Before the Trial.

Albus Dumbledore,

You were right, the Wizarding world does not want change. I hear the news, that you are being called to put an end to this, and that the calls come with increasing accusations.

I have seen it now, what will come and I have come to terms with it. You must stop delaying and meet with me, or the consequences will be worse for us both.

I do not know what stops you; is it fear? You know I am tired, I have lost the will to fight. Do you hate me? Or is it that you still feel the remnants of that brilliant friendship we once shared? Please, if you still feel anything less than hate for me, you know where to find me, the wards are open to you. Let us meet one last time.

With utmost sincerity,

The First Brother.

Dear Gellert,

I did not get a chance to speak with you, I did not expect to, yet I still hoped. I can come to no other conclusion than that you did not wish to speak. Yet, if you did not wish to speak, why open the lane of communication at all? You could have come to Hogwarts, or simply revealed yourself in any public place. The punishment would have been the same either way.

So I can only conclude that you too are afraid, although I have no clue as to what. You were never one to be afraid. What terrible secrets do I hold the answers too? Might I have more cause to be afraid of the truths that you may tell, the knowledge that you possess.

Have I fallen victim to another of your games, where once again you have manipulated me into serving you. The news tells me otherwise but I have learned that you can bide your time. Your defeat has little permanence.

I wish that I could change things, maybe that I had your gift, I would have known what was coming and been able to alter the future. We might have united the three, lived long, full lives together.

Alas.

I must teach and you must pay your penance.

Albus Dumbledore.

Albus,

I wonder why they let me reply, have you pulled strings Albus? Or do you now command such authority that the Aurors fear to not obey your wishes. I think not, that has never been in your character.

Maybe they hope that your letters bring me pain, that maybe you are punishing me in some unknown way. I suppose the bastion of light cannot truly wish well for his dark equal, for all their narrow views of black and white.

I fear my gift would not help you, do you truly think that I would have made the mistakes I have if it had aided me?

I admit, I believed you would have followed me; together nobody could have stood in our way. I do not doubt we would have been successful, united the Hallows and lived long, fulfilled lives together. If I had not been so concerned with my own vision, perhaps I would have seen that you were as narrow minded as the rest of the wizarding world.

I am done with games, I have failed alone, I saw many possible ends to the war and I chose the most preferable by contacting you. I did not think that you would come. There will be no more escapes, no more news of me, I am ensnared in my own genius of traps. Nurmengard will never fall, never falter, even when it must imprison it's master. In my folly I made it so and now I must learn the consequences.

Am I afraid? Yes, you know if the conditions they keep me in, you know of what I must deserve, of the thousands that bay for my punishment. I am afraid because for once, I do not know the future, I must go into this as blind as a muggle and bear whatever punishment that farce of a trial dictates.

The ink pot grows dry, so I must cease my accusations, perhaps my last words.

Gellert.

Dear Justice Hawks

I am writing concerning the sentencing of Gellert Grindelwald.

I am not privy to the recommendations of the courts, however I am aware of the pressure you must be under from the Public and Governments alike. However I must request that whilst emotions run high now, you consider that they will eventually cool and the sentencing will reflect on the new age we find ourselves moving into.

One dark wizard has been defeated, but others will rise and how can we set ourselves apart if not in morals. I have recently looked into how he is treated and I find myself appalled at the behavior of our 'illustrious' aurors. Would you believe that they assault him, deprive him of the sustenance he requires, that he is allowed a room with no light or even basic ablutions? To my knowledge he did not even allow this treatment of his own prisoners, so why do we allow ourselves to sink below the level of this 'war criminal'?

My request not that his sentence is in any way minor, but that he is at least allowed the most basic human rights. I believe that allowing him a window, the ability to walk his cell will allow him the state of mind to consider his misdeeds and to learn remorse. If not, at least allowing him ablutions and meals will allow him to live out the term of his punishment; is death not too easy a way out for one such as him?

I ask that you take my thoughts into consideration,

With respect,

Albus Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, deputy headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor of Transfiguration, Order of Merlin – First Class.

Dear Albus,

You must have had a hand in this, I cannot believe it otherwise. I would almost believe it to be a hallucination had I not touched the fresh snow on the sill and felt the air brushing my face. Yesterday, I could not tell you the time, a judge came to my cell in righteous fury and in a whirlwind had the aurors that keep me groveling for forgiveness as he accused them of 'depraved actions that reflect badly on the entire wizarding justice system.'

I have been transferred to the highest cell in the tower, from where I can see an expanse of the valley below. The whisper of freedom is as much a torture as it is relief, but I would not have it any other way. I must be in your debt for this but I fear I will never be able to repay you.

Please, do not put me further into your debt, it is more than the little that is left of my dignity can handle. It seems that sliver is all I have left, so do not be so cruel as to take it from me with your kindness. I will face the consequences of my actions.

Sincerely,

Gellert Grindelwald.