Hogsmeade lay in the distance, Hogwarts within arm's reach. After that cold, piercing voice rang out, the lights in the castle began flickering on one after another, like stars filling the night sky.
Harry could feel the floor trembling beneath his feet.
It wasn't caused by an explosion. Rather, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of young witches and wizards and staff members were hurriedly leaving their comfortable beds and rushing downstairs.
It was Professor Breen!
There was no doubt about it. Whether it was that vast golden sea of fire or that icy voice that made one's very soul shudder, both were enough for Harry to identify who had caused such a commotion in the Forbidden Forest!
But how could this be?!
Harry's heart pounded in time with the raging sea of flames floating in the sky.
He had never seen Professor Breen so furious before, so furious that he had forgotten to restrain his power and had actually disturbed Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.
Whoosh!
With a savage howl of wind, the sea of flames vanished from Harry's sight without warning. Yet its surging heat had evaporated every pool of rainwater gathered in the Forbidden Forest, forming a sunset-colored blaze of clouds above the lush primeval woodland.
The scorching heat borne on the wind even made Harry, sprawled over the corridor opening, squint involuntarily.
The rumbling upstairs grew louder and louder. Harry knew his classmates had already dressed and were streaming out of their common rooms to investigate. He could even hear Filch's frantic roars!
Harry knew he had to move!
He yanked off his Invisibility Cloak. With so many students out of bed, there was nothing for him to hide anymore.
Then he raced to the end of the corridor faster than he ever had in his life, took two great strides,