Something wrong with this Fudge

[meltowne]

No: HPFGUIDX 106972

I've been thinking abou our friend from the ministry, Cornelius 
Fudge.  I can't quite decide what to make of him, but I know there's 
something odd that JKR has been hinting at all along.

What do we know about Fudge?

1 - He was the first on the scene when Wormtail disappeared.  
Everything the rest of the wizarding world knows about what happened 
there is based on his account.  Why was Fudge there - and did he 
maybe witness the event, not just the aftermath?  Did he cast sme 
sort of charm on Sirius to make him behave that way, making him 
appear insane?

2 - The night that Bertha Jorkins found out about Barty Crouch Jr, 
wasn't Crouch Sr, having dinner with the Fudges?  There was obviously 
some sort of close relationship between these families.

3 - Fudge got the Minister job when it appeared that Crouch had a bad 
apple in his family.  Was Barty really responsible for torturing the 
Longbottoms?  Why did Fudge have the dementors kiss him so quickly?  
I think Barty Jr knew something about Fudge that he wanted kept 
hidden.

4 - in PoA, Crouch wants to make sure Harry stays in Diagon Alley.  I 
don't think it's to protect Harry, but to keep Sirious from being 
able to contact him.  Fudge may know why Sirious survived Azkaban - 
he wasn't guilty.  I think Fudge can't afford for Harry to talk to 
Sirious.

What if Fudge was with Wormtail & LV at Godrics Hollow?  Fudge gives 
Wormtail advice to "disappear for a while" and to fake his own death.

What if he used Barty Jr to discredit his father so he could become 
Minister of Magic - Maybe Barty was a death eater, but not that 
involved yet (he was pretty young).  

Fudge clearly holds some of the same beliefs as the death eaters, 
regarding muggles and half-bloods.  Is he a death eater, or does he 
at least simpathize with them?  Or is he just so power-hungry that he 
will side with whichever side e thinks is most strong?