[HPforGrownups] Was the eavesdropper unimportant to Harry? WAS: Re: Snape again

[Karen]

No: HPFGUIDX 147025



From: amiabledorsai

More than that, he poisons Fudge's mind against the testimony of The
Trio by convincing him that their belief in Sirius's innocence is the
result of their being confunded.

As a result, Sirius remained a fugitive subject to the Kiss upon
apprehension, and no Ministry effort was made to find Pettigrew.

Assuming that Snape really is DDM, this is one of the most damaging
"own goals" of the entire series.  Aside from leaving Peter free to
eventually resurrect Voldemort, Snape planted the seed of doubt that
Rita Skeeter so lavishly fertilised, and that bloomed into Fudge's
conclusion that Harry was a dangerous braggart.

None of this has escaped Harry's attention, I'm sure.

kchuplis:

Now, here I think it is rather more a reflection just on Snape because, I
don't think he had to convince Fudge of anything. Fudge is scared STIFF of
anything irregular and never shows a particular bit of brilliance. He's the
guy who always plays it safe. I think it would have been that he believed
the kids were hoodwinked no matter what, even if Snape wasn't there freaking
out. I just don't think it is in Fudge's nature (and this was born out in
the following books) to accept things that seem to unusual. If it isn't in
his comfort zone, he will find a way to explain it. ONce his ways of
explaining it get unreasonably absurd he might be in a frame of mind to
accept something else, but until then, I think he would supply these
explanations on his own without out any help from meltdown!Snape.