The Eye of the Snake

Hermione Returns from Hagrid's Cabin with Worrying News
After visiting Hagrid's cabin on Sunday morning, Hermione Granger returns to Gryffindor Tower, shivering from the cold and damp from the snow. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, stuck in the common room with homework, are eager to hear what she discovered. Hermione shares that Hagrid was in the Forbidden Forest and seems unbothered by the dangers and threats from Dolores Umbridge. Despite her best efforts to advise Hagrid to follow Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank's safer lessons, he remains determined to teach something new and refuses to reveal the source of his recent injuries.
Pages 441-442 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Hagrid's Return to the Great Hall
Hagrid reappears at the staff table during breakfast, causing mixed reactions from the students. Fred Weasley, George Weasley, and Lee Jordan are delighted and enthusiastically greet Hagrid. However, students like Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown are less enthusiastic, preferring Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank's more controlled classes. Even Harry, who is loyal to Hagrid, understands why some students might favor the safer approach of Grubbly-Plank's lessons.
Pages 442-443 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Hagrid Leads the Class into the Forbidden Forest
On Tuesday, Rubeus Hagrid conducts a Care of Magical Creatures lesson, leading the students deep into the Forbidden Forest. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are anxious about what Hagrid might have planned and whether Dolores Umbridge will inspect the class. Despite Hagrid's visible injuries, he confidently carries half a dead cow and introduces the lesson, stating that the creatures prefer the dark. Draco Malfoy and other Slytherins express fear and disdain for the lesson, recalling a previous frightening experience in the forest.
Pages 443-444 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Hagrid Introduces Thestrals
In the dark, dense part of the Forbidden Forest, Rubeus Hagrid introduces the class to Thestrals, skeletal winged horses that are only visible to people who have witnessed death. Harry feels relieved to know he didn't imagine seeing them earlier in the year. As thestrals begin feeding on the cow carcass, confusion spreads among the students who cannot see them. Only Harry, Neville Longbottom, and a Slytherin student can see the creatures, while Ron and others look around anxiously.
Pages 444-445 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Dolores Umbridge Interrupts Hagrid's Class
During Hagrid's lesson, Dolores Umbridge arrives to conduct her inspection. Hagrid, unfamiliar with Umbridge's fake cough, believes one of thestrals made the noise. Umbridge speaks to him in a patronizing tone and notes his teaching methods. She interrupts frequently, writing disparaging remarks on her clipboard. Despite her rude behavior, Rubeus Hagrid remains determined to continue his lesson on Thestrals. Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson find the scene amusing, while Hermione grows increasingly furious.
Pages 446-447 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Umbridge Questions the Students About Hagrid
Dolores Umbridge begins questioning the students about Hagrid's teaching ability, asking Pansy Parkinson if she understands Hagrid when he speaks. Pansy mocks Hagrid, likening his speech to grunting, which pleases Umbridge. She then turns to Neville Longbottom and asks about his ability to see thestrals, revealing that Neville witnessed his grandfather's death. Umbridge continues to make critical notes, implying that Hagrid's lessons frighten the students.
Pages 448-449 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Hermione Expresses Her Fury Over Umbridge's Treatment of Hagrid
After the lesson, Hermione Granger angrily voices her frustration over Umbridge's treatment of Hagrid. She accuses Umbridge of being prejudiced against Hagrid due to his giant blood and points out that Umbridge is trying to portray him as incompetent. Hermione defends Hagrid's lesson on Thestrals, noting that they are a safer subject compared to Blast-Ended Skrewts. Ron agrees that Umbridge has a personal vendetta against Hagrid, while Harry listens quietly.
Pages 449-450 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Draco Malfoy Taunts Ron Weasley About Thestrals
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione make their way back to the castle, they are ambushed by Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who mock Ron about his inability to see thestrals. Malfoy taunts Ron by sarcastically asking if witnessing death would help him see the Quaffle better. The Slytherins laugh and break into a rendition of “Weasley Is Our King,” causing Ron's ears to redden with anger. Hermione urges Ron to ignore them as she clears a path in the snow with a charm.
Pages 450-451 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Ron and Hermione Struggle With Prefect Duties as Christmas Approaches
December arrives, bringing more snow and an overwhelming workload for the fifth years. Ron and Hermione find themselves burdened with their prefect duties, from supervising younger students to decorating the castle. Peeves the Poltergeist makes their tasks more difficult, while Argus Filch's obsession with preventing holiday-related mischief adds to the stress. Despite the workload, Hermione worries about her unfinished elf hats, while Harry focuses on his History of Magic essay.
