19th June
Dear Miss Dumbledore,

It has come to my belated attention that I had not the foresight to apprise you of any details regarding that which I had afflicted upon the one in your care. It is, I'm afraid, quite complex in its counter. I would offer to call upon you to perform it personally, but I fear that my forwardness might cause offence. Enclosed thus are instructions regarding the spell you require.

It was a true pleasure to have enjoyed your company at dinner tonight. I should like very much to look forward to another such event, especially since it appears that you should leave so soon for the continent whence I had just left.

Yours with esteem,
Gellert Grindelwald

Dear Miss Dumbledore,

If it is confusion which I sense, let it be known that I reside behind the eastmost window of the first floor.

Sincerely,
Gellert Grindelwald

19th June
Dear Mr. Grindelwald,

This is a devilishly clever contraption! Did you manage to hybridise Locomotion Charms with Animation? I hope my pale imitation of your ingenious invention will bring neither scorn nor ridicule upon my person.

Regarding the contents of your earlier correspondence—thank you very much. I have since performed the task to adequate success, thanks in no small part to your helpful annotations regarding the requisite wand movements—but wherever did you manage to find such a spell? I've never seen anything even resembling it, for all that its construction and execution appears Latinate in principle. Surely it cannot be a foreign curse. Please, won't you tell me?

And oh, speak not of bygone matters. My tour of Europe alongside Miss Sacharissa Tugwood had been most eagerly planned by us both, but Aberforth has since convinced me to put an indefinite hold on these plans—even as I write you, I neglect the half-finished letter I was penning for Miss Tugwood. Tragedy is made all the more difficult by those unrelated to the event whom it nevertheless affects.

While this does entail that my stay at home shall not be so brief as you might have feared, I'm afraid it leaves you with little excuse to hasten any visits upon my brother and me. Nevertheless, I retain some small hope that you might call upon us; A History of English Families awaits you still in the sitting room—I noticed that you had started reading it during your visit earlier this evening. I would say that you should have taken it with you when we left for dinner, but I am glad for the excuse it leaves for your return… I suppose now I must fear that it is my forwardness that should cause you offence.

Thank you again for both your aid at dinner and your instructions upon the spell.

Yours truly,
Miss Alba Dumbledore

19th June
Dear Miss Dumbledore,

Surely you do not understand how dangerous a situation in which you have placed my fragile esteem! Your praise of my cleverness should only dull it with pride, which in its turn should reap naught but scorn from all who know me, thus shattering my ephemeral spirit—a tragedy that I would dare place in your responsibility, for 'twas your praise by which my fragile esteem was formed.

Though in truth, your so-called 'pale imitation' can only be seen as an improvement upon my clumsy tinkering. I had never thought to call upon the nature of Animation to give self-directed flight to my letter-birds. Instead, I had altered the Standard Locomotion Charm to include some elements from the basis of Banishing Charms. As for which elements—I think I shall leave it a puzzle for you to unravel, dear Miss Dumbledore.

The other spell after which you inquired is indeed Latinate in origin. I suppose it was foolish of me to be surprised that you could tell so much from such a brief overview of its counter. Though the spell was something of a local trend a few years ago, I am uncertain as to its exact origins. However, I do suspect that it was modelled on a Muggle faerie story about a princess cursed to a century of slumber. Please forgive me for the lack of consideration I had put into my spell choice; I should have used something less occult.

The gladness I feel for your prolonged stay is embittered by the knowledge that it is at such sacrifice to your person. Surely there must be some way to salvage the situation. Of course, as I am but an outsider ignorant of any and all detail, I shall refrain from further remarks. Instead, I shall say only that I should be very glad to continue my perusal of your late father's most excellent book collection. Taking most heinous advantage of your implied invitation, might I then call upon your home tomorrow morning after breakfast? Just name a time, and I shall be sure to heed my fair lady's summons.

In hopes of being your friend,
Gellert Grindelwald

19th June
Dear Mr. Grindelwald

You have nothing for which to apologise regarding that suspiciously Latinate spell of Muggle faerie stories, and thus I have nothing for which to forgive you, for surely it must be I who must continue to thank you for your very timely and very appropriate aid.

In fact, please allow me to express my gratitude in person tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. I plan to visit the Muggle bakery, and I should be much obliged for your escort. Abe hasn't yet told me how long you've been staying with your esteemed aunt—has your time here been brief enough to warrant a tour through nearby sights? I think this should be a fair enough price for the book which you seek.

Looking forward to a happier morning,
Yours most sincerely,
Alba Dumbledore

Has your puzzle unravelled? I think my letter-bird should very much resemble yours.

19th June
Dear Miss Dumbledore,

It is my utmost pleasure to bear witness to one as adept with the magical arts as yourself, Miss Dumbledore. You have replicated my spell exactly, doing in one night something that took me a week to accomplish back when I still resided in Durmstrang dormitories.

At your behest, I shall see you tomorrow at 9 o'clock. Though I have glimpsed the industry of this Muggle village of yours, I look forward also to viewing it through the lenses of your guidance.

Without further delay, for it is quite late already, I bid you a good night.

Ever yours,
Gellert Grindelwald

It is my hope that I, too, have unravelled what you had done in combining Animation with Locomotion. I have been trying to make parchment birds fly around my bedroom ever since your first letter to me, and only now have I achieved something that I would be unashamed to submit to your inspection.

