Just like that, September had come and gone. One whole month had flown by, and Neville was having the time of his life at Ilvermorny. He even got another encouraging note from his Gran, saying how proud she was of Neville now that he has friends and actively participated in extracurricular activities. Thanks to Kellen and Ana's help and encouragement, he was getting solid marks in all of his classes – even ones such as charms and potions, subjects he struggled with back at Hogwarts.

On Thursday, the first of October, Neville had received a note from one of the Ilvermorny school owls during breakfast with Kellen and Ana.

"It's from Hogwarts!" he exclaimed with excitement. He carefully opened the sealed envelope, and judging by the loopy, feminine-looking calligraphy, it must have been from Hermione, Neville thought to himself.

"25 September 1992

Dear Neville,

Thank you so much for sending me that very nice letter. I spent most of my birthday studying and getting lost in an adventure novel, but Harry and Ron insisted that I spend some of my birthday with them. It was the first birthday I have had where I actually felt appreciated – not just needed, but wanted. It's a truly terrific feeling. And you were very kind to remember my birthday as well. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

I'm very happy to hear that you're doing so well at Ilvermorny. I'm very proud of you, and it sounds like you made some terrific friends in Anastasia and Kellen. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous of their accomplishments – I rather wish that Hogwarts had a Quiz Bowl! Maybe I should ask Professor McGonagall about that.

I'm also excited about you coming back to visit us at Hogwarts. I'll be sure to give you a big hug as soon as I see you. And I'm also excited to meet your best friend Kellen – he might not want to be hugged right away considering his condition, but I'll gladly give him one too, if he wants. He sounds like a sweetheart.

See you soon!

Love,

Hermione Granger"

"She really sounds like a nice girl, Neville," Kellen said. "And talented, too. Her writing is completely flawless – not a single misspelling or grammatical error. Even I'm not above an occasional faux pas." He saw Neville cross his eyes slightly at the unfamiliar term. "Screw-up, if you will," Kellen added with a smirk.

"That was a very lovely letter she wrote," Ana agreed. "She really does seem to care about you, Neville. I have no earthly idea why you disparaged her like that when you visited us this spring. No, she's not perfect, but she seems genuinely kind." She swatted him gently in the arm. "You were a bit of a butthole," she said with a smirk.

"And I won't turn down a hug if she's offering," Kellen said. "There's something special about getting a hug from a nice girl. They feel right… so warm, and a little tingly." He smiled at Ana. She gave him a gentle squeeze. "Like that," Kellen said rather dreamily. "Anastasia's hugs are perfect." He then gave Ana a hug back.

Ana's cheeks turned bright pink. "I suppose sometimes you can't beat a hug from a nice boy. They make a girl feel safe, and special," she murmured.

"Oh, can I get a picture of you in your no-maj clothes to show Harry and Ron?" Neville asked Ana. "They both said you were very pretty when I showed them your picture in the spring."

Ana rolled her eyes. "Oh, I suppose, Neville," she sighed. She then smiled sweetly. "I'll make sure you have one before you leave, I promise."

"Remember, Neville, we need to meet with Professor Goode this morning during our free period, and again tomorrow to go over the itinerary," Kellen reminded Neville.

"That's right," Neville replied. "And thanks to you, I have no need for the Remembrall my Gran sent me. You've been a real life saver!"

"I'll miss you two – it's going to be a rough week," Ana said softly. "I know you'll have a good time reconnecting with your old friends, Neville. And hopefully you'll make some new ones in Great Britain, Kellen. Maybe you'll even get to see your second cousin Desiree!"

"Wouldn't that be something, Kellen?" Neville replied. "When's the last time you saw her?"

"Oh goodness gracious, it's been at least three or four years," Kellen said. "I bet she doesn't even remember me."

Ana smiled gently at Kellen. "I'm sure she does. And she'll be thrilled to see you."

"I hope so, Anastasia," replied Kellen.

"Oh, and be sure to tell Professor McGonagall hello for me, please," Ana told Neville and Kellen.

"We will," Neville replied.

Later that morning, Neville and Kellen went to Professor Goode's office to go over the travel plans.

"Good morning, you two," Professor Goode said cheerily.

"Hello, Professor," the boys said.

