May 3rd, 1998. 17:47
The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle
If I ever leave this world alive
I'll thank for all the things you did in my life
If I ever leave this world alive
I'll come back down and sit beside your feet tonight
Wherever I am you'll always be
More than just a memory
If I ever leave this world alive
~If I Ever Leave This World Alive, Flogging Molly
Kingsley folded the well-worn parchment paper with yellowing around the edges, and placed it back into his pocket. He couldn't think about her now, not when so many people had - when so many people were lost. They needed someone strong and levelheaded to keep everything going, everyone going. But still, he couldn't get her out of his head. A teenager, barely an adult, and he didn't know if she was dead or alive. Focus, Kingsley, you must focus. What needs to be done? You can thank her later.
Kingsley was the kind of person who needed something to do, even after battle. He couldn't just sit there, thinking about the Auror he had helped train, who had become his partner and his best friend. She wasn't supposed to die. She was so young, and had just become a mother. There was so much left for her to do. They were supposed to grow old together, but she would never have the chance. Everyone had lost so much, and in this moment, he wondered if it was worth it.
He couldn't help it then. He couldn't help but lean his exhausted body against the long Gryffindor table in the Great Hall as he once again pulled out the letter. This time, he read it out loud. It seemed fitting at the eve of the battle, venerating the dead.
April 17th, 1998
Professors Carrow and Carrow,
You demanded an essay from your seventh year students about the merits and methods of "punishing" those who go against the will of Your Dark Lord, and by extension, you as well. Us seventh years in Ravenclaw house have spent countless hours debating this topic. The conclusion that I, Mandy Brocklehurst, have drawn is that there is no method or merits to your sadistic madness. Knowledge and intelligence is clearly not on your side of the war.
When we arrived at Hogwarts this year, we expected this year would be far from simple. With Dumbledore murdered by one of your fancy henchmen, everything had changed. But were you really idiotic to think that we could so quickly turn our backs on Harry and all our friends whom you deemed unworthy of life and magic? We grew up knowing Harry Potter's story and bravery. He was our hero, and Voldemort was just some sociopathic coward defeated by a baby. So you came to Hogwarts, and expected us all to worship and serve you, but you found rebels instead of slaves.
Instead of using fear and confusion (working in the dead of the night, etc.), you chose to use intimidation and public punishment. Let's take a look at how events turned out.
Newton's 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. You found the school much more difficult to restrain then you supposed. You hounded specific targets- respected and hardworking students. Do you want me to name names? Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood. All of which are known cohorts of Harry Potter. And what did they do? Restarted the D.A. Except now we have students in every house, we have connections to the outside world. And unlike you, we are not cowards. We are prepared and willing to be hurt and tortured and killed if it means our families and friends don't have to.
But, the thing is, we don't want to die. We want to live in a world at peace, full of love. We want a world where Voldemort doesn't posses first year girls or kill seventh year boys for getting in the way. So we will fight like you would never believe. And some of us will die. And the thing is, that doesn't scare me as much as it does you.
That's about all I can say about methods and merits of torturing innocent students- the likelihood that this will cause said students to plot against you. If I were you, I wouldn't bet any money on getting any helpful essays about torture from any of the students here who actually have hearts.
Cold regards,
Mandy Brocklehurst
P.S. I highly doubt I will see you on the other side. I hope you realize before you die just how wrong you were about everything. Some things are worth living for and dying for.
Kingsley stood there, looking across what now barely resembled the great hall. The students who had chosen to stay and fight a losing battle; they had known what was worthy dying for.