Grindelwald tries to carry on with his advice column as someone is not replying to his letters. He is also looking for a possible cure for Albus' curse.
1997 Spring term
15th March 1997
Dear GG
I am starting to think my House Quidditch team is cursed. Help! I know it is a bit late, but I was out of commission since last October due to exposure to a cursed artefact. On waking up in St Mungo's, I have since learned my fellow team members have also run into mishaps – our Keeper got poisoned, twice over. Our Seeker cracked his skull open during routine practice. I heard from my parents that since I missed the better part of the school year, I need to repeat my final year before going for my NEWTs. Should I re-join the team?
Bell the Witch
Spring 1997
Dear Bell
Sure you are up to it? Juggling NEWTs and Quidditch, curses aside? May I suggest you take it easy for a few years at least? Curses can be tricky things and one that lands you in hospital for half a year is nothing to sniff at. What does your headmaster or House head have to say about this? As to how cursed your team is, I doubt you have anything on the Chudley Cannons. Perhaps you can suggest to your captain to do a Cleansing ritual to rid the team and yourself of any lingering effects of the dark artefact you were exposed to? It should fly past your ridiculous laws as this is a Light ritual.
Concerned
GG
Spring 1997
Dear Liebling
How are you? Found anyone to get rid of that curse yet? Please write. I need to know you are alive and well. What are the symptoms of the curse? I need more information, please! May I recommend a friend might be able to help? She will likely demand my liver on a silver platter as payment, but it would be worth it.
Love you always,
Gellert
Spring 1997
Dear Yuki-chan
I know it has been a while since our last exchange. I have a stubborn friend in Britain who managed to get himself majorly cursed, as in death-curse cursed. Will you be able to provide some of your kitsune magic curse-breaking expertise in this? Please reply soon as I fear he is running out of time. Name your price.
Yours sincerely
Grindelwald
21st April 1997
Dear Grindelwald-sama
Most sincerest apologies, but I fear that I must inform you that I have sworn off the Dark Arts entirely as of the new year at my darling Tonton's urging, so as to share the load of maintaining our island's Manna. I am no longer able to access my shadow magics for curse-setting or breaking after having pledged my magic to the Light. This also includes me giving up my favourite raw livers, so your liver is safe from me at least. I do hope having had the chance to dry out, it will be in better shape than when you boys were packing away the liquor like there was no tomorrow in the 1930s.
If that curse victim is your boyfriend. Might it be time for you two to get together and sort out any differences in his twilight days so that you may die without any regrets?
Once more with apologies,
Yukiko Ohana
P.S. Are the two of you exchanging death-poems yet? Please send us a copy for the Ocean Academy archives. It will be a real dinger having deathbed correspondence from the Albus Dumbledore and his lover.
Spring 1997
Dear Yuki
That would explain why your reply came by regular albatross instead of your usual shadow beasts.
N.O. No. I am not handing over any of my personal papers or Albus' for you to gawk over. You might have sworn to the Light, but your blade is just as sharp. I am not disgracing myself or my liebling by having our amateur poetry compiled and filed up in a public library or framed up in the village longhouse.
Grindelwald
P.S. I doubt you will be sending me any of those island spirits to drown my sorrows in, will you?
Spring 1997
Dear Auntie
You have not written to me for a while. I am actually missing your letters. Easter has passed with no gingerbread or baked goodies from you. Are you still well? Albus has not been keeping me updated of your well-being. You did not hex him on sight, did you? Please tell me you did not open your door to any nosey reporters and the like.
Your concerned nephew
Gellie
Spring 1997
To Ministry of Magic Senior Welfare Department
Can someone please pop over to Bathilda Bagshot's cottage in Godric's Hollow to check on her well-being? I have not heard from her in a while, and this is not like my Great Aunt! I hear there are dangerous criminals loose in Britain and am worried for her safety. I would do so myself if I were not detained in Bavaria for the foreseeable future. I do hope someone has been taking care of her pet manticore Spike. You might wish to bring along a highly trained team of Aurors for this welfare check.
Worried next-of-kin
GG
Author's Notes:
Not to worry, Gellert is lying about the manticore at his aunt's. A little hint to get the Ministry moving if they were not so caught up with the Death Eater jailbreak. Gellert will be willing to lose his liver into the bargain if it means Albus will have a chance of surviving the curse. Poor Albus is too busy to write. Of course, he will lose his chance to do so entirely by the end of the school term. Unless there is some angsty letter he is leaving to be sent out in event of his demise.