"I have a bad feeling about this," Nymphadora Tonks had said. While Alastor Moody and Remus Lupin threatened Vernon Dursley, she had taken Harry aside. "You need to stand your ground. Tell those Muggles we're at war now, with the guy who killed your aunt's sister. My guess is, that ignorant bully will try to make you write nice owls saying everything's fine. Tell him it's more than his life's worth to try that." After interrogating Harry, she scrawled a list on a scrap of parchment of things that would necessitate a visit. And if there was a visit, it would mean hell for the Dursleys. They'd probably be under house arrest with a constant presence by the Order. So Harry would get his supplies, and the abuse would stop. He would have plenty of time to do his schoolwork. She also gave him some code words on another scrap of parchment to include if his uncle did manage to coerce him - by taking Hedwig hostage, for instance. It was true Harry would be well-advised not to use magic - anything that drew attention to Number Four could be disastrous.

She'd fished around for a charm she'd gotten from her mother. "Put this on Hedwig, it will keep her safe from muggles." In theory, they would no longer be able to notice her, let alone harm her. She had a similar charm for Harry, which he could wear or take off when he needed to communicate with the Dursleys.

"And one more thing; my mother never approved of Dumbledore, not one bit. She believes he never does much of anything but get the people who trust him killed. When I told her how you were treated the last two summers, she made me promise it wouldn't be like that this year. The way he treated you during the year at Hogwarts is unforgivable. When it's my turn to watch you I'll pass on messages. Dumbledore is too busy, and I'm afraid to say it, but too old and sick to watch us all like hawks and make sure you're isolated and unhappy. My mother had one last thing to give you. I don't understand it, but it came to her from your parents. She says it will help you sleep."

It had been a revelation to learn that Andromeda Tonks was, apparently, on his side

The necklace he'd gotten from Tonks was probably charmed, but even if it wasn't, the fact that someone had finally noticed how he was treated was comforting in and of itself. It only took five years, too, he thought. Whatever the cause, for the first time ever, he fell asleep immediately the night of his return from Hogwarts. Well, immediately for him. Two hours after lying down was amazing.

He had, honestly, been nursing wishful thinking that Tonks had been his age, and not associated with Dumbledore. Harry had only dated one girl, a sixth-year named Cho Chang, and it had been a disaster.