I began rereading HBP in order to look for some hidden clues that I may have overlooked the first time. While reading I noticed that the Amelia Bones murder was very prominent in the first chapter. I also noted that she was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

In chapter three, there is a set of newspaper articles in Harry's room. One of them is about Rufus Scrimgeour's appointment to Minister of Magic. It said that he was the former head of Aurors in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

It suddenly made me think about the two high ranking law enforcement wizards being featured heavily in the beginning of the book. It seems very possible to me that Scrimgeour killed Amelia Bones in order to assure himself the position of Minister of Magic.

It seems to make sense. Fudge was too soft to deal with the current problems. They are in a time of war. Who would most likely gain support to replace Fudge? I think that it would have to be the head of the department of Magical Law Enforcement. But, if Amelia Bones was out of the way, the next high ranking law enforcement official would have to be the head of Aurors.

The Scrimgeour article goes on to say that he was taking extra precautions in protecting the students at Hogwarts. He was personally adding defensive spells and countercurses to increases security at the school.

Could it be possible that he is on Voldemort's side, or under the imperius curse. I noticed that his entire conversation with the muggle prime minister was about the Imperius curse.

So, Scrimgeour becomes Minister of Magic. He is in the know about everything that goes on there. He is the best possible spy Voldemort could have. He also is in charge of reworking the defenses at Hogwarts. That could come in handy for later on in the story.

The visit he makes to the Burrow at Christmas also shows him as a bit of a schemer. If you read that chapter, it almost sounds like Voldemort talking to Harry in the garden. He talks about how he has wanted to meet Harry for some time, but Dumbledore has not allowed it. I think that he is fishing for information about the prophecy and the "chosen one". When Harry refuses to divulge information, he acts as if it was not important to him anyway. He then tries to get Harry to allign himself with the ministry in order to raise morale in the wizarding world. I think that this is also just a request to see more of Harry for his own spying purposes.

Finally, I think that if Scrimgeour is evil, it will give Percy Weasley a chance to redeem himself. I don't think that he is truly a bad person. He is simply caught up in the thought of power. If he had to choose between the Minister and his family, it would create a very interesting situation.

I understand all of your theory and your information for this theory, i just think that if he were bad, mad-eye or another of the auror's that he is in charge of would have recognized the evil on him. Other that this, your theory is good.

I personally believe that there is something more to Scrimgeour than meets the eye; no pun intended with Mad-Eye. I don't want to say is evil or good; I believe he is in it for his own personal reasons.

I will say this, I am open to any theory, especially the way JKR thinks, which is a good thing, so I am not going to debunk this theory because I think it could be possible.

Scrimgeour wants Harry to make appearences at the Ministry from time to time to give people false hope? I think if he could convinve Harry of that, that would just make his reign of Minister longer, which would benefit Voldemort; assuming Scrimgeour is evil.

I'm not saying that Scrimgeour is definitely with Voldemort. I just think that there might be an explanation there for Amelia Bones's death. A lot of people are searching for a reason that JK made her death so prominent and I think it had to do with the fact that she was going to be the next Minister of Magic. I think that the Ministry wouldn't have chosen Scrimgeour over her, since she was his superior, if she had still been alive. Perhaps Scrimgeour is simply a power hungry type, like his assistant Percy, and Voldemort thinks that he could be gotten to a lot easier than Amelia Bones. That is why she was killed.

Kingsley Shacklebolt is an auror and so we would contact with him , I would think that he would know if anything was amiss . Scrimgeour I think is more along the line of a Barty Crouch Sr. , being that he hates the dark arts and would even sink low enough to use them just to defeat the villians . I like the idea that he killed Amelia Bones though . Would fit perfectly into the idea and persona that I see in him .

Perhaps Scrimgeour is just a power hungry jerk who would go to any lenth to raise his standing. He may not be in league with Voldemort at all. JKR really did play up his shady factor in HBP. She repeatedly states that Dumbledore didn't trust him with Harry.

Maybe she wants us to think that he is on the side of Voldemort, while all the while he is just a rotten guy.

I think it is possible that he killed Amelia Bones, knowing that the Death Eaters would be blamed. With her out of the way, he becomes the clear choice for Minister of Magic. Perhaps Emmeline Vance found out the truth about this and was bumped off also.

It would be interesting if Percy found out about this and had to make a decision as to how far he would be willing to go for power. Up to now, Percy has alienated himself from his own family in order to become more powerful and famous. He hasn't done anything evil or underhanded. Perhaps in the next book, Scrimgeour will push him to go even further.

I like the idea, whether Scrimgeour is specifically in league with Voldemort or not, that he killed Amelia Bones so that he could become Minister. I especially like it when combined with the potential opportunity for Percy to redeem himself. I've feel like Percy needs that opportunity, not just to realign himself on the side of good and trustworthy, but to show the courage and bravery that must be inside him somewhere as a Griffindor. If Scrimgeour is in leage with Voldemort or even if he's just power-hungry rotten, it could give Percy that opportunity, and I like that idea very much.

didnt the book say that amelia bones died in a one on one battle against voldemort?????????????????????

