The Goblet of Fire. Possible mutiny in the Order? Gellert wants to go to the tournament.
1994 Fall term
20th August 1994
Dear GG
I am scared for the safety of my family. I thought we were so done with this back in 1981, but no. Someone cast the dreaded Dark Mark into the sky during the Quidditch World Cup finals. My children were all there. Then there was a riot! And those poor Muggles! I lost my brothers back in the First War, I cannot bear for any of my wee ones to be hurt! That also goes for the orphan we have taken under our wing as his family is abusive. My husband works at the Ministry, and it is unlikely we can afford to leave the country on his salary. And even if we could, we would have to leave Harry behind as we are not his legal guardians.
The headmaster of Hogwarts reassures us of our children's safety in Hogwarts but since my Ronnie started school, it appears he and his friend Harry have been running into all manner of scrapes. In spring, Ron broke his leg and almost got attacked by a werewolf. The year before it was a Basilisk on the loose. The first year was a killer chessboard and a three-headed monster dog.
Mother Weasley
Summer 1994
Dear Mother Weasley
Am I sensing some resentment towards an old coot of a headmaster over his idea of child-safety? I agree with you wholeheartedly that Hogwarts standards have dropped both in regards of academia and security. How much can the older and hopefully employed children contribute to the family bug-out fund? Do you have any friends qualified to homeschool the wee ones? As a Seer, I have been sensing a good deal of changes in Britain and not for the better, even from my meditative retreat. If you have family outside Britain, make use of those connections to give your children an out. Send them to the States or Asia. Frankly, even a dragon reserve in Romania would be a step above Hogwarts the way it is going.
Wishing you and yours luck
GG
5th September 1994
Dear Gellert
I have received some rather disturbing reports about our latest DADA tutor demonstrating the Unforgiveables in a 4th year class. Mind, Moody's a great Auror, even if he has become a bit paranoid after the First War. I already had a word with him for turning a student into a ferret and bouncing the poor child about the hall for sassing back. I am not sure if his paranoia is rubbing off on me or if there is something off about him. There is also the upcoming Triwizard Tournament we need to arrange through the Ministry. The head house elf is lodging a complaint about some students starting a petition to free our house elves. I really do not have time to have that nice long chat with Moody about his lesson plan. I would love to slip him a Calming Draught in his pumpkin juice but he only drinks from his hipflask.
I know you have to mean it for the Curses to work, but isn't too risky teaching them to 13- and 14-year-olds? You know how emotional children that age can be. I do not want anyone to get Crucio-ed or worse over a schoolyard squabble.
Yours sincerely
Albus Dumbledore
Fall 1994
Dear Albus
Finally, someone is putting the Dark Arts back in your DADA. I might just like this Auror Moody. Are you sure he is not related to the indomitable Mrs Scamander or Augusta Longbottom? This was a first-year class back in Durmstrang during my time and we practiced Imperios and Curcios on each other while trying to resist the Curses. Of course, the Killing Curse was out until our sixth year when we had to prove that we could block it with assorted masonry or stuff. I used the Head Boy's corpse. The Tournament has not been held since the Cockatrice Incident of 1792. Good to know it is back. Of course, I will be rooting for my alum mater's champion. You are probably stressed out from the planning of the tournament. Let's see – high death and injury tolls. In 1772, only the Drumstrang champion survived. The one before that had the student delegation from Beauxbatons decimated… and Drumstrang's Fallen Forty of 1742. What record are we aiming for now?
Gellert
P.S. Might you be able to sneak me in for a ringside view of the competition? I would love to see a dragon-joust or whatever your lot planned.
15th October 1994
Dear GG, or rather, Grindelwald
It is official, I have lost whatever marbles I have – writing to the previous Dark Lord for advice on how to protect my godson from the current Dark Lord. Moony's given me marching orders courtesy of Dumbledore to get the heck out of Britain, but I can't do it. I cannot leave the boy behind. Sure, the family still has holiday homes in Tahiti, Cairo, and Geneva I can retreat to, but I will just keep worry about my pup. Then there is that little problem of a rat whose neck I would love to wring.
Padfoot
Fall 1994
Dear Padfoot
Sometimes a wizard's gotta do what a wizard gotta do. Grab your godson and get the hell out of there. Do you have a securely warded ancestral seat around? You can blood-adopt the boy in the old ways and put him under your family protections. Blood status be damned – pureblood, half or Muggleborn – Magic is still magic. The entire Dark Lord thing is overrated, but I am no fan of this Voldemort's methods – that seem to involve wholesale destruction of wizarding bloodlines as well as Muggleborns. The rat will fall into his own trap sooner or later, do not fret.
