Chapter 20
Harry, Ron, and Hermione grab Harry’s Invisibility Cloak
and scurry off to Hagrid’s cabin. Hagrid’s face is badly bruised
and bleeding. Hagrid explains that he had gone into the mountains
to talk to Giants and rally support for Dumbledore but ultimately failed
to enlist their help. Umbridge knocks at the door, and Harry, Ron,
and Hermione duck under the Invisibility Cloak and hide in the corner.
Umbridge forces her way into Hagrid’s cabin, but Hagrid refuses
to tell her about the Giants. After she leaves, Hermione warns Hagrid
about Umbridge and her class inspections, cautioning him against
teaching anything too dangerous or unconventional. Hagrid appears
unconcerned.
Chapter 21
The next day, Hagrid leads his class into the forest.
The horrible horse-like creatures Harry saw pulling carriages
appear again, and Hagrid asks who can see the creatures. Harry,
Neville, and a Slytherin boy raise their hands. Hagrid explains
that the creatures are called thestrals and are visible only by
those who have witnessed death.
Angelina, the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, chooses Ginny Weasley
to replace Harry as Gryffindor Seeker. At the last D.A. meeting
before Christmas break, Harry is left alone with Cho Chang. Cho
starts to cry and admits that she is thinking about Cedric, her
boyfriend. Cedric was killed by Voldemort at the close of Book IV.
Standing under the mistletoe, Harry and Cho kiss.
Harry returns to the Common Room and tells Ron and Hermione
what happened. Harry falls asleep with his head full of thoughts.
He dreams that his body feels smooth and powerful. He is a snake,
slithering toward a man sitting on the floor, guarding a door. Harry
rears from the floor and strikes the man, plunging his fangs into
the man’s flesh. Harry wakes up with Ron standing over him. Harry
is sweating and in extreme pain. His scar is burning hotter than
ever. Neville arrives with McGonagall. Harry tells her that Ron’s
dad has been attacked by a snake. McGonagall nods and takes Harry
to Dumbledore’s office.
Chapter 22
Harry tells Dumbledore about his vision, and how he inhabited
the snake’s body during the attack. Dumbledore calls to the portraits
of former headmasters and headmistresses hanging on the walls of
his office and asks them to raise the alarm. When the portraits
return, they explain that members of the Order have found Mr. Weasley
at the Ministry and taken him to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies
and Injuries. McGonagall wakes the other Weasley children, and they
prepare to travel to Twelve Grimmauld Place by Portkey. As they
are leaving, Harry’s scar starts to burn. He looks up at Dumbledore
with a powerful hatred, fighting the urge to attack him. He is thrust
back to number twelve. Harry tells Fred, Ginny, George, and Sirius
about his vision but does not mention that he actually inhabited
the snake. A letter from Mrs. Weasley arrives, announcing that Mr.
Weasley is still alive.
Mrs. Weasley returns from St. Mungo’s and thanks Harry
for his vision, which she believes saved Mr. Weasley’s
life. The Weasleys and Harry agree to stay with Sirius for the holidays.
Harry tells Sirius the whole truth about his vision, including the
rage he felt at Dumbledore right before they left Hogwarts. Sirius
tells him not to worry.
