Hogwarts Through the Ages

[Nero]

Muggle Ghetto; London, January 1979

Dear Grandmother,

I’m afraid I bring no good news. Death Eaters have invaded everything that I hold dear, starting with the Daily Prophet, Diagon Alley, the Ministry… They then moved to my neighbourhood, torturing those of ‘inferior blood’ around our house relentlessly. My mother took a stand against them, and despite our pure blood we were thrown in the Muggleborn Ghetto. My brother, Andrew, was able to escape to my father’s house. The guards on duty at the Ghetto have been known to throw women down on the streets, their only excuse (if they even bother making one) being that the victim was displaying ‘suspicious activity’. People are ill, Grandma. Medical treatment is minimal, and many of the prisoners can’t survive on the food rations the officers supply. Trash and mice line the alleys, and for the first time in my life I’ve found that I don’t trust the world around me enough to venture out past dark. There’s a nine o’clock curfew, after which the lights are magically turned off…anyone outside their assigned apartment at this time is subjected to tremendous dangers. With so much anger and suppression in the air, the prisoners have become desperate to the point of violence – which worsened when Ministry officials and Death Eaters invaded, attempting to take the wands from Muggleborns after hearing news of a ‘Muggle alliance’ forming somewhere in the heart of the Ghetto. I fought alongside the Muggleborns, for despite my blood status I am what they are.

The students have been released from the Ghetto during the months that school runs, which at first seemed to be a beacon of hope. However, even that has been unable to escape the darkness. Hogwarts, my sanctuary, has been taken over. Albus Dumbledore has fled from the school, and a heartless man named Walden Macnair has taken control. Starting this year no Muggleborn students have been permitted, and a group called the Slytherin Squad, made up entirely of Pureblood elitists, have been terrorizing what’s left of the Muggleborns in Hogwarts.

Last year Aeron Clemente started a rebellion group, the Rising Ashes, to oppose the Slytherin Squad and Walden Macnair, and raise a bit of hope for the victims of the regime. Aeron graduated, and the leadership has been passed on to me… I was also made a Head Girl this year, and with the combination of powers I’m trying to do something good for those who have lost hope in such dark surroundings. Unfortunately I’ve been partnered with Regulus Black as Head Boy, the leader of the Slytherin Squad and I believe a Death Eater, so production is constantly being set back.

I’m sorry that I had to write to you about something so disheartening, but I assure you everyone is holding on…and I intend to keep it that way, Grandma.

Love always,

Konstantine Kaye McMahon

Primrose Hill; London, January 1979

Dear Uncle Remington,

Since you have left London three years ago so much has changed, but I am sure you have followed the newspapers of whatever part of the world you are in right now.

In April 1977 the Death Eaters decided to change the world I knew. The Ministry of Magic, where Charlie was Minister, fell first; he had to flee - he took his family with him. We did not hear from him until nearly two years later!

The attack on Diagon Alley was the worst of all. Death Eaters raided and they killed mercilessly. People I knew from our neighborhood, from Hogwarts, even family died. My brother Liam was killed as he tried to fight. He nearly had become an Auror, third degree. Now he’s dead. Moritz, my husband, died in Azkaban, when the Death Eaters tried to recruit Dementors. That was the worst day in my life.


I am living with Josh now, my only brother left here. He still works at the Ministry, the Death Eaters are aware of his familiarity as foreign minister, and he is forced to do as they say; what they threaten him with he won’t tell me, but I can tell that he is scared. We are living in Primrose Hill again although the neighborhood was deserted after the Death Eaters sent all Muggleborns to the other side of town. Even pureblood ‘Nonbelievers’ are scared. Personally I keep out of it all - I don’t feel I have the right to get involved after having tolerated Moritz’s Death Eater activities for six years while being related to those who fight the new regime the most.

As for now, the future looks bleak. Everything is controlled by the Death Eaters, a change seems impossible. I think I will stay at home and raise my child rather than search for work.

On a brighter note, Aeron Clemente has come back into our lives after we graduated from Hogwarts. He is the Seeker for the Falmouth Falcons now and has a lot of (female) fans. Rose is healthy and happy, she will be three this year. She speaks and walks and likes to hear stories of far away places, so you should come and tell her some!

I really hope you come visit, soon! Josh could need someone to speak to, and I want you to meet Rose!

Much love from your niece

Jocelyn Evanna Lucas

12 Grimmauld Place; London, January 1979

Dear Antoinette,

I have been made a Head Boy this year. My parents were enormously proud and delighted of this accomplishment, particularly when I informed them I had been additionally selected as Quidditch Captain. Of course, comparisons were inescapable … The mention of Sirius was made several times, regarding how he had disgraced the name of us Blacks with his foolish and turbulent nature ever since he abandoned Grimmauld Place last year, as opposed to their perfect little Regulus, who always obeyed to their demands and met their expectations, who excelled in his studies as required, looked up to his Professors and showed utmost respect and honour towards the noble House of Slytherin. Indeed, they always preferred their second son, who brought no dishonour to his family. I am their perfect son.



I have not yet told them I was chosen to head the Slytherin Squad, such comparisons shall rise again and, to be honest with you and myself, they are tiring me. I no longer wish to be compared with my brother on every action and regarding every aspect of my life; sometimes it seems as though I exist only to be weighed against a brother who chose to desert and humiliate me whenever given the chance instead of supporting me, despite our House rivalries.

I am, nonetheless, exceptionally thrilled I shall finally be able to prove to anyone I no longer am the weak little boy who once bowed his head to his superiors and trembled inside whenever teachers addressed him. Finally, Antoinette, I have gained my place in the world, and it belongs right there at the top. Sometimes, however, my feelings confuse me. Yes, I am delighted – but I am also nervous and have been rather arrogant about it. In spite of this I keep telling myself, do I not deserve to be arrogant after all these accomplishments?



I wish I could tell you about my activities as a Death Eater, but Bellatrix has absolutely forbidden me to reveal anything. I promise you, however, the new regime will only serve to put an order to our dysfunctional community. Pureblood supremacy is the only solution to prune any unpleasant seeds and you, despite being a Half-blood, shall observe this in time. I write to you because I know that you of all people can understand me.

Yours,

Regulus Arcturus Black