
> 
> Because, if you do mean `Death Eater' I don't think
> that we have evidence to conclude that either Fudge or
> Bagman are involved with Voldemort's, ahem,
> organization... except for Fudge's reluctance to believe
> Dumbledore and Harry in the Parting of the Ways chapter of
> GoF, which is dubious evidence at best, IMHO.
> 
> I think that it's unlikely that either is a Death Eater 
> because of the situation that existed back at the 
> Triwizard Tournament. Fudge was definitely present 
> upon Harry's return. As for Bagman, well, there's more
> leeway regarding him.
> 
> Judging by the chaotic state of affairs we see upon
> Harry's return from the Portkey, I conclude that both 
> Fudge and Bagman *could* have found a way to sneak off 
> to the Graveyard if/when they felt their own marks burn. 
> 
> But Fudge is right there when Harry gets back, and it
> would have been pretty impossible for him to get back
> *that* quickly, given that one can't apparate on the
> Hogwarts grounds. So, I don't think that Fudge is a
> Death Eater, because he could probably have slipped off 
> in the confusion, but didn't. And has been discussed 
> previously, it's likely that Voldemort wouldn't accept
> any excuses. He calls, you go. Simple as that.
> 
> As for Fudge's denial, we have to accept that as far
> as WW public opinion might go, Dumbledore does have a
> credibility gap here, as does Harry. *We* know, trust, 
> and love Dumbledore. But let's face it, there are many 
> in the WW that might not idolize him the way that we do. He
> has made some "poor" decisions (Lupin, Hagrid) that *we*
> understand, but that the public might not. 
> 
> AND, he has been maligned by, amongst others, the highly
> influential Lucius Malfoy, as well as the highly
> influential Rita Skeeter. Didn't she actually refer to
> him as an `obsolete dingbat,' or something to that
> effect? Heck, even Mrs. Weasley, who knows that
> Skeeter `goes out of her way to cause trouble,' even that
> same Mrs. Weasley snubs Hermione as a result of one of
> Skeeter's articles. And she should know better.
> 
> I firmly believe that this is going to be important to
> future plotlines. 
> 
> So, whereas *we* know that Harry is telling the truth, 
> because we were there, and whereas *we* trust Dumbledore, 
> Fudge is taking the stance that a majority of the WW 
> might not believe that Voldemort has returned, based on 
> the possibly disturbed (fits, pains in the scar, and a
> history of crazy stories) Harry's shaky credibility in
> addition to the lack of any other credible witnesses.
> 
> In addition, Fudge knows (and Dumbledore confirms)
> that a large portion of the WW will not approve of
> contacting the giants, or dismissing the dementors
> from Azkaban. Let's just hope that Rita Skeeter really
> keeps her mouth shut, otherwise Dumbledore's going to
> be up the creek without a paddle: cavorting with a
> wanted murderer, interfering at the Ministry of Magic
> – this stuff is just ripe to be exploited.
> 
> Plus, with this new spoiler, well, it all just sounds 
> deliciously ominous.



That's why I asked *is* Fudge a Voldemortist/Spy!Death Eater.  My 
term for Voldemortist is an undercover Death Eater, a spy.  Someone 
who is influenced by Voldemort and who supports him, but doesn't 
want to do all the visible "bad" deeds and of course someone who 
doesn't have the Dark Mark.  This isn't supported by canon of 
course, it is my own theory as well as many others, but I just added 
a name besides spy. ;)

On the other hand, it is also likely that he thinks Harry is 
deranged and cannot (or does not) want to expect that fact that 
Voldemort is back.  We don't know anything about Fudge.  He could be 
a married man with children.  His family may have been affected by 
Voldemort, so he could be also in denial because of that reason.  
It's just that his attitude throughout the book, makes me think ill 
of him.  He may have been there to keep Harry safe from Sirius and 
he may have felt sorry for having to take away Hagrid, but all the 
world is a stage (Fudge's stage) and we are the audience watching 
him *act*.  That's why I asked is he a Voldemortist/spy.  There 
could be the *possibility* that Voldemort sent Fudge a letter 
stating that he is going to kill Harry Potter the night of the Third 
Task and to not apparate to the graveyard because it will be too 
suspicious.  If he could send owls to Crouch!Moody, why not to 
someone who is just as useful to the plot?

Greicy