The whole thing began back in the Gryffindor common room. Neville, Dean and Seamus were talking with Harry, Ron and Hermione in the corner.

"All right, here's one: what's your favorite muggle place?" Ron asked.

"I suppose the zoo. Hard to think of a place that Dudley didn't ruin" Harry had to think.

"Wembly stadium," Dean offered

"The Claddagh. Love seeing the old houses and boats, picking up fish and chips there," Seamus said.

"What about you, Hermione?" Harry asked her.

"Oh, there's a lot of places I love to go to. I suppose I'd choose the Natural History Museum"

"Figures" Dean and Seamus said in unison.

"Oh, there's a Muggle Natural History museum?" Neville asked

"There's a magical one?" Hermione did a double take.

"Yeah, not far from the Ministry offices. Went there once, but Fred and George nearly fed me to the acromantula diorama so mum never took us there again" Ron shrugged.

"That sounds fascinating" Hermione was already excited.

"I guess?" Seamus made a face.

"Do you remember what it's like, Ron?" she turned to the ginger.

"No, I'd rather not remember that trip" Ron grimaced

"Has anyone else gone?"

"Gran took me a while ago. I think I liked it….it's been a long time" Neville tried to remember, looking sheepish.

"Well, I suppose I have to go there myself" Hermione snapped, frustrated. An awkward silence commenced.

"So what's in the muggle zoo?" Ron turned to Harry.

Hermione left them to their conversation.

After classes ended for the year, she received an owl with carrying a letter. It didn't look like Ron's owl or Hedwig, and for a brief moment she thought she would be in trouble with the ministry. Of course, she had to read the letter.

Dear Hermione

I remember that you were interested in going to the Museum of Magical Natural History. Gran bought me a portkey for there, and I'm wondering if you could join me if it's not too much of an inconvenience. If you're interested, I will be in front of Flourish & Blotts on Saturday morning. Don't worry, I'll wait for you.

Sincerely
Neville Longbottom

Neville remember something; that was a bit of a pleasant surprise. She immediately went for the pen and parchment in her room.

Hermione loved Diagon Alley. The ratty old buildings, the common wizards of London walking about-it should have been ordinary, dull. But to her, it was a taste of a world she had entered only a few years ago, a world she loved to explore. Each store was full of fascinating things, and every wizard on the street had their own story to tell. Times like this, she was glad to be a witch.

She was surprised again to see him waiting exactly where he said he would. It felt odd to see him in different robes than the uniform robes, even though they were still black, but again, she knew that wizards were giving her looks for wearing muggle clothes. It just felt odd to see him without his tie and patch.

"Hermione!" He smiled to see her, giving her a hug, "I'm so glad you made it."

"I couldn't possibly turn down that invitation" she returned the smile and embrace, "I'm really excited about it"

"I know. I haven't been there since I was little." He'd forgotten he'd told her earlier, "I just bought a portkey for both of us."

"Where do you buy a portkey for the museum?"

"Oh, they have a deal with Flourish and Blotts. They sell coupons for it too."

"I love that store," Hermione grinned.

"I bet," Neville returned the smile, "I need to go there more often."

There was a pause.

"Oh, the portkey!" Suddenly Neville remembered and scrabbled for his pockets, finally pulling out a ticket.

"How does this portkey work?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.

"Oh ,we each take an end of the tag and tear it" he offered the ticket. Hermione took the other end and noted where the tear line was. The plain brown ticket merely said "2 for Museum of Magical Natural History" in an ornate font. She hadn't use this kind of portkey before, but of course she was interested in finding out.

With a tug, they tore the ticket. Then came the sensation of the portkey; Hermione had taken only a few of them, and for a brief moment was frozen in horror and disorientation. It was an extremely unpleasant feeling, and she was glad it ended quickly. She noticed that Neville looked just as sick as she did; she remembered his disaster of a Quidditch experience back in first year. She did feel a little better that she wasn't alone in the experience.

When the world stopped spinning, she took in her surroundings. The vaulted ceiling, the vast rooms; it was already an impressive building without what filled it. Paintings, animals, artifacts; it looked even more exotic than a muggle museum. Instead of Dippy the Diplocodus, a giant dragon skeleton filled up the room. Hermione loved it.

"Hello. Welcome to the Museum of Magical Natural History. Do you need a map or further information?" the old witch interrupted Hermione's thoughts.

"Oh, yes. Please" Hermione walked up to the desk, making sure her ticket was visible, and took a map from the desk, smiling at the bespectacled woman sitting there.

A quick glance at the map showed that she would enjoy this: Prehistoric Wizards, Dragons, Pixies of the World, Fossil Fantastic Beasts, Griffins and Hippogriffs, Magical Plants, Sea Monsters. Already she had their route planned out.

"So what do you want to see?" Neville asked over her shoulder.

She grinned up at him, "Everything"

"All right" he shrugged, "sounds good"

As they neared the dragon, it turned its great horned skull to roar at them. She involuntarily jumped. Instinctively she grabbed for Neville's hand, despite hearing his own yelp of fear. As they caught their breath, she turned to him.

"Well, this is going to be interesting" she joked.

"Things always are when you're involved" he replied with a blush. She squeezed his hand and took him into the galleries.