"I can tell you're both excited about your upcoming visit to Hogwarts. It's a homecoming of sorts for you, Mister Longbottom, and it's an opportunity for you to meet some new friends, Mister Grimseth," Professor Goode said.

"I wish Ana can come with us," Neville lamented. "It won't be the same without her. I really enjoy our trio."

Professor Goode laughed mildly. "Yes, you three have become quite inseparable lately, haven't you? Ilvermorny has a bit of a notorious trio of its own." She paused briefly. "Miss Harrison is a perfectly capable witch, and she'll be just fine on her own. And you do have to respect her standpoint – she is very studious and does not want to lose valuable class time. She is talented, but not talented like Mister Grimseth is. He can make it up far more easily, and he can assist you with your studies as well, so I'm not one bit worried."

"I'm sure you've noticed that my marks are much better this time around than they were last year at Hogwarts, Professor," Neville said with a note of pride.

Professor Goode smiled. "Yes, Mister Longbottom. You have improved leaps and bounds, academically. Your friends are truly bringing out the best in you."

"And he's bringing out the best in us, Professor," added Kellen. "He says he's not the bravest person, but he can be very brave when he needs to be. He is very much a Gryffindor at heart."

"That is true, Mister Grimseth. And you have some bravery in you as well. Believe me, I haven't forgotten about what happened on the dance floor this past spring," Professor Goode added with a laugh.

Her face turned a little more serious, but remained warm and kind. "Now, as far as traveling is concerned, you will be traveling under the guise as no-maj boys – you should be familiar with that, Mister Longbottom."

"That's correct, Professor," Neville replied.

"I recommend wearing some comfortable, casual personal clothes. It's early October so the weather won't be cold, per se, but it can potentially be crisp out there. I recommend something such as a long-sleeve tee shirt, or a sweatshirt."

"Will we be studying with our fellow second-years?" Kellen asked.

Professor Goode shook her head. "You will not be attending class this time, Mister Grimseth. I do recommend you bring your own materials with you – I will be getting a list of assignments for both of you to work on while your Hogwarts counterparts are in class. I will have that ready for you when we meet again tomorrow."

"Will we be issued Gryffindor robes and uniforms?" Neville asked.

"No, Mister Longbottom, you'll be wearing personal clothes the entire time. While I encourage them to be comfortable, they should also be presentable – no major tears, holes, or stains. And to reiterate, you're guests, not students. You will still have plenty of time to mingle with your old friends between and after class."

Kellen arched an eyebrow. "Will we stay with the Gryffindors in their dormitory? I told Professor McGonagall that I wanted to be an honorary Gryffindor."

Professor Goode smiled. "Yes, Mister Grimseth. You will be staying with the Gryffindors."

Neville felt a lump in his throat. "There aren't any other… surprises that I should be made aware of, right Professor?"

Professor Good chuckled. "If you're referring to a dance or other such event, no, there will be not anything like that. However, you each have been given special permission to take a guest to Hogsmeade Station Friday evening after class, perhaps to get a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks?"

"A guest?" Neville asked nervously. "I know three off the top of my head that would love to go…"

"A guest, apiece," Professor Goode confirmed. "I'm sure you're referring to Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, and Miss Granger, but those were the terms that were presented to me, and I cannot change them without their approval. At this point, it's too late. So I suggest you choose your guest carefully, Mister Longbottom. Same for you, Mister Grimseth." Her expression softened into a warm smile. "You have all week to think it over."

"Maybe we should pack a nice shirt or something, just in case," Kellen thought aloud.

"That wouldn't be a bad idea, Mister Grimseth," agreed Professor Goode. "Especially if your guests are of the opposite gender." She smiled at the two boys. "Trust me on this, girls tend to like a well-dressed boy."

"Are you coming with us, Professor?"

Professor Goode giggled. "I'll be accompanying you two, yes. But my purpose is to ensure that you two arrive at Hogwarts and return to Ilvermorny safely, and to act as an additional resource should either of you have questions or need help. I won't be a true chaperone. I really do want you to relax a bit, and have some fun."

"Great," replied Neville. "Thank you, Professor, for making this happen. It will do me some good to see some familiar faces again."

