DEPARTMENT OF MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT Office of Bartemius Crouch, Head Laborare pugnare parati sumus
TO: Headmaster Albus Dumbledore FROM: Bartemius Crouch Snr. DATE: 20 September, 1979 RE: The recent attacks at Hogwarts
Headmaster Dumbledore,
Due to recent events surrounding Hogwarts, I feel that it is imperative that some sort of action be taken in order for the safety of the students and faculty. For the moment, we are unable to find out how the Death Eaters were able to get out of Hogwarts without of apparating. There must have been some sort of hole, some sort of way that they know about and until we figure it out, Hogwarts is no longer safe.
I do not want something like this to happen again and lives being in danger.
Furthermore, while I wish that I could give you some of my staff to help patrol the grounds, the fact of the matter is that even before this battle I am low on staff and now with another three dead and countless injured and healing, there is simply not enough people to help. I have the Wizarding World to patrol, and even now large bits and pieces are being missed because I cannot make my staff work around the clock without consequences.
Therefore, it is with great regret that I am going to be unable supply Hogwarts with members of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in order to help protect the school should something along these lines happen.
However, in its place I offer a viable and decent solution for the short term.
While I understand that education is imperative, that education would mean nothing if the next time the Death Eaters make it through into the castle. I can only do so much, and your staff can only do so much against an unseen enemy. We do not know how many people there are in their faction, we do not know how far the roots spread, who they may or may not have in Hogwarts. I do not point fingers, but my job is to look at this from all angles and see everything.
The fact that they were able to get in and out so easily leads me to believe that you may have someone working with them within your grounds. For all I know it could be a student, but at the same time I could be a member of your staff so I would urge you to keep a closer eye on their actions and pray that none of them arouse any suspicion.
This brings me back to my original point. Since I am, regretfully, unable to supply you with any sort of protection in the form of Hitwizards or Aurors, I would suddenly that for the time being, close Hogwarts, send children home to their parents where they are spread out, away from danger and in most cases, away from the Magical World.
This is not a decision that I have come to lightly, but if they attack soon again, then I do not have nearly as many able bodied fighters as the recent battle, and I am not willing to send injured and sick Aurors and Hitwizards into a fight where they would most likely being irreparably damaged or killed. Nor would I send any of the trainees or volunteers, as untrained individuals end up doing more harm than good.
I understand the level of complaints that you would receive from this action from all members of this society, but I am sure that in light of the attack, if mentioned most of the parents would be able to see the logical reasoning behind it.
I sincerely hope that you heed my advice Headmaster Dumbledore and I wish you the best of luck with your decisions.
Bartemius Crouch Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Head