20th June
Dear Mr. Grindelwald,

It was lovely walking with you today. However, while we had by no means any definite appointment, I must send my regrets regarding tomorrow morning, for I do not think I should leave my sister's bedside while my brother wanders about the countryside chasing goats and game.

I have just retired from luncheon with my siblings, and I currently sit staring at the half of an article I have written discussing the curious overlap between affecting Verto and affecting Via that you and I had inadvertently discovered last night. I ask, therefore, your blessing, to not only name you as a contributing scholar but also for its submission to relevant journals—primarily, The Modern Journal of Cross-Disciplinary Magicks. I expect, of course, that you should wish to discuss the partage of any remuneration, and I would hesitate an initial offer of 40%, should the article be successfully sold.

It feels silly to ask after your wellbeing when we've been apart for so short a time, but I do find myself curious about your preferred pastimes here in this sleepy village of ours. It may be a mere projection of mine, but you seem to me like a man who would more enjoy cities of actual population—at least, population beyond the dozen odd wizarding residences of Godric's Hollow. Isn't it strange? We seem so few in comparison to the Muggles, yet I know for a fact that we are quite average indeed in size for an enclave of magical folk, especially if one excludes outliers like Hogsmeade and London.

Please excuse my ramblings, for it seems I have fallen prey to the sentimentalities that so often haunt us witches.

Yours very truly,
Alba Dumbledore

20th June
Dear Miss Dumbledore,

The style of your address wounds me! Have I not begged to hear my forename from your lips? Surely you could extend the same courtesy to it with your quill. Dramatics aside, I too would like to share my glad sentiments regarding our morning's walk. It is a pity that we should be unable to repeat the exercise tomorrow, but I both understand and commend your dedication to your family. If I may be so bold as to add; though Mr. Dumbledore has convinced such sacrifices of your liberty, it seems he himself is rather unjustly unbound.

Regarding the article you plan to write upon our letter-birds, you have my most sincere blessing to write and submit all that you wish, excepting one small request; please keep my name and involvement in this matter anonymous. I am truly glad that my little project has so inspired you, but I would like to make a name of mine own before being accused of chasing the coattails of your not insubstantial academic renown. As such, I simply cannot accept your offers of remuneration; even a single percent of your earnings from this endeavour would be more than I deserve.

Though you are completely correct about my predisposition for busier environs, I have been quite pleased to rest here—no small part thanks to you. I while away my time helping dear Aunt Batty with her research and unabashedly using her connections to procure the more obscure tomes I seek. But dear lady, what troubles your mind? These sentimentalities which prey upon you seem rather incompatible with what I perceive to be your nature, for never a more resolute witch have I met. I deduce, therefore, that it must be something else, and I should like to assure you of my open ears and history of good confidence.

Your friend,
Gellert Grindelwald

20th June
Dear Gellert,

Are you pleased? I have extended you the courtesy of complying with your most forward request before ever seeing your reciprocation. What scoundrel would ask a witch to use his forename without first offering such a favour, I wonder. Surely not the upstanding Mr. Gellert Grindelwald.

Thank you for your blessing upon the article, though I pray that you understand that I should gladly abandon it if you have even a shred of hesitation regarding its publication. Your remuneration is out of the question—I must give you something, if only to ease my own conscience. If you would balk at 40%, is 30% then more palatable?

Your search for these so-called obscure tomes intrigues me. If I may be so inquisitive—what is it that you seek? As my brother had most indelicately commented upon your visit yesterday, I am, if not knowledgeable, then at least passingly familiar with historical figures and any extant works of theirs. Would that I could assist you to even half the extent to which you have already provided me assistance in my academic publications!

As for that which troubles me, I cannot tear my mind away from what old Mr. Williams had intimated about his daughter-in-law. Muggles are often so fragile about these things, and Mr. Williams the baker has now only that feckless apprentice and the very young Miss Williams to keep shop. I've half a mind to sneak to the bakery some dark night and heal Mrs. Williams myself—or feed her a potion at the very least. Only, I'm quite hopeless at Healing and I don't think there are any existing potions for curing consumption, as not even squibs die from it. Do you think a Pepperup might help?

Your friend,
Alba Dumbledore

20th June
Dear Miss Alba,

It seems I have met with most abject failure in my paltry attempts at gentlemanly behaviour. Shall I never escape the title of 'scoundrel'? My offering of such a favour, though pitifully late, I hope might lighten the terrible taint you have cast upon my good name. Moreover, I hope that I might be forgiven for refusing your far too generous offer of payment for my trifling part in your article. I beg you, kind lady, to leave a wizard's pride intact; I must refuse your galleons.

As for the tomes I seek, they are primarily journals which date immediately after the dark ages, and concern the prominent sorcerers of that time. My interest is actually related to this village as it is home to a long magical history, the chief of which being the Abbott, the Potter, and the Wright families. It is a passing fancy of mine, but I would be much obliged for any information you might share apropos the matter.

I too sympathise with the baker for his plight. Though I must admit that I am equally unsure about the potential benefits of a Pepperup, I do have some basic knowledge of the restorative arts. The Muggle disease of consumption is not anything in which I have ever been instructed, so I won't know if I can cure it until I personally examine the patient. Perhaps there is some way to arrange that…

To a pleasant night and a pleasanter morning,
Sincerely and entirely yours,
Gellert Grindelwald