Hall of Prophecy
From UnknowableWiki
The room is very large and high, containing several rows of shelves forming alleys, numbered in silver figures. It is cold, and illuminated by blue flames that burn on candle-brackets placed at intervals along the shelves. The Hall of Prophecy also has many doors, one of them leading into the Time Room.
On the shelves themselves are small dusty glass orbs that vary in appearance: some of them can appear to contain glowing liquids, while others can be duller and darker (OP34). These orbs are the records of several phophecies made over the years. It is unkown whether the Ministry has records of every prophecy made since its existence, as is also unkown how the orbs are obtained (OP37). Albus Dumbledore mentions that not every prophecy in the Hall has necessarily been fulfilled (HBP23).
Right below the orbs are small yellowing labels informing the year the prophecies were made, the initials of the Seer who made them and of the one to whom it was made, and the people they refer to (OP34). The records are heavily protected: the only people that can safely take an orb out of its shelf are those about whom the predictions were made (OP35); any others that attempt such deed suffer maddness (OP37).
In his dreams regarding the Department of Mysteries, Harry Potter sees the alley next to row ninety-seven of the Hall of Prophecy as the place where Voldemort was keeping Sirius prisoner. The boy, along with Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Ron and Ginny Weasley then enter the Department specifically looking for the Hall.
Before reaching their goal, however, they pass by several other rooms, such as the Brain, the Death and the Time rooms. When reaching the latter, Harry points out it would lead them to the place Sirius would be, and the other DA members follow him past the leght of the room, through the door at its far end and into the Hall of Prophecy itself.
When entering the Hall of Prophecy, the Hogwarts students find themselves near row fifty-three, and, turning right, start moving towards row ninety-seven. When finally reaching it, they walk the whole lenght of the alley next to it. When they fail to find Sirius (or anyone else), Ron points out Harry's name is written in one of the tiny plaques below the orbs. Despite Hermione's warnings, Harry touches the prophecy and lifts it from its shelf, making the twelve Death Eaters that had been surrounding them show themselves (OP34).
Battle of the Department of Mysteries
Full article: Battle of the Department of Mysteries
Lucius Malfoy, aided by Bellatrix Lestrange, tries to talk Harry into handing them the prophecy. Malfoy, however, does not allow the witch (or any other Death Eater) to cast spells in Harry's direction on the threat that the orb could accidentaly smash. Harry Potter, finally realising his dreams had been a way to lure him to the Department, spends as much time as he can talking to the dark wizards. Bellatrix eventually loses control and attempts to Stun Harry. Lucius, however, deflects the spell, making it hit a shelf and smash two glass orbs.
Harry then has an idea, and whispers Hermione a plan. At his sign, the DA members use Reducto on the shelves around them, smashing several orbs, causing mayhem, and creating them an opportunity to run. Neville, Hermione and Harry manage to get back inside the Time Room, while Luna, Ron and Ginny end up fleeing towards another room. Under Lucius' orders, the Death Eaters divide themselves in pairs and take different directions in order to find the teenagers and retrieve the prophecy (OP35).
