Cornelius Fudge
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| Harry Potter character | |
 The blundering Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, as portrayed by Robert Hardy, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban |
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| Cornelius Oswald Fudge | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Grey |
| Parentage | Pure-blood |
| Allegiance | Ministry of Magic |
| Film portrayer | Robert Hardy |
| First appearance | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (mention), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (appearance) |
Cornelius Oswald Fudge is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He was the Minister for Magic of Great Britain from 1990 to 1996. Fudge first appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but is first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
His last name suggests that he "fudges" his job. His standard outfit includes a pinstriped cloak, a lime green bowler hat, and purple boots.
In the films, he is played by Robert Hardy.
[edit] Role in the stories
Fudge, who may be based on British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, initially seems kind to Harry, and inadvertently provides some valuable information, namely that Sirius Black was James Potter's best friend and betrayed him to Lord Voldemort.
Subsequently, however, Fudge refuses to accept that Lord Voldemort has returned, and in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Fudge orchestrates a smear campaign to discredit Harry and Albus Dumbledore, portraying Dumbledore as a senile, confused old man, and Harry as a mentally unbalanced, attention-seeking teenage liar. As Minister for Magic, Fudge is also responsible for having Rubeus Hagrid imprisoned in Azkaban. His later hostility towards Harry and Dumbledore can be attributed to two reasons. He desperately wants to maintain the status of the wizarding world; if Harry is to be believed, Voldemort is back, which means that the relative peace and prosperity of the last 14 years is over. He also harbours a paranoid (and baseless) suspicion that Dumbledore is mobilising an army of students so that he can usurp Fudge's role as Minister for Magic.
When his failure to admit Voldemort's return comes to light, Fudge is sacked as Minister for Magic and replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
He stays on as Special Advisor to Scrimgeour during Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Fudge may be married, as Barty Crouch Sr. refers to "Mr. and Mrs. Fudge", however Crouch was having that conversation with a tree as though it were Percy Weasley, and also spoke of his wife and son as though all was well with them, so there may be no real Mrs. Fudge. There is also the possibility that he may be referring to Fudge's mother or another relative with the Fudge name. It is also possible that if indeed Fudge was at any point married, his wife may have died. However, no evidence has been given in any direction as to whether or not there is indeed a Mrs. Fudge.
| Preceded by: Millicent Bagnold |
Minister for Magic 1990-1996 |
Succeeded by: Rufus Scrimgeour |
