The entire Hogwarts Great Hall fell silent, so quiet that one could almost hear a pin drop.
The examiners from the Wizarding Examinations Authority exchanged glances, their faces filled with bewilderment and shock.
They had only come to invigilate the O.W.L.s. How had they suddenly stumbled into earth-shattering events like the Minister for Magic dismissing the Headmaster and an attack on the Ministry of Magic?
How had they ended up witnessing Fudge driving Dumbledore out and the Ministry of Magic coming under attack?
In that suffocating silence, the Two-Way Mirror in Fudge's hand stirred again.
The image in the Two-Way Mirror had vanished, leaving only an indistinct scream: "Death Eaters... explosion... help..."
The voice cut off abruptly, as though some terrifying force had severed the connection.
An uproar soon swept through the Great Hall—the Ministry of Magic was in trouble again!
More importantly, quite a few people had heard the words "Death Eaters." In the wizarding world, no one needed to explain what those words meant.
Panic began spreading among the students. The once-bright Great Hall was now filled with an eerie, suffocating atmosphere.
Harry clenched his fists and glanced at Will, but soon noticed that Ron and Cedric had both gone as white as sheets.
Harry immediately realized why—Mr. Weasley worked at the Ministry of Magic, and Mr. Diggory was a Ministry employee too.
Damn the Death Eaters! Damn Voldemort! Damn Fudge!
Harry shot Fudge a vicious glare, looking as though he wanted to kill him right then and there.
Strange spoke. "Calm down, Harry. There's nothing you can do right now. Dumbledore has already gone to the Ministry of Magic. Leave this to him."
The professors wore varying expressions, but Snape alone had his brows tightly knitted—he had received no information about this.
He looked at Will, only