The Great Hall was full. Students from all four houses filled the enormous tables from head to foot. No-one spoke louder than the quietest whisper and, for quite possibly the first time in the history of Hogwarts, no-one was eating. The house-elves of the kitchen had long since given up on cooking anything – even the plates of food on the Slytherin table remained untouched from breakfast. Even the appearance of hundreds of owls with the days post did little to lighten the mood.
Fred and George were sat at the Gryffindor table with Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Ginny Weasley. Not even the twins could bring themselves to speak or eat, and they say there, in silence, each gazing absentmindedly at some small feature on the archaic table.
The silence and reflection was broken by the appearance of a dejected Hedwig, who landed in front of Fred, and half-heartedly held out her leg, which had a small letter attached to it. Glancing round at the others, Fred gingerly removed the letter, hardly daring to touch it. It was a small parchment letter with 'Harry' written on it in swirling sprawling letters.
"Anyone recognise the writing?" Fred asked softly, but no-one did. Opening the small envelope revealed a tiny piece of parchment, barely big enough for more than a few sentences, but containing only a few lines.
"Watch where you go,
Mind who you see,
Everyone will know
And you can't catch me"
"What does that mean?" Katie asked, only to be met with blank looks and bemusement.
"We should take it to Dumbledore, it might be important." Everyone was agreed with Angelina, and they all left the hall quietly.
"Professor, we need to see Professor Dumbledore urgently!"
"Professor Dumbledore is very busy at the moment. What is so urgent that you need to see him right away?" Replied Professor McGonagall somewhat icily.
"Hedwig's just delivered this." Fred thrust the note into the professor's hand.
McGonagall said nothing, but strode off towards the Headmaster's office, motioning for the assembled to follow her.
"What is it Professor McGonagall?"
"Harry Potter's owl has just delivered this."
She handed the riddle to Professor Dumbledore, who read it with a growing expression of bewilderment.