Avaricious Fudge?

[jotwo2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 87787

Re-reading OOP I've had a few thoughts about Fudge. Even though by 
the end he had been forced to accept that Voldemort was back I think 
he is going to cause more trouble for the good side in the next 
books. (I think this is my own theory but I've read so many 
discussions in fandom that sometimes I'm not sure where ideas comes 
from.) 

Now I don't believe Fudge is a Death Eater.  At the end of GOF I 
considered him as an incompetent who was sticking his head in the 
sand.   (BTW I think his incompetence is verified by his name, as to 
fudge carries overtones of putting together something inadequate.)  
In OOP we saw that he was devious, as he was prepared to use 
character assassination to undermine people who disagreed with him.  

I also think that OOP planted the idea that Fudge is avaricious.  I 
picked this up by re-reading Chapter 10, Luna Lovegood, specifically 
The Quibbler article.

"Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, denied he had any plans to 
take over the running of the Wizarding Bank, Gringotts, when he was 
elected Minister for Magic five years ago.  Fudge has always insisted 
that he wants nothing more than to 'co-operate peacefully' with the 
guardians of our gold.
      BUT DOES HE?
      Sources close to the Minister have recently disclosed that 
Fudge's dearest ambition is to seize control of the goblin gold 
supplies and that he will not hesitate to use force if need be
"

Now, I know The Quibbler has been presented in canon as the sort of 
newspaper that makes the National Enquirer look like the Financial 
Times, but I get the impression that fans suspect that there may be a 
kernel of truth in some of its outrageous stories.  

I can envisage Fudge doing something like this, as it would be a 
logical character development for him, as we know now he is an 
incompetent but ruthless politician, rather than the avuncular 
bumbler the reader and Harry first took him to be.  From OOP the 
reader gets the impression that JKR dislikes bureaucrats and 
politicians, and it would be logical if she developed this idea by 
portraying the wizarding government as corrupt and venal.

If Fudge attacks the goblins for their gold then it would make sense 
for them to join Voldemort's side, or, at best, refuse to help the 
good side.  

There is other evidence to support this theory.  In OOP, chapter 5, 
The order of the Phoenix, Bill says Ragnak is feeling anti-wizard 
because Fudge refused to pay the goblins the money that Ludo Bagman 
owed them in GOF.  Perhaps this is another example of JKR's 
foreshadowing technique.  

Other techniques that people argue that she uses when she is planting 
a clue are interruption and Harry not believing something.  With 
regards to The Quibbler article, JKR writes, "Harry did not read any 
further.  Fudge might have many faults but Harry found it extremely 
hard to imagine him ordering goblins to be cooked in pies."

Fudge won't be going that far but I suspect something will happen 
between him and the goblins. 

JoTwo