FUDGE IS A DE!!!!

[KathyK]

No: HPFGUIDX 78885

KathyK:
 
>>Picture this:  Fudge returns from Hogwarts after the disastrous 
Triwizard Tournament.  He's got a trail of bodies ending with a 
dead student, a soulless presumed dead Death Eater, and the most 
powerful wizard in the world telling him the other most powerful but 
evil wizard in the world has returned after about 14 years.<<

fran:

>And who was the one who had the dementors dliver the kiss to Crouch 
without questioning?  None other than Fudge himself!  Makes things 
nice and tidy for there being less evidence of LV being back!<

KathyK again:

GoF, US Paperback 702:

'When we told Mr. Fudge that we had caught the Death Eater 
responsible for tonight's events,' said Snape, in a low voice, 'he 
seemed to feel his personal safety was in question....'

and then on 703:

'as Minister of Magic, it is my decision whether I wish to bring 
protection with me when interviewing a possibly dangerous--' 

Now I suppose Fudge's bringing the Dementor along could be 
interpreted as Fudge trying to cover up Voldemort's return.  Indeed 
without Crouch Jr's testimony there is less evidence of Voldemort's 
return.  But as always, I do not believe Fudge's motivation comes 
from any kind of loyalty to LV.

Look at what Snape says.  He says they informed Fudge they'd caught 
the DE responsible for Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory disappearing, 
causing the death of Cedric.  If I were Fudge, I might be worried 
about myself, too.  He brings his dementor along to see this crazed, 
murderous Death Eater.  

He gets there to find that it's not just any DE, but one who was 
locked up in Azkaban and presumably died there, years ago.  Not only 
that, the DE is the son of a missing (and now dead) Ministry 
employee.  Isn't it just as likely, if not more so IMO, that Fudge 
had the Dementor kiss Crouch Jr. to cover up the fact that Crouch Sr. 
helped his son escape Azkaban and has been harboring a known DE 
undetected for years? 

"Losing" Bertha Jorkins was probably bad enough press for the 
Ministry.  How would Fudge combat the accusation that he can't keep 
his own people safe and under control?  He doesn't even want these 
things to come up.  So he has the Dementors kiss Crouch Jr.

Then he has to deal with Dumbledore's tall tales about Voldemort 
returning.  What's a Minister of Magic in love with his position to 
do?  Cover *everything* up.  Not just Voldemort's return but Harry's 
story, the truth behind Bertha Jorkins, Crouch Sr., and Cedric 
Diggory's disappearance/deaths. 

Once again, this does help Voldemort.  But it helps non-DE Fudge more.

KathyK