Pages 451-452 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Harry Looks Forward to Christmas at The Burrow
As Christmas approaches, Harry is delighted to learn that he has been invited to spend the holidays with the Weasleys at The Burrow. While Hermione plans to go skiing with her parents, Harry looks forward to spending time with the Weasleys, though he feels guilty about leaving Sirius Black alone at Grimmauld Place. Harry considers asking Mrs. Weasley to invite Sirius but worries that Dumbledore wouldn't allow it.
Pages 452-453 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Harry Arrives Early for the Final D.A. Meeting Before the Holidays
Harry arrives early to the Room of Requirement for the last D.A. meeting before the Christmas holidays and discovers that Dobby has decorated the room in an over-the-top festive style, including golden baubles with Harry's face on them. As he removes the decorations, Luna Lovegood enters and points out some mistletoe, mentioning that it's often infested with nargles. Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Alicia Spinnet soon arrive, informing Harry that Ginny Weasley has replaced him as Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Pages 452-453 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Harry Leads the D.A. in Reviewing Spells Learned So Far
During the D.A. meeting, Harry decides to have the group review the spells they've learned so far rather than starting something new before the holidays. They practice the Impediment Jinx and Stunning spells in pairs, with Neville Longbottom showing great improvement. Harry is filled with pride as he watches everyone, especially Neville, perform much better than before. Zacharias Smith complains about the lack of new material, but Fred Weasley mocks him.
Pages 453-454 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Relationship - Harry Potter & Cho Chang Share a Tearful Moment
After the D.A. meeting, Cho Chang stays behind to speak with Harry. She becomes emotional, crying as she mentions how learning defense spells reminds her of Cedric Diggory's death. Harry awkwardly tries to console her, explaining that Cedric knew his spells well but was no match for Lord Voldemort. Cho continues to cry, and Harry, unsure of what to do, stands frozen. They eventually share a kiss under the mistletoe, though the moment is bittersweet due to Cho's lingering grief over Cedric.
Pages 455-457 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Harry Returns to the Common Room in a State of Shock
Harry returns to the Gryffindor common room after his kiss with Cho, feeling shocked and confused. Hermione is writing a long letter, and Ron is finishing his Transfiguration homework. When they ask Harry what happened, he remains silent, unsure how to express what he experienced. Hermione immediately guesses that Cho kissed him, much to Ron's amusement. Harry confirms this, and Ron bursts into laughter, while Hermione provides a more thoughtful analysis of Cho's complicated feelings about Cedric and Harry.
Pages 457-460 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Ron and Harry Discuss Viktor Krum and Hermione
As they head to bed, Ron asks Harry why Hermione is writing to Viktor Krum. Ron is clearly irritated by Hermione's continued correspondence with Krum, questioning what she sees in him. Harry, distracted by thoughts of Cho, agrees that Krum can be a bit grouchy, though he notes Krum's status as an international Quidditch player. The two friends change into their pajamas and reflect on the whirlwind of the day as they prepare for sleep.
Pages 461-462 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Harry's Confusing Dream About Cho and Cedric
As Harry drifts off to sleep, he dreams that he is back in the Room of Requirement, where Cho accuses him of luring her there with the promise of Chocolate Frog cards. The dream becomes more absurd as Cho transforms into Hermione, who suggests that Harry give Cho his Firebolt instead. The dream reflects Harry's confused feelings about Cho, Cedric's death, and his guilt over their kiss.
Page 462 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Harry's Nightmare of Attacking Arthur Weasley
Harry's dream changes abruptly as he finds himself in the body of a snake, slithering through a dark corridor. He encounters a man, Arthur Weasley, who is sitting in front of a door. Overcome with a desire to attack, Harry strikes, biting Arthur repeatedly. Harry wakes up in a cold sweat, horrified by the vividness of the dream and the pain in his scar. He realizes that the dream was not just a dream—Arthur Weasley has been attacked.
Pages 462-464 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Harry Alerts Ron to Arthur Weasley's Attack
Waking up in terror, Harry urgently tells Ron that his father, Arthur Weasley, has been attacked by a snake and is seriously injured. Ron, confused and still waking up, doesn't fully understand at first, but Harry insists that it wasn't a dream—he witnessed the attack firsthand. As panic sets in, Neville Longbottom runs to get help, and Ron stays with Harry, who is still shaking from the vivid nightmare.
Pages 464-465 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Professor McGonagall Intervenes
Professor McGonagall arrives in the Gryffindor dormitory, summoned by Neville, and asks Harry to explain what happened. Harry describes the attack on Arthur Weasley, stressing that it wasn't a dream but something he witnessed while asleep. McGonagall, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, believes Harry and quickly decides to take him to see Professor Dumbledore.
Pages 464-465 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |