A lot of things happening in 1991 in the Harry Potter verse. Our Golden Trio start their education in Hogwarts.
1991
1st May 1991
Dear GG
My second son is graduating from Hogwarts. We expect him to do well for his NEWTS. However, we just learned that he had applied for a job as dragon-keeper in Romania! It is bad enough with Bill off gallivanting in the Middle East. Dragons are dangerous creatures and I do not want my son to be in danger, even if we have no pressing concerns about continuing the family name with six sons. My Arthur has declined to give Charlie that talk I insisted he do as his father. Why can't he at least choose to work at a sanctuary closer to home - like the one in Wales for aged dragons?
We understand that he has also padded out his job application with a glowing reference letter from that famous magizoologist Salamander or whatever his name is. I knew it was a mistake letting him go spend his summers in Wales shovelling dragon dung. Arthur insisted it would take the charm away from dragons when he asked for permission to go visit the sanctuary. Welsh Greens are said to be the most docile of the European dragon species… not that I am an expert. Now I hear he wants to work with Ironbellies and Horntails. Help!
Where did I go wrong as a mother? Why can't I have a son who is just content to follow his dad into a Ministry desk job instead of messing about with dangerous curses and creatures?
Mother Weasley
Summer 1991
Dear Mother Weasley
Shovelling dragon dung's a dirty job but someone has to do it. At least you have more than one spare. Perhaps the third son's the charm. A Ministry desk job sounds so exciting, I can see why Bill and Charlie are leaping for a chance at it – not! Maybe your remaining sons would be the good boys and enter the dead-end career path you have in mind for them. I do recall some happy times in the Ministry in Berlin – politicking and back-stabbings all round. The clerks normally get to take the fall and get eaten by the darling manticore in the basement. Do you Brits have something similar? Oh, I recall fun times with a beer stein in hand and a pretzel in the other watching dear cousin Anton verbally eviscerate some hapless lackey. Clerks are a knut a dozen and seriously no one cares a whit about them.
I will recommend that you start setting aside a few sickles for any funerary expenses. With six sons, I suppose you can spare your Ministry one or two as collateral damage.
GG
15th July 1991
Dear GG
I am the youngest of six brothers and I am expected to get my Hogwarts letter this year. However, there are no owls for me yet! I mean, Charlie and Bill are like top students. Bill was also Head Boy in his year. Then Percy's a prefect. Fred and George are wicked on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. All my folks end up in Gryffindor. What if I do not get that letter? What if the magic I can do is not enough for Hogwarts?
And I overheard my parents talking about how THE Harry Potter is likely to be in the same year as me in Hogwarts. What if I make a fool of myself in front of the Chosen One? Harry's like the saviour of the wizarding world.
Youngest Son
Summer 1991
Dear Sonny
Take a deep breath and calm down. You are not your older brothers and have no obligation to follow in their footsteps – be it being Head Boy or getting knocked out of the sky by a rabid spherical object. Once more I thank my dear Mutti for stopping at one, so I never had to deal with any whiny siblings. What is this Potter the Chosen One business about now? Anyone who thinks a ten- or eleven-year-old is capable of that mantle needs some serious mind-healing. Even if there is some boy in your year of that name, it is likely he is just another snot-nosed student like you. The last thing he needs is you bouncing around him like some crazed puppy.
Houses are overrated. Maybe you can break that streak and go into another House instead of Gryffindor, just to stand out from the pack. Youngest sons are supposed to be full of surprises in folklore tropes, so go prove it. Slytherin would be nice – Merlin was an alumnus, wasn't he?
GG
31st July 1991
Dear Gellert
I will be lying if I do not admit that I am looking forward to Potter's arrival at Hogwarts. We sent out his letter and I have assigned Hagrid to make sure he gets it. I know Hagrid might not be the brightest student in the class, but he has the muscle to deal with Harry's uncle if things get hairy. I am not risking my deputy headmistress. I trust Hagrid can help Harry with his school supplies and stuff.
I am more concerned about that pesky DADA post. We have a willing candidate – Quirrell. He was formerly teaching Muggle Studies before he took a sabbatical. The break did not seem to have improved him. The man's developed a stutter and seems awfully jittery. That is on top of his ridiculous turban and his irrational fear of vampires. He reeks of garlic constantly. It is starting to put me off my sweets. If I could, I would delegate him to the other end of the Great Hall for meals, but that would be rude. He was fine before his little vacation.
