Hogwarts Needs You

It's been two weeks since you left, Albus. As I said before, I am extremely proud of most of our staff and students. They have done little things to keep their spirits up. Of course, none of us will forget the fireworks fiasco, perpetrated by George and Fred Weasley. Who else? I must say that the two of them have gone beyond all limits to make Dolores Umbridge miserable. And for the first time, I approve of their mischief making, and encourage it. I know what you must be thinking, I, Minerva McGonagall, encouraging rule-breaking. But then you must know, these are exceptional times.

Yes, it seems that everyone has done their best to discourage Umbridge. Yet they seem such quaint things in the face of such great danger. I mean to say, You-Know-Who has returned and he is a constant threat to the safety of my students. To the safety of our students. What if he comes to Hogwarts, Albus, despite all our spells and enchantments and protections? What do we do then? It is true enough that you have always surrounded yourself with capable teachers (excepting Lockhart, naturally) but can we face him without you? We may hold our own against him.yet I find myself in doubt. What if we are not strong enough? How many students would die? Would indeed any of them survive? These are the thoughts that haunt my dreams each night. I can hardly sleep some nights, and so I have had Poppy make me some of her excellent dreamless sleep potions. And I fear to go to sleep; I fear what might happen the moment I let down my guard. It helps a little to know that I have had a lookout posted every night, one of the teachers. I have gone to great pains to hide this from Umbridge. I shudder to think what might happen should I, too, be fired.

You always scolded me for getting on her bad side. I cannot say that I have completely stopped on that score. Perhaps I have made it worse. But I will not say I have not enjoyed it. I have also watched as most of the teachers, myself included, have tried to lift Harry's spirits, to no avail. Yet his friends may be the deciding factor in whether he will be happy or not. They have always shown great loyalty towards him. They respect him, follow his lead, much as I once did as the friend of another child of the same age. His name, as you know, was Albus Dumbledore, and though he led me into much mischief, he never once let me down or let me get hurt. Now that boy is an old man, as I am an old woman. Together we might have had a shot, but I wonder if I have the same shot all alone. I pray that I do, as much as I pray that I am not entirely without him. For if I am, then my list of allies has grown even shorter, which is a worrisome development. Am I on my own? Can it be that my companion of old has gone?

I shall be strong, as I have already vowed. But if Hogwarts needs you, oh, Albus...so do I.