Something wrong with this Fudge

[boyd_smythe]

No: HPFGUIDX 107445

> HunterGreen wrote:
> Hit upthread a few times and read the original post and the replies, 
> there's at least *some* evidence for it. In short, in PoA, the 
> dementers have an unexplained interest in Harry and eventually try 
to 
> kill him when the permission (we've been told) they have permission 
> to kill is right there (the person most likely to have ordered them 
> to kill Harry is Fudge), he has a strange number of appearences 
> around the whole Peter/Sirius incident, he's said to be a pure-blood 
> enthusiast, he has a good relationship with Lucius Malfoy (including 
> at least one private meeting) and in GoF, the dementer he brings in 
> swoops down on Barty Jr. and 'kills' him immediately after coming 
> into the room with no provacation at all.

As with many characters in HP, Fudge's loyalties are impossible to pin 
down with certainty. Having said that, I remain unconvinced of Fudge's 
ESE-ness, particularly if being ESE means *wanting* to hurt Harry.

First let's look at Fudge's relationship with LV. I think there's 
none. If Fudge were in league with LV, why try to kick Harry out of 
Hogwarts in OoP? LV can't kill him if he's at home with the Dursleys. 
Or why not have Umbridge kill him at school?

It's been pointed out on this thread that Fudge could be ESE but not 
siding with LV. True, he could. But I think there are easier 
explanations.

Specifically, we don't know to what degree the Dementors are actually 
under Fudge's control, so their "interest" in Harry could be due to 
LV, the proximity of Sirius or just excitement over his strong spirit 
and his extreme reaction to their presence.

Sucking Barty Jr's soul in GoF argues neither way--could have been 
just punishment for a crime (like in PoA, kill the escapoed Azkaban'er 
with a Dementor kiss) or eliminate the witness (one ESE 
interpretation).

His many appearances in PoA are more likely the work of a politician 
trying to calm a scared electorate and save face. Sirius' escape from 
Azkaban was horrifying news to the WW, remember, and it happened with 
Fudge at the helm.

His relationship with Lucius is not that different from modern 
politicians' ties to affluent supporters.

IMO, JKR has just written an amoral/neutral politician here. Maybe 
that fits some definitions of ESE, but I think JKR's just trying to 
show that in life some people don't choose a *side*, they choose 
*themselves*.

--boyd