Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Charmed. I am just a fan. The only thing I own is my own Characters such as Phoenix.

A/N: Just wanted to thank everyone who has stuck around! And also to all of those who are new!

The Other Magical World

Chapter 36: Fluffy?

Harry and Ron were sitting patiently in Hagrid's hut waiting for Hermione and Phoenix. Hagrid was making tea for them to celebrate Gryffindor's win not realizing the girls were late.

"I wonder where the girls are?" Harry asked. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw strange blue and white lights outside.

"I don't know. I thought they were right behind us." Ron suggested.

"Hey! Did you see that?"

"See what Harry?"

"There were strange lights outside. You didn't see them?"

Ron looked at Harry as if he was crazy. "No, maybe you landed a little too hard."

"Hmmm. Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm feeling the after affect." Harry continued looking out of the window. 'I know I saw something.' He convinced himself. 'I just don't know exactly what I saw.'

Phoenix held onto Hermione's arm steadying her.

"I think I need to sit down." Hermione mumbled. She was a little woozy and felt sick. "Is this how you feel every time you do that?'

"No, I never really felt anything actually." Phoenix saw a log and eased Hermione onto it allowing her to sit down. "Don't worry you'll get use to it." She said giving Hermione a smile.

"I don't know if I want to get use to it. And just because I gave in this one time doesn't mean I will again."

"Uh huh, just keep telling yourself that."

"What are you implying?"

"That every since Halloween, you have been a little easy on breaking the rules. We have just not yet fully gotten you rule breaking yet."

Hermione just looked up at Phoenix. But before either one of them could say anything else, Harry, Ron, and Hagrid came walking around the corner.

"Thot I heard someone."

"What took you guys so long?" Ron said.

"Oh, well…uh…." Phoenix started and looked over at Hermione for some help.

"Hermione are you okay?" Harry asked looking at the pale Hermione.

"Yes Harry, I'm fine. I think it was something I ate. That was what was taking so long. I didn't feel well and I didn't really want to rush afraid of getting sick.""

"Well, I thank a good cup 'o tea will do the trick. Come now Hermione, let's get you inside." Hagrid told her.

Phoenix and Harry helped Hermione up and walked her into Hagrid's hut. They helped her into one of the Hagrid's over size chairs and took a seat for themselves. Ron came in behind followed by Hagrid. Once everyone was settled, Hagrid started serving the tea.

"Congrat's again Harry and Phoenix that was fine playin you two did out there." Hagrid said than began drinking his tea.

"Thank you Hagrid." Both Harry and Phoenix said. Harry just looked into his tea cup never taking a sip. He was too busy thinking on what happened in the game.

"What's up Harry?" Phoenix asked seeing Harry's face.

"I was just wondering."

"About what?" Phoenix pushed as she took a small sip of her tea. Everyone else took the interest and waited for Harry's reply.

"About what happened to my broomstick. I mean that should not have happened."

"Yeah that was weird."

"I just wonder…"

"It was Snape," Ron cut in; "Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you."

"Rubbish," said Hagrid, who hadn't heard a word of what had gone on next to him in the stands. He kept quiet until now. "Why would Snape do somethin' like that?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another, wondering what to tell him. Phoenix kept her head down suddenly being interested in the floor. It was Harry who decided on the truth.

"I found out something about him," he told Hagrid. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."

Hagrid dropped the teapot.

"What is wrong Hagrid?" Phoenix asked almost freezing the teapot but decided against it.

"How do you know about Fluffy?" he said.

"Fluffy?"

"That thing has a name?" Hermione said in disbelief.

"Yeah - he's mine – bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year – I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the"

Phoenix's ears perked up suddenly getting interested in the information Hagrid was spilling out. 'Out of all the names Hagrid had to name that thing Fluffy?'

"Yes?" said Harry eagerly.

"Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is."

"But Snape's trying to steal it."

"I don't think so Harry." Phoenix finally said. Everyone looked over at her almost forgetting she was even there she was so quiet. "I don't think it was Snape at all."

"So why don't you think Snape is behind everything?" Harry wondered.