I believe that Voldemort personally killing Amelia Bones was purely speculation. It's the typical Fudge mistake. Has he ever been right about anything?

I was so thinking about this last night, rereading OotP again. On pg.122 in the US version, when Harry comes down for breakfast the day of his hearing, Tonks and Lupin are talking about Scrimgeour. According to Tonks, he is asking her and Kingsley "funny questions". Fishy? I think it so. I'm thinking he was bribed by Voldemort. I mean, who wouldn't work work to Voldemort when he offers you the Minister of Magic job in order to get close to Harry, which is why he wants to have Harry at the Ministry.

I just checked that out in OOTP. It seems to me that they are hiding the fact that they work for the Order from Scrimgeour. He is their boss at that time, as head of the aurors. The order is really a secret side job for all of them. It sounds like Rufus has caught on to their secret and is trying to squeeze some information out of Tonks. I wonder if this holds some deeper meaning.

I love the little things that JKR throws into unimportant conversations. It usually is the important stuff.

Your idea does have so merit so I am not going to shoot it down, I just do not think it is likely. After the Fudge debacle, Dumbledore could have placed anyone in the position and the ministry would have approved it. I think if he had insisted Harry be minister it would have happened. I think while Dumbledore may not of liked Rufus, he did approve of him being minister and did not stop him being elected. I think in the last book Rufus will show us why Dumbledore allowed him to be minister.

I don't think that Dumbledore cares too much about who is in power within the ministry. I don't think that he believes they are of any real importance. The Order of the Phoenix is the real power fighting evil. He has never stepped in, that I can recall, and put anyone in power or removed anyone from power. He has defended himself when the Ministry has gone too far, but I don't think that he installed Scrimgeour into the Minister job.

Whe heard nothing but mistrust from Dumbledore regarding Rufus. I don't think that Scrimgeour is with Voldemort, but I do think that he has something to do with the Bones murder. He's up to something fishy.

I also thought it very sus the way Rufus acted after taking the job. He was very disrespectful of the prime minister, almost like he doesn't like muggles, and he kept Fudge on as an advisor! Then the fact that Umbridge is not behind bars (for her actions in OotP), but Stan is.
And to top it off, the whole argument with DD thing. Why would you alienate the one person who could help cement your position? Getting Harry to appear to work with the ministry could not possibly have as good an effect on morale as having Dumbledore endorse you, especially since Harry would be more inclined to cooperate if DD was on your side.
Any Auror must have seen what was really happening over the last two years and surely would have sided with Dumbledore since they knew he was telling the truth before. Arguing with possibly your most powerfull ally for the minor gain of having Harry LOOK like he was working with you doesn't seem right.

Then he promoted Percy. Someone who might have had access to the people closest to Harry, the Weasleys. Percy should have been pushed sideways for the embarassment he caused the ministry in the Crouch affair.

If Voldy is trying to get Harry into the ministry for something, killing DD may have been a step in that direction (because DD was stonewalling Rufus' efforts). It didn't work, but it was worth a try.

Rufus has not acted the way I expected him to. That's for sure.

I think a lot of people are reading into this a little too much. When Rufus took up the post of Minister, he could see the state that fudge had left it in. He now seems to be doing whats a) best for the people (wizards), whats best for muggles, c) whats best for the ministry and d) trying to keep everyone happy with how things are run, and in the real world, thats just not possible.

He also seems to be a man who knows what he wants and would do anything to get it, but im talking about things like promoting percy to get close to the weasleys ergo close to harry. Things like that mean he could possibly be snide and decitful, but not in the same way a death eater would be

I think that had Scrimgeour been Minister in Book Five, he would have, like Fudge been still in denial. However he is clearly a more powerful wizard than fudge, though still in between the two sides, it is obvious he must be slightly more towards Dumbledore and Harry.

I do agree with you that he slightly favoured Harry and Dumbledore, but I think that was simply for image purposes. He knew by having the so dubbed "chosen one" close at hand, it would maintain his image with the rest of the wizarding world as a good minister. The difference with Fudge was that he simply kept his denial at the forefront, and decided that he would be seen as a good minister if everyhting was quiet and there wasn't any voldemort. This, in the end, was his downfall.

However at the end of Order Of The Phoenix Fudge admits to seeing Voldemort, so if he had stayed minister i doubt he would be in denial, for he actually saw Voldemort.

