Washerwoman

The Washerwoman is a minor character from a “less popular version” of the wizarding fairy tale, “The Fountain of Fair Fortune,” as described in Albus Dumbledore's commentary within The Tales of Beedle the Bard. In this alternate telling of the story, this Muggle woman takes the place of the character known as Sir Luckless. Her tale illustrates the theme of everyday misfortune and the potential for magical and non-magical folk to interact in these classic wizarding stories.

The Washerwoman's story is known only through the annotations provided by Albus Dumbledore on the tale of “The Fountain of Fair Fortune.” In a less common version of this story, the three witches—Asha, Altheda, and Amata—do not encounter a forlorn Knight on their quest. Instead, they meet a Muggle washerwoman. This woman was suffering from a bout of misfortune, as her donkey had recently died. Without the animal to help her, she was forced to carry all her laundry by hand to the next village. It is presumed that in this version of the tale, she accompanies the three witches on their journey to the Fountain of Fair Fortune, facing the same obstacles that Sir Luckless would have in the more widely-known version (The Tales of Beedle the Bard).

No physical description of the Washerwoman is provided in the text. Based on her circumstances, it can be inferred that she is a hardworking individual burdened by misfortune. Her willingness to undertake a long journey on foot with a heavy load suggests resilience and determination.

As a Muggle, the Washerwoman possessed no magical abilities. Her presence in the tale highlights that the challenges leading to the Fountain of Fair Fortune could be overcome by non-magical means, such as wit, kindness, and perseverance, with the aid of her witch companions.

• Laundry: She was carrying a large amount of laundry, her stock-in-trade, when she met the three witches.
• Donkey: She formerly owned a donkey, which had died prior to her appearance in the story, serving as the catalyst for her unfortunate situation.

In the alternate version of the tale, the Washerwoman's primary relationships would be with the three witches she meets:

• Asha, Altheda, and Amata: The Washerwoman would have joined these three witches on their quest, presumably forming a bond of mutual support as they attempted to reach the Fountain of Fair Fortune together. Her role would have been analogous to that of Sir Luckless in the more famous version of the tale.

The term “washerwoman” is not a proper name but an occupational title. It literally describes a woman whose profession is washing clothes for others. This simple, descriptive title emphasizes her humble, non-magical, and working-class status within the narrative.

The character of the Washerwoman is not mentioned in the seven primary Harry Potter novels. Her existence is revealed exclusively in the supplementary book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, specifically within the notes written by Albus Dumbledore that follow the story of “The Fountain of Fair Fortune.” Dumbledore writes, “A less popular version of the tale involves the heroines meeting not a luckless Knight, but a Muggle washerwoman whose donkey has died and who is carrying all her laundry to the next village” (The Tales of Beedle the Bard). This note establishes her as a canonical character within the lore of the wizarding world's folklore, even if she is not part of the most common telling of the tale.