A.N. — A faithful reviewer of mine (Authorforeverything) wanted a drabble dealing with anxiety, depression, and post-war trauma. So here is all that, wrapped up in one school-age kid. I hadn't done a student since Cedric, 10 chapters ago!
187. Nigel Wolpert
Four underage students stayed to fight at the Battle of Hogwarts. Nigel Wolpert was the youngest.
Having attended DA meetings, Nigel thought himself ready. But it was instant regret.
Nothing in his 13-plus years had prepared him for the stench of smoke and death, the mangled bodies, or the deep-seated fear that persisted even after the fighting ended. Evacuating with the other non-combatants was un-Gryffindor, but he should've done it.
He still had three years left at Hogwarts, and Nigel had no idea how he'd sleep at night with the memories of war etched into the walls and his mind.