Though it was long past midnight, voices filled the Headmaster's Office, all talking over one another.
Professor McGonagall knocked three times on the oak door. The voices stopped at once, as if someone had cut them off.
The door opened on its own, and Professor McGonagall led Harry and Ron inside.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk in white pajamas, reviewing documents. He looked remarkably alert.
"Dumbledore, Potter had a... nightmare while he was asleep in the dormitory," Professor McGonagall said. She gave him a detailed account of what had happened in the Gryffindor Common Room. "He also insists on seeing Jerry."
"It wasn't a nightmare. Please, believe me," Harry said urgently. "Mr. Weasley's been hurt. A huge snake bit him..."
Even Harry thought his own words sounded absurd, almost laughable.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, gazing thoughtfully at the light on his desk.
"Please find Professor Snape and ask him to bring Jerry Green here from his dormitory," Dumbledore instructed a portrait hanging on the wall behind him after a moment's silence.
He turned to Harry. "You're saying you saw Mr. Weasley being injured in your dream just now?"
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm telling the truth! I'm not lying!" Harry struggled to contain his anger. Why was it so hard to make everyone believe him?
"I'm sorry," said the wizard who had just vanished from the frame, reappearing to interrupt them. "Snape says Jerry Green isn't in his dormitory. He's gone to look for him."
Dumbledore nodded slightly, then looked back at Harry.
"Harry, you misunderstand me. I do believe you," Dumbledore said calmly, though there was urgency in his voice. "What matters now is making sure Mr. Weasley is safe... Can you remember where the attack happened?"
After a moment's thought, he asked more precisely, "When you saw the