Chapter 36: Fluffy?

Harry and Ron sat patiently while Hagrid was making tea and snacks to celebrate Gryffindor's win. "I wonder where the girls are?" Harry asked before seeing strange blue and white lights outside.

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

"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."

"Hm. Maybe you're right." Harry continued looking. 'I know I saw something.' He convinced himself. 'But what did I see?'

Hermione grabbed hold of Phoenix, steadying herself. She felt woozy and sick. "I think I need to sit down." Hermione mumbled. "Do you always feel sick and dizzy when you do that?"

"No." Phoenix eased Hermione onto a log, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." She said smiling at Hermione.

"I don't want to get used to it. I gave in this one time. It doesn't mean I will again."

"Uh huh, keep telling yourself that."

"What are you implying?"

"Ever since Halloween, you have been bending the rules. We just haven't gotten you committed to breaking them yet."

Hermione scowled at Phoenix and was about to retort until they heard Harry, Ron, and Hagrid.

"Thot, I heard someone."

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

"Oh, well… uh…." Phoenix glanced at Hermione.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked the pale Hermione.

"Yes, Harry, I'm fine. I think it was something I ate. I didn't feel well and didn't want to rush afraid of getting worse."

"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 settled, Hagrid served the tea.

"Congrat's again Harry and Phoenix that was fine playin you two did out there." Hagrid said as he drank his tea.

"Thank you, Hagrid." Harry and Phoenix said. Harry looked into his teacup, too busy thinking about the game.

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

"I was just wondering."

"About what?" Phoenix took a small sip of her tea. Everyone else stopped and waited for Harry's reply.

"About what happened to my broomstick. 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 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, barely resisting her freezing reflex.

"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 along with the others. Hagrid was about to spill valuable information.

"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 cut in. "I don't think it was Snape at all."

"Why don't you think it's Snape?" Harry wondered.

"I just have a feeling."

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

"And what did you mean by that, Ron?"

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

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. Everyone in the entire school knows. He treats you better than his own house!"

"I do not know what you are talking about, Ron! He doesn't treat me any different from 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 thought hard. She never seen him give house points to anyone 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 wanted to hear what Phoenix had to say. "Well, then who do you think is behind everything Phoenix?"

Phoenix thought about what she should say. She needed to word her thoughts carefully. Yeah, the person she thought 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 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 unlikely, but I saw him in the stands muttering something. He never took his eyes off of Harry and 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 for a diversion to get past Fluffy. He is the one trying to steal whatever Fluffy is guarding."

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

"Snape was trying to stop Quirrell from getting past Fluffy. He knew the troll was a diversion. He arrived before Quirrell and Fluffy went for the closes person, Snape. 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.

"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!" Harry and Phoenix said.

Harry continued, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"

Hagrid looked furious with himself. Phoenix took notice and decided 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 run its course." They all agreed it was getting late, and they didn't want to get caught. They all headed towards the castle before Phoenix took one last look at Hagrid's hut.

'Hm. Nicolas Flamel, huh? I wonder who he is?'