Albus complains to Gellert about Charlie Weasley's fascination with dragons and random wizards expressing concern about the welfare of the Boy-who-Lived. Might Newt be working his Hufflepuff friendship magic on a grumpy old man?

1985

25th February 1985

Dear Gellert

Apologies for not writing sooner as I seem to have run afoul of the Wizengamot and the ICW. There seems to be a concerted effort for various factions in both the School Board and the Ministry to force me into early retirement. I have had nothing but trouble from Madame Yukiko after declining her request to adopt Harry Potter and the entire faculty of Koldovstoretz have broken off all existing collaborations with Hogwarts in favour of Ilvermorny. Also, Ilvermorny has greater respect for my student Newt than me as they invited him over for a semester while they rejected my request to visit on grounds of wilfully ignoring a child's welfare. For the last time, Harry is safe where he is. He needs a family to provide him the necessary discipline so he can grow up to be a decent young man.

I am surprised to learn from Minerva that young Charlie Weasley has expressed an interest in dragons and has started writing to Newt Scamander after reading his book. He has also been asking Professor Kettleburn if he can participate in the Advanced Care of Magical Beasts classes despite being in his first year. Might our friend GG or Giselle have something to do with it?

Albus Dumbledore

Spring 1985

Dear Albus

Where Harry's folks are concerned, we are not talking about discipline but simple abuse. Get that into your thick skull. Have you not done enough harm by denying him his magical heritage, his magical guardians, and a reasonably happy and safe childhood? Like I said, do not be surprised if the child turns Obscurial.

About wee Charlie. I trust Professor Kettleburn will not allow him to be eaten by some beast yet. If that happens, it will reflect poorly on your stewardship of Hogwarts as its headmaster. Your other beast-crazy student turned out alright, didn't he? At least for you. For me, he and his young lady were an utter pain. Tempted to feed that Newt to a dragon at times, but more likely he would charm the beast over to his side and fry me to a cinder on the way out.

Gellert

13th May 1985

Dear Mr Grindelwald

I was pleasantly surprised I received a letter from a student in his first year expressing interest in helping at the dragon sanctuary in Wales. I regret that he is too young to be dealing with dragons, at least the adults, for now. This is not a breeding sanctuary, more a place for old dragons to live out their days in dignity. I have written back recommending that he volunteer in his third or fourth year. In fact, I might write a recommendation for him to go to the Romanian dragon sanctuary if he is interested. It is rare that a youngster can wax lyrical about the different characteristics of dragons and their habits. Most wizards, even children, still think of them as dangerous monsters to be killed on sight.

I understand from Professor Dumbledore you might have had a hand in steering the lad in his interest in dragons.

May I be so bold as to count myself a friend?

Newt Scamander

P.S. Please find enclosed a pocket version of my latest book, Dragons – Beauty in the Beast.

Spring 1985

Dear Scamander

You really know how to make an old man cry. Let's see. I have tried to kill you and your wife at least a dozen times each. I incinerated your old flame in Paris and almost had your brother fed to a manticore. And you are extending the hand of friendship to me? Are all Hufflepuffs such forgiving softies?

Perhaps you can convince our mutual friend to look into the welfare of a child I believe is in danger of turning Obscurial. Please do not let him fob you off with some sob story about caged dragons or what-not that need your attention on the other side of the world. The address is Little Whinging. That is all I have. Viel Gluck.

Grindelwald

P.S. I rather enjoyed the book, especially the section on the Hungarian Horntail.

17th June 1985

Dear Gellert

Stop sending random wixen to check on Harry Potter. I did promise his aunt minimal interference from our world. Diggle ran into the Scamanders casing the Dursleys' place. They ended up in a confrontation where Diggle needed to be dragged to Figgy's to be revived after a Stunner-Confoundus combination. There is no reason why Newt and Tina should be in Little Whinging. I received a Howler from Tina about the boy. Thankfully it came in when I was in my office, not the Great Hall, but Minerva gave me an earful as well once she heard what Tina had to say from down the hallway. I had to pull Chief Warlock rank on both Minerva and the Scamanders to stop them setting foot in the town again. They probably hate my guts now.

Albus Dumbledore

P.S. Lord Theseus Scamander just withdrew his annual contribution to the Dumbledore Orphan Welfare charity and sicced a team of goblin auditors on us on grounds of fund mismanagement.

