The Department of Mysteries

Harry, desperate to save Sirius, mounts a thestral and leads Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna toward London. Luna helps those who cannot see the creatures to mount. They endure a harrowing, high-speed flight and land near the Ministry’s visitor entrance.

Using the phone box, they obtain visitor badges and descend into an eerily empty Atrium. Harry’s urgency grows as they take the lift to Level Nine. In the circular black room with rotating walls, Harry resolves to press on with everyone, despite concerns about lookouts or calling for Sirius.

They test doors: first, a tank room of floating brains, which they mark and leave. Next, they find a vast stone amphitheater with a freestanding archway draped in a fluttering black veil. Harry and Luna hear whispers and feel drawn to it, but Hermione insists they withdraw, fearing danger. Back in the circular room, another door resists all magic and even melts Sirius’s knife, so they abandon it.

Harry locates the glittering chamber of clocks and a bell jar cycling a hummingbird between egg and bird. Beyond it lies the towering Hall of Prophecy, rows of dusty glass orbs lit by blue flames. They advance to row ninety-seven, where Harry expects to find Sirius, but discover only silence and empty aisles.

As doubt and dread rise, Ron notices a labeled orb bearing a sixteen-year-old notation linking S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D., the Dark Lord, and (?) Harry Potter. Ignoring warnings, Harry takes the warm glass sphere, hoping for meaning after their perilous journey. Nothing happens—until a drawling voice behind them commands Harry to turn slowly and hand it over, exposing the journey as a trap.