My dislike of the man notwithstanding, he will be teaching Potter Defence Against the Dark Arts for his first year at least. I believe the boy deserves a better teacher to educate him in the foundations of defensive magic given that he Is prophesized to bring about the defeat of Voldemort. May I interest you in the post. I recall you were a talented duellist. Took me a while to hack through your defence spells. You will get your own rooms, free board, and meals. I trust six months would be sufficient for you to impart the necessary foundation knowledge he needs…
Your oldest friend
Albus
Summer 1991
Dear Albus
Did you just entrust the delicate business of introducing a Muggle-raised, likely abused young wizard to our world to some groundskeeper who never even made it through his OWLs and has a fluid understanding of danger? Just watch that he does not end up tossing the boy to a dragon for cuddles. If your deputy is Minerva, I trust she can handle herself with any Muggle lout.
Making a stink about a man's turban when you should be aware your bobble-star neon violet hat is a bigger joke. You are not qualified to judge your professors' fashion sense or lack of. So the man has developed a taste for Italian cuisine. Mmm, pasta in pesto sauce with extra garlic. Might I be so bold as to request more variety in my meals instead of watery gruel twice a day?
N.O. No. How dare you set me up for that cursed position without having the curse broken first. I regret that I do not have any incompetent or annoying relations I dislike enough to recommend for the post. You shouldn't fret too much about your current DADA tutor. He will be gone within the year, after all. I prefer kissing a manticore than putting up with your idiotic fashion sense on a daily basis. That will definitely kill off any remaining goodwill I have towards you.
Gellert Grindelwald
P.S. Stop it with the Chosen One defeating some Dark Lord business already. It is too damned creepy how the entire British magical community is obsessing about some clueless child.
5th September 1991
Dear GG
I am Draco Malfoy. My father's Lord Malfoy and he is on both the Wizengamot the Hogwart's Board of Governors. I want to be friends with the famous Harry Potter, but he has gone slumming it with the Weasley riff-raff and mudbloods in Gryffindor. I mean, mudbloods should not be allowed in Hogwarts. I tried to ask my godfather and Head of House if we can get him re-sorted into Slytherin, but Uncle Sev just told me to shut up. It must be a mistake by the stupid Hat! I know it is tradition and all, but stupid thing got it wrong and needs to be burned!
Malfoy
Fall 1991
Dear Master Malfoy
The correct term is Muggleborn, not mudblood. I can vouch that Muggleborns are every bit as magical as your average pureblood and perhaps might even be more powerful than them in some instances. It is all the new blood into the magical community. Was it not rumoured that Harry Potter's mother was Muggleborn? If so, I can see why he would want nothing to do with you, especially after you referred to his mother by such a slur.
We do not always get what we want. That is life. Stop using your father or godfather to get what you want. You cannot ride about on their coattails forever. You should be thankful your Uncle Sev did not take a switch to your behind. I understand your school puts great stock by their traditions and will not take kindly to the son of a governor engaging in wanton vandalism of heirlooms.
Grow up, you spineless worm.
GG
12th September 1991
Dear GG
I just met the offspring of the woman I love and my hated rival this month in my class. The twerp is the splitting image of his old man at eleven, even if smaller in built. His father was a bully who made my student life in Hogwarts hell. I do not see how I can be expected to face him for seven years of Potions without snapping and hexing him with something nasty. Then he must become best buddies with a little weasel who reminds me of the other bully. Kid's probably as cocky as they come with all that Chosen One hype about him. Why can't he at least go into Hufflepuff or even Slytherin instead of the same House as his father? I sincerely doubt he has the brains for Ravenclaw.
The only thing that he got from his mother were her eyes. I hope that will be enough to keep me fulfilling my vow to protect Lily's kid. And in the headmaster's good books. It will be awkward if I accidentally maim him and Dumbledore packs me off to Azkaban for messing with the prophecy and the Dark Lord's ultimate defeat. Throwing a beetle in that bubbling cauldron is not going to save me from the wrath of my former colleagues. Bella's threat to throttle me with my guts is likely still valid. I do not wish to vanish like Reggie did back in the last war.
Just spotted the twerp doing some hazardous aerial acrobatics. We might have our work cut out just keeping him alive this school year.
Half-blood Prince
Fall 1991
Dear Prince
Go for Azkaban. It will be a lot faster and cleaner getting murdered by your fellow Death Eaters or having your soul sucked out by a Dementor than navigating that emotional minefield for the rest of the boy's education in Hogwarts. I'd expect it to explode in your face sooner rather than later like a poorly brewed potion. And we all know what the aftermath looks like.