Summer 1985

Dear Albus

Once more you missed the entire point. Get used to being hated if you still cannot work out what you did wrong.

Grindelwald

30th June 1985

Dear Gellie

I hope you are doing well. Your friends Newt, Queenie, and Tina dropped by asking about the Potters. Queenie is visiting from New York. The talk drifted to the Potters. Not sure if I mentioned how nice a young witch Lily Potter was to you before. Everyone in the magical world has been wondering about baby Harry's welfare after hearing he has been sent to live in the Muggle world.

Queenie lives in the Muggle world for the most part thanks to her husband being Muggle. Muggles have all these neat gadgets you might be interested in. Moving pictures in a box, airplanes, and stuff. Tina and Newt are also quite at ease in the Muggle world. The three tried dropping by to check on Harry but got caught. Queenie managed to Disapparate out. Tina and Newt just had to have their run-in with Albus' goon. If it is any relief, Newt did not find any signs of obscurus activity in the neighbourhood even if they did not manage to see the child.

I do hope Lily's boy is doing alright. I was hoping they would let me care for him. Your old room upstairs is all set up for another little boy to move in. I do miss all the banging and bursts of magic from you and Albus roughhousing upstairs and scaring the kneazle. I send gingerbread.

XXXX

Your Auntie Bathilda

Summer 1985

Dear Auntie

I miss you too. I think I must be going soft. Were we that bad as boys? Sorry for the inconvenience.

One cannot miss Obscurus activity, even if one is both blind and deaf. There would be a street or two levelled. If we go see that, it means Albus' plans have gone to hell literally. They generally end up blowing themselves up with all their pent-up magic. Remember Ariana? Poor fraulein never had a chance even though she made it to her early teens. Her nephew lasted into adulthood, but he was a dead wizard walking. I kind of miss the young man and owe him an apology.

Danke for the gingerbread.

Your loving nephew

Gellert

18th July 1985

Dear Tante Giselle

I am concerned about my son. He is such a frail child since when he was a baby. I fear we have been lax with his discipline. He takes after his father, proud, arrogant… My husband has made it a point to make connections for our heir-apparent with the other pureblood clans. I should be thankful Golye and Crabbe Junior appear to have taken the role of my son's bodyguards, no doubt at their father's encouragement.

I know my son has been picking on little Pansy and Theo at the Zabinis' garden party. There was a bit of a scuffle and young Blaise got a broken arm thanks to my son's bodyguards getting involved. I fear my little dragonet will be in for a rude awakening when he does go to school. Luc is looking at Durmstrang now. There is something about our son that just rubs everyone the wrong way. I fear we might get him back in a coffin from Durmstrang. Am I a bad mother to hope one of his little playmates might be able to put him in his place, before it is too late?

I have talked this over with Luc before, but Luc simply dotes on his only child. He blamed the house elves for not watching their little master when he set Lady Parkinson's hat on fire. Lord Parkinson wanted him spanked but Luc challenged him to a duel. Any talk of instilling discipline just gets blasted off the table.

Lady M

P.S. I am trying to convince Luc to choose Hogwarts instead, but Luc has issues with the current headmaster.

Summer 1985

Dear Lady M

Perhaps a younger sibling might be prudent as with the way things are going, it might take a life-shattering event to get your boy on the right path. You just might want to have a spare heir in the wings, in case. You are right about Durmstrang. It works on the principle - spare the whip and spoil the child. My alma mater winnows out weaklings from the pureblood gene pool, literally. Your boy needs to have a natural toughness to last through its rigorous training.

Not sure how the bodyguards would go down. The last chap who tried that in 1880 got squashed by a troll courtesy of his own guards. How charming is the lad? You might wish to double up on his etiquette classes, to ensure he keeps his manners polite enough not to irk his schoolmates or tutors too much in old Durmstrang. The last time I sassed a professor there, I got two broken legs from a Bone-shatter Hex. I will recommend starting his duelling lessons early as well. Most parents do if they are sending their kids there.

I can understand where your husband is coming from. The Hogwarts' curriculum leaves much to desired and the headmaster is a senile old coot.

GG

Author's Notes:

Viel Gluck. Good luck (German)

Not sure a softer, more mellow, repentant Grindelwald is coming across.

Albus is losing his old support base from his original 'army'. Lady Malfoy will put her foot down hard the next time her husband starts about sending their son to Durmstrang. She would prefer her son alive and whole, thank you.