"I just have a feeling"

"Oh, like that is a big surprise." Ron stated.

"And what did you mean by that Ron?" Phoenix asked.

"Come on Phoenix. Everyone knows you are Snape's favorite."

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. He is never nice to a Gryffindor. Everyone in the whole school knows that. He treats you better than people in his own house!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about Ron! He doesn't treat me any different than any other Gryffindor or any other student!"

"Ha! That's a laugh! He never takes points off on you! Instead he gives you house points! He never gives house points to any other house than Slytherin!"

"What do you mean he never gives house points to any other house? I bet he has!"

"Oh yeah, name one!"

Phoenix had to think really hard. She never really seen him give house points to anyone else besides her and Slytherin. 'I'm sure he has at least once!'

"See! I told you! You can't think of one!"

"Hush Ron!" Harry yelled. He knew Ron had a point, but he really wanted to hear what Phoenix had to say. "Well, then who do you think is behind everything Phoenix?"

Phoenix thought what she should say. She needed to word her thoughts carefully. Yeah the person she thought was behind everything was not a likely suspect but she had a strong feeling about it.

"I think it is Professor Quirrell."

Phoenix looked up and saw six pair of eyes staring at her. Then they laughed. Hagrid still had a glossy look not really paying any attention.

"Yeah right!" Ron chuckled. "You think P..P…Professor….Quirrell had the guts to do any of those things!"

"I know it is very unlikely, but I saw him when I was trying to save Harry. He was muttering something. He never took his eyes off of him, and he never blinked. I saw the look on his face on Halloween when the Professors were outside the bathroom. It was a pretty good act. I think he let the troll in. He wanted a diversion so he could try to get past "Fluffy". I think he is the one trying to steal whatever "Fluffy" is guarding."

"So how would you explain Snape then?" Harry asked.

"I think Snape was trying to stop Quirrell from getting past "Fluffy". He wasn't fooled by the troll diversion. "Fluffy" just went for the closes person, Snape. He arrived before Quirrell. Then at the game, I think Snape was trying to save Harry not kill him."

"I think you need to get your brains checked. You got knocked in the head by a Bludger didn't you? It was Snape!"

"No I did not!"

"Then stop trying to defend him."

"I'm not defending him Ronald! I just think Snape was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Yeah right."

"Ron stop! I like your thought Phoenix, but I would have to go with Harry and Ron on this." Hermione said.

"But I have a Strong feeling about it." Phoenix directed to her. Hermione knew she could sense things. 'Hopefully she would understand. Come on Hermione help me!'

"Well, when your feelings come back to Snape let us know." Ron huffed

"Rubbish," Hagrid said ending their conversation. He didn't like all the bickering. "Snape and Quirrell are Hogwarts' teachers; they'd do nothin' of the sort."

"So, why was Harry almost killed?" cried Hermione.

That afternoon's event's certainly seemed to have changed her mind about Snape, but she needed to look into Phoenix's side of the story as well.

"I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!"

"Neither was Quirrell, Hermione!"

""I'm tellin' yeh yer wrong!" said Hagrid hotly. "I don't know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape or Quirrell wouldn't try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all four of yeh, yer meddlin' in things that don't concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guarden', that's between Professor Dumbledore an Nicolas Flamel-"

"Aha!" both Harry and Phoenix said as Harry continued, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"

Hagrid looked furious with himself. Phoenix took notice and decided that it was enough. She thought they all needed to go back to the common room and rethink. 'Well, I need to rethink. Am I wrong? Is Professor Snape behind everything? But what about the strong sense I feel around Quirrell?'

"I think we need to go." She said. "This conversation has probably run its course by now." They all agreed it was getting late, and they didn't want to get caught. They all headed towards the castle as Phoenix took one last look at Hagrid's hut.

'Hmmm. Nicolas Flamel huh? I wonder who he is?'

A/N: Was Ron being too harsh? Does everyone in Hogwarts see Snape being nice to Phoenix? Is Phoenix going to be snooping around now that she knows about Flamel? Till next Friday!!