(HBP: "Will and Won't," US, p. 38):

Harry Potter was snoring loudly. [END QUOTE]

Well, I guess that from this description you can tell that he was sound asleep. The reader is not told what, if anything, Harry was dreaming about. This is of course significant.

It was night time. Late one summer evening at 4 Privet. Harry had received a letter from Professor Dumbledore, himself, which had announced that the Professor would make a house call that Friday at 11pm, to take Harry to his friends, the Weasley's, house -- known as The Burrow. Harry had fallen asleep in a chair by the bedroom window after 4 hours peering for a sign of Dumbledore.

Sleep and dreams.

Throughout the past school year (12 months?), Harry's dreams had been horribly disrupted by visions. He was told, after an amazing rescue of Arthur Weasley, that a link existed between his mind and Voldemort's. Harry's dreams were glimpses into the consciousness of Voldemort's own mind. (I doubt either of the two got a good night's sleep that year -- does Voldemort ever sleep?)

Food in the wizarding world may be said to represent, well -- Food. Shelter -- Protection. But what does Sleep represent in the Harry Potter Series?

Interesting thought, ELC.

I know this momwitch needs her sleep in and out of the Wizarding World, but for myself, it provides not only much needed rest, but a sense of clarity when I'm fully refreshed and ready to start the day.

My guess is that in the "real" WW, it serves much the same purpose. In Harry's case, away from the ego filter of "Harry", he was able to catch a glimpse - or see clarity - into the other parts of himself. This might not be as evident to his wakeful consciousness, which continuously strives to hold on to and define what is Harry.

Do you mean to examine what dreams might tell us, though we might not "get" the message? Or are you looking for something that sleep itself might represent?

I appreciate your reply, Momwitch. I was indeed thinking of how "sleep" is used as a "tool" by JK Rowling to elucidate, and to facilitate the story line. I don't see any hidden messages in this idea, as you say - every one sleeps. Yet, compared to food and shelter, sleep cannot be "fabricated" (or can it?). Caffeine is a different story (Does Voldemort drink coffee or tea?).

Separate: Is it possible for a reader to pick out sections of text in which the author seems to be "staying up a bit late?" I think I've run across a few chapters in which the pattern seems to "skip" a little bit. (If so, then I think it a wonderful human touch to an amazing story.)