"Exactly, Mister Longbottom," Professor Goode said. "And Professor McGonagall mentioned that you have a relative at Hogwarts, Mister Grimseth. A Ravenclaw, if memory serves."

"I do, Professor," Kellen confirmed. "Desiree Moultrie. Yes, she's a Ravenclaw. She just started her third year there. Professor McGonagall seems to think highly of her. It would be nice to see her again, it's been a while."

"I'm sure she misses you too," replied Professor Goode. "She may be in another house, but you should still be able to meet up with her during a meal, or perhaps a free period. If you have trouble finding her, please reach out to Professor McGonagall or myself, we'll be happy to help."

"That would be awesome," Kellen murmured. "Thanks for looking out for me."

"It's my pleasure, young man," Professor Goode said with a sweet smile. "It's the least we can do."

Professor Goode threw Neville a silly grin. "Oh, and Mister Longbottom?"

"Yes, Professor?" Neville asked.

Professor Goode tried to stifle a giggle. "I can't help but notice, your British dialect has become somewhat… neutralized since you came over here. You're using more North American terminology and even the way you speak has a hint of a North American accent. Somewhat reminiscent of Cary Grant, or perhaps Kelsey Grammer, since Grant's heyday was even before my time."

Neville shook his head. "I'm not sure who those people are. No-maj, I'm guessing."

Kellen grinned. "You're right, they're no-maj actors who are rather notable for their Trans-Atlantic dialects. It has elements of both British and North American English. Cary Grant was an artist who made several famous films, particularly in the 1950s. He was British-born. And Kelsey Grammer is a modern artist who's more famous for his television roles, such as Cheers and The Simpsons. He's from the U.S. Virgin Islands… while officially an American territory, there is definitely more of a British-influenced culture there."

Neville shook his head, slightly frustrated. "I'm sorry, Kellen, I know it makes sense to you, but I'm from a wizarding family so I don't rightly know what things like 'televisions' or… 'The Simmons' are. You'll have to forgive me."

Kellen chuckled. "As if I could forget. I know you'd probably rather go back to Great Britain to be with your parents and Gran, but maybe one of these holiday breaks you can go to our farm in Minnesota. It's full of no-maj stuff, I'd be delighted to show you."

Neville cocked his head a bit. "Professor, do we have any breaks besides Christmas?"

"There is a short break in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, that occurs in late November. It's not quite a full week off, but long enough to go home and spend a few days with family members," replied Professor Goode.

Kellen's face lit up like a hundred watt bulb. "Perhaps you can come to our farm for Thanksgiving. It's a big get-together. My parents, my younger brother Wyatt, and pretty much everyone on my dad's side of the family… it's a blast. I'd love to have you over this year, if you're okay with that. My family's not magical, but they're still really good people, they'll treat you right. And my Bestemor Pernille – that's Norwegian for 'grandmother' – she makes some terrific spruce tea. I think you'll like it."

"Now, weather in late November can be a bit unpredictable in Minnesota. It can be sixty degrees Fahrenheit – or about fifteen degrees Centigrade – or it can be below freezing. It really depends," Kellen said.

Kellen's face turned a bit more serious. "Now don't be surprised if Anastasia also invites you to her family's place for Thanksgiving. While I'd be ecstatic to have you over, you might want spend Thanksgiving with her family over mine, because she's from Indiana, which is both closer to Ilvermorny, plus the weather is usually a little nicer there in late autumn. But if you'd really rather go to Minnesota, just let me know, I'll definitely let my family know."

Professor Goode nodded in approval. "That was very thoughtful of you, Mister Grimseth." She turned to Neville. "And he's right, Mister Longbottom. If Miss Harrison invites you to her family's place for Thanksgiving, you probably should take that invitation for the reasons Mister Grimseth mentioned. It might not be as fun as spending a few days on a no-maj farm, but I have no doubt her family is warm and loving as well, and would treat you as one of their own. There will be opportunities to visit Mister Grimseth's family's farm, but it might not be this time around."

Neville grinned a bit. "That's a lot to think about, that's what, about a month and a half away, basically. I won't expect Ana to invite me, but if she does, I'll let her know that I would be honored to spend this Thanksgiving holiday that you observe in the States, with her family."