DISCLAIMER:
I BY NO MEANS OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOOKS/MOVIES. HOWEVER I DO OWN THE CHARACTERS CAIN AND ODIN.
The ceiling of the great hall went berserk in reply, as the sky darkened to pitch black, the stars blinking out one by one. Thunder rumbled and lightening cracked, and the students screamed in terror.
A heart shattering shriek reverberated throughout the corridors, and made its way to the great hall. The tall, heavy doors crashed against the wall as a single figure staggered inside. A boy? A man? He was bleeding severely from several wounds all over his body. His clothes had been viciously torn to shreds, over which he wore a long black cloak. His face... Oh his face, that poor boy... The mouth was gaping, with blood running down in thick rivulets. The eyes were covered by a glassy sheen of horror. "Albus!" He shouted once more, "He's back!"
Everyone in the great hall froze as the pandemonium died down. "He's back! Albus, it was terrible, terrible! Revolting, disgusting mutilation..." The boy shrieked.
Odin raised his head, eyes bulging. "Master!". Odin rushed towards the boy and held him up before he crashed to the ground. "Odin, oh Odin, my darling fox..." The boy murmured.
Dumbledore stood frozen with Snape next to him. The fact that this beat up boy was the one they had been discussing seconds ago had still not sunk in. Frightened voices rose all around the hall, much like a symphony of terror. Some had the sense to speak in hushed whispers, however, the others spoke loudly, dementedly.
"Silence!" Dumbledore boomed. He then turned to the boy in Odin's arms. "Cain...?"
Snape's head jerked at the sound of that name. "Cain?"
Did they really not recognize him? "He's back... Voldemort is back!" Cain shouted, sobbing into Odin's neck.
A deadly silence fell over everyone. Dumbledore's eyes took on an empty look. Snape staggered towards Cain and Odin, mouth agape. "What did you say?" he asked. After a pitiful coughing frenzy, during which an excessive amount of blood gushed out of his mouth, Cain looked up at the glaring man. "Voldemort is back, Severus. He's back, more disgusting and terrifying than ever."
They half expected another uproar to break out, but the silence continued through. No one spoke, no one blinked. Many of them had stopped breathing. Had the truth sunk in so fast? Or did they think this was all a cruel prank?
Without another word, Odin lifted his broken master into his skinny arms. "You can tell us exactly what happened soon enough. But first, you need to be treated."
