Regulus Black writes in over his plan to outwit a dark lord and steal the Hocrux. James Potter marries Lily Evans in 1979. Sirius plots to find out what happened to his brother. Might Gellert be actually trying to help someone?
1979
13th May 1979
Dear GG
I am about to embark on a task of gravest danger. Even if it succeeds, I will be a dead man walking. More likely, it will be the death of me. I will need some backup to ensure the task is completed even if I perish. However, I do not know who I can trust other than my old house-elf. Normally, I would consider my brother for backup, except that he has broken off all ties with the family. I do not kwno where he has gone. I cannot possibly get the rest of my family involved for their own safety.
How reliable and hardy are house elves? Especially older ones. K has already been through a lot for my sake. I doubt he has recovered all that much from his earlier ordeal yet. Well, it would not do if both of us end up succumbing to the inferi in that cave.
RAB
Spring 1979
Dear RAB
I am intrigued by your letter. Inferi, you say? About your loyal elf K, the critter will gladly die for your sake, but that is how they are made – loyalty to the point of near-idiocy. Just ensure he hasn't gone senile yet. I will need more information to advise you on how feasible your plan is, but you will not need to fret about finding a dagger in your back from K at least. House elves can Disapparate out of almost anywhere, though some wards may limit the feasibility of a Side-Along. You appear to be caught up in something well above your head.
Good luck with your little intrigue, though I suspect this is the last we will be hearing of you.
GG
31st August 1979
Dear GG
My kid brother has gone missing. Reggie was running about with a rough crowd. I fear something has happened to him. You see, my dad died recently. I tried to attend the funeral, but my mom kept trying to hex me to death. I did notice that Reggie was not present. That is weird since he is always the good son. I tried to corner Snivvy to ask where Reggie was, but he gave me the slip. Cousin Cissy claims Reggie has stopped calling on her and her husband too. We could not chat further as her husband hates my guts. Cousin Andy has no idea about where Reggie is at. Ever since she got married to a Muggleborn, my folks no longer invite her for tea. I am not on speaking terms with Cousin Bella. Cissy did mention that Reggie was thinking of leaving his gang, and I think they killed him for it.
What should I do? My best friend has got a wedding planned and I am their best man. Should I have a go at kidnapping Snivvy and torturing some information out of him?
Padfoot
Summer 1979
Dear Padfoot
As much as I concur with your plan of torturing your brother's so-called friends for information, do consider if this will be of any use. Could your brother have decided to disappear for his own health and safety? If so, your help would not be appreciated. If he is already deceased, this will change nothing. Your friends will need your support for the wedding. You will not be much use turning with blood on your robes or lightly singed to the ceremony, with a pack of Aurors or Death Eaters in tow.
GG
12th September 1979
Dear GG
It has been barely a year since our formal engagement, but so much has changed. First, my parents passed in a car accident around Christmas, leaving me with no Muggle family except Tunia (who is still not speaking to me). I could not bear to continue living at my parents' place, so I took up Mr and Mrs Potter's offer of room and board. They were complaining their house seemed emptier since Paddy and Moony moved out. Since James and I are now living under the same roof, his parents suggested bringing the wedding forward to avoid unnecessary gossip. Sadly, both contracted Dragon Pox and passed in summer. James is thinking of finding a new place for the two of us as the old Potter townhouse is too big for us to maintain. His parents never had house elves. Something about their magics clashing with the family's potion experiments. My fiance's not a potioneer, but he has no intent of hiring house elves since they had fallen out of fashion with his family a long time back, along with complex boundary wards and the like. We have plans to hold the wedding around Halloween – a simple intimate affair with only close friends.
Until recently, it seemed so right to me. James is a wonderful wizard. He has definitely come a long way since his wild youth. I just need to look at Paddy's antics to remind myself of that. I fear that I seem to be having cold feet now. Alice and Marlene have been helping me with the preparations. Alice got married just this spring and married life suits her. Dorcas is going all matrony on me now, setting me up for robe-fittings and stuff. Is it too soon for a wedding, given the ongoing war and the recent passing of our parents? Are we rushing into things?
