When did the Ministry know about Death Eaters and their Marks?

[inkling108]

No: HPFGUIDX 100332

There is a theory going around that Fudge himself is a former 
death eater -- don't know if this one has been discussed here as 
I haven't read all the past posts, so if I am repeating old news 
please excuse --

Anyway, the theory is that Fudge, and not Snape, is the death 
eater mentioned by LV in the climactic scene of GoF, when he 
says:  "One, who I believe has left me forever...he will be killed."    
The Mugglenet.com editorial feature the North Tower presents a 
pretty intriguing argument  for this idea (see North Tower #15 -- 
sorry not to imbed a link, but I'm an techno troglodyte and alas 
don't know how!)

If true, this theory might explain a number of things: why Fudge 
had such a reaction of extreme denial to the idea that LV has 
returned, why he was in such a rush to eliminate Barty Crouch 
before he could even say a word, why Lucius Malfoy has him 
wrapped around his finger.

It's just possible that both Barty and Lucius, being close to LV, 
were privy to the fact that Fudge had been a death eater.   He 
couldn't risk Barty blurting it out, and he must appease Lucius to 
keep him from disclosing what he knows.  As to why other Death 
Eaters don't seem to know about Fudge -- well, LV  deliberately 
kept his followers in the dark as to exactly how many death 
eaters there were and who they all were.

So, assuming that this theory is true, Fudge (as well as other 
former Death Eaters working at the ministry) would naturally 
want to keep the existence of the Dark Mark a secret.  They don't 
want it known that there is a positive way to identify past and 
present Death Eaters, as this would put them at risk of being 
exposed. (Those flowing robes are wonderfully concealing, but 
you never know when someone may catch a glimpse of bare 
arm).

This would also explain why Fudge expressed no curiosity or 
surprise when Snape showed him the  Dark Mark on his arm, 
but shook his head and said  "I don't know what you and your 
staff are playing at."  That sounds like something the bad guy in 
a Colombo espisode might say when Colombo starts to corner 
him.

The situation at the ministry regarding the Dark Mark may be 
depressingly like the muggle governments that  keep damaging 
information "classified" becauses it poses a threat to them 
politically.

Jamie C.