From Jupiter's Head Chapter 3, a harry potter fanfic

1 July 1937

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Armando Dippet, Headmaster

1 July 1937

Dear Miss McGonagall,

On behalf of the faculty and staff, I am pleased to offer you a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the class of 1944.

Term will begin on 1 September. Kindly send an owl stating your intention to attend no later than 31 July.

Enclosed, please find a list of all the supplies necessary for your first year.

We look forward to welcoming you to Hogwarts.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore
Deputy Headmaster

~oOo~

Castle Isleif
Caithness, Scotland

1 July 1937

Dear Deputy Headmaster Dumbledore,

I accept with pleasure your kind invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I look forward to the beginning of term and to meeting you and the other staff and faculty of the school.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

~oOo~

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

1 September 1937

Dear Da,

I was Sorted into Gryffindor. I hope you are not too disappointed. You never said so, but I know you hoped I might be in your old House. The Sorting Hat did consider Ravenclaw, and for a minute it seemed like that's where it would put me, but in the end, it was Gryffindor. I'm happy, and I hope you will be, too.

I've met some interesting people already. Professor Dumbledore, the Deputy Headmaster who sent my letter, is also the Head of Gryffindor House, and he seems very nice. Did you know that he discovered the 12 uses of dragon's blood? And invented the Disillusionment spell? I read about it in A History of Magic.

I thought he would be intimidating because of his important reputation, but he isn't. He smiles a lot and talks softly. When he came to speak to the first-years, he offered us all a sweetie, and it was amazing! He asked each of us what our favourite was, and he Transfigured each one right there from a tin of sherbet lemons (I think they were). I'll bet you can guess what I chose!

I can't wait until classes begin tomorrow. I hope I will make you proud of me.

I will write more later this week.

I miss you. Please give my love to Einar and Gran, and tell them I miss them, too.

All my love,

Minerva

~oOo~

Castle Isleif
Caithness, Scotland

2 September 1937

My dearest Minerva,

Congratulations on being Sorted into Gryffindor! I am not in the least disappointed; on the contrary, I am exceedingly happy for you. Gryffindor House has a long and distinguished history of producing fine scholars, including your mother and grandmother, and I have no doubt you will thrive there. You are my clever, brave girl, and (dare I say?) stubborn as a Hippogriff to boot. I think the Sorting Hat has made a fine choice, but remember that one's House does not define one. Only your actions can do that, and knowing you as I do, I have no worries on that score. I know you will do me proud.

I'm glad you find your Head of House congenial. He is responsible for looking after you while you are at Hogwarts, and I'll sleep better knowing that you feel you can rely on Professor Dumbledore to help you with any problems you might encounter during term. Of course, I am only an owl away, don't forget!

I look forward to hearing your impressions of your classes and professors.

Study hard, keep well, and always remember that I love you.

Your loving,

~oOo~

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

2 October 1937

Dear Da,

I'm sorry I haven't written in more than a week. It's dreadfully remiss of me, but there's so much to do here. I'm always busy until after curfew.

Classes are going well. Transfiguration is my favourite. Remember that I wrote to you about how I was the first one to change my matchstick into a needle? Professor Dumbledore said he thinks I have an abtitude (is that how it's spelled?) for Transfiguration. This week, we began Elemental Transfiguration. It's dreadfully difficult but lots of fun. William Prewett accidentally set fire to Professor Dumbledore's beard when we were trying to change water into another liquid of our choice. I think he was trying to make his into Firewhisky! But Professor Dumbledore was ever so nice about it. He just calmly put out the fire and asked William to try again with "a less flammable substance"! I was able to turn mine into tea on the first go (I'm not boasting, it's just a fact.) Professor Dumbledore even took a sip and said it was a "quite passable Darjeeling"!

I like Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts, too. Professor Merrythought is especially wonderful. She makes every lesson very interesting and exciting. So far, it's just been reading and demonstration, but in another month, she's going to let us start practicum. I can't wait! She runs the duelling club, and I was so disappointed when she said that it's restricted to third-years and up. I already joined the wizard's chess club, which is fun, and everyone talks about Quidditch, although I'd much rather be playing! Next year, maybe. (If I get a decent broom—hint!)

