Chapter 2
August 1992
After Andromeda had found out even more about Harry’s abuse—most notably that Harry had been Dudley and his gang’s favorite punching bag, and that they would often go “Harry Hunting”—she had no choice but to go to Dumbledore. It’s impossible to Apparate into Hogwarts, so after I’d tricked Andromeda into letting me out as usual, I flew into Dumbledore’s office through the window.
Andromeda said to Dumbledore, “Harry’s perfectly safe with the Weasley family right now. You can’t let him go back to the Dursleys. I have lots of memories from him, all concerning his abuse by the Dursleys. You have to come to my office and see those memories for yourself in my Pensieve.”
Dumbledore said, “Andromeda, you have to understand that the only way Harry can be protected from Voldemort…” Andromeda shuddered at Dumbledore’s use of the name, and said, “Honestly, if Sirius is loyal to Voldemort, I must be the only member of the Black family who isn’t! I’d never have believed that Sirius was loyal to Voldemort, until you told me that Sirius betrayed the Potters.” “Anyway,” said Dumbledore, “the only way in which Harry can be completely safe from Voldemort is if he lives with blood relatives. The bond of blood is the strongest protection of all.”
“From Voldemort,” Andromeda clarified. “Dumbledore, you just have to come to my office and see Harry’s memories in my Pensieve.” “How dare you tell me this, Andromeda!” said Dumbledore. “No one is supposed to know. You’re supposed to be bound by confidentiality...” “...unless a client of mine is being abused,” Andromeda said. “That was one of the terms of the Unbreakable Vow I made to the Ministry of Magic—specifically to the Healthcare Professional Licencing Department—when I got my therapy licence. I’ve already talked to Molly Weasley about my work with Harry, but since there was abuse going on that she needed to know about, I didn’t break my vow. And after you see Harry’s memories—you’ll agree that I was justified.” “Go back to your office, Andromeda,” said Dumbledore. “With all the influence I have in the Wizarding world at large, I can get your therapy license taken away. You have to understand why Harry needs to live with the Dursleys.”
Andromeda then brought up a particularly concerning memory that Harry had given to her during their second session—one which I would later publish in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , and which is transcribed below. When Hagrid came to deliver Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letter in person because the Dursleys wouldn’t let Harry read it:
“Now you listen here, boy,” Uncle Vernon snarled, “I accept there’s something strange about you, probably nothing a good beating wouldn’t have cured—and as far as all this about your parents, well, they were weirdos, no denying it, and the world’s better off without them in my opinion—asked for all they got, getting up mixed up with those wizarding types—just what I always expected, always knew they’d come to a sticky end—”
“Note that Vernon mentioned a good beating, by which he undoubtedly meant one that was bad enough that Harry would need medical attention. Can you believe that Vernon would’ve actually done that if he could get away with it?” “But he didn’t.,” said Dumbledore. “He knew I would never let him get away with doing anything that bad. That shows that he’s never actually beat Harry.” “Yes, he has—but not so badly that Harry would need medical attention,” Andromeda said. “Harry is the victim of loads of physical abuse, mostly by Vernon.”
“You get out of my office, Andromeda,” Dumbledore said, “or I will summon a house-elf to Apparate you out of here, since I can’t do it myself. I will then teach the gargoyle outside to recognize you and bar you from entering this office ever again.” “I will if you come to see me,” said Andromeda. “Harry’s memories are completely genuine. I’ve viewed them all myself—have you ever seen a memory in your Pensieve that’s been tampered with?” “Yes, I have,” said Dumbledore, “and I could easily tell.”
“Even if Harry does believe that the Dursleys’ abuse is Harry’s own fault,” Andromeda replied, “he knows why Mrs Weasley wanted him to meet with me once a week, and he would never tamper with his own memory before showing it to me. You need to come and see these memories of Harry’s.” “There would be no point,” said Dumbledore, “since the Dursleys give him the house room required for the blood protection activated by me.” “What good does that do,” asked Andromeda, “if Harry’s life is in danger from his family? Do you know what long periods of time he was kept in his cupboard for, with no food?” “They know I’m watching,” said Dumbledore, “They would never kill him.” Andromeda said, “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. The deciding factor for you should be that Harry was almost prevented from going to Hogwarts. What would he be if he didn’t know how to control his magic? I’ve talked to your brother Aberforth—in a personal conversation rather than a professional one—and he’s talked to me about how your sister was an Obscurial due to the trauma of being abused because of her magic.” “Harry would never have become one,” said Dumbledore, “because he was completely unaware of his magical nature and therefore not trying to suppress it. There’s nothing wrong with his living situation. He can live with it. Now get out of my office.” Dumbledore shouted, “The Hog’s Head!” and sprinkled some Floo powder in his fireplace; he then pushed Andromeda into the fire. I flew out of Dumbledore’s office window and back to the Hog’s Head; as I flew by the Hog’s Head, I heard Aberforth saying to Andromeda, “This is just another thing that my brother has done wrong. I thought he was genuinely trying to atone for the things he did that led to our sister’s death, but now he’s messing up Harry’s mental health by making him live with an abusive family.” “How did you hear my conversation with Dumbledore?” asked Andromeda. “I wanted to know what you were going to talk about with my brother,” said Aberforth. “I don’t get along very well with him, as you know. So I threw some Floo powder into the fireplace and said, ‘Headmaster’s office, Hogwarts.’ I heard your voice and Albus’ voice talking in his office. And now I know exactly why you just started seeing Harry.” “I would report your stalking to the Ministry,” said Andromeda. “You’re a bit obsessed with finding out everything Albus has done wrong. But if you lost ownership of this place, your replacement might blame me for the whole affair and get my therapy license taken away. So let’s keep this between us.”