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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.

His first name is possibly a connection to the Roman Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and 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.

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Cornelius Fudge is the Minister for Magic from 1988 to 1996, i.e. from Template:HP1 to Template:HP5

Fudge first appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but is first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Fudge initially seems sympathetic 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. 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 quo; if Harry is to believed, Voldemort is back, which means that the relative peace and prosperity of the last 14 years is over. He also harbors a paranoid (and baseless) suspicion that Dumbledore is stirring up trouble so that he can usurp Fudge as Minister of 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.

There is also some speculation that he might be revealed as a Death Eater in Book 7. ^{[citation needed]}