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I remember in the last HP, there was something to the effect that Aberforth had been arrested for doing something with goats. Something like "using inappropriate charms on a goat."

What could he do to warrant arrest? It can't be what I think it is, can it?

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    This remind me of Troy McLure "doing something with fishes"
    – Matemáticos Chibchas
    Feb 12, 2015 at 22:36

2 Answers 2

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From the Leaky Cauldron:

J. K. Rowling was asked in 2007 what exactly Aberforth did to the goat to be prosecuted. Below is a transcript of the interview:
Q: In the Goblet of Fire Dumbledore said his brother was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms [JKR buries her head, to laughter] on a goat; what were the inappropriate charms he was practicing on that goat?
JKR: How old are you?
Eight.
JKR: I think that he was trying to make a goat that was easy to keep clean [laughter], curly horns. That's a joke that works on a couple of levels. I really like Aberforth and his goats. But you know Aberforth having this strange fondness for goats if you've read book seven, came in really useful to Harry, later on, because a goat, a stag, you know. If you're a stupid Death Eater, what's the difference. So, that is my answer to YOU.

Other than that...We don't know.

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    "So, that is my answer to YOU". Well I'd like to ask her the question myself, for I am definitely over 21 :P
    – Kalissar
    Aug 18, 2013 at 7:54
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    @Kalissar One for Twitter?
    – John Bell
    Jan 21, 2016 at 9:03
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    I'll have you know, I can certainly tell the difference between a goat and a stag!
    – Obsidia
    Apr 27, 2017 at 23:09
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He had a "goat fetish" but "wasn't really in love with them".

From a letter that Rowling wrote to a fan in 2008 which recently was partially posted online:

cropped picture of letter (transcription below)

3. Why is one brother in love with goats and the other brother gay?
This question made me roar with laughter. Aberforth's goat fetish is [?a ru]nning joke that kept me amused. I don't think he's really in love with [?them, but] it's a good pretext for humor. And I always saw Albus as gay without really knowing why. I knew he had this great friendship with [?Grindelw]ald, and I suspected he overlooked Grindelwald's very obvious faults [??because h]e felt something warmer than ordinary friendship towards him.
4. Don't you feel badly for Kendra?
[?I thin]k you are asking this independently of question 3, aren't you? I [?hope you'r]e not asking whether I feel sorry for Kendra that she had one [??????] son, and one gay son?

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    Hey, that "one [??????] son, and one gay son" could contain the answer! What a bummer
    – Shana Tar
    Nov 1, 2018 at 14:43
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    @ShanaTar - I've attempted to reach out to the owner of the letter a few times to request a better scan, but I've never received a response.
    – ibid
    Nov 1, 2018 at 19:17

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