But again, as he admitted he had seen him, he was also admitting that he wasn't fit to run the ministry, and a lot of people lost faith in him (those that had it to begin with)

This is why Rufus is so forward about the war and voldemorts return - he's trying to do what fudge never had the bravery to. But it still doesn't mean that he is working on the Dark Side. To him - this is all part of one massive popularity contest, but again, that doesn't mean he's evil

But he isn't really doing much good. The home security pamphlets were a joke and he has Stan in jail instead of Umbridge. He seems to have made no progress at all, which doesn't make any sense considering he must have some competant people in the ministry. Then he alienates DD, who could have provided him with the most help, in an effort to get to Harry. He definately used Percy to try and get to Harry too, showing he is not a 'nice' person. If he was serious about fighting Voldy, DD would be of greater value to him than Harry, and it is debateable which of the two would look better to the public as an ally.

Fudge convinced himself DD was trying to undermine his position so didn't trust him. Scrimgeour has no such excuse (that we know of).

I'm not saying that Rufus succeeded Bones when she died. I'm just saying that she ranked above him in the ministry law enforcement. She was his boss. This is just a theory, but it seems to me that she would be a more likely person to get the minister job than he was. I think that he was the next likely person to be elected if she was out of the way. He had a lot to gain by her death. Does this mean that he killed her? Maybe or Maybe not. It's just a theory.

When I read HBP, I just thought Scrimgeour was looking for some sort of foothold but never got one...After reading your theory Vulturemort, I see what you mean and I too now think there is something up.

I'm not sure if he killed Amelia Bones, though he could have gave Voldemort information on her whereabouts...if he needed it that is. Wasn't she found in a room locked from the inside? Not that that means anything, there are magical ways to get...what was she doing there to begin with?

I find this theory interesting and hopefully it'll continue...

WEll, I just started re-reading HBP like 3 hours ago looking for even more clues. The theory is good, and remember nobody noticed teh evil in Crouch Jr did they? But, El Barto, it is interesting why the dorr was locked from the inside. However, it could just be for protection, even though it does not offer that much because of all the strong magic power LV has etc. It must just be for protection, as no one could kidnap her and lock the door from the INSIDE, she would be able to escape.
Overall though, I don't think Scrimgeour killed Amelia Bones.

I personally belive Scrimgeour is a Death Eater. He treated the Prime Minister like a parasite and the Ministry of Magic has made no progress in the war against Voldemort with him in charge.
And why would Scrimgeour put Shacklebolt in 10 Downing Street? I personally believe Rufus has placed Shacklebolt there to gather info on the Muggle Government (thank goodness Shacklebolt is a Order member).

i think that Scrimgeour is on his own side...i think that there eventually he and the ministry will be on the "good guy" side, but now, they are kind of on their own...if you know what i mean...

I picture him kinda like Fudge. He's on the side of whatever side he wants to be on, which for Fudge was the side where the Dark Lord didn't exist, and for Scrimgeour, its kinda different. I like all the theories posted, and they really all sorta reflect mine, so I don't have much else to say, although I think that sooner or later Scrigeour is going to use the Ministry to get what he wants. He hs the people's interests at heart, though maybe not as much as his own, but still. Oh, and thanks for explaining the Prime Minister thingy for all of us non-British wanna be's, like me. Back to business. I think that he's trying to do what the people want him to do, but he's also doing a lot more than just what they think he's doing. He's kinda like Snape with that hole play on the winning side thing, but I don't think he's on any actual side. "I am on no bodies side, because no body's on my side." That sorta give it the gist, really. He's an important dude, but and a large force, like the Ents, but right now he's sorta stationary, and more neutral than anything else. He's not for the Death Eaters, and he's not for the Order. He's for himself, thats what.

~La MaitressedeMort

Im pretty sure he's on the "good" side even though I question his motives sometimes. He seems to be very manipulative and coldblooded. However I'm pretty sure that he isn't on Voldemorts side.

I think that's a definite possibility. There have been many times when I have wondered what Scrimegor's true stance was on different issues, and it would make sence if he was a double agent. He certainly plays things close to the vest...

Scrimegour is very ambitious and power-hungry. He is a sharp man, which is why (I think) he was questioning Kingsley and Tonks in OOTP. Exposing them to Fudge would have been good for him right then.

We know that Amelia Bones put up a good fight (it says so in HBP). With Scrimegour's limp, would he be up to the task? I know that a limp isn't a deadly injury, but at his age, would Scrimegour be able to kill her? Since Amelia fought, it was not a surprise attack. As Dumbledore says, Amelia bones was a gifted witch.

We also know that Voldemort is well experienced in operating in secrecy. Since Scrimegour had been an Auror, he would have fought against Voldemort the last time. Vodemort would not risk trying to bribe him into doing his bidding. The imperius curse is more likely. Being surrounded by Aurors all the time, that would be a risky move. They are too skilled at fighting the Dark Arts for all of them to miss that.

