Tante Giselle rides again with concerned parents writing in about their young ones and sibling issues. There is a bit of a time-lapse in canon where Harry is growing up in the Muggle world while the wizarding world soldiers on.
1984
15th July 1984
Dear Tante Giselle
I heard about your discreet advice network from a friend. I am writing in as I am concerned about my daughter, who will be starting at Hogwarts this fall. Hogwarts is a boarding school. She will be away from me for months. I am so worried. My little girl has always been a bit of a klutz. What if she gets teased by her schoolmates? What if she gets hurt? I know Dora can change her form into whatever she wants, being a Metamorphmagus. When she was five, she turned herself into unicorn. It was a bluebird the year before.
However, I am not sure if this is a good thing or not. I mean, as healers, my Ted and I have seen real disasters when young witches starve themselves half to death or using dangerous spells to make themselves fit whatever image is currently fashionable. I think this can be very damaging, not only physically but to a child's psyche. I want my little girl to grow up strong and confident. I would like to home-school her if I could, but then she would not have magical friends her age. My sister's only son is only four. Moreover, I got burned off the family tapestry since my Ted's Muggleborn. We cannot let her play with Muggle kids thanks to her abilities and magical law. She is lonely enough as it is. I cannot bear to stop her from going to Hogwarts to meet other witches and wizards. I do hope she would be able to make some good friends.
Worried Mama
Andi Tonks
Summer 1984
Dear Andi
Your daughter will make friends, especially if she gets into House Hufflepuff. Apparently, that is the friendliest House in Hogwarts, so a friend of mine once said. She is a Metamorphmagus. Do you know how rare that is? And judging from your description, she has been exploring her own skin or skins so to speak with her transformations. She will likely be the class clown, klutziness aside. She'd be able to get away with rainbow-hued hair at school and everyone will think that is the coolest thing about. You should be considering if you have enough room for a summer sleepover for all her mates when she gets home for the summer vacations. If anyone picks on her for being a klutz or plainness, just be there to reassure her it is alright. Or she can transform into a beautiful unicorn or swan and do a graceful dance to rub it in.
I used to know a lad who got picked on loads by his fellows. Until he turned his angry issues into a nasty cloud of doom, which stopped the bullies but left a nasty mess in my courtyard to be scroungified. We never completed the therapy in the end before he left with his no-good dad.
GG
30th September 1984
Dear Tante Giselle
I just started at Hogwarts this year. I have an elder brother in his third year. I am starting to hate my big brother for being so smart, popular and most of all, treating me like some little kid. Everyone looks at me and goes, "There's Bill Weasley's little brother."
I know I am not smart like Bill. Runes give me a headache and Arithmancy does not add up for me. I do not get along well with my housemates in House Gryffindor. I prefer hanging out with Hagrid and his furry buddies. Professor McGonagall gave me a tongue lashing for bringing a baby Niffler into class. It stole her glasses. Am I a bad brother and wizard? Will I get expelled like the Head Boy says?
Charlie Weasley
Fall 1984
Dear Charlie
Go wrestle a dragon. That might impress your fellows – NOT! Thing is – not everyone is the same. You might be a late bloomer or not academically inclined. Perhaps you do not follow the teachers' instructions well. I am sure you feel your brother is amazing and stuff. You do not have to follow in his footsteps. I know of an academically brilliant wizard whose little brother could not read to save his life (and we are not speaking of Runes). However, the ape was still capable of making me break into a sweat in a duel. Maybe you are wicked at being a Seeker in Quidditch, or a gifted potioneer – something your brother might not be. Go find your own path.
If you are interested in magical creatures like Nifflers, you might want to seek additional lessons from whoever the Magizoology professor is now. Being expelled might not be so bad, if you can get the basic OWLs first. About pesky Head Boys, I trust your friend Hagrid might have some interesting beasts to introduce him to.
GG
31st Oct 1984
Dear GG
I understand that you provided sound advice to my late friend, Lady McKinnon. It was a pity the owl post did not reach her in time. I am writing in as I am gravely concerned about my grandson. You see, my son and daughter-in-law were casualties of the last war. They are still in St Mungo's long-term care ward. The prognosis is not good. We have tried everything, and they are not recovering. Nev is likely going to be an only child. I am worried he is a squib! The Longbottoms cannot have a squib as our heir. There have been no magical expressions from him. He is already four. We have tried to encourage his magic to manifest but so far nothing!
Last month, my brother-in-law Algie went so far as to toss him off the pier while we were on vacation, in full view of half of the town. Some Muggle chap saved Nev from drowning and I had to bail Algie the idiot out from a Muggle police station. His excuse was that he was too drunk to know better. I am thinking of cutting him out of the family, but I need to prove Nev is no squib first. My son Frankie was already doing magic at two. My son was a brilliant Auror and so was his wife. Nev seems to be a let-down. We are expecting great things of him. Will dropping him out the window or into the fire help coax his magic out?
Gravely concerned
Madame Longbottom
Fall 1984
Dear Madame
Please allow the boy time to grieve over the loss of his parents to their misfortune and grow into his magic. Sheesh. Everyone has their own pace. Do not write him off yet. Not everyone has the sort of magic that makes for big fireworks. Some magics are more subtle like healing magics. Some children only grow into their magic after they start school, we call them late bloomers. Late bloomers do not need to be forced as this can severely warp their magical aura, not to mention ruin any goodwill in the family. I am sure Nev will appreciate being compared to his incapacitated old man and being told he is a squib. He also will nurse fond memories of his near drowning, burns and broken bones thanks to your meddling.
I was considered a late bloomer too. First started showing magic when I was ten. Before that, I was trying not to be killed by my Vater for squib-ness. Blasting him out the fourth-floor window in my teens was satisfying, but not quite enough. No fond memories there. Your Nev might just grow up with the same feelings where his family is concerned at the rate things are going. In fact, do not be too surprised if he decides to ditch the Longbottom clan in favour of the Lestranges, Carrows, or some other wizarding household when he grows into his magic. Oh, and it will be one with tendencies towards the darker arts.
You have been warned
GG
Author's Notes:
Did GG just ignite Charlie's interest in dragons with his advice? Neville's family issues are complex.