Dear Professor McGonagall,
I trust you will understand the urgency of this letter, although I know you must be contending with a great deal right now. I am writing to express my concerns about my daughter, Alice Greenwell, who is a second-year Hufflepuff and, as you may know, a Muggleborn. The reports we have been receiving about the state of Hogwarts under this new regime —if we can even call it a school anymore— have left our family deeply unsettled. I feel compelled to speak up, as I can no longer remain silent.
While we are not unfamiliar with history, even though we come from the Muggle world, it is painful to see the echoes of the past reverberating in today’s environment. My grandparents lived through times of rampant discrimination, witnessing first-hand the consequences when a society begins to divide people based on their heritage. We all know where that road leads, and it is a path I refuse to let my daughter walk down. The Ministry’s policies, the forced registration of Muggleborns, and the propaganda infiltrating the curriculum at Hogwarts feel eerily reminiscent of events we once swore never to repeat. The parallels are striking, and I cannot help but wonder if others in the wizarding world are seeing the same dark reflection we are.
I also cannot help but question the so-called “well-rounded” education that Hogwarts has always prided itself on. From what I can gather, even Muggleborns like my daughter seem to know more about the history of prejudice and tyranny than the average witch or wizard. It baffles me that, in a world of such remarkable magic, a lesson so fundamental —the dangers of allowing hatred to flourish— seems to have been entirely overlooked. If our children, fresh out of Muggle primary schools, can recognise the warning signs, then how is it that so many magical people remain oblivious? Is this truly an oversight in the curriculum, or is the magical world so insular that it chooses not to learn from its own past? Either way, it does not bode well for the “education” Alice is receiving now.
Then there is the history of Hogwarts itself, which I had hoped would remain a sanctuary for all students. For centuries, the school has prided itself on its values of inclusion and fairness, welcoming students from all walks of life —whether pureblood, half-blood, or Muggleborn. I find myself asking: Is there any part of Hogwarts’ long-standing tradition of tolerance and equality that has survived, or are we all meant to pretend this is just the natural course of events? We have seen this school rise above divisive times before, but I fear it is slipping into something darker than ever before.
I understand the castle is under new "management" —though I hesitate to call the Carrows’ style of governance anything other than what it truly is: tyranny. It is no secret that they seem to revel in teaching hatred, specifically targeting children like my daughter. And I must ask, point-blank, what protections —if any— are in place to shield students like Alice? Is there any remnant of Hogwarts’ long-standing promise of a safe and nurturing environment left, or has that, too, been sacrificed in this new order?
This rhetoric of "blood status" is familiar to anyone who has studied even the most basic lessons of the past. It begins with subtle shifts in language, a few new rules, and before you know it, those who are seen as different are marked, persecuted, and in some cases, completely disappear. What assurances do we have that Hogwarts will not follow this path? And more importantly, what actions are being taken to prevent it? I can only imagine that there are many parents, like me, who refuse to stand idly by while our children are subjected to such horrific circumstances.
As much as I respect the long tradition of Hogwarts, I must be clear: if I do not receive satisfactory answers, or if Alice continues to be at risk simply for being born a Muggleborn, I will have no choice but to withdraw her from the school and seek alternative education for her. My daughter’s safety and emotional well-being are my highest priorities, and I will not stand by while she is subjected to harm —be it physical or psychological. There are other places in the world where children can learn magic without living in fear for who they are.
And let us be honest: we all know how far things can go when those in power are left unchallenged.
I truly hope you can give me a reason to trust that Alice’s well-being—and the well-being of all Muggleborns—will not be sacrificed. I am hopeful for change, but I will be awaiting your response.
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Greenwell
(Alice Greenwell’s mother)