With regards to the 'order of succession,' I think there is not a clear order listed. It seems Scrimegour is just as good a pick as Bones for the post of Minister. Bones is responsible for all crime. Scrimegour responsible for the Dark Arts. Given that you have Voldemort, I would consider Scrimegour the better pick anyhow. He has more experience fighting Dark witches and wizards.

Lastly,Percy was promoted by Fudge. It sounds like some people think Rufus promoted him. As I understand it, Rufus simply did not demote him when he took office.

It is a good theory but I don't that he is actually a death eater. he might have killed Amelia Bones though, probably felt tha.t he was the right man for the job.

Also to support the theory. When Harry asks dumbledore if rufus is good? he didn't say that he is good or bad but said that he will be better than fudge...hmmm

Wow! This thread is a blast from the past. I love that it's been revived.

I still believe that Scrimgeour is up to something and it is going to involve Percy Weasley. You know that he is going to come back to the Weasley family fold before this thing ends. It has been built up too much for him to just go away as a baddie.

I think he is simply working for Voldemort (he's not a death eater) for his own advancement. Much like Percy is working for him for his own advancement. The two are parallels and they will both be forced to make a final decision as to what is "difficult and what is right".

I don't think that Rufus Scrimgeour is working for Voldemort, but he sure isn't a nice guy. He's very aggressive and actually does somewhat make a better minister of magic than Fudge. At least he tries to do something about Voldemort, but he's not approaching it the right way. I mean, locking up innocent people for unnecessary reasons is kind dumb and shows bad leadership. Altogether, I think that the wizarding world needs a new Minister of Magic.

i don't think that rufus is on the good side either. i think either he is under the imperious curse willingly or not, but definitley under it. first, the amelia bones thing. it would make sense that he would be ordered to kill her by voldemort because one she was a powerful witch and it might secure him the position of minister of magic, which would be invaluable for voldemort. he could order rufus to do so many things if he got that position. also i thought it kinda seemed like he was just going so crazy trying to talk to harry, like obsessivly crazy and i thought that was wierd.
~claire

I don't really like Scrimgeour, because of the way he harassed Harry to go to work for the ministry. I don't think he would align himself with Voldemort after years as a dark wizard catcher. I can buy the premise that he would knock off Amelia Bones because people who crave power will do anything they can to get it, or keep it. Certainly if Scrimgeour got the job on his own, having someone like Bones around could threaten his future job security.

I hope that we do not find out that Scrimgeour is under the Imperius Curse because then that gives him an excuse for whatever damage he may do, and I have already decided not to like this guy, so I don't want him to have an out. That's my bias, though.

The whole lot of you are working too hard at this: Scrimgeour is on his own side. It's the "Make the Ministry Look Good" side. That's it, there's nothing deeper or more mysterious; this is deep and mysterious enough to be getting on with. A British Colonel in Horatio Hornblower said something like: "Never trust an ally who is caught up in his own affairs." That's the Ministry and the Minister. If you don't think that's sinister enough, think it through some more.

I think that it is a very great possibility that Scrimgeour is in with Voldemort, other that the Amelia Bones death, there is more evidence:
The first night Scrimgeour is appointed, he gets into an argument with Dumbledore. JK makes this seem as if it is just about using Harry as a poster boy, but this doesn't seem to make much sense to me.
Dumbledore himself says that the pamphlets on citizen safety aren't very helpful. If Dumbledore says it, it's a fact, so why would the Minister of Magic give out unelpful pamphlets on safety if he is truly a good guy?

Conjunctivitis - regarding your question about why Scrimgeour would issue a useless list of ways to protect your family, I thought that this was Jo's way of saying that there may be a new guy at the top, but fear not! The ministry is just as inept as they were with Fudge in charge.

Plus, even though I have already said that I don't like Scrimgeour, I doubt that he is truly evil, or in league with Voldemort, because Harry asks Dumbledore if Scrimgeour is any good. I think if Dumbledore had even the slightest clue that Scrimgeour could be a dark wizard, he would have told Harry.

No, I think Scrimgeour is just a clueless wonder like Fudge.

Right. That whole conversation was a demonstration of the Ministry being inept as ever. Rufus Scrimgeour does have schemes; he's a politician. Rowling's writing is not meant to be torn apart at the seams to check for hidden meanings. Yes, there are things to work out in the Wizarding World, but you have to trust her.

i doubt that he is "evil". im sure that he just wants everything the way he wants it. he wants everyone to think that he and the ministry is doing a good job at rounding up the death eaters. at worst he is on his own side. he may not be in league with voldemort but i doubt that he would be plotting against hogwarts in any drastic manner.

I doubt that he is evil,but sometimes he seems kinda weird. I belive that he is on Harry's side,because he works in the Ministry of Magic,which has big armies of Aurors. And for a connection to Amelia Bones...I suppose there are some signs there but nothing really big,like at the murder scene Rufus's,erm,shoe or something was found there.