The Prophesy: Silent Shells

Albus Dumbledore had seen a lot of terrible things in his life. But none so bad as the scene that greeted him.

Hermione Granger looked as though she was coming around from a fainting spell. She was pale and sobbing hysterically as Draco Malfoy lifted her and carried her from the room.

Ron Weasley was crouched up in the corner of the room heaving up his lungs.

Severus Snape was pacing up and down in a corner. His face was so white he looked almost dead and his black hair and eyes juxtaposed his pale skin.

Remus Lupin was visibly shaking as he helped Madam Pomfrey, who had tears running down her cheeks lift the limp, lifeless body of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived.

His arms were hanging flaccid by his side and blood was streaming out of the deep wounds in each. His head lolled to one side as Lupin heaved him over his shoulder and stepped into the fire that Snape had just thrown some Floo Powder into. As they disappeared into the flames, the eerie smile on Harry's pallid face frightened him.

'The Hospital Wing.'

Never had Dumbledore here any words spoken that sounded so barren and dead.

He watched as Madam Pomfrey muttered the same words and stepped into the fire.

Dumbledore heaved a sigh and turned to leave the room, now empty except for a mirror which had shown Harry what he could never have and a pool of crimson sticky liquid.

As he turned to Professor Snape who was standing outside the door waiting his eyes caught a glimpse of something shining in the corner. He bent down and picked up the small but deadly blade.

The steel reminded him of death. Cold and rigid. He shuddered and left the room, closing the door firmly behind him.

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The school was in a state of shock. They were gathered in the Great Hall for dinner, but no one was eating.

The room was all but silent. All that could be heard was the whining of a great black dog that sat at Lupin's feet.

Hermione was crying silently on Ron's shoulder. They hadn't been allowed in with Harry, only Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore were allowed to see him. He was rubbing her back in circular motions trying to calm her down. His eyes were rimmed red and they stood out against his pale face. The fifth years all looked grim and ashen. The Weasley twins looked quite unlike themselves. No one in the Great Hall had ever seen them without their characteristic laughing twinkle in their eyes.

The whole Gryffindor table was sitting still and silent.

The Hufflepuff table seemed to be lost in memories of the end of last year and Cedric's unfortunate death.

The Ravenclaw's were looking at each other warily, every so often glancing at the Gryffindor table. Padma Patil had abandoned her fellow Ravenclaws to sit with her sister, Parvati.

The Slytherin's didn't seem to know whether they should be looking happy or sad. Draco Malfoy was pacing up and down the wall behind his house's table.

Every person was tense, some waiting for Dumbledore to come and tell them that it was all ok and that it had all been a misunderstanding and an over-reaction too a trivial matter, other's who were more realistic were waiting to be told that there was a crisis but it had passed. Every person in the room was waiting for some reassurance.

They would all wait in vain.

It was eleven o'clock at night and still nobody had moved. All the food had disappeared from the tables and people were resting their heads and arms on the table.

Hermione had stopped crying and was sitting stiff and straight. Her eyes were red rimmed and unfocused. Ron had his head in his hands.

Malfoy was still pacing up and down the room.

The teachers had tried to send the students to bed but no one would move. They had given up and were sitting quietly.

Hagrid's shoulders were shaking and Professor Flitwick was trying to comfort him.

Lupin had moved and was sitting on the floor, absentmindedly patting the black dog.

Snape's eyes that were usually glittering with malice were empty as he spoke in whispers with Minerva McGonagall.

The door to the Great Hall swung open and Dumbledore was standing in the threshold. He didn't look surprised to see every one still there.

Draco Malfoy froze in his tracks and swung around to face Dumbledore.

Ron lifted his head from his hands to gaze at his mentor.

Hermione jumped up and ran over to him and grabbed his arm. 'Professor?' her voice cracked with worry.

The big black dog sprang up and Lupin was holding it back.

Dumbledore gazed around the room. Every eye was fixed on him. He opened his mouth and everyone waited expectantly.