OOP: Cornelius Fudge and other Random Thoughts SPOILERS!

[Wendy St John]

No: HPFGUIDX 61632

SPOILERS AHEAD! (Of course!) <g>
 
Here are my initial thoughts about the new book:
 
Deb quoted someone (didn't say who, and I can't find the original post . .
. SORRY!):
 
> I think there was some redemption at the end.  I didn't expect her 
to have > Fudge see the light at the end.  If I had predicted that, 
my post-Hogwarts > fanfic would have taken a different tack.  I think 
the Ministry is just like > any other governmental organization, 
mired in bureaucracy.

 Then Deb wrote:
"I was really glad to see some closure, there. The fact that 
the OotP was fighting a two-front war--against Voldemort and against 
the Ministry--had me worried. It might not all be sunshine and light 
by the end of the book (Umbridge, after all, worked for Fudge, not 
Voldemort), at least the wizarding world is mostly united against 
Voldemort--not arguing amongst itself about whether he's back or not, 
and therefore unable to stand against a common enemy."


 
Now me (Wendy):
 
These two quotes seem to be a good place for me to comment on one of the
biggest aspects of the book for me: The portrayal of the Ministry. Others
here have likened it to Nazi Germany, which I think is a very good
comparison. Half-way through the book, I found I was really frightened by
Umbridge, her "Inquisition" and all the orders which just kept getting made
up at will. Really, really creepy, and very uncomfortable and scary to read!
 
Anyhow, I agree with what was said above that now the Wizarding World will
be united, instead of arguing about whether or not Voldemort has returned.
The thing I'm still skeptical about is Fudge's place in this. The first
person quoted above talks about Fudge "seeing the light" - this is not at
all the way I read it (at least it's my intial impression, having read the
book only the one time so far). I have always suspected Fudge of being evil
- not perhaps an offically dark-marked Death Eater, but of being in league
with Voldemort nonetheless. And this book did nothing to rid me of this
suspicion. Perhaps Fudge didn't realise the extent of the evil way Umbridge
was handling her post at Hogwarts, but I suspect that he did know. It was
of course convenient for him to use the "Dumbledore's a dingbat, Harry
Potter is mental/attention-seeking, etc." argument as an excuse for taking
control of Hogwarts, but I still don't believe that was his real reason. I
think he's evil, and in league with Voldemort. Certainly his actions
regarding Hogwarts to undermine Dumbledore (and Harry, and many others)
would be of benefit to Voldemort, whether directly or indirectly. And
Fudge's comments at the end of the book just struck me as fake: ("I know,
Williamson, I know, I saw him too!" gibbered Fudge, p 817, US edition). It
just doesn't strike me as genuine surprise, his comments seemed to come out
to quickly for that. Just sounded fake and contrived to me. He'll need to
change his tactics, now, obviously, but I think he has been and will
continue to support Voldemort - probably from purely self-serving (and
career-serving) motives.
 
There's probably more to say about this, but I'm still a bit shell-shocked
from my first reading, and so not thinking entirely clearly! <G>
 
A few other random comments:
 
McGonagall ROCKS! I went into this book believing her to be evil, but I've
changed my mind about that now. She was fabulous again and again throughout
the book. I hope that doesn't mean Lupin is going to prove to be the evil
one. Regardless of the strong canon support for that which has been offered
on this list, it would break my heart. A LOT. <g>
 
I am disappointed that one of my pet theories (Lucius kills Fudge and
becomes Minister for Magic) seems to be no longer viable. :-(  I am also
very disappointed about what seems to be the netralisation of Lucius in
general. I don't want him in Azkaban! I want him bribing his way into
people's hearts and doing all sorts of lovely evil things. How awful that
he is now apparently discredited throughout the WW (don't think the "I was
under Imperius" defense will save him this time). I do hope we haven't seen
the last of him, as I have always really enjoyed his character, and loved
the scene with him and Harry at the Ministry early in this book.
 
