Yes, but I don't know if that's just sadism - as you say at the end. He has to demonstrate his superiority. We definitely see the sadism at display again, though. Interesting that he talks about James in a positive rather than negative way - works with the sadism and patronizing attitude, though.

Me neither, until this time around. I guess I gloss over descriptive scenes too much and miss little things like that. It makes sense, yeah, what with his fear of death as you say.

True, plus his impressive escape. Though that proves yet again the complete incompetence of the average Death Eater. Like so often in fantasy or even in other stories, the good side has many people with character and competence, while the evil side has only one or a handful of highly powerful and competent villains, plus loads of clueless and expendable henchmen.

Agreed. I also like how Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape - the three headmasters of Hogwarts throughout the series - work together when it comes down to it. Not the only time that happens. The moment where they come tell Dumbledore about the Dementor is great, McGonagall's fury contrasting with Snape's cold and calm derision for Fudge. Though having that happen in the infirmary felt like a contrived way of being able to show it without having to leave Harry's PoV again. Oh well.

Hm, I guess, yeah. He really should have told him more at this point, in hindsight... not all of it perhaps, but more.

I think Dumbledore knew Fudge was weak, but assumed he would follow his lead if things turned ugly. Likely Fudge would have, too, earlier in his tenure as Minister. But after all those years of having people suck up to him and inflate his sense of importance while poisoning him against Dumbledore, he doesn't bend to Dumbledore's will anymore. That makes more sense for Dumbledore to suddenly realize, then merely that Fudge is weak and not the best man for the job under the circumstances. Harry's realization is about Fudge's character flaws, but I think Dumbledore's is more like a sudden realization that he has let his grip on Fudge slide too far and that he can't regain his lost influence anymore. Not that he doesn't try, but he must know beforehand it's a lost cause, surely.

Yeah, typically Dumbledore.

Definitely.

Hehe. At least Ron got over it enough to ask Krum's signature.