Edgar Poe was an American Muggle-born orphaned at the age of one. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died the following year. He was taken in as a child by John Allan, a Scottish merchant of Richmond, Virginia. While never formally adopted, John and his family became something of foster family to the child, even giving him the name "Edgar Allan Poe".
John alternately spoiled and disciplined Edgar, providing a sufficing home for him. Edgar's magical potential was brought to notice when he and his family sailed to Britain in 1815. Poe had been attending grammar school in Irvine, Scotland when he had accidentally made a ruffian who often bullied him bloat up like a balloon and float away into the sky above the courtyard. The incident had left many students traumatized, and adults and police officials skeptical when the children who had witnessed everything recounted what they saw. Though horrified by what he'd (unwittingly) done, Edgar never spoke of the incident even after he rejoined his family in London in 1816.
He attended a boarding school in Chelsea until 1817, and subsequently Reverend John Bransby's Manor House School at Stoke Newington. The Allans were preparing to move back to Virginia in 1820 when Edgar's letter of invitation to Hogwarts arrived at their residence, shocking them all – Edgar included. The family was convinced that it wasn't a joke when a Hogwarts representative showed up to their residence, as was protocol with getting Muggle-born students prepared for their first term at the school. While still in awe at the discovery of Edgar's magical abilities and the wizarding world, the Allans ultimately capitulated to the representative's insisting that he attended Hogwarts and hone his abilities.
The very same year, Edgar attended Hogwarts and was sorted into Ravenclaw, his family ultimately staying in London. He would become one of the most influential figures to have attended Hogwarts following his graduation.
At twenty-two he returned to Hogwarts as the professor for Muggle studies, later becoming the head of his former House. He privately wrote poems and short stories in his free time – stories that would wind up in circulation of and celebrated in both magical and non-magical communities. After meeting his end at the hands of an undisclosed illness at forty, Wizarding World Literature was added to the school's curriculum in his honor, his ghost remaining at Hogwarts to personally teach the subject.
Same as the previous class, the subject's period was split between the Slytherins and Gryffindors. Thankfully Ron was excluded from this particular period. But what neutralized that sense of relief was the presence of Goyle and Pansy, both seated three desks down from where she and Harry were. Professor Poe started the first day of his class with an introductory lecture, floating at the front of the class before the trio of macabre portraits.
"While mine is a disposition to make the bones beneath a cemetery appear lively," he flaccidly said, "the subject of Wizarding World Literature may be quite absorbing should you give it the chance. I've taught many famous authors from several generations is this very classroom: Rita Skeeter, Leah Baneswood, and Xavier Holloway to name a few. But one need not a ardent desire for literature to appreciate the tantalizing beauty of words upon parchment; creativity you can harness to manufacture into fictional worlds of your own crafting. The quill of a feather conjoined with moist blackness of ink can serve as the stepping stones to immortalizing your life's chronicles.
"Throughout this course we will visit various sources of literature – originating from both magical and non-magical communities. After a certain time you will all be instructed to create your own reports and stories based upon the genres we will explore. By the end of term, I am confident your impressionable minds will be broadened to the enchanting world of books – even to a modicum."
Professor Poe's lecture was like an enticing siren. Before coming to Hogwarts, Hermione had indulged in most of his work: The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Premature Burial.
She was disappointed – and startled beyond belief with the rest of the class – when the ear-splitting caw rushed through the air. She didn't want the class to end with just a lecture. Not without so much as one small assignment to prepare for. But, once she recovered from being star struck, she would be patient until the following day.
"He seemed really nice," Harry said.
"He is one of the most famous authors to have lived!" Hermione joyfully adulated. "I'm so eager to learn from him – tomorrow can't come soon enough."
The children would part ways once they'd left the dungeons. "I know bringing this up so suddenly may sound strange…but I really don't think Ron dislikes you as much as you may think. He told me earlier in Potions that he has two brothers in Slytherin."
"Fred and George," she knowingly responded.
"Oh, you've met them?" Harry said with light surprise.
"Quite recently, yes. They're both quite…charming…"
"I met them on the way to Hogwarts, but never asked which House they belonged to," Harry stated. "Ron told me that nearly everyone in his family had been in Gryffindor, and it was a huge surprise for their parents to learn they had been put in Slytherin."
As Harry said this, Hermione's memory drifted back to the deal she'd established with the crafty twins…