"Well, aren't you the brilliant one," Harry commented with a grin. "Knew you were the topic of conversation and had to make an appearance." Hedwig made a barking sound that almost sounded like agreement before snatching a piece of bacon from Harry's hand. Hermione wanted to ask how he thought the owl would have known they were discussing it rather then it just being a fortunate coincidence, but she forced herself to focus on the topic at hand. She mentally noted to ask later.
"Harry, what about 'Fluffy'?" Hermione asked with a disbelieving tone when she mentioned the three-headed monster's name. "My research says it is a hell hound."
"We should have known it was Hagrid's," George (or Fred) commented to his brother.
Fred nodded in agreement. "He did have a sphinx our First year."
Harry grinned at the twins but shrugged in response to Hermione. "Hagrid mentioned him to me one night when we were coming back up to the school. I think he takes Fluffy out for walks after curfew or early in the morning. He makes Fluffy sound like a big puppy."
Harry's casual comment about Fluffy made her doubt that Hagrid's mention of the animal was Harry's only encounter with it. She strongly suspected Harry had visited the monster dog in his… other form. But she couldn't voice that here.
Instead she asked, "Did you notice the trap door in Fluffy's room?"
"Never been there," Harry answered innocently. Hermione didn't buy it but again was prevented from following up here in the Great Hall.
"Good morning all," Ernie greeted them as he approached the Gryffindor table. "Harry, I wanted to ask if you would be interested in joining us for a pick-up Quidditch game? Madam Hooch had agreed to supervise a match for the First years and let us use the school brooms. I think this would afford us an excellent opportunity to gather some experience."
Harry grinned at that. "Who else have you grabbed?"
"Justin, of course. Also Sally-Ann, Daphne, Tracey, Padma, Theodore, Susan, and, um, Michael."
Hermione saw a slight tightening around Harry's eyes at the mention of Michael Corner. She had heard about the other boy's comments during the club meeting Harry went to with Padma.
"Sure, sounds like fun," Harry accepted with a shrug. Ron and Dean also asked to join in the game. Harry left with Ernie to gather up the equipment for the pick-up game while the others finished eating.
Hermione was left wondering about the trap door. If there was one thing that drove Hermione crazy it was unanswered questions. The question about what was under that door had been bugging her, but Harry didn't seem concerned at all. The young witch made a small sigh. Maybe she should leave it alone. She still had the question of what happened to Harry when he'd been bitten by what was almost assuredly a werewolf.
Currently, she had two working theories. One was that it was something naturally different in Harry the caused both the rebounding of the Dark Lord's Killing Curse and the strange mutation of the lycanthropy. The second theory was something from surviving the Killing Curse interfered with the lycanthropy. In either case it offered an interesting question on would other Dark curses on Harry also be twisted in some bizarre way? Such a fascinating topic.
Hermione decided to set the question of Fluffy aside to continue researching what happened to Harry. After all, the later was done in the library and she really didn't want to face a giant, three-headed, slobbering, guard dog again.
1 April 1992
Professor Quirenus Quirrell carefully opened the door to the third floor corridor. The harp sat on the ground beside him with its strings moving silently. A simple charm lifted the device slightly off the ground and sent it smoothly gliding across the floor. A second charm released the Silencing Charm on it.
A silent command sent the conjured torch floating into the room. The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was gratified to see the beast's body settle indicating it was asleep. The stupid dog got a hold of his arm the first time that he managed to access the room. He didn't want to repeat that experience.
"Quickly," the Master demanded. "Move the half-breed's mongrel. Dumbledore could be back soon."
"Yes, master."
A simple Levitating Charm moved the sleeping monster out of the way revealing the trap door. He opened the trap door and let it gently flip back onto the floor. Quirrell sat down on the floor letting his legs hang over the ledge and the inky blackness below. He knew the Devil's Snare would catch him but it was still a bit unnerving.
"This charm better work," the Master growled.
"It was from an Incan tome, master," Quirrell assured him. "Dumbledore's anti-summoning spell on the key should not block it." The Master of course knew this as the spell came from the Dark Lord's own library but Quirrell knew from experience who would be held accountable for any failure tonight.
The harp's music suddenly stopped in a harsh twang as it suddenly smashed into the wall. Quirrell twisted to see the harp drop to the ground.
"Hey, Fluffy, dinner!" a low, growling voice called out. Quirrell felt a sudden fear he hadn't felt since his Master first possessed him.
"Quickly, you fool! Get us out of here!" the Master demanded.
Quirrell tried to comply but with his legs hanging over the trapdoor's ledge he just didn't have time to comply. He felt two of the monster's heads bit into each arm pulling him up. He finally screamed in terror as the third head's jaws closed over his own head.
.....
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