======Cornelius Oswald Fudge======
=====Introduction=====
Cornelius Fudge was the [[Minister for Magic]] from 1990 to 1996. Initially portrayed as a somewhat bumbling and pompous but largely benign politician, his tenure is defined by his staunch and paranoid refusal to accept the return of [[Lord Voldemort]]. Driven by a fear of losing his position and disrupting the peace he had carefully maintained, Fudge initiated a widespread smear campaign against [[Harry Potter]] and [[Albus Dumbledore]], installed [[Dolores Umbridge]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] to seize control, and ultimately allowed [[Voldemort]] to regain a significant foothold. His fall from power serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political denialism, the corrupting influence of power, and prioritizing public image over the truth.
=====Biography=====
====Early Career and Election====
Prior to becoming [[Minister for Magic]], Fudge worked for the [[Ministry of Magic]] as the Junior Minister in the [[Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes]]. In this capacity, he was one of the first wizards to arrive at the scene of the Potters' murder in [[Godric's Hollow]] on the night of [[Voldemort]]'s first downfall.
In 1990, following the retirement of Millicent Bagnold, Fudge was elected [[Minister for Magic]]. The wizarding community had hoped [[Albus Dumbledore]] would take the post, but after he declined, the position was contested by [[Barty Crouch Sr.]] and Fudge. Crouch's popularity had waned, and Fudge's less imposing nature made him a more palatable candidate. Throughout his early years, Fudge frequently wrote to [[Dumbledore]] for advice, demonstrating a reliance on and a deep-seated fear of the [[Hogwarts]] Headmaster's superior power and popularity.
====Tenure as Minister====
Fudge's early interactions with [[Harry Potter]] were generally positive. He showed leniency by not punishing Harry for accidentally inflating his [[aunt]], [[Marge Dursley]], and seemed to hold Harry in high regard. However, his administration was characterized by a susceptibility to influence from wealthy [[pure-blood]] families like the Malfoys. When [[Sirius Black]] escaped from [[Azkaban]], Fudge's response was panicked and severe, authorizing the use of [[Dementors]] at [[Hogwarts]] and approving the [[Dementor's Kiss]] without a trial.
====Denial of Voldemort's Return====
The turning point of Fudge's career came after [[Harry Potter]] witnessed the return of [[Lord Voldemort]] at the conclusion of the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. Terrified by the implications of [[Voldemort]]'s return—the end of a long period of peace and a direct threat to his comfortable position of power—Fudge chose denial. He refused to believe Harry and [[Dumbledore]], instead convincing himself that [[Dumbledore]] was plotting to overthrow him.
Using his control over the [[Daily Prophet]], Fudge launched a vicious smear campaign, branding Harry as an unstable, attention-seeking liar and [[Dumbledore]] as a senile old man. He passed a series of [[Educational Decrees]] to undermine [[Dumbledore]]'s authority at [[Hogwarts]], culminating in the appointment of his deeply loyal and cruel Senior Undersecretary, [[Dolores Umbridge]], as High Inquisitor and later Headmistress.
====Downfall====
Fudge's willful ignorance came to a dramatic end when [[Voldemort]] was seen by dozens of people, including Fudge himself, during the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]]. Faced with undeniable proof, he was forced to admit the truth to the wizarding world. The public outcry over his catastrophic mishandling of the situation, which had given [[Voldemort]] a full year to operate in secret, led to his sacking in the summer of 1996. He was replaced by [[Rufus Scrimgeour]].
====Later Life====
After his dismissal, Fudge stayed on at the [[Ministry]] in an advisory capacity. He took on the role of liaising with the [[Muggle]] [[Prime Minister]], introducing him to [[Scrimgeour]] and briefing him on the escalating events of the [[Second Wizarding War]]. In these appearances, Fudge appeared diminished, humbled, and deeply regretful of his past actions. His ultimate fate following the fall of the [[Ministry]] to [[Voldemort]]'s forces is unknown.
