letter from a. dumbledore to q. quirrell, 10.6.91
[Hogwarts records, accessed 2019.]
10 June 1991
Dear Quirinus,
I sincerely hope this letter finds you well. As I have written previously, your last letter rather disturbed me, though not half as much as the long silence that has followed since. I do pray that you are doing well on your ‘holiday’, if we can call it that (I suppose the Board would prefer that we do not). Albania, I am told, is delicious this time of year. Ah, the Adriatic breeze! Though I suppose it does not reach the mountains, does it? But I digress. We at Hogwarts are most excited to hear the findings of your research; your work will enrich both our Muggle Studies and our Defence Against the Dark Arts programs for years to come, I’m sure.
I daresay you need no reminder, but just in case, I shall be a touch insistent: per your contract, you are expected to report to Hogwarts School for mandatory staff training on Monday, 5th August. The meeting schedule is booking up for the duration of the month, but if you would like to establish a time to present the results of your sabbatical, please let me know as soon as possible.
We will need you back on the 5th, but, if I may, let me suggest that you arrive somewhat in advance. The shift from Muggle Studies to Defence will surely require a bit of prep work, and if you are as busy as you seemed in your last letter (so many months ago now! what became of our correspondence, my dear Quirinus?) then I worry that much of this burden will necessarily fall after your return. Remember that these August days go by quickly, in particular this year due to an impending matriculation of historic proportions . . .
Please look over the enclosed contract; sign and return as soon as possible. I look forward to your response – or, if you cannot deign to compose one, at the very least your return.
Yours,
Albus