There was a huge commotion in the great hall. Rumor had it that Harry Potter had been killed. Rumors from twenty Death Eaters storming the train to Voldemort himself appearing. The teachers were going back and forth trying to calm everyone down, only the Slytherins remained completely unaffected, huddling together in small groups and chatting animatedly.
All of a sudden, the Great Hall went silent. A weary Dumbledore came in followed by three figures.
'Settle down everyone, exclaimed the old wizard, teachers come to the staff table, everyone else sit down at your appropriate table.' he paused while everyone returned to their seats.
'Good, now I know there in a rumor going around that Mr. Potter was killed by Death Eaters. That is partly true.' He waited until everyone was silent.
'Harry, Hermione, Ron please come forward?' The three figures standing behind the staff table came forward revealing the trio, untouched.
The hall erupted into noise but audibly above the rest was the voice of Ginny screeching 'Harry! Hermione! Ron!' While this was going on professor Sprout walked over to the Hufflepuff table, whispered to Ernie Macmillan then the pair left the Great Hall.
Dumbledore, when everyone had gone silent, again spoke.
'As I was saying, through sources I cannot say, it had come to my knowledge that Voldemort was intending to attack the train. He sent some of his Death Eaters in the disguise of first years using Polyjuice potion. His intention was to capture Harry. To prevent this without arousing suspicion we sent some of our Aurors also disguised under the influence of Polyjuice potion to look like Harry, Hermione and Ron. Although this was successful we are deeply sorry to announce that one of our Aurors was killed.'
Following these words there was a commemorative silence then Harry, Ron and Hermione returned to their seats and instantly disappeared under piles of Gryffindors. Unnoticed by everyone except Professor Snape, Draco Malfoy slipped out of the Great Hall, Snape followed.
Flashback
Dumbledore looked out of his window from his office to see three figures walking up to the school; one other figure was lying on a stretcher by their sides. He hurried out of the main doors and walked quickly over to the figure, conjuring four chairs which the figures sank down into gratefully.
'What happened?' Dumbledore asked after quickly counting that there were only four men.
'Well' the first one replied, 'that Longbottom boy Neville came in followed by some first years. At first we were chatting normally, then some went to the toilet, then we were under attack. Well, we won, you can see that, but they did manage to kill 'Harry'/ Mr. Macmillan. As soon as they managed this they grabbed him and disapparated. Andrew here was knocked out sometime by something but we don't seem to be able to revive him, he seems to be getting worse, that's why we thought we should come to the castle quicker rather than traveling on the Hogwart's express.'
Dumbledore moved over to the stretcher and peered anxiously at Andrew then said:
'I'll get Madame Pomfrey to take a look, we can't really risk sending him to St Mungo's, we'd have to explain what had happened, but we'll send him it he gets any worse. You can spend the night in my guest rooms and leave tomorrow, there are a few more things to settle but I don't want you being missed. The last thing we need is more questions.'
'Ok. We'll meet you in your office after the feast, after we've taken Andrew up' the shorter of the three men said.
'Make sure you get yourself checked over as well' Dumbledore replied 'oh and the password is Fizzleworm'.
End of Flashback
All of a sudden, the Great Hall went silent. A weary Dumbledore came in followed by three figures.
'Settle down everyone, exclaimed the old wizard, teachers come to the staff table, everyone else sit down at your appropriate table.' he paused while everyone returned to their seats.
'Good, now I know there in a rumor going around that Mr. Potter was killed by Death Eaters. That is partly true.' He waited until everyone was silent.
'Harry, Hermione, Ron please come forward?' The three figures standing behind the staff table came forward revealing the trio, untouched.
The hall erupted into noise but audibly above the rest was the voice of Ginny screeching 'Harry! Hermione! Ron!' While this was going on professor Sprout walked over to the Hufflepuff table, whispered to Ernie Macmillan then the pair left the Great Hall.
Dumbledore, when everyone had gone silent, again spoke.
'As I was saying, through sources I cannot say, it had come to my knowledge that Voldemort was intending to attack the train. He sent some of his Death Eaters in the disguise of first years using Polyjuice potion. His intention was to capture Harry. To prevent this without arousing suspicion we sent some of our Aurors also disguised under the influence of Polyjuice potion to look like Harry, Hermione and Ron. Although this was successful we are deeply sorry to announce that one of our Aurors was killed.'
Following these words there was a commemorative silence then Harry, Ron and Hermione returned to their seats and instantly disappeared under piles of Gryffindors. Unnoticed by everyone except Professor Snape, Draco Malfoy slipped out of the Great Hall, Snape followed.
Flashback
Dumbledore looked out of his window from his office to see three figures walking up to the school; one other figure was lying on a stretcher by their sides. He hurried out of the main doors and walked quickly over to the figure, conjuring four chairs which the figures sank down into gratefully.
'What happened?' Dumbledore asked after quickly counting that there were only four men.
'Well' the first one replied, 'that Longbottom boy Neville came in followed by some first years. At first we were chatting normally, then some went to the toilet, then we were under attack. Well, we won, you can see that, but they did manage to kill 'Harry'/ Mr. Macmillan. As soon as they managed this they grabbed him and disapparated. Andrew here was knocked out sometime by something but we don't seem to be able to revive him, he seems to be getting worse, that's why we thought we should come to the castle quicker rather than traveling on the Hogwart's express.'
Dumbledore moved over to the stretcher and peered anxiously at Andrew then said:
'I'll get Madame Pomfrey to take a look, we can't really risk sending him to St Mungo's, we'd have to explain what had happened, but we'll send him it he gets any worse. You can spend the night in my guest rooms and leave tomorrow, there are a few more things to settle but I don't want you being missed. The last thing we need is more questions.'
'Ok. We'll meet you in your office after the feast, after we've taken Andrew up' the shorter of the three men said.
'Make sure you get yourself checked over as well' Dumbledore replied 'oh and the password is Fizzleworm'.
End of Flashback