Ginny Weasley turns six years old in August and presumably starts to take each of her brothers Broomsticks out in turn and ride them secretly.
1987
31st January 1987
Dear Grindelwald
We are writing in due to concerns about one Voldemort. We have been hearing whispers that he is back. It was Newt who heard those whispers from some Albanian bowtruckles. Also, an acquaintance of ours has gone missing. We fear that she has fallen into bad company, which is too easy to happen when you have lost your humanity thanks to a vicious blood-curse.
I have called in a favour from some old friends in the ICW and the Bavarian Auror core to have that rune stone limiting your Seer powers removed. If you get any Visions about Voldemort's return, please inform us soonest. We will relay the message onto the headmaster of Hogwarts. I have grandkids schooling there and do not wish for them to be in danger.
Tina Scamander
P.S. Please note that the other runes limiting your powers and movements will remain intact. Though the Aurors might have upgraded the wards at my suggestion to turn you into a flobberworm should you attempt an escape. You have been warned.
Spring 1987
Dear Mrs Scamander
You are still as charming as I recall. I suppose I have you to thank for my recent spate of sleepless nights. My Seer powers are so messed-up now, I do not see how my Visions can be of use to anyone. Especially that old coot who never listens to me. I'm a certified dark wizard and lunatic, remember? If you have any loved ones still treading the halls of Hogwarts, may I suggest transferring them to some other School? Perhaps your alma mater? I understand Ilvermorny has all the trappings of Hogwarts with less inter-House issues.
May I be so bold as to request a little favour or two? I would like to see my Auntie once more and she is of advanced years. May I have leave to visit her in Britain? I promise I will not detour to Hogwarts to shake some well-deserved sense into a certain old prat. Please put in a good word or two for me.
In all sincerity
Gellert Grindelwald
P.S. Do the grandkids take after Newt or you? Just curious if any of them has inflicted your cutting wit on old Albus and his staff yet.
15th May 1987
Dear Gellie
How are you doing? My feet are killing me. The healer has issued another batch of potions for my achy joints. I do miss the days when I am still capable of trotting about the globe, meeting new people and stuff. I understand you did not quite like having Ruslana over to visit me. I assure you she has not tried to drown me or anyone in Godric's Hollow (except for that drunk sot who tried to proposition her in the street). I did not really like that Japanese-Hawaiian vixen who claimed to know you from back from 1930. She's a troublemaker – making eyes at Volodymyr and getting his wife's hackles up in that little teashop we settled for meeting at. And she a married witch too. I suppose her husband prefers not to see his wife's antics, unless he feels he is up to another duel. He decided to turn into a teapot on us and leave Volodymyr and me to separate both ladies when the fighting started.
There was this Transfiguration Conference over in Birmingham they were presenting at. I would have gone were it not for my feet. Volodymyr mentioned something about a ban on their entry to the country being lifted on the condition they stay away from a little town. Ruslana and Volodymyr were heading the Koldie student delegation. The Ohanas brought along a delegation under the banner of the Ocean Wizarding Academy which has their island as a port of call. I understand that Hogwarts sent a small delegation too. You might be interested to know Albus made a brief appearance at the conference. He does look a bit peaked in the newspapers. Perhaps it is the strain of juggling all those hats – the Wizengamot, the ICW, and Hogwarts. Weren't you lucky you did not end up Supreme Mugwump?
XXXX
Your Auntie Bathilda
P.S. Were you and Mrs Ohana together for a bit? She related a hilarious anecdote about you, a teddy, and a box of chocolates.
Spring 1987
Dearest Auntie
I am pleased to know that you still have a social life, unlike me. Good to know Yukiko is still acting true to form. I think she fancies messing about with the Rusalka rather than stealing her hubby. Always been a bit of a coquette. I was never with any of my followers in a romantic sense as it ruins morale. I learnt that the hard way from my fake marriage to Vinda. Yukiko was more like that wild little sister. She mostly hung out with the Mahou crowd. I will strongly advise against consuming any of her homemade concoctions.
I believe I know what anecdote you were told. I hexed the box of handmade chocolates to bits thinking she poisoned it again. Mind, the two earlier boxes we received were dosed with Veritaserum and the Draught of Living Death. She even had her own shadow shiki bypass the castle's house elves tasked with checking the gifts for potions and curses before sending them up to me. I was so busy with the chocolates I missed the hex on my armchair. One that turned me into a teddy bear when I sat down. She was so disappointed as she was trying to turn me into an actual bear with that hex and scare the pants off everyone else present. Instead, she ended up with a cuddly toy for two hours. I considered it a reminder not to fall into false assumptions about my Visions. I Saw the chocolate box but not the bear.
