Chapter 10 - Nicholas Flamel

After Nikki had seen the Mirror of Erised, she preoccupied herself with homework and going to watch Harry practice Quidditch with the Gryffindor team. Ron and Hermione always came with her toHarry's practices. The next match against Hufflepuff was drawing nearer and Oliver Wood insisted the Gryffindor team practice as much as they could. Nikki was happy Wood was doing that because this gave them very little time to discuss Nicholas Flamel. Harry told her that Snape will referee the match, but she told him there was nothing to worry about.

"Why did it have to be Snape? They could have picked anyone to referee this match, but they had to pick Snape!!!" shouted Harry.

"Harry calm down. It's only Snape, not a serial killer or anything. You're going to be absolutely fine. So can you please stop exaggerating and just calm down." said Nikki looking worried.

"Calm down! How the hell can I calm down when it's Snape? You don't know how much he hates me. He picks on me every lesson Nikki."

"Look you'redoing great in practices and if he picks on you for no reason other teachers are there to tell him off."

"Here's an idea. Why don't both of you shut up so me and Hermione can play Wizard'sChess in peace?" Ron looked really annoyed.

"Sorry." Harry and Nikki apologised.

All of a sudden Neville came in to the room with his legs stuck together from the Leg-Locker Curse placed on him by Malfoy. Hermione went and fixes his legs.

"Don't listen to what Malfoy says to you Neville. You're far more superior to him and deserve to be a part of Gryffindor no matter what he tells you." said Harry, while giving Neville his Chocolate Frog as a gift.

"Let's see how he likes it when I do a curse on him." Nikki walks out of the room and goes to find Malfoy. "Petrificus Totalus! See you later Malfoy." The full Body-Binding Curse hit Malfoy square in the chest as he fell to the ground. Nikki walked back to the common room. "Harry what's that in your hand?"

"It's the card from the Chocolate Frog. It's Dumbledore's and it has the name Nicholas Flamel on it. It says Dumbledore and Flamel are partners."
Hermione quickly snatched up one of her textbooks and read the paragraph about Nicholas Flamel.

"Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone."

"Oh no." said Nikki.

"So what does that have anything to do with this?" said Harry looking confused.

"Nicholas Flamel is six hundred and forty-five years old. He isn't in the recent Wizard books because he is so old. He must have asked Dumbledore to take the Stone from Gringotts and guard it for him because its magical powers turn everything into gold and grant everlasting life." explained Hermione.

"And Snape must be after it because of what that Stone can do." said Harry.

"What does Snape have to do with this? Harry you're just accusing him because of the Quidditch match coming up. Now we know what Fluffy is guarding under that trapdoor so we should just get back to our normal lives and forget about the Stone and Nicholas Flamel completely."

"What? We can't just forget about it Nikki. We've got to do something so no one can get that Stone." said Ron.

"Hermione you promised me that we were just going to find out what was under the trapdoor and do nothing else."

"I know, but that was before we found out what it was. Now I think Ron and Harry are right. We should find a way of protecting the Stone so no one can get it."

"Fine do whatever you guys want, but I'm not getting involved. Don't even try to come near me until you three have come back to your senses and realise that what you're saying is completely mad."

Nikki left while Ron, Hermione and Neville had there mouths wide open. Harry on the other hand had got up and ran after her.

"Nikki wait a minute." Harry said.

"Harry let go of my hand. I've had enough."

"Just listen to me for one second."

"What's the point? Look I don't want to see anyone get hurt, especially you Harry and by the looks of it I think you're going to get yourself in danger very soon. We've already gone through too much for first years. Some of the things we have done haven't been accomplishedby full grown adult witches and wizards. Like nearly getting killed by that Troll and shortly after we faced Fluffy who nearly ate us. Why do I even bother to stop you because no matter what I say you're never going to listen? I think its best if we don't talk until this is over."

"So what are you trying to say that we should stop being friends just because of that Stone?"

"I'm not saying we stop being friends. I'll still come and see you practice Quidditch, work with you in lessons, help you out with your homework and everything, but I'll just do it without saying anything and when I'm done helping you out and watching you play Quidditch, I'll just go and hang out with someone else. See you around Harry."