Grindelwald
31st October 1994
Dear Gellert
Oh my stars, I do not know how this happened. We had an underage competitor selected for the Triwizard Tournament. And it is Harry. What if he gets eaten by a dragon, drowned in the lake or worse? We imposed all the necessary safety charms to prevent this and it still happened. Can this be Fate? Igor and Maxime look set to hex my pants off for this debacle and I owe the Ministry a report on why the Age Line failed. Not that I have the faintest clue. It is too late to call off the entire thing and Igor insisted that we treat Harry the same as the other three competitors – no extra help or protection.
Being a Seer, can you drop me some advice on how we can get Harry out of this mess?
Albus Dumbledore
3rd November 1994
Dear GG
I solemnly swear that I did not put my name into that accursed goblet and that I haven't the faintest notion who has it in for me. I have more than enough on my plate with Potions and Transfiguration. I do not want to participate in any Triwizard Tournament. Where I am standing, the entire thing is a set-up. Since it does not have an out clause, I am stuck having to compete against 3 other older candidates. Then there is that fuss and the reporters… Oh, the other Hogwarts candidate is from Hufflepuff House, and I think that is probably the only luck I got out of this. If CD has been from Slytherin, I expect I would have been straight up cursed to bits for being a glory hound. As it stands, the Puffs are giving me the evil-eye and not speaking to me.
Once more, I did not do it.
Wish I wasn't Chosen
Winter 1994
Dear Albus
Yup, looks like someone has it in for the lad. The Age Line only stops anyone not of age from approaching, right? Perhaps someone slipped your precious Chosen One's name in to be Chosen. A hint – Drumstrang always cheats. The ends justify the means. And I doubt the Fancy Batons are more principled in that field. So in the presence of any anti-cheating safeguards, I believe you'd work your way around it. You might have your two Hogwarts champions team up to survive and even win the Tournament.
Yours sincerely
Gellert
Winter 1994
Dear Chosen One
Yup, someone has it in for you. Based on my guess and what has been bandied about in the newspaper, your name is Harry Potter aka the Chosen One. By some twist of Fate, you survived an AK curse as a toddler and majorly ticked off a Dark Lord. Now said Dark Lord and his followers are out to get you. Since the AK failed, they are trying other means. Watch your back, lest you end up dead for real.
Since the Triwizard Goblet comes with one of those magical contracts, you are stuck having to compete unless you wish to give up your magic and turn squib. Figure it out. Do you wish to form alliances with the other competitors or start eliminating the competition? Are you in it to survive or win? You may wish to dig up old records of the Tournament to have a gander at what you will be up against. Mind, it will make for gory reading. Try the Restricted section of the library.
There will definitely be a Beast component. You may wish to write to an expert.
Yours apologetically
GG
6th December 1994
Dear GG
It's me again. I survived the first task involving a dragon. Now I am told that I must lead the dance at the Yule Ball. I have never danced before, I do not know what dress-robes are, and who am I going ask for a partner at the Ball? My best friend who happened to be a girl has already been asked by Viktor Krum from Durmstrang. My fellow Hogwarts champion CD has already got a steady girlfriend he is asking, so he tells me.
My House Head has volunteered to give us dance lessons leading up to the ball, but I still need a date. Someone who will waltz with me in front of the entire School plus the delegations from the Ministry, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. Professor McGonagall promised to help me if I still cannot find anyone. Do you think she means to partner me at the Ball?
Yikes! I think I prefer the dragon.
Potter
Winter 1994
Dear Potter
Dancing was never my scene, unless it is the nimble footwork associated with duelling. Go big. Ask the prettiest girl in school. The worst thing that can happen is her turning you down and maybe her beau thrashing the heck out of you for making pass at her. You might wish to engage in a wizarding duel to impress the young lady.
Ach, fond memories… Duelling for the hand of one's beloved was a tradition back in the day…
Of course, with the skewed male-female ratio in my alma mater - pureblood witches were home-schooled if their folks could afford it back then, it was quite a feat to get a date for the Yule Waltz. Still, the final decision rests with the fraulein. You could fight your way to her side only to have her reject and hex your balls off for good measure. Or one can just drown one's sorrows in the Wyvern's Nest with other lads who failed the gauntlet.
If you prefer old cats, you can go with your House Head. Dancing with a dragon might be tricky.
Wishing you a merry Yuletide
GG
Author's Notes:
Gellert is feeling nostalgic about his school days in Durmstrang Institute.