.Cedricgave.me.loads.of.Chocolate.Frog.Cards,.look!..And.she.pulled.out.fistfuls.of.Cards.from.inside.her.robes.and.threw.them.into.the.air..Then.she.turned.into.Hermione,.who.said,..You.did.promise.her,.you.know,.Harry….I.think.you.d.better.give.her.something.else.instead….how.about.your.Firebolt?..And.Harry.was.protesting.that.he.could.not.give.Cho.his.Firebolt,.because.Umbridge.had.it,.and.anyway.the.whole.thing.was.ridiculous,.he.d.only.come.to.the.DA.room.to.put.up.some.Christmas.baubles.shaped.like.Dobby.s.head….
The.dream.changed….
His.body.felt.smooth,.powerful.and.flexible..He.was.gliding.between.shining.metal.bars,.across.dark,.cold.stone….he.was.flat.against.the.floor,.sliding.along.on.his.belly….it.was.dark,.yet.he.could.see.objects.around.him.shimmering.in.strange,.vibrant.colours….he.was.turning.his.head….at.first.glance.the.corridor.was.empty….but.no….a.man.was.sitting.on.the.floor.ahead,.his.chin.drooping.on.to.his.chest,.his.outline.gleaming.in.the.dark….
Harry.put.out.his.tongue….he.tasted.the.man.s.scent.on.the.air….he.was.alive.but.drowsy….sitting.in.front.of.a.door.at.the.end.of.the.corridor….
.
Harry.longed.to.bite.the.man….but.he.must.master.the.impulse….he.had.more.important.work.to.do….
But.the.man.was.stirring….a.silver.Cloak.fell.from.his.legs.as.he.jumped.to.his.feet;.and.Harry.saw.his.vibrant,.blurred.outline.towering.above.him,.saw.a.wand.withdrawn.from.a.belt….he.had.no.choice….he.reared.high.from.the.floor.and.struck.once,.twice,.three.times,.plunging.his.fangs.deeply.into.the.man.s.flesh,
.feeling.his.ribs.splinter.beneath.his.jaws,.feeling.the.warm.gush.of.blood….
The.man.was.yelling.in.pain….then.he.fell.silent….he.slumped.backwards.against.the.wall….blood.was.splattering.on.to.the.floor….
His.forehead.hurt.terribly….it.was.aching.fit.to.burst….
.Harry!.HARRY!..
He.opened.his.eyes..Every.inch.of.his.body.was.covered.in.icy.sweat;.his.bed.covers.were.twisted.all.around.him.like.a.strait‐jacket;.he.felt.as.though.a.white‐
hot.poker.were.being.applied.to.his.forehead..
.Harry!.
Ron.was.standing.over.him.looking.extremely.frightened..There.were.more.figures.at.the.foot.of.Harry.s.bed..He.clutched.his.head.in.his.hands;.the.pain.was.blinding.him….he.rolled.right.over.and.vomited.over.the.edge.of.the.mattress..
.He.s.really.ill,..said.a.scared.voice...Should.we.call.someone?..
.Harry!.Harry!..
He.had.to.tell.Ron,.it.was.very.important.that.he.tell.him….taking.great.gulps.of.air,.Harry.pushed.himself.up.in.bed,.willing.himself.not.to.throw.up.again,.the.pain.half‐blinding.him..
.Your.dad,..he.panted,.his.chest.heaving...Your.dad.s….been.attacked…..
.What?..said.Ron.uncomprehendingly..
.Your.dad!.He.s.been.bitten,.it.s.serious,.there.was.blood.everywhere…..
.I.m.going.for.help,..said.the.same.scared.voice,.and.Harry.heard.footsteps.running.out.of.the.dormitory..
.Harry,.mate,..said.Ron.uncertainly,..you….you.were.just.dreaming…..
.No!..said.Harry.furiously;.it.was.crucial.that.Ron.understand..
.It.wasn.t.a.dream….not.an.ordinary.dream….I.was.there,.I.saw.it….I.did.it…..