"Nikki."

"I don't care!" Nikki ran and ran as fast as she could. She wanted to be as far away from Harry, Ron and Hermione as possible. She wanted to be with someone who would understand her; the person she wanted was Fred. If he couldn't help, then she wanted to be alone. She went in to the library and slid to the floor in the corner. Tears were running down her face while she stared in space.

"Nikki are you alright?" she could here a friendly voice.

"Huh? Oh yes I'm fine Fred."

"You don't look fine. Do you want to talk about it? If you don't, I'm still here." Fred sat right next to Nikki and gave her a huge hug, not letting go of her for a single second.

"I had an argument with Harry, Ron and Hermione, but mostly Harry. They just don't listen and they keep getting themselves into trouble. I've just had enough and I told Harry that until they stop getting themselves into dangerous situations, I'm not talking to them at all. I'll see them, help them with their homework, but I won't talk to them." She was crying while she told Fred.

"Why don't you spend time with me, George and Lee Jordan?"

"Yeah ok."

"But for now we can just stay here for a little while and then we'll see what George and Lee are up to?"

"Thanks I'd like that."

Both of them sat there in the corner while Fred still didn't let go of her.

*~*~*~*

Everyday Nikki spent with Fred, George and Lee and if they were busy she spent time with Lavender, Parvati and Padma. As the game is drawing nearer Gryffindor are made to practice nearly every day. Snape is constantly picking on Harry and treats him worse than everyone else. Harry keeps trying to get Nikki to talk, but she just ignores him and doesn't even ask if he's ok because of Snape. One day she goes to the Quidditch pitch with Lee, Lavender, Parvati and Padma to watch Fred and George play. She notices that Ron and Hermione are there too.

"Hey look there's Ron and Hermione. Why don't we go and talk to them?" said Lee.

"You three go. I'm going to stay here." said Nikki.

"You'll have to talk to them sooner or later." Lavender said.

"I pick later. Just go."

"You ok?" asked Parvati.

"Yeah."

"You sure about that?" asked Padma.

"I'm fine."

They all left Nikki and went to see Hermione and Ron.

*~*~*~*

It's the day of the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Everyone in the Great Hall is excited.

"Fred and George are going to do fine. You guys are the best beaters in the whole school. Gryffindor are bound to win today." Nikki gave them a pep talk.

"Yeah of course we are. Thanks for that Nikki." said Fred.

It was time for the match to start and everyone was heading for the stands. All of a sudden she saw Harry looking at her by the door.

"Hey Nikki."

"Good Luck."

"Thanks. Can we talk on our way up? Please."

"No."

Everyone went to the stands while the two teams went to get changed. Lee was commentating the match. All of a sudden the teams walked onto the pitch and everyone started cheering.

"And here they are. Gryffindor in red and Hufflepuff in blue." shouted Lee.

"Captains shake hands. Mount your brooms. Now I want a clean game. On my whistle."Madam Hooch blew the whistle.

The teams soured up in the air. Malfoy comes and starts to insult Ron and Neville. Suddenly he jumps on Ron and the start to wrestle. Five minutes later Harry snatches the Snitch and Gryffindor wins the match.

"Yes we won!" Gryffindor shouts.

Ron has given Malfoy a black eye and Neville has taken on Malfoy's gang of friends. Harry flies around a bit and when he returns to see the rest of the Gryffindors, he tells Ron and Hermione about what he heard by the forest.

"Snape was threatening Professor Quirrell and I think he's trying to get Quirrell to help him get past Fluffy and steal the Stone."

"Harry as long as Quirrell can stand up to Snape I think the Stone is safe." said Hermione.

"I don't think that's not going to be long enough. Everyone knows that Quirrell is such a pushover. I think we only have until Tuesday." said Ron.

"I give up. You three haven't changed your minds a single bit since I stopped talking to you. You're pathetic. Sometimes I really wonder what I saw in you three and became one of your friends. Man! Was I dumb or what? I've got to go or I might become even dumber than I already have." Nikki looked disgusted.