A/N: This is a continuation of the "A New Start For Neville" story. This picks up in September 1992, approximately five months after the original story ended. I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter franchise, though the prominent characters of Kellen G. and Anastasia H. are original. If any author wants to use either of those characters for their own works, they are entitled to do so.

"Congratulations, Kellen!"

Neville Longbottom shook his housemate, Kellen Grimseth's shoulders vigorously at the Horned Serpent table during breakfast.

"I'm awful proud of you! You made the Quiz Bowl team... I mean, I'm not surprised you made it, of course, but that's still a terrific accomplishment!" He gave Kellen a high-five.

Anastasia Harrison beamed at Kellen.

"And congratulations to our new seeker!"

She gave him a friendly squeeze.

Kellen had started his second term at Ilvermorny not even three weeks ago, and had made history. He was only the second Ilvermorny student to make both the quidditch team and Quiz Bowl team as a second-year student.

Of course, the first was one of his two best friends, Ana.

His other best friend, Neville, was a proud member of the Wizard Chess Club. He had gotten good enough beat Kellen once every six or seven matches... not a great record, but considering how talented Kellen was, that was still quite the feat.

"Hmm... today's the nineteenth," Neville muttered to himself.

"Do either you have a quill and parchment that I could borrow really quick?" he asked Kellen and Ana.

"I do," said Ana.

"I need to owl Hermione a quick happy birthday note before Imogen gets here," Neville said. "I know you don't really know her, but would you like to sign?"

"I don't mind," said Kellen. "I'll sign."

"I'll sign too," added Ana. "I'm sure she misses you and would love to hear from you."

Ana handed Neville a quill and some parchment. Neville knew he didn't have much time, so he had to make the note short and sweet.

"19 Sep 1992

Dear Hermione,

Happy Birthday! I hope you're having a fantastic day. I miss you, Harry, and Ron at Hogwarts.

I'm doing very well at Ilvermorny. I joined the Wizards Chess club a few days ago, and my best friend Kellen just made the Quiz Bowl team and is the Horned Serpents new seeker this year on the quidditch team. He's only the second student to make both teams as a second-year student - my other best friend Anastasia is the first.

I absolutely love it here. I really wish you could be here, you're certainly clever enough to make the Quiz Bowl team. My friends say hello and want to wish you a happy birthday as well. My friend Kellen and I are coming back to visit in a couple of weeks. We're both quite excited!"

Love,

Neville Longbottom"

"That's a very nice letter, Neville," Ana said. "I'm sure she'll be very happy to get it." She then signed the letter below Neville's signature, and passed it over to Kellen to sign.

"I have an envelope," Kellen said. He handed it to Neville, who quickly addressed it, placed the letter inside it, and sealed it.

Less than a minute later, Imogen flew by to deliver the morning paper.

"Hello, Imogen," Neville said as Imogen perched on Kellen's bowl. "I need this to go to Hermione Granger at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That's a good girl, thank you."

Ana threw Kellen a look of concern. "Are you nervous, Kellen? I know you have family in Great Britain, and I know you've visited, but it's still a place with a bunch of unfamiliar people, except for Neville, Professor Goode and Professor McGonagall."

"Maybe a little bit, but I'm going to be a Gryffindor for a week. I'm more excited than anything, plus I think it will do Neville some good to see his old friends for a little bit," replied Kellen.

"I'm surprised you didn't ask to go," Neville said to Ana. "Everyone in Gryffindor would love you."

"Maybe another time, Neville," Ana replied sweetly. "I have a lot on my plate. I'm not as gifted as Kellen, I need to devote a lot more time to my studies than that lucky ducky. A week is an awful lot of time for me to miss."

"I understand, Ana," Neville said. "It won't be the same without you. I was just starting to get used to us being Ilvermorny's Golden Trio."

"Golden trio?" Ana asked skeptically. "Neville, that's just... ludicrous. Just because the three of us are each other's best friends, and just because we're all gifted students doesn't mean that we need to equate ourselves with your friends across the pond. I mean, you weren't the one who evaporated a dark lord over a decade ago."

"That is true, but I was a lot closer to being the prophesied Chosen One than most would think," replied Neville.

Ana's soulful hazel eyes locked on to Neville's. "You and Harry Potter have back-to-back birthdays, yes, but come on Neville, you have a very different destiny than Harry. And that's probably a very good thing because bless his heart, he's likely going to meet a violent end one day. You don't have to share his fate."

Neville chuckled. "You're pretty well versed with our lore."

Ana shrugged. "It's not just 'your' lore, Neville. The magic world hardly ends outside of the borders of the British isles."

"Touché," Neville smirked. "But we have a certain chemistry, Ana. You, Kellen and I make a really good team."

Ana smiled at Neville. "We do make a really good team, don't we?"

"How do you like being a Horned Serpent, for real?" Kellen asked Neville. "You didn't have to get sorted, but you're a Horned Serpent by default because I'm one."

"It's great," replied Neville. "I mean, I still feel like a Gryffindor at heart since I was actually sorted there, but I like being a Horned Serpent because it's got the coolest people in it."

He looked at Kellen and Ana and smiled broadly. "What was your sorting process like?"

Ana beamed. "Well, firsties would stand in this round chamber and stand off to the side and wait to be summoned. When called, they would then step on a special tile on the floor, and one of four totems would react. Most of the time, only one totem would react, but occasionally, more than one would, and the student can then decide."

Neville chuckled. "Let me guess, you were one of the lucky ones who had more than one totem want you."

Ana smiled knowingly at Neville. "Your intuition serves you well. Both the Horned Serpents and Thunderbirds wanted me, but I selected the Horned Serpents because I'm a bit more of a bookworm than an adventurer. But I'm sure I would have been happy either way."

"How do they sort students at Hogwarts, Neville?" Ana asked.

Neville grinned. "When your name gets called, you have to come to the front of the Great Hall, where this old dusty hat is placed on your head. It's enchanted to read your thoughts, and based on your personality and your values it will pick a house based on its findings. Sometimes it will take your preferences into consideration, but not always."

"Did you wish got sorted here too? I mean, participate in the ceremony and not just automatically get lumped with us?" Ana asked.

"To be honest, I think skipping the sorting ceremony was a good thing because I didn't want to risk being separated from you two," Neville answered.

"Normally, returning students watch the firsties get sorted," Kellen said. "I don't recall seeing you at the Start of Term feast."

"I was also the only student that had to cross an ocean to get here," Neville said. "I didn't mean to miss it, but it was beyond my control. Both Ilvermorny and Hogwarts arranged everything - including transportation - so I really cannot be faulted for missing the ceremony. It's not like I hijacked a flying Ford Anglia and crashed into a Womping Willow, like Harry and Ron did during Start of Term. When Ron owled me last week, he said he got a rather nasty howler from home!"

"Howlers are embarrassing," said Ana. "Thankfully I've never gotten one, but I've seen a few. They are no joke."

"I got one from my Gran last year... it was awful," Neville mumbled. "I hope to never get one again."

"Has your Gran owled you yet since you enrolled at Ilvermorny?" Ana asked.

"Yeah, she did. She owled me about a week and a half ago. She wished me luck and told me that she was actually proud of me for once. It was the nicest note she sent me in a good long while," Neville responded.

"Aww, that was nice of her," Ana said. "You're really doing well here, and you'll only continue to make her proud."