Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

"It must be Snape! We all saw him doing it, and only someone like him would do such a thing at Hogwarts!" Ron exclaimed angrily.

The group had gathered in Hagrid's cabin after Harry's Quidditch match. Harry sat nursing a slight headache while Hermione and Ron passionately debated.

"Impossible," Hagrid interjected, shaking his shaggy head firmly. "Snape would never do such a thing."

"But he was staring at Harry and muttering some kind of spell," Hermione argued. "I've read in books that if you want to curse someone, you have to maintain eye contact."

"You need to do the same for casting a protective spell," David added quietly. "And, to be honest, I thought I saw Professor Quirrell also looking at Harry during the match."

David's tone was careful. He knew more about the situation than he could reveal. Dumbledore and Snape had entrusted him with certain knowledge, but they had sworn him to secrecy. All he could do now was subtly shift the suspicion.

Hermione looked startled by David's words and fell silent for a moment.

"Professor Quirrell? No way! It can't be him," Ron retorted, shaking his head vigorously. "He helped us during the start of the term! Remember how he kept Filch from catching us after we got lost? If not for him, McGonagall would've had our heads."

"Exactly," Harry agreed. "And besides, we know Snape's secret. He's after whatever is being guarded by that three-headed dog!"

"Three-headed dog? You mean Fluffy?" Hagrid said, tugging nervously at his beard.

"Fluffy?" David echoed with a bemused expression. "That's its name?"

"Yes, Fluffy. I bought him from a Greek chappie," Hagrid said, his chest puffing out with pride. "I lent him to Dumbledore to guard…" He stopped abruptly, realizing he'd said too much. His eyes widened as the trio's curiosity sharpened.

"Guard what?" Harry pressed, grabbing Hagrid's massive hand.

"I can't say," Hagrid bellowed, pulling his hand away. "It's a secret, and I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't tell anyone!"

Despite his protests, Hagrid's slip of the tongue and subsequent hints allowed Harry and his friends to piece together that the three-headed dog's purpose was linked to someone named Nicolas Flamel.

As they left Hagrid's hut, Hermione turned to David with a questioning look. "David, do you know who Nicolas Flamel is?"

David shook his head. "No idea. My grandfather's stories never mentioned him. He doesn't seem to be a modern wizard."

David felt like his clue was obvious enough. He'd read about Nicolas Flamel in one of their schoolbooks and had even seen his name on a Chocolate Frog card. But rules prevented him from directly helping too much.

"We'll have to look him up," Harry decided. "Let's head to the library."

"Now?" David asked hesitantly. "It's nearly night. We could go in the morning."

"No," Hermione insisted. "There's still plenty of time before curfew!" She grabbed David's arm, leading the way toward the library.

Ron groaned but followed reluctantly, muttering about missing dinner and sleep. By the time they reached the library, Hermione was already poring over books on wizarding history, piling them high on the table.

David sighed and joined in, flipping through pages half-heartedly. Occasionally, he'd excuse himself, using the opportunity to fold a paper airplane and send it flying out of the library unnoticed.

Hours passed, and even Hermione began to look weary. By ten o'clock, they gave up for the night and returned to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione, however, wasn't done. She declared she'd continue the search the next morning.

As Harry and Ron fell asleep, David retrieved the paper airplane that had landed on his bed earlier. Unfolding it, he read the message: I have hot chocolate ready for you.

He sighed. It was going to be a long night. Changing into his robes, David slipped out of bed and cast an invisibility charm before heading toward a certain stone gargoyle.

The gargoyle blocked the entrance to Dumbledore's office. David scratched his head. "Great. I wasn't told the password."

Then he remembered the note. "Hot chocolate?" he said hesitantly.

The gargoyle sprang to life and leapt aside, revealing a spiral staircase. David ascended and soon found himself in Dumbledore's office. The room was dimly lit, its walls lined with snoozing portraits of past headmasters and headmistresses. Their gentle snores filled the air.

"Professor?" David called softly, peering around.

Footsteps echoed from the opposite staircase, and Dumbledore appeared, dressed in a lavender peaked hat and matching starry pajamas. He adjusted the ball at the top of his hat with a smile.

"My dear boy," Dumbledore greeted warmly. "What brings you here at such an hour?"