Lily
Fall 1979
Dear Tiger Lily
You and your fiancé should go for it, especially given the war. Life is unpredictable enough as it is. Marry, have babies, grow old together. You do not want to live out the remainder of your life with regrets and wondering about the what-ifs. Is your fiancé an only child? If yes, it might explain the unconscious urgency he is experiencing to propagate the bloodline (especially if he is of old wizarding stock), which he wishes to do with you, even if they must cut back on the invites and pomp. Has he given you any reason to doubt his sincerity? If yes, you can always break it off before the wedding.
You did mention the Potters have little in way of wards. Please look into this. Any magical home should be reasonably warded against hostile forces, especially in a time of war. If your fiance's family is an old one, there should be a family seat somewhere you should consider moving to for the duration of this war. You might need to sacrifice a goat or chicken to refresh the existing wards, but it is no time to be squeamish. I will recommend hiring a professional from Gringotts' to assist.
Wishing you all the best
GG
31st October 1979
Dear Gellie
I trust you and your little advice column are doing well. I have had the boundary wards around my cottage refreshed with the blood of a pure black cockerel as recommended by my Veela friend from Koldie. However, I seem to have uncovered some old boundary wards that might belong to the Peverells at the end of my garden. Imagine that. I do wish I have Volodymyr with me to confirm my suspicions these are powerful family wards. They appear to run from my garden over to the old Dumbledore place next door. No one has lived in it since Abe left home. Would appreciate if Albus could take time to see to it if it is still in their family. It is an eyesore to us wizarding folk even if the Muggles think it just another patch of green space.
XXXX
Your Auntie
Bathilda
Winter 1979
Dear Auntie
For your information, I was the one who wrote that paper on runes and black cockerel blood. I do hope you remember to do a cleansing before refreshing the wards. Have you considered turning the old Dumbledore dump into a bonfire? I definitely do not wish to be greeted by that eyesore should I end up staying with you in Godric's Hollow.
The continued existence of the Peverell family wards is interesting, considering the male line of the family is long extinct. There are the Gaunts, also extinct and the Potters, who are likely taken themselves far away from that Hollow… Alas, Potter is also a common Muggle name, so I was never able to confirm if any could claim descent from the Peverells.
Aunt, may I trouble you to take a stroll and look for more Peverell boundary and family wards around your village? See which areas are still protected and the strength of the protection. I have a theory I wish to confirm. I solemnly swear on my magic that this has nothing to do with a jailbreak. In fact, if I am correct, it might save lives. You may inform Albus if you wish.
Your nephew
Gellert
Winter 1979
Dear Albus
Need you to go to Godric's Hollow and look for any remaining Peverell boundary wards. My Auntie uncovered some near your old cottage. Have her show you the wards she came across. Likely they will be in disrepair after so long, but those things were made to last in the old days. You might never know. If there is anyone in your little group who is blood kin to the Peverells, you might want to consider if it is feasible to set up a base there using the family protections. Especially any young families with children or set to have children. Maybe refurnish your old place?
Yours sincerely
Gellert
31st December 1979
Dear Grindelwald
Do not mention the Peverells to me. I am so done with your Deathly Hallows search. I am not popping over to Godric's Hollow to root about in the snow for old boundary wards. I will also need to get your Aunt to dig up the genealogies of several old families and I am not risking being subjected to her Christmas fruitcakes. So no.
You have some nerve mentioning my old place. I know I should have gotten round to selling it off, but Abe threatened never to speak to me again if I did. Too many memories. I suppose it will just rot there until both of us are no longer around and it goes to some distant cousin in the States, who may and may not turn it into a holiday house.
Dumbledore
Author's Notes:
How is my Grindelwald coming along? Too nice and sensible? Not snarky enough? I am not sure how well I am conveying his plan, which no one is listening to. I think Albus has had some experience of Bathilda's dubious fruitcakes by now.
Across cultures and religions, blood has a very potent connotations if used or referenced in rituals. We can imagine Bathilda is taking her nephew's warnings seriously if she is using chicken blood to refresh her magical home security.