I have returned to this fic and want to emphasize a little on the global nature of Grindelwald's war. Grindelwald gets mail from someone other than Albus and his Tante?
1968
14th February 1968
Dear Grindelwald-sama
Not sure if you recall me – Yuki, or Snowy. I was running about with your pack in the heady days of 1930-40s. We had such glorious fun setting the world ablaze and dancing on the ashes. Alas, all good things must end.
I am writing in for some advice on how to train a feral wizard seeing that you managed the feat with your protégé before he jumped ship. It is a bit tricky to train them after they hit puberty. Well, I came into the possession of an angsty teenage wizard the Japanese Ministry missed entirely due to him not being properly registered at birth. The Aurors found him running feral in the mountains literally tossing fireballs at local monks. For some reason, they thought he was part kitsune. Guess who ended up his legal guardian. So far, he has bitten half the students in my Dojo, set fire to the Astrology Block and slaughtered the entire chicken population on campus. I had to go without my live chicken livers for two months before they could send in fresh chickens. Then there is that issue of him running about naked, outside the baths. He is adept at vanishing his clothes and setting fires with magic, even without a wand. I have half a mind to drop the little oni off at that army base and let them deal with the brat.
I am trying to prove he is an oni or part. I have had part-kitsune students before, but this is another level entirely. I would have you know that some of these students are now employed as astrologers and advisors to the elite, including the no-Maj royal family. They even managed to get a whole section of Tokyo set aside for folks to freely express their magic without anyone batting an eyelid. They call it Akihabara. Some even went into the no-Maj entertainment industry. It is a wonder no one thought anything more of their movie magic.
Given your background in international magical law, are oni or half-oni recognized as beings or beasts? If I were to turn the little pest into a teapot before chucking him out the top floor window, will there be any consequences?
Kitsune Yukiko
P.S. I send you some chocolates which I swear on my grandmother's grave are not poisoned. It is a quaint tradition that is coming into vogue for ladies here to give chocolates on Valentine's Day to male acquaintances. I hope bitter almonds are to your taste.
Spring 1968
Dear Yuki-chan
It does my heart glad to hear from you after so long and to know you have done well for yourself. Transfiguration Mistress indeed. I always had an affinity for the field. As for those almond chocolates, I half-wished you did poison them as my guards confiscated the lot. Alas, having their corpses stinking up the halls would not improve Nurmengard.
As for your oni problems, sounds like you got set up by the ministry and your headmaster. After reading of your troubles, I never realized how blessed I was to have such an obedient student back then. A tad envious how well the rest of your students turned out. I heard my only student ended up in some unmarked grave somewhere in the boondocks. Sure, hex a Qilin and no one forgives you. On principle, I do not approve of killing a fellow wizard unless it is unavoidable. However, I know you are not exactly patient with fools. Feel free to toss the blighter into a whirlpool or transfigure him into a chicken. I am sure a foxy witch of your creative calibre can come up with some way of making it seem accidental. Some of your ideas even scared Vinda.
I thought you put your grandmother where she is now in the walls of some castle, so Sunny West mentioned. You did offer the pack candies tainted with Draught of Living Death once and Nagel lost part of his liver. It is refreshing that you did not poison the sweets this time.
Grindelwald
P.S. I do not suppose you have anything to do with that spot of foul weather that sent a certain bomber to Nagasaki in summer 1945, right where Sunny West and his pack were camping out in last days of the war. I recall you two had some real bad blood between you.
Spring 1968
Dear Albus
I am pleased to inform you that I have received a box of Valentine chocolates from a foxy lady. Seems like unlike you, I still have some romantic appeal to the witches. Have you managed to convince your catty sidekick McGonagall to return to Hogwarts' yet? I hear from the guardroom gossip she's marrying some ministry bigwig.
Gellert
15th May 1968
Dear Gellert
I do believe Minerva is old enough to decide her own happiness. As to your foxy lady, you are welcome to have her deal with your tantrums. I will have you know that I do receive gifts from my students and colleagues at Christmastime, Abe always sends over his game-meat pie, and there is always a jar of lemon sherbets on my desk and chocolate frogs in the drawer. I am good. Did you not inform me a few years back of a certain foxy lady eating livers? Methinks you better watch that she isn't fattening you up for Christmas like a goose.
Albus
P.S. We made it to the Chocolate Frog Hall of Fame. On the same card to. Please find enclosed our Chocolate Frog and card. I have charmed it to ensure you receive this one. The perks of being Supreme Mugwump. Do enjoy.
Summer 1968
Dear Albus
Thank you for the card and frog. I have not yet forgotten my manners so far as to not send you a thank you note. I have the card stuck on the wall and the frog was entertaining while its charm lasted. I have it rationed to last a good two weeks, until the rats found it. How wonderful to see that I am reduced to a mere footnote on a collectable card for the amusement of young wizards. Then I share the space with a senile Frenchman too.
Feeling sore
Gellert
P.S. You look like King Arthur's court jester on the card. If you were trying for the Merlin look, you failed epically.
15 September 1968
Dear Herr Gellert Grindelwald
You are hereby invited to the reunion dinner of the class of 1899 to be held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Budapest Grand Hotel on the 31st of December 1968.
We hope to see you there for the New Year.
R.S.V.P. via owl appreciated before Halloween.
Franz Dumkoff
President of the Drumstrang Alumni Association
Fall 1968
Dear Dumkoff
May I enquire as to whether transportation from Nurmengard is provided? As much as I would enjoy a night out of prison, I do fear prison rags will not meet the hotel's dress code. Once more, does anyone recall who they were extending this invitation to, or did you use Quick Copy spells to write them? Oh, there was another stripling back then who was blacklisted from the student parties for flashing the witches. The name escapes me. And that little witch with a very unhealthy perchance for casting random bombardos. Perhaps this will be that reunion to remember.
Grindelwald
P.S. I was expelled and never made graduation. So take me off the mailing list already.
Author's Notes:
From Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card - Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Professor Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel.
Somewhere in Japan, some poor young wizard has literally bit the dust as a teapot. Not to worry, his Transfiguration teacher brews a fine cuppa tea with him while everyone else is panicking over finding his sandals left at the edge of the local volcanic crater. Snape's students got off lightly in comparison.
Sama- Japanese suffix for Lord or to show respect
Chan- diminutive, may be used for children or young women
Oni- Japanese ogre. Appears in CoG at the Circus. Not sure if crossbreeding with humans possible.
Kitsune – fox-spirit, shapeshifter from Japanese folklore. May be protective guardians or malicious mischief-makers. Folklore also includes instances of kitsunes becoming wives of humans and producing offspring with magical powers from their mothers.