Not enough Snape <GGG>, but what we did get was wonderful. I gather from
reading other posts that "Snape's Worst Memory" is giving lots of LOLLIPOPS
crew members hope, but I'm choosing to read it as evidence against Snape
having loved Lily. How could he call her a "mudblood" if he really loved
her? And how could he love her if he really feels that way about
Muggle-borns? (Okay - I know there are plenty of reasons, no need to
respond to this with them. I like my version better. <G>). And I feel so
vindicated to learn that James was an arrogant prat! Well, except that I
always thought Sirius was the real jerk of the gang, which may not have
actually been the case. I was also really shocked to hear that Snape has
applied for DADA - I always thought that was a rumour among the students. I
like someone else's theory here that maybe it's just something he set up
with Dumbledore to show some discord in their relationship.
 
Sirius' death has still not hit me. I haven't felt it yet, and I know I
will sooner or later. I am really, really angry at Harry, though, as I
think he handled the situation very poorly and led to Sirius' otherwise
unnecessary death. If he'd just gone to Snape (instead of telling himself
there were no members of the Order left at Hogwarts), OR picked up the
mirror that Sirius gave him EVEN ONCE. I also think that he was careless
and reckless in not working harder to control the dreams - I think that he
never really wanted them to stop, because he very much wanted to see what
was behind that door. (Reminds me of PoA when he was having trouble casting
a proper patronus because the effect of the Dementors was allowing him to
hear his mother's voice). Having said all that, although I'm angry at
Harry, that doesn't mean I can't cut the guy some slack (I was going to
write "kid" but that hardly seems appropriate anymore). He had a truly
AWFUL year. But I think that the way he handled some things may come back
to haunt him, and cause him grief later on (either he'll feel guilty, or
he'll keep blaming Snape which will cause other problems). I also do think
that Dumbledore has a big chunk of responsibilty (which he owns during the
conversation where he tells Harry the Prophecy), and that Snape, too,
should have pursued the Occlumency lessons with Harry. I can understand why
neither Harry nor Snape were eager to discuss what Harry saw in the
Pensieve, but I also think that incident (which is representative of their
whole relationship) is very telling - if the two of them could have found
some common ground and stop hating/blaming one another, Sirius would still
be alive. And I think that the next two books are going to focus more on
that relationship, because I don't think that Harry (or the Order) will
ever be successful in getting rid of Voldemort if Harry and Snape don't
find a way to work together.
 
Loved Ginny and Neville (and I did cry when he slipped the Droobles wrapper
in his pocket).
 
Overall, I loved the book - found it a fantastic read, and felt rather
crushed by the ending. I wandered around all last evening after finishing
it not being able to concentrate on anything. I wasn't really thinking
lucid thoughts about the book, either - just feeling mostly sick to my
stomach and muddle-headed. <G> I do want to read it again soon, and see how
it feels after everything sinks in (by everything, I guess I mostly mean
the loss of Sirius). I loved some of the little details - we now know
Lucius' age, so can put him in the timeline (he would have been at Hogwarts
during Snape/James/etc/'s first couple of years), and Hermione's comment
about nearly being put in Ravenclaw, the Black family genealogy, and so
many other little questions that were answered. I even liked Trelawny in
this book, which is nothing short of amazing! <G> Nothing like someone
really awful to arrive (Umbridge) to rally everyone else together.
 
And finally, (as someone else here mentioned), I was proud of myself for
figuring out the intitials on the Prophecy. I was also thrilled to recogize
the carriage horses as Thestrels on their first appearance (Thanks,
"Fantastic Beasts"). Those are the only things I figured out, though - I
thought the "secret weapon" was going to turn out to be Neville's new
plant. I do expect to see that plant in the future, however - and there
sure were a lot of mentions of Stinksap in the book, weren't there?
 
Cheers!
 
Wendy St John
hebrideanblack at earthlink.net
 
(Who is ABSOLUTELY certain that Arthur Weasley will be Minister for Magic
by the end of Book 7. If he'd really been killed by that snake, it would
have damaged that theory a bit, but since he's still alive, I'm more
certain than ever! <G>).
 
 
 


Wendy St John
hebrideanblack at earthlink.net