With love (and I do mean it)
Your nephew Gellie
30th May 1987
Dear GG
We hate the Hogwarts Potions master. May we confirm if it is kosher to set fire to his robes? If all of us cast the spell at once, what will happen? We would like to do one last prank before we graduate.
Houses of G, H and R
Summer 1987
Dear Houses
Spell effects will multiply as per Simon's Theory of Spell Convergence. Please refer to the textbook Intermediate Spellcasting for Warfare by Simon Magus. I do hope that none of you carried out that threat to reduce your Potions Master to a pile of ashes. You cannot make a difference from prison.
May I suggest something more subtle? Teach that spell to your juniors and leave it as a legacy in Hogwarts. Sneakily cast the spell to set fire to his robes. Not a big fire, mind. He will be running through his robes for years long after you have graduated. I do wonder how bad your Potions master's personality is to warrant an assassination attempt by at least three Hogwarts Houses.
All the best with your NEWTs, OWLs, or further studies.
GG
17th July 1987
Dear GG
I hate my life. I have made a ton of bad decisions that have led me to a dead-end post in Hogwarts teaching potions to a pack of utter imbeciles. I would like a career change but due to various reasons, that option is not open to me - the least being my past as a Death Eater. Dumbledore did me a favour saving me from Azkaban and now I owe him big time. I cannot just walk out. I am hopeless with children. Even my godson hates my guts. Little brat was screeching like a banshee beating me about the head with his toy broomstick at his birthday party while his parents watch on proudly. I consider his father a friend and I do need his pureblood connections to obtain more legally sensitive ingredients for my personal potions research.
What I wanted was to pursue research in advanced potions, marry the girl I love – is that too much to ask of life? Oh, and no snotty-nosed children in my life.
Half-blood Prince
Summer 1987
Dear Prince
Yes, sometimes it is too much to ask to be with the ones you love. I understand that. Life is a proper bitch. Though one might consider fatherhood with the woman one loves – so if you did marry the object of your affections, wailing brats might be on the cards and you two will be the proud parents watching your brats terrorize others. Just a thought.
About that job. You do not owe anyone anything, especially one Albus Dumbledore. Unless you have other motives for remaining in your current employment. Might it have something to do with the lady of your heart? Perhaps a little reflection is needed to figure out where you went off track and how to find that path again. If your dream career is in potions research, having served a Dark Lord should not affect your prospects. On contrary, it should boost your appeal to employers who are into the greyer aspects of the craft. May I recommend you write to Nicolas Flamel? He would have the contacts of potioneers on the Continent. You might also want to get in touch with the Karkaroff family.
All the best with your ventures into potions
GG
16th September 1987
Dear GG
I am mother to seven beautiful children and even though our purse strings are a tad tight, Arthur brings back enough for us to be fed and clad. My older sons are doing well in school and my younger ones can be a little bit of a handful. However, I have experienced some unusual happenings about the Burrow recently. Like all parents, we lock up the brooms when not in use. However, it has been three mornings this month I found the brooms in disarray in the broom shed. The night before, I have checked that all the brooms were tidied away.
With Percy now at Hogwarts, I have four little ones at home. I have caught the twins breaking into the shed before and warned them off it. Ronnie would never do that, unless the twins set him up for it like that debacle with the Unbreakable Vow they almost got him to take. My girl Ginny's a little angel. Currently both twins are down with the wizard flu. Yet the brooms have been messed up again.
I have checked the wards to find no intruders on the premises. The family ghoul swears it was not his doing. Moreover, he is bound to the attic. I know I should have stronger spells and locks on the broom shed, but this is all Arthur could spare from his paycheck. Who is getting into the broom shed?
Mother Weasley
Fall 1987
Dear Mother Weasley
The answer is right under your nose. It is your youngest son or daughter unless your husband has been sneaking the brooms out at night. I do not suppose anyone in your family has a history of sleepwalking, do they? I would suggest using a stronger charm or lock on the shed. Alternatively, you can add a Sticking Spell on the brooms before bedtime and see who gets caught come morning. Do raise a ward in your broom airspace around the house to keep any wayward kids from flying off. Perhaps it might be time to get your older boys to teach the little ones to fly or introduce them to Quidditch or broomstick racing. Something to burn off their excess energy before bedtime. It would be safer than having them risk falling when they are alone and untrained.
Being an only child, I did not have the benefit of elder siblings to guide me along. Vati's sport of choice was duelling. I recall my first practice duel at the tender age of five - dodging cutting and stinging hexes. On hindsight, I believe Vati was trying to force the magic out of me then. It bloody hurt. Broomstick racing sounds almost mild by comparison.
GG
Author's Notes:
GG has serious Mommy and Daddy issues as well growing up.