Firstly, the boy is not his father. I learnt that the hard way with a student of mine, even if he did not resemble the old goat in the least, apart from his bloody stubbornness. Who knows? You might even find out the boy's taking more after his mother instead of his old man.
You are a potions master, aren't you? Just think of that student as a potion that needs some careful measurement and stirring, plus a good deal of patience. If you can apply that to your classes instead of dismissing them as incompetents out of hand, we might get somewhere with your teaching career.
About this entire Chosen One thing – it smacks of a self-fulfilling prophecy. I have that sinking feeling someone is being fatted up as the Yule hog. Perhaps you might want to reconsider the entire protecting the offspring of your ex-lover thing. Someone close by might not mean the child well when all things are considered. Seen any suspicious persons or activities on the grounds recently?
GG
24th December 1991
Dear Tante Giselle
I am a Muggleborn student in Hogwarts. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not. On one hand, I find magic so fascinating. My parents are very supportive, especially after we figured out it was my underage magic moving things about the house and not a ghost. I never knew there were so many different fields of magic. I just got my first wand in summer and aced my Charms quiz. And I actually flew on a broom, not that flying agreed much with me in the end.
On the other hand, the magical world is a tad backwards (no offence meant). We thought the headmaster was wearing ceremonial robes. Then we see that is his daily wear. And there are no science or maths. I mean, Astronomy and Arithmancy are interesting but there seems to be something lacking. Hoping to follow in my Muggle parents' footsteps, I enquired on Healing and was shocked to learn that no such lessons were offered until after NEWTs, when we must apply for internship at St Mungo's. I had to learn a basic episkey from my wizarding classmate because the healer's handbook I picked up in the secondhand bookstore got the wand movement wrong. I have read up on almost all basic spell primers in the library, but they are horridly outdated.
Don't get me started on the incompatibility of electricity and magic. Muggle studies made me feel like walking out as the syllabus was probably up to date as of the 1950s. Likewise for History. At my elementary school, we learned about World War II. Our current history syllabus stops in the mid-19th century and our teacher is a ghost who is apparently obsessed with goblins. I was looking forward to learning how wars and recent events in the Muggle world affect the magical world. Shouldn't we have a buddy or wizarding mentor to help us Muggleborns find our feet? This is a whole new world for us. I want to know more about it outside the Halloween feast and Butterbeer. My classmate gave me your address so I will stop bugging them with my questions about wizard culture and how things are done.
Then there are the pureblood bigots giving us grief over being Muggleborn or half-blood. Are they that way thanks to inbreeding? I heard that most Muggleborns or squibs go back to the Muggle world because they cannot get any decent jobs in the wizarding world. That would really suck as I only graduated from elementary school there. Should I just convince my folks I want to go back to full-time schooling in the Muggle world so I can become a Muggle doctor when I grow up instead of wasting my time here getting picked on?
Muggleborn Miss
P.S. Do I wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Yule or some other holiday greeting?
Winter 1991
Dear Miss Muggleborn
A Blessed Solstice or Happy Yule will do fine for most old wizarding families. Understand Muggleborns might prefer Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah for the winter festivities. You might want to refer to Mathilda Vericas' Guide to the Old Wizarding Calendar.
Welcome to the almost medieval world of British wizardry. Perhaps you might want to run back to the Muggle word while you still can. You might want to consider emigrating to the more progressive American or Australian magical community. I hear they have been experimenting in making electricity and magic compatible so they can watch the Quidditch Cup on the telly (whatever that is). Most British wizards are traditionalists. They would not recognize progress even if it bit their noses off.
You sound like an intelligent young witch. I think you are wasted in Hogwarts. I am shocked to learn how the educational standards have dropped. I will suggest the following books geared towards helping the average Muggleborn work and work out the wizarding system. You might be able to find them in an old bookstore if not the library. Navigating the Secrecy Statutes by Sir Crow Reed. Class, Blood and Basic Wizarding Etiquette by Lady Periwinkle Greengrass. Household Charms and Basic Healing by Anna Prewett. Modern History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot.
Will look forward to guiding you along in your journey in the magical community, unless you decide to fall back on your plan B. Seriously, we lose too many magical talents that way.
GG
Author's Notes:
After that brush-off, it is unlikely Draco's going to write to GG for future advice. Does Grindelwald sound too sensible and mellowed? Leaving it open as to who Muggleborn Miss is. It might be Hermione getting Tante Giselle's contacts from her classmates or someone else entirely.