Hermoine frowned; it was true that Harry seemed happier, there was still something that seemed off about him. She couldn't quite pinpoint it but he seemed distant with them more than once. She had tried to find out by simply asking him but he avoided the questions. But, Harry had been evasive. She was wondering what went on inside his mind...

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"Harry, you still haven't answered my question." Hermoine whispered to him after they were alone.

"I know." Harry agreed.

"Well?" Hermoine prodded.

"I was under a lot of stress. Plus, I was well; angry."

"Why?"

"The anger stemmed from...Ron insulting you and driving you to tears... Then that troll got inside the school and it nearly killed you... It wouldn't have happened if I had been paying attention. That day has been playing over and over inside my mind since then..." Harry hoped it would be enough to convince her.

"I didn't know... I'm sorry for being so weak..."

The words came from his mouth instantly.

"You are one of the bravest people I have ever met. Don't sell yourself short." Harry scoffed.

He suddenly realized that he had done it again...

"What do you mean I am 'one of the bravest people' you have ever met?" Hermoine caught him instantly.

Hermoine and her razor sharp mind, she always seemed to catch everything...He thought quickly.

"Well, from what I have seen so far most people would have fainted at the sight of a troll attacking them." Harry answered hastilly.

Her eyes narrowed and she scrutinized him carefully.

"Then you must not have met too many brave people." She said slyly.

"Lived a sheltered life." Harry shrugged.

"How sheltered?"

Harry decided to take a chance and tell her the truth.

"Lived in a cupboard for the first ten; almost eleven years, had no friends, and no social life."

"Why were you living in a cupboard?"

"Situation seemed to require it, anyways; I need to do my homework." Harry left a gaping Hermoine and went to work on his homework.

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"No! He wasn't supposed to reveal that!" The black cloaked figure slammed his fist into the wall in frustration.

"What do you mean? It wasn't too big of a statement." The grey cloaked figure asked.

"The smallest statements can have a huge change on history you idiot! I don't know what might happen because of that!"

"Really?"

"In High School English there is a story they teach about messing with time. Anyways, it is about an organization that allows you to hunt dinosaurs that are about to die. Anyways there is this guy that hires them and on accident steps on a butterfly. When they get back everything is different. Some call this the 'Butterfly effect'. Simply put; we may have problems..."

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Days passed again; Qurriel's class was still as boring as Harry remembered, Snape's as one sided as before, and all of them were boring thanks to his knowledge of the lessons and their contents beforehand.

"Do we really have to put up with that evil git?" Ron asked irritably as they entered the tower.

"Not much we can do with Snape. But, let's go see Hagrid. I want to try to find out what that thing was that was in the vault and-" Harry's voice dropped to a whisper.

"-I need you two to not act surprised when we go into Hagrid's hut and I talk about the forbidden corridor."

"Harry? What do you mean?" Hermoine asked quietly.

"Well, a few nights ago I was unable to sleep; had a bad dream. Anyways I was wondering around the castle and found out why the corridor is sealed. There is a three headed dog in there; not a little one either. It was standing on a trap door. That indicates that its protecting something. I want to find out about what is going on." Harry quietly confided to them.

Ron's eyes were wide and Hermoine had a disapproving frown on her now pale face.

"Harry why did you leave the tower? That dog could have killed you" She whispered angrily.

"Yeah, I know. I don't intend to do that ever again. I needed to walk around to help clear my mind. I just never realized that I was there.

Harry stood and indicated they should follow.

The trio made their way to Hagrid's hut.

"Finally came ta visit me again Harry?"

"Yeah, sorry I didn't come sooner. I just have had a lot on my mind lately. But I was wondering what you know about that three headed dog on the third floor."

"You mean Fluffy?"

"Fluffy?" Harry acted amazed.

"That's his name?" Hermoine asked in a shocked voice.

"Of course he's got a name. He's mine. I bought him off an Iris feller at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-" Hagrid stopped suddenly.

"Yes?" Harry prodded.

"I shouldn't have said that. No more questions! Don't ask anymore questions! That's top secret that is. What is that dog is guarding is strictly Professor Dumbledore and and Nickolas Fammel."

"Nickolas Fammel?" Harry asked.

"I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that." Hagrid began to repeat those words.

"Nickolas Fammel." Harry said musingly.

"I don't know." Hermoine admitted.

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"Knight to E5." Harry ordered a month later.

It was odd, he had altered so much by little things that it was hard to keep things running smoothly but the minor event of playing chess was still in place. He sensed Hermoine approaching as Ron ordered his Queen to take his Knight. The Queen smashed his Knight with her Chair and split the Knight in two.

"That's Barbaric!" Hermoine protested.

"That's Wizard's Chess.I see you have packed." Ron replied calmly.

"And I see you haven't." Hermoine noted.

"Plans changed, Mum and Dad are going to Romania to see Charlie. He studies dragons there."

"Well in that case you can help Harry find out about Nickolas Fammel."

"We have already looked through over a hundred books in the library!" Ron protested.

"Not in the restricted section. Happy Christmas." Hermoine turned and left the great hall.

"I think we have been a bad influence on her." Ron said dryly.

AN: This was a balancing chapter with the intention to gather the items that I had dropped because of not having the book. Sadly, I still don't know where it is but, I am trying my best without it... I hope you have enjoyed this story; if not the story itself then maybe the proper English. If the works has grammical problems (Which it likely does) I apologize. Hopefully the plot is enjoyable and realistic enough for anyone...