I'd like feedback on this theory (Mundungus)

[Cindi H]

No: HPFGUIDX 123557


Janet Anderson  wrote: 
It has been said repeatedly that during the first Voldemort incursion, it was very difficult to know who to trust.  That was part of the tragedy that killed the Potters and separated their friends from each other.  In that case, a well-placed spy was the culprit.

Many people have put forth the theory that there is or will be a well-placed and unsuspected spy in this incursion as well.  Ideas as to who it could be are varied.  Some of the people suspected are Snape (of course), Lupin, Percy (some people think he's a spy for Dumbledore et al now; some think 
he'll work for Voldemort in the future), Filch ... the list is endless.


But as far as I know, none of the theorists have mentioned the person I suspect:  Mundungus Fletcher.

Cindi writes: 

I have often wondered about Mundungus.  He is a crook and Molly doesn't trust him.  I agree with that. 

Janet wrote:

The next thing we hear about him is in Goblet of Fire: he is trying to defraud the Ministry.  Mr. Weasley (I think) says that after the Death Eater incident at the Quiddich World Cup, in which many people lost tents and property, Mundungus put in a voucher for a fancy replacement tent with all the luxuries. "But I happen to know that he'd been sleeping under a cloak 
propped up with two sticks," he says.

Cindi writes:

Another example of our friend the crook: trying to defraud the Ministry.

Janet wrote:
We see quite a lot of him in Order of the Phoenix.  Two or three things about him make me dislike and distrust him intensely and suspect that he is at best a weak link in the Order.

One:  He deserts his post guarding Harry, disobeying orders and without any plausible excuse.  Note that this gives the Dementors a shot at Harry.

Cindi writes:

In the criminal mind of Mundungus, he had a very good reason to leave.  If he had been truly committed to guarding Harry, then he could have found a replacement to cover for him.  this does not necessarily implied that he is a traitor.  His priorities are just screwed up!  


Janet wrote:
Two:  He is, or trying to be, a corrupting influence on Fred and George.  On the surface, his stories may be funny, but as Molly instinctively realizes, those two are the most likely to absorb Mundungus's unethical ways because they don't take very many things seriously; cheating someone would just be a game to them.

Cindi writes:

Here I think his influence with Fred and George is limited.  After all they are fairly good at price bartering themselves and probably can hold their own with Mundungus. They do realize they are pranksters, however they mentioned in OoTP that they may have stepped a toe or two over the line.

Janet wrote:
Three:  He steals silver from Grimmauld Place, which means he is either stealing from Molly (another Order member) or from Sirius (another Order member *and his host*).  This, to my mind, proves that he has no honor.

Cindi writes:

I don't believe he stole the silver from Grimmauld Place.  He commented..."This solid silver mate?  Yes, said Sirius, surveying it with distaste. Finest fifteenth-century goblin-wrought silver, embossed with the Black family crest. That's come off, though, muttered Mundungus, polishing it with his cuff.

Obviously Sirius could care less about the silver goblet.  He may have told Mundungus to take what he wanted since they were cleaning house.

He is a crook.  He simply has no honor.

Janet wrote:
He was in the first Order of the Phoenix, and may well have been loyal then. But I suspect he may be willing to sell *anything.*  Stolen goods are, after all, his specialty -- see his excuse as to why he wasn't on duty, and his stories to Fred and George.  To him, it may well be, anything is for 
sale, including himself, his loyalties, and the other members of the Order.  

Or maybe he sees everyone as a mark, and loyalties are just conveniences.  He may well be the double agent everyone thinks Snape is.  Or Voldemort may offer the better payment.

Cindi writes:

Sirius commented that Mundungus "is useful, knows all the crooks...But he is very loyal to Dumbledore, who helped him out of a tight spot once."
I think it would be helpful if we knew how loyal Mundungus was and the particulars surrounding how Dumbledore helped him.  This is along the same lines that Dumbledore trusts Severus Snape.  Why?? 

Janet wrote:
When I posted this theory on another list, some people said Mundungus was just *too* obvious and therefore probably wasn't any more than he appeared.  Yeah, right.  "Hide in plain sight" is one of JKR's mottoes.  And "comic relief" is almost as good a way to hide things -- look at Scabbers -- (or, possibly, Ludo Bagman?).

Cindi writes:
I think Mundungus could betray the Order for the write price, but again why is he so loyal to Dumbledore and will the strength of that loyalty hold?