So I like Nicola because she's funny, but she serves no other purpose in the book other than annoy Sophie and take Hort's heart. I don't like her for taking Hort's heart because I ship SophiexHort. And she make that big of an insult to Sophie, even Agatha was shocked. And she doesn't help much on the quest either, she's just a throw-in character. Am I the only one whi thinks it weird that NicolaxHort is canon? I mean Hort's a TEACHER and Nicola is a STUDENT! I thought SophiexHort was better because SOPHIE AND HORT ARE THE SAME AGE! NICOLA IS JUST A FIRST-YEAR WHEN HORT IS A FOURTH-YEAR AND A TEACHER!! (Sorry for that, I had to say that)