Professor Merlin Emrys

The Prophecy

Clocks, it was clocks that Harry had struggled to see in his dreams. Merlin did not know why he was surprised. The ministry kept many things that they should have left alone, keeping the natural order of the universe not in their definition when they were a rather greedy organization. These clocks were no different, though Merlin was sure they did not know what they represented. They were damning pieces of machinery that Merlin was glad they were only passing through, the endless ticking of borrowed time grating on his nerves. One of the glass containers caught Hermione's eye and she called them over. Merlin's breath caught in his throat at the bird egg. Drifting along in the sparkling current inside was a tiny, jewel-bright egg. As it rose in the jar it cracked open and a hummingbird emerged, which was carried to the very top of the jar, but as it fell on the draft, its feathers became bedraggled and damp again, and by the time it had been borne back to the bottom of the jar it had been enclosed once more in its egg. Merlin eyed the timepiece distastefully, realizing it was the personification of an immortal's life, most likely his own.

"We need to keep going!" Merlin said, backing away as the hummingbird was once again reborn. He nudged Hermione and Ron forward and dragged Harry by the back of his shirt most likely still thinking about that horrid split in the veil.

"It's through here," Harry remarked, pushing open the door once he was back in the front of the group and leading them through to a dark room. It was taller than most of the cathedrals Merlin had been to and was filled with dusty glass orbs. Merlin's blood ran cold as he realized where they were, stopping dead in his tracks.

"Merlin?" Hermione whispered, having knocked into his back when he halted.

"We should not be here," Merlin wished desperately that his word would be enough for them to turn back, he should have asked Harry about the room that Sirius was being tortured in. He was a fool.

"Why?" Hermione asked, her voice wobbling slightly in her fear.

"They keep prophecies here, Hermione. I do not think Sirius is here," he confided in her, and Harry and Ron turned around noticing finally that two of their members had not followed them.

"What's going on?" Ron interjected, looking worriedly between the three of them.

"Merlin said that this place houses prophecies. Harry, this is what the weapon is, what V-Voldemort wanted! It must be!"

"So, they have Sirius!" Harry argued, hot-headed to the end.

"Think Harry! If Sirius were here we would have heard him talking, or...or screaming in pain. I don't think he's here," Hermione bit back softly. Her hand reached out for Harry but he jerked out of her reach.

"Fine, if you don't believe it. I'll find him myself!" Harry said, marching angrily away, Ron looked conflicted between following Harry and believing Hermione and staying.

"We need to go after him," Merlin said, making Ron's choice null and void even as Hermione huffed.

"I know, but one day he's going to get us all killed," she replied, following after the direction her friend had gone. "You said it was row ninety-seven?" Hermione confirmed when they had caught back up with Harry.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "Keep your wands out," Ron and Hermione nodded, not having to be told twice as they lifted their Lumos lit wands higher to see the shimmery metal reading row fifty-three. Merlin saw the next label and beckoned them forward and to the right. The dull grey of the orbs was putting Merlin on edge, he knew they were out of the crystals from the crystal caves, the rock able to hold the prophesied words better than any glass ball could. He carefully kept his gaze averted from any of them lest he become overwhelmed with the Sight they would show him. They all had faded yellow tags on the stands keeping the balls from rolling off the shelves from the quick glance he got.