You were so right about the library. It's amazing! I could spend all day just looking through the stacks. Don't worry, I'm not burying myself in books. Although you're one to talk. I hope you're getting out occasionally. You're not the only one allowed to worry, you know!

It's nearly curfew again, so I'll close.

As always, love to Gran and Einar, and of course, to you.

Love,

Minerva

~oOo~

6 January 1938

Miss McGonagall,

Please report to my office at 8:00 for your detention.

Professor Burke

~oOo~

I will not use a Vermiculus Jinx on a classmate, even if provoked.

~oOo~

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Armando Dippet, Headmaster

6 January 1938

Dear Mr McGonagall,

I'm writing to inform you that your daughter, Minerva, has been subject to a disciplinary action regarding her behaviour this afternoon during a disagreement with another student.

The disciplinary action—a detention with the other student's Head of House—was the result of a jinx she cast on the other student's wand. In short, she Transfigured it into a Flobberworm.

Rest assured that the student's wand has been returned to its original state and that I have spoken to Minerva about the wrongness of her actions, so I do not believe the incident requires any intervention on your part.

This incident will not go on her permanent record, as there was no injury to the other party nor any permanent damage to property, and ordinarily I would not bother a parent with news of a minor infraction of school rules, but in this case, I thought it best to write to you.

I have never seen a first-year student perform a perfect non-biological-to-biological Transfiguration on what I am assured was the first try. Particularly upon a powerfully magical object such as a wand. This suggests that not only is Minerva is a very talented young witch, but she also possesses a significant store of magical power, a fact of which I imagine you are already aware. She also, as I'm sure you know, has quite a temper. This latter bears watching, which I'm certain you have done and which I shall continue to do while she is at school, but I would also like to assure you that we will address the former to the best of our collective ability at Hogwarts.

Talent and power are exceptional gifts that require careful nurturing if they are to blossom, and it would be my honour to help Minerva in whatever capacity she requires and which you will permit. If I am not mistaken, Minerva is only somewhat aware of her gifts; I suspect you have been wise enough to alert her to them without making too much of them. Again, with your permission, that is the tactic I would like to pursue in teaching her to use them, for her own benefit and for that of our society, which has much to gain from the talents of such an intelligent, powerful, and, may I say, charming magical practitioner.

Aside from this small hiccough in Minerva's conduct—and I should probably not tell you that her "victim" richly deserved the surprise she gave him—she is an exemplary student and a pleasure to teach.

Respectfully yours,

Albus Dumbledore
Deputy Headmaster

~oOo~

Castle Isleif
Caithness, Scotland

7 January 1938

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

Thank you for your letter. I'm sorry to hear that Minerva has been guilty of misbehaviour, and I am thankful there was no serious harm done. As you note, my daughter has a temper that sometimes gets away from her. It is a fault that her grandmother and I continue to encourage her to curb, with mixed success, I must allow, so I am glad you are aware of it and willing to help her overcome it.

I'm not surprised that a perceptive wizard such as yourself has so quickly noticed what my late wife and I knew from the day Minerva was born. Her magical power has been both blessing and challenge, and we have done our best to help her channel it into beneficial avenues. As you surmised, Minerva is largely, but not entirely, unaware of the magnitude of her gifts, and I agree wholeheartedly with the approach you suggest. If you are willing to take her under your guiding wing, I can only offer you my heartfelt thanks. My own magical gifts are not undeveloped, but my talents lie in a different direction than do Minerva's. Fortunately, Minerva's grandmother, who has helped raise her since her dear mother's death, has magical abilities that align more closely with Minerva's, and she has been a great support and role model for Minerva. I will confess, however, that I am relieved to have a teacher with greater experience of the kind of power Minerva enjoys guide her as she enters this most critical phase of her magical development. The Sorting Hat was wise indeed to entrust her to your care.

I am most grateful to you for your concern for and your interest in my daughter's well-being and development. If there is any insight or aid I can offer, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thankfully yours,

Thorfinn McGonagall