Chapter Twenty

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Jumping To Conclusions

Professor McGonagall gave them a few minutes to find their project lists and then she took the roll. Several people were doing Newt Scamander. Professor McGonagall divided them into groups. She put Parvati and Lavender together to study him. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle joined forces to find out about Salazar Slytherin. A couple of the others, including Neville, were flipping through the textbook about Helga Hufflepuff.

Finally, Professor McGonagall called on Hermione.

"I still don't have an idea, Professor McGonagall," Hermione said as she untucked her hair from behind her right ear.

Ginny popped to her feet. "Professor McGonagall, could Hermione and I work together?" she asked.

"What's your idea, Miss Weasley?" the teacher asked.

Hermione cringed. She had a feeling that Ginny didn't have an idea either. She untucked the hair from behind her left ear.

"I don't exactly have one," Ginny said. "But if Hermione and I could work together…" her voice trailed off.

Professor McGonagall looked amused. "Well, I suppose two heads are better than one," she said thoughtfully.

"Not when there's nothing in either of them," Malfoy mumbled.

"Ron's told me all about your adventures, Hermione," said Ginny quietly as she twirled a lock of her red hair around her finger.

But suddenly Hermione did have an idea. Nicholas Flamel! It had been right there under her nose! She already knew so much about him and the Philosopher's Stone. "We do have an idea," she said. "We just don't want to talk about it yet."

She smiled at Ginny, who was staring at her with wide eyed surprise.

During lunch, Professor McGonagall conferred with the two girls privately and gave them approval.

"Maybe we could get together after school," Hermione said to Ginny. This was just the solution she'd been looking for: a reason to be with Ginny without Harry tagging along.

"I'm hanging out with my old friend, Nicky, after school," Ginny said. Her green eyes gleamed with happiness.

Hermione couldn't hide her disappointment.

"Why don't you come with us anyway?" Ginny suggested.

Hermione hesitated. How could they work on the project or talk about the events in the third year with some strange girl hanging around? "If you're sure it's okay."

Ginny beamed. "Nicky would love to meet you."

o-o-o-o-o

Hermione didn't have the chance to talk to Harry then. And when Professor McGonagall asked him to stay after class along with another boy, to discuss their projects in more detail, Hermione decided not to tell him where she was going. If she did, he would probably give her an argument or find some excuse to come along.

When class was over, he said, "Wait for me outside, Hermione."

"I have to go back to the common room," she told him. "I'll talk to you later."

Hermione skipped outside to meet Ginny.

As they walked through the halls, Hermione said, "Our project will be great! I'm sure glad you thought of it."

Ginny looked surprised. "I didn't think of it, Hermione. You did."

"But you kept talking about how me and Ron and Harry had so many adventures, like in the first year," Hermione said.

"I didn't think of using it as a project," Ginny said. "I just thought maybe you could tell me about it sometime."

Hermione had never met anyone so reluctant to take credit. It was a refreshing quality. "Well, anyway," she said, "we have a project. That's the important thing. And it'll be fun working on it." She glanced back over her shoulder half expecting to see Harry galloping toward them. She was relieved to find the coast clear. She returned her attention to Ginny. "Are you sure she won't mind?"

"Who?"

"Nicky," Hermione said.

Ginny laughed. "Nicky is a ­he – not a she!"

After a pause, Hermione said, "Nicky's a… boy?" Letting the full significance sink it, Hermione felt as though she had just received the last piece in a puzzle. Ginny did indeed have a boyfriend. Nicky! Hermione should have known.

"What does he look like?" Hermione asked.

Ginny shrugged. "Tall and sort of blond."

"Is he good looking?"

"I guess. I never thought much about that."

Hermione slipped her arm through Ginny's. "I can't wait to meet him," she said.

As they rounded the corner to the common room, Ginny said, "There he is now!"

Ahead, a tall, thin young man was coming out of the portrait hole. Ginny darted ahead. "Nicky!" she called.

Watching for Nicky to hop out of the common room, Hermione picked up her pace.

He waved and smiled.

Ginny flew into his arms. "Nicky! Nicky!" she said.

The boy responded with a laughing embrace.

Hermione stopped cold. Her mouth dropped open. This was Nicky? He had to be at least sixteen!

The boy stood back. "How are you, Ginny?" he said, grinning.

Ginny laughed. "I'm great! How about you?"

"Oh, you know… as good looking as ever," he joked.

Ginny poked his arm. "Very funny!" she said.

They were so easy with one another. It reminded Hermione of her and Harry – the way they used to be.

Smiling broadly, Ginny turned to her. "Hermione," she said, "this is Nicky."

Hermione stepped forward.

Nicky beamed at her. "So this is the famous Hermione. I'm really glad to meet you. Ginny talks about you all the time."

Hermione shifted from one foot to the other. She couldn't think of anything to say.

"Hermione thought you were a girl," Ginny told him.

Hermione wanted to drop through the carpeted floor.

Nicky laughed. "Well, if you'd call me Nick like everybody else, Ginny, people wouldn't make that mistake."

Ginny made a face. "I like Nicky better."

Just then, the portrait hole opened and two familiar faces leaned out. It was the Weasley twins! "Hey, Nick, come back in here!" shouted Fred.

"Yeah, we're testing the stink bombs in the girls dorms!" George yelled.

Nicky loped toward the common room.

Watching after him, Ginny said, "Isn't he nice?"

"Real nice," Hermione agreed. "But isn't he… kind of… old?"

Ginny looked puzzled. "Old? For what?"

"To be your… boyfriend?"

Ginny laughed. "Oh, Hermione," she said, "Nicky's not my boyfriend! He's my friend!"

A/N: Next chapter is the not-so-big finale! Yep, it's time to wrap up TWFAF. Review, review, review, because once I've stopped updating they're gonna dry up. Until next time… Alex