OOP - Harry & Neville

[stardreams04]

No: HPFGUIDX 64703

<snip>
The question still remains why the DE's couldn't just have broken the 
shelves like the kids did!
  -Ing
<snip>

I think Voldemort himself wanted to hear the prophecy in its 
entirety. If the Death Eaters broke open the sphere, Voldemort would 
have to depend on their memories of the exact wording of the 
prophecy. He doesn't seem like the trusting type, and I don't think 
too many Death Eaters (save maybe Bella) would have volunteered for 
memory duty, since Voldemort tends to harshly punish those who do not 
perform up to expectations.

A thought just occurred to me: did the Death Eaters and Voldemort 
know beforehand how the spheres would work? If they didn't know that 
the prophecies could be released (and not instantly destroyed) when 
the glass containing them shatters, then it is perfectly 
understandable why they wouldn't have broken the shelves. Since I 
don't think any of the Death Eaters had had prophecies made about 
them, it would be logical that they would be perhaps a little fuzzy 
on how the devices worked.

~stardreams