The Motivations of Fudge and Dumbledore (WAS:Fudge: DE or not?)

[susanbones2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 55246

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tom Wall" <thomasmwall at y...> 
wrote:
>> My point with this post was to indicate that Dumbledore, by 
keeping Harry's fits, scar pains and visions, along with the 
Parselmouth-bit a secret, not from the WW, but from Fudge, might have 
squandered some of this good-will. (SNIP)
> And working from my personal perspective here, what's better: to 
hear that you've been deceived by your colleague/friend from that 
person directly, or to read about it in the media? Surely, feelings 
of betrayal and mistrust will be enhanced by revelations and 
> affirmations courtesy of an obnoxious third party.
>(SNIP)> 
> At any rate, Fudge should have known these bits about Harry's 
ability > to speak Parseltongue, and about the fits and visions. As 
the > Minister of Magic, almost no one (save perhaps Dumbledore 
himself) > would be in a better position to divert resources into the 
situation, > not to mention that honesty would have preserved the 
bond of trust.  For instance, so what: Harry's a Parselmouth. Get a 
few Aurors in an have a look, have an interview. Harry's innocent, 
right, so what harm would that have brought? My point is that if they 
had been working together all along, instead of Albus hiding certain 
things from Fudge (with good reasons or not,) then things would be 
better now for the good-guys, and worse-off for Voldemort.
> 
> -Tom

Tom brought up many good points about Dumbledore and Fudge's 
relationship but in the end it all begged the question: Does 
Dumbledore even trust Fudge? Knowing (as Molly stated during 
the "Parting of the Ways" chapter) that Arthur was always kept down 
at the Ministry because Fudge thought he lacked "proper wizarding 
pride" as well as Fudge's relationship to Lucius Malfoy (Malfoy's 
very generous gift to 
St. Mungo's),it might have been, very probably would have been 
dangerous to let Fudge in on all Harry's secrets. Wizarding 
prejudices seem to be pretty deep and unforgiving. Who's to say Fudge 
wouldn't have wanted to do much more than have a few aurors examine 
Harry? Remember too, Rita Skeeter isn't revealing all these secrets 
with anyone's permission. 
Dumbledore very probably would never have let these things be known 
under any circumstances had he any choice in the matter. Dumbledore 
seems to know full well the limitations of his colleagues and when 
possible, works to reconcile them all for the greater good. It's just 
that he isn't all powerful or omniscient. What Dumbledore doesn't 
know is why Fudge reacted to this situation with his head in the 
sand, it seems.  There must be something about Fudge, some unknown 
terribly bad thing, that made him react to Crouch Jr. in such a final 
permanent way. He must have some connection to the DE's even if it's 
not direct. I do not believe he had the Dementor administer the Kiss 
just because he lost trust in Dumbledore. If you no longer trust 
someone, you have a row if you care that much. You don't remove the 
soul of an important witness. 
JenD