NOVEL WEB Chapter 32: The Law and The Wards.
Amelia Bones had always prided herself on her ability to separate emotion from duty. Yet, as she sat in her office, reading the latest report from her team on Harry Potter's situation, her hands trembled with anger. It wasn't just that Harry had been neglected by the Dursleys—it was that she had known about the possibility for so long but had felt powerless to act.
She'd heard the whispers in the Ministry for years—rumours that Harry Potter's upbringing was far from ideal. Albus Dumbledore, the ever-wise guardian, had insisted that Harry's safety depended on him remaining with his Muggle relatives, protected by ancient blood magic. The wards, created through the sacrifice of Harry's mother, were said to be unbreakable, rendering any interference almost impossible. That fact alone had tied her hands, forcing her to trust that Dumbledore knew best.
But now? Now, there was proof. Hermione Granger's disturbingly detailed letter had shaken Amelia to her core. The girl had seen the bruises, the malnourishment, the isolation. And despite every obstacle, she had brought the issue directly to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Amelia could not ignore this anymore.
She paced the length of her office, each step heavy with the weight of her decision. What could she do? The blood wards were powerful magic, ancient and beyond reproach, and they ensured that Harry was protected from outside threats. But what of the threats from within?
She couldn't remove him. That much was clear. The blood wards would collapse, leaving Harry vulnerable to all manner of attacks, including from Voldemort's remaining supporters. Yet, to leave him in a place where he was clearly suffering abuse was equally unacceptable.
Amelia took a deep breath, sitting down behind her desk. Her fingers hovered over the scrolls and parchment containing years of Ministry records, none of which had ever delved into Harry's home life with the Dursleys. There was negligence, but it wasn't entirely the Ministry's fault. Dumbledore had effectively blocked any attempt to monitor Harry closely, insisting that any intrusion would disrupt the wards.
But she was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, for Merlin's sake. She couldn't allow herself to be complicit in this anymore.
Amelia glanced toward a small framed picture of her niece, Susan. Every time she saw that photograph, it reminded her of her responsibility to every child in the magical world, not just her own family. Harry Potter was just a boy, an orphan like Susan, yet he was being treated worse than a house-elf.
She stood, walking toward the large window that overlooked the busy Ministry offices. Below her, wizards and witches went about their business, unaware of the moral dilemma unfolding above them. What they would say if they knew the truth?
"Albus," she muttered under her breath. "You've tied my hands, but I won't let you sacrifice this boy for your greater good."
Turning back to her desk, Amelia grabbed a quill and parchment. The situation called for precision. She could not tear Harry from the Dursleys, not yet. But she could start applying pressure in the right places, making it clear to Dumbledore and anyone else in his circle that the Ministry would no longer turn a blind eye.
To: Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts Subject: Immediate Attention Required – Harry Potter's Well-Being
Dear Albus,
It has come to my attention through reliable sources that the home life of Harry James Potter, currently residing with his Muggle relatives at Privet Drive, is far from ideal. The child has shown signs of neglect, malnutrition, and emotional abuse. The enclosed report provides a detailed account of these findings.
While I am aware of the protections afforded to Mr. Potter through the blood wards created by his mother's sacrifice, I must insist that this situation cannot continue as it is. The safety of a child does not only pertain to external threats. Internal threats—particularly those posed by his caretakers—are equally concerning.
I understand that the blood wards are essential for Mr. Potter's protection, and I do not propose their removal. However, steps must be taken to ensure that he is no longer mistreated in the home. This can be achieved through regular monitoring by trusted Ministry personnel, coupled with stricter oversight of his well-being during the summer months when he is under his relatives' care.
I am willing to work with you to devise a solution that keeps the wards intact while ensuring Mr. Potter's safety. Should this matter not be addressed with urgency, I will be forced to escalate this to the Wizengamot for further deliberation.
I look forward to your immediate response.
Yours sincerely,
Amelia Bones
Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Albus Dumbledore sat quietly in his office, the soft ticking of an enchanted clock the only sound. The parchment from Amelia Bones lay open on his desk, its words heavy with both accusation and concern. He had always known this day would come when he would be called to answer for the choices he had made regarding Harry Potter's care. The weight of those decisions had rested uneasily on his shoulders for years.
