(BTW – this part shows Fudge isn't really all that different from Canon in terms of what he wants. It just shows how a nudge could make a much more effective Fudge – and make him almost likeable. He IS, still, a politician though.)

The Greatest Minister for Magic in History - Interlude: Fudge's List

It was 23 October, the day following his visit to Hogwarts, and Cornelius Fudge was reviewing his list.

Cornelius Fudge's list was getting smaller all of the time. Some of these items, if found out, would have spelled ruin for him. He was working within political realities but that excuse would not hold up if certain truths surfaced at an inopportune time.

For example: Barty Crouch Junior.

The Minister was quite aware that Barty Crouch had his son under the Imperius Curse and hidden at his home. Knowing that it would take until at least July 31st to contain the final portion of You-Know-Who meant that he didn't want to unsettle things on that score too much too fast.

He was looking for any excuse to resolve this – after 31 July, 1991.

Getting rid of the Dementors was a project which he was back and forth about. It was a pleasant thought, but it would be expensive. Perhaps once the economy was much stronger.

Solidifying the long-term support of Harry Potter was actually quite high on his list. Having met the Lone Traveler, he had a very good idea of exactly how much potential the boy had. But, if he read things correctly, he would receive no support if he attempted to use the boy before he reached his majority, or nearly so.

No. Harry Potter would have to be protected as a minor and treated as such by the Ministry if he had any hope in obtaining his long-term support. This meant that this project would be years in the making – but elections were held every seven years if there were no immediate reasons to hold them otherwise. By July 1997, Harry Potter would nearly be of age and might be amenable to supporting him to stay as Minister.

Meanwhile, getting Sirius Black freed and working on removing those ridiculous books (once the boy knew of them) would have to suffice. Otherwise, Harry Potter should be hands off.

The backdoor fees for Gringotts services he made required by law had provided, already, much capital. His plan on using that capital to take part ownership (silent) of an Acromatula farm would ensure that his family would be receiving payments far beyond his tenure as Minister. After all, the likelyhood of Rubeus having children was small. And even if he did, it was Galleons he wasn't planning on anyway.

Getting rid of Dolores Umbridge as an influence was lower on his list. She had not been put in a Senior position in his office and so her influence was limited. He should, he considered, ensure she wasn't creating problems with what influence she did have.

The werewolf problem couldn't be confronted until 1992 – when the potion which let them keep their mind would be released. Supporting the Ministry in subsidizing the continuing treatment (with appropriate commission if possible) would further earn Potter's support.

Getting Malfoy away from Dark magic was actually a high priority. He had been warned that accepting bribes would make Malfoy think that he owned the Minister's office and he couldn't let that happen. As long as he wasn't supporting Death Eater activity, however, Cornelius had no problem with allowing the man to push his own views.

Everyone had a right to their opinion, after all. And, as long as it didn't take money out of the economy – Cornelius mostly didn't care.

The Minister was NOT a "muggle lover" or "Blood Traitor" just as he wasn't a "pureblood supremacist" or "Death Eater supporter." He was a pragmatist.

Teaching basic Wizarding values to those who were newly brought into their world was something he supported. Dumbledore's attempts to make Wizarding society more like Muggle society was personally offensive to Fudge's traditional ideals.

As far as Cornelius was concerned, as long as the laws didn't favor one wizard over another, and didn't cause tensions with foreign governments – he really didn't care what was happening outside of the Ministry's sphere of influence.

His whole effort to bring Britain's Magical society into the present was to allow Britain to once more lead in Wizarding politics internationally. Since the pureblood movement began, other countries listened to "backwards Britain" less and less – and that was unacceptable.

Forcing Dumbledore to actually handle the matters he SHOULD be handling was successful in ensuring that the man didn't spend too much time in the Ministry politicking.

Yes, he was truly appalled at how Hogwarts had regressed, especially as regards Potions. But it was, for him, purely a political push to get it cleaned up. And economic, of course.

For all of that, Fudge WAS quite enjoying being a good minister. He had support among all three major factions which ruled Magical Britain. The Light side saw him cleaning up Dark artifacts. The Neutral faction saw him saving money while increasing business and efficiency. And the Dark side saw him supporting traditional Wizard values.

There were Darker wizards that he knew he would have to take care of sooner rather than later. Walden McNair was at the top of that list.

Most Death Eaters who cried "Imperius" were opportunists at heart, not truly homicidal fanatics. Even Malfoy was such – as much as the man enjoyed the idea of destroying and killing the 'unworthy' he would not act if it wasn't politically convenient. And he liked money and power more than his ideals.

Cornelius was actually hoping that forcing the Dark items in the Malfoy home to be contained would eventually allow the man to get himself away from the pull of such magics.

That was something that, perhaps, Cornelius should check on.

Other names were considered less important: Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, Avery – these were also more than likely to behave if given no reason to act otherwise.

A second name which actually worried Cornelius was Yaxley. While the Traveler had been uncertain as to whether he was a true Death Eater believer or an opportunist, the man's position within MLE was a matter of concern. Too much would be open to the man if he turned out to be a fanatic. And he was NOT Imperiused, unlike others.

This brought him to his next item: Allowing Alastor Moody to ensure that all Aurors were inured against the Imperius Curse and throwing it off.

Pius Thicknesse was, he knew, susceptible. And that would be a problem if it was ever exploited. Another name was a matter of being unknown: Alpert Runcorn. He either truly hated muggleborns, was coerced, or was Imperiused in the Traveler's world: A man to keep an eye on.

Cattermole and Edgecomb could be coerced, even though one was married to a Muggleborn. As Minister, he thought that it was his responsibility to not allow that to happen. It was, once again, for a pragmatic reason. Anyone who was put in a position that could compromise them left the Ministry, and therefore the Minister, open to attack.

The items Cornelius had added included investigating the return of Magical holidays to the Wizarding world. Even the Muggles celebrated some of them and so Dumbledore's insistence that the old ways were unimportant or should be ignored was counterproductive.

Cornelius had been a Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff was the one house which could boast that had never produced a Dark Wizard or Witch in history. Cornelius was now aware that this was likely because Hufflepuff was traditionally the house with the closest ties to Herbology and working the earth. Dark magic was cleansed by this, according to Magical history.

The traditional holidays had provided an alternate route for Magicals to connect to the magic of the Earth and stars but these holidays had fallen by the wayside. HE would have to see them returned in some form. Maybe he should invite some prominent wizards to observe Samhain rites that were held by Muggles across Britain.

One item, however, jumped out at him: Peter Pettigrew. He thought back. Why had Sirius receiving a trial not gotten that resolved? The Minister then opened his eyes in realization and groaned.

It was his own Merlin be-damned fault.

That trial occurred while Arthur was on that month long Muggle Studies jaunt he had assigned. Which meant that Arthur had never had the chance to listen to the testimony and think of his son's unnaturally long-lived rat.

The Minister planted his face in his hands. How in Merlin's name was he going to fix this now?

Think, think. What to do. What to do.

Suddenly, he had an idea.

The Minister sent off two letters: One to Arthur Weasley and one to Sirius Black. He didn't know if Black was free from St. Mungo's yet, but he knew that the man would be wanting to visit his godson pretty damn soon. As Dumbledore hadn't come to try to prevent it yet, he figured that Black was still recovering.

But, Black would need to consult with Arthur to ensure he was "muggle friendly" when he visited the boy. Thus, having them meet. Black was certain to ask about Pettigrew and Arthur could hear the story during the meeting. The Minister watched the memos rush out of his office, hoping this worked.