Weak and Evil!Fudge and the missing wands (was: Re: Old Question

[eloise_herisson]

No: HPFGUIDX 113011

> HunterGreen:
> Far be it for me to argue with an ESE!Fudge contention, but 
couldn't 
> Peter have been the one to plant the bloody robes there? 

Eloise:
Oops! Whoa! Hold it right there!
Sorry about that, when I said "he", I did mean Peter, but I realise 
now that I wrote it like I meant Fudge.


HunterGreen:
How would 
> Fudge know to bring Peter-sized bloody robes with him? Peter, 
wearing 
> some sort of underclothes, might have taken off his outer-robes 
> before he transformed (perhaps right after the explosion, when 
Sirius 
> was -- I assume -- disoriented). He might have tossed his wand 
aside 
> to help further framed!Sirius (he certainly doesn't have it when 
he's 
> forced to transform in PoA).

Eloise:
Well, what I was trying to say was that just as Peter cut off hist 
finger before he transformed, he also dropped the robes. I am 
assuming he transformed *in* his robes, otherwise if he'd needed to 
resume human form, he presumably would have done so in his underwear 
(if he wore underwear and there seems to be some doubt as to what 
wizards do and do not wear under traditional robes) so I assume that 
he brought an extra set with him.

HunterGreen:
> The authorites would have confiscated Sirius' wand (at the scene 
most 
> likely) and if it was PI'd, they might have tested Peter's wand 
> thinking that Black switched it, since Peter was "obviously dead" 
at 
> this point, and therefore wouldn't have done the curse that 
resulted 
> in his own death (however, would they see an echo of a finger 
cutting 
> off curse? or did peter perhaps cut it off some other way? (and now 
> *my* finger hurts)).

Eloise:
Possibly. I doubt any testing was done whatsoever.
<>
> Eloise:
> > So... What if Fudge was one of Rookwood's network? He could have
> >been in on Pettigrew's diappearance, which has all the hallmarks of
> >being planned (albeit, it must have been arranged rapidly, and was
> >another of those plans which could so easily have gone wrong) and
> >could have framed Sirius.
> 
> HunterGreen:
> This implies Peter planning it with someone else, which I have 
> trouble believing. Why would anyone else be interested in framing 
> Sirius? Why not let Peter be caught? Peter isn't very loyal to 
> Voldemort, and has questionable power as a wizard. Framing Sirius 
was 
> only to save himself, and with Voldemort gone, he has no more 
> usefullness anyway.

Eloise:
Well, the only thing I can say is to repeat that Peter's 
disappearance seems to be *planned* and that it was a plan waiting to 
go wrong if not aided.  If Peter went to Fudge in a panic, told him 
what had happened (natural allies, those two, I'd say, both morally 
weak individuals looking out for their own skins) Fudge might have 
agreed to ensure the blame fell on Sirius to aid Peter's escape (he 
need not have known about the animagus thing, in fact). Also, if 
Peter were caught and he *did* have any information on Fudge, then he 
might have given it. In fact he might have threatened to.

The MOM seems to have got to that scene much more quickly than they 
did to the Potters'. With a team of twenty hit wizards. Prior 
knowledge that something was going to happen?

And I am intrigued by Fudge's later personal interest in the Sirius 
situation. It just seems *too* personal.


> 
> Eloise:
> > Think for a moment. One of the biggest problems with Pettigrew's
> >escape plan is the evidence which Sirius' wand could give via 
*prior
> >incantato*. Sirius' descent into hysteria and his guilt-
> >induced 'confession' couldn't be predicted. If he had kept calm and
> >demanded that his wand be allowed to give its evidence, his
> >innocence might have been demonstrated instantly.
> 
> HunterGreen:
> Not with Crouch at the helm. He was the one, after all, who ordered 
> Sirius to Azkaban without a trial. Fudge didn't have that much 
power 
> at this point.

Eloise:
No, but I meant instantly. At the scene. And don't forget that 
despite there being no trial Dumbledore gave evidence to the Ministry 
that Sirius had been Secret Keeper, so some evidence gathering was 
done, but apparently only that which incriminated. It was a matter of 
great luck that Sirius *didn't* protest his easily demonstrable 
innocence. As if not only did he feel he deserved to be punished, but 
he felt that any protest was futile.

> 
> Eloise:
> > Now there is also the possibility that Pettigrew *has* rescued
> >Voldemort's wand from the rubble. Could this too, be passed on to
> >Fudge, who then could have returned it to Pettigrew after his 
escape
> >from Harry et al. Alternatively, Fudge could have passed it on to
> >Lucius Malfoy to add to his collection of Voldemort memorabilia.
> 
> HunterGreen:
> I love the term 'Voldemort Memorabilia' (o;

Thank you. :-)

> Peter could have taken Voldemort's wand and hid it somewhere to 
> retrieve later. 

Eloise:
If Peter took it, then wouldn't he hold onto it in case he needed it?
I'm still working on the assumption here that animagi take their 
wands with them. It's not like he was expecting Voldemort to return.

HunterGreen:
If Malfoy had it, did he sneak into the Malfoy Manor 
> after the events of PoA to steal it? I think that Malfoy would have 
> some sort of protection on his Voldemort collection (otherwise, I 
can 
> see Draco bringing friends down there to show off and some of it 
> getting broken).

Eloise:
Well, perhaps the enchantments don't work against rats? 

> 
> Eloise:
> > I admit the evidence is circumstantial, but it *could*
> >work....couldn't it?
> 
> HunterGreen:
> I definitely agree there is more to Fudge than what he is thought 
to 
> be (I can't say more than meets the eye, since his corruption and 
> borderline evilness are on the surface). I have this question: if 
> Fudge isn't involved with DEs or Voldemort, why *didn't* they 
recruit 
> him? A power-hungry, pure-blood believer who is friends with Malfoy 
> would be an extremely easy recruitment.

Exactly! though I dare say that the reality of Death Eating is a 
little messy for Fudge's taste.

~Eloise