=====Physical Appearance and Personality=====
Cornelius Fudge is described as a portly, stout man who often wore a pinstriped cloak and, most characteristically, a lime-green bowler [[hat]]. He had a tendency to twist and fidget with his bowler [[hat]] when he was nervous or stressed.
Initially, Fudge's personality was amiable and somewhat pompous, enjoying the celebrity and status that came with his office. He was easily flustered but generally well-meaning. As the series progresses, his deep-seated insecurities and lust for power are revealed. He became intensely paranoid, believing that [[Dumbledore]] coveted his job. He was weak-willed and easily swayed by influential figures like [[Lucius Malfoy]], prioritizing political convenience over justice. After his downfall, he displayed a defeated and remorseful demeanor, finally understanding the gravity of his failures.
=====Magical Abilities and Skills=====
As a long-serving [[Ministry of Magic]] official and eventual [[Minister]], Fudge was presumably a competent and qualified [[wizard]]. However, the books do not depict him performing any significant magic. His skills were primarily political and administrative rather than practical or combative. He was capable of [[Apparition]] and using the [[Floo Network]]. Details about his [[wand]], [[Patronus Charm]], or academic performance at [[Hogwarts]] are not mentioned in the novels.
=====Possessions=====
  * **Bowler Hat:** Fudge's trademark was his lime-green bowler [[hat]], a constant presence and an object he often wrung in his hands when agitated.
  * **Wand:** Fudge owned a [[wand]], though its wood, core, and length are unknown.
=====Relationships=====
  * **Albus Dumbledore:** Fudge had a complicated and deteriorating relationship with [[Dumbledore]]. In his early days as Minister, he relied heavily on [[Dumbledore]]'s counsel, yet he simultaneously harbored a significant fear of [[Dumbledore]]'s immense power and influence, which eventually curdled into a deep-seated paranoia that [[Dumbledore]] sought to usurp him.
  * **Harry Potter:** Fudge's attitude toward Harry shifted dramatically. He began with a paternalistic and indulgent view, treating Harry as the famous [[Boy Who Lived]]. This changed to outright hostility when Harry became the primary source of the news Fudge refused to accept. He used his power to discredit Harry, viewing him not as a boy, but as a political problem.
  * **Dolores Umbridge:** As his Senior Undersecretary, [[Umbridge]] was Fudge's most loyal and ruthless subordinate. He trusted her implicitly to carry out his agenda at [[Hogwarts]], empowering her with near-absolute authority, which demonstrated his own capacity for cruelty and his desperation to maintain control.
  * **Lucius Malfoy:** Fudge was easily influenced by [[Lucius Malfoy]], whose generous donations to [[St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries]] and powerful position in society allowed him to gain the Minister's ear. This relationship highlighted Fudge's corruptibility and poor judgment.
=====Etymology=====
  * **Cornelius:** A traditional Roman name, possibly derived from the Latin //cornu//, meaning "horn." It gives him an air of established, if undeserved, authority.
  * **Oswald:** An Old English name derived from //Os// ("god") and //weald// ("power" or "rule"). The name, meaning "divine power," is deeply ironic for a character defined by his incompetence and eventual loss of all power.
  * **Fudge:** The name is highly indicative of his character. As a verb, "to fudge" means to prevaricate, conceal the truth, or deal with something in a vague or inadequate way, perfectly describing his response to [[Voldemort]]'s return. As a noun, it is a soft, sweet confection, alluding to his "soft" or weak-willed political nature.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptations of the *Harry Potter* series, Cornelius Fudge was portrayed by the late British actor Robert Hardy.
  * J.K. Rowling has stated that she saw parallels between Fudge's policy of denial and the appeasement policy of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain toward Adolf Hitler prior to World War II (J.K. Rowling interview).
  * According to additional information from Pottermore, Fudge was married to a woman named Mrs. Fudge. He ran for Minister against both [[Barty Crouch Sr.]] and [[Amelia Bones]] (Pottermore).