His eyes moved slowly over the letter again, tracing each line. Neglect. Abuse. The words stung. They were harsher than anything he had allowed himself to admit. He knew Harry's life with the Dursleys had been far from ideal, but he had never wanted to see it as abuse. He had been so focused on the larger picture, on keeping Harry alive and hidden, that he had convinced himself that enduring a less-than-loving home was a small price for the boy's safety.
But now, Amelia Bones had presented a different truth—a truth Dumbledore could no longer ignore.
Amelia Bones' Letter:
Dear Albus,
It has come to my attention through reliable sources that Harry James Potter, currently residing with his Muggle relatives at Privet Drive, is far from ideal. The child has shown signs of neglect, malnourishment, and emotional abuse. The enclosed report provides a detailed account of these findings...
The report had arrived through a secondary source. Hermione Granger. That clever girl had gotten involved. Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting to the golden perch where Fawkes rested, the phoenix gazing at him with quiet understanding. He could feel the creeping suspicion growing since that strange conversation with Hermione after the Mirror of Erised incident. She was more perceptive than most, and now it seemed she was inserting herself into matters beyond her own clever ambitions.
He sighed heavily. The protective blood wards, created by Lily's sacrifice, had always been his strongest justification. Keeping Harry with his relatives, despite their coldness, was the only way to keep those wards intact. The power of the ancient magic rested on Harry's blood, which he shared with his aunt. Harry would be vulnerable and exposed to Voldemort and his supporters without that connection.
But Amelia was right. His hands were tied, but surely there was something he could do. He couldn't remove Harry, but allowing the boy to continue suffering at the hands of the Dursleys was no longer tenable.
Dumbledore rose from his desk and moved to the window, staring over the Hogwarts grounds. How often had he told himself this was for the greater good? That Harry needed to endure just a little longer to survive the far greater danger lurking in the shadows?
Now, he questioned his own reasoning. Was he asking too much of a child?
"Am I failing him?" he whispered to himself. Fawkes trilled softly in response, a sound both mournful and soothing.
Dumbledore returned to his desk, his mind turning over solutions. He couldn't remove Harry from Privet Drive without dismantling the protective magic. But perhaps there was a compromise—a way to ensure Harry's physical and emotional well-being without compromising the wards.
Regular monitoring, as Amelia had suggested, was a start. He could arrange for trusted members of the Order to keep a close watch on Harry during his summers with the Dursleys. Perhaps even subtle alterations to the wards could allow for visits—short, supervised respites where Harry could escape his relatives' abuse without breaking the magic protecting him.
He would need to involve Severus. The man's proximity to Privet Drive and his unassuming role as a spy made him an ideal candidate to check on Harry regularly. Not that Snape would be thrilled by the assignment, but Dumbledore knew that beneath Snape's bitterness lay a sense of duty. Harry was Lily's son, after all.
Dumbledore straightened, pulling a fresh sheet of parchment toward him. He needed to draft his response to Amelia, a response that would assure her he was taking action without giving too much away.
To: Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Subject: Harry Potter's Welfare
Dear Amelia,
Thank you for bringing this grave matter to my attention. I assure you that Harry's well-being has always been a priority, though I acknowledge that certain elements of his living situation have been far from ideal. As you well know, the protective wards placed upon him by his mother's sacrifice have limited our options.
However, in light of your concerns and the detailed report provided, I agree that steps must be taken to improve his situation without compromising his safety. I propose that we implement regular monitoring during Harry's time at Privet Drive, ensuring that his relatives adhere to stricter guidelines regarding his care. I will personally oversee these arrangements, with trusted members of the Order ensuring his well-being through discreet, non-intrusive methods.
I understand your frustrations and am prepared to cooperate fully to ensure that Harry's safety extends beyond external threats.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
He set down his quill, reading over the letter carefully. It was a delicate balance, as all his work seemed to be these days—ensuring Harry's survival without losing sight of the boy's humanity.
Dumbledore felt a strange mixture of relief and uncertainty as he folded the parchment and summoned an owl. He had done what he could for now. But the road ahead, with Hermione growing ever more involved and Harry's destiny still so unclear, felt more precarious than ever.
"Perhaps," he mused, "it is time to trust others a little more."