At exactly one o'clock in the afternoon, everyone returned to the parking lot in front of Murphy and Fowler's. Harry and Kellen both got all of the supplies they needed for the upcoming term, and even Ana and Hermione each got an extra book for their personal time. Ana got a book on Cryptozoology, while Hermione found a book on Voodoo - she had become quite fascinated with the art since she struck up a conversation with Ilvermorny's Charms instructor, Professor Rudiger, who once moonlighted as a witch doctor back in the Caribbean.
The Grimseths, the Grangers, and the Harrisons all agreed to meet up one last time for dinner before everyone returned home, so at five o'clock they all met up at a pizzeria run by an Italian-American family that wasn't all that far from the Mall of America. The children - particularly the boys - ate like there was no tomorrow. Harry, Wyatt, and Kellen each had three slices of deep-dish pepperoni pizza.
It was a very tough good-bye for the children, especially for Hermione as she wouldn't see them again for a very long time. She couldn't help but shed a few tears as she hugged Harry, Kellen, and Ana good-bye, but Kellen promised her that he would see her in the spring, and he would advocate on her behalf to get her to come back for a return visit.
The boys waved their pretty witch friends good-bye and began making their way back home to the farm. They only had a couple of weeks of freedom left, before it was time to return to the castle in Massachusetts.
On August 30th, the night before the boys were due to take the train back to Ilvermorny, the boys rounded up their belongings - their uniforms, their books and supplies, their owls, among other things - and had them ready to go for the morning. At six o'clock sharp, Mister and Mrs. Grimseth and the boys loaded up their sport utility vehicle and headed for Union Station in Minneapolis. Just like last year, the boys had to find Platform Twelve and One Third. Thankfully, the boys knew exactly what to expect, so crossing the barrier to the other side was not at all difficult.
The boys hauled their trolleys up into their compartment, and sat back to enjoy the long train ride across the country. Their friend Chelsea soon joined them, and the three friends sat together to enjoy a few treats and talked about their summer break, and what they hoped their second year would be like.
"We met up with Ana and Hermione when the Mall of America opened," Harry told Chelsea. "It was nice to see them again, especially outside of school."
"I'll bet it was,' replied Chelsea. "That Granger girl seems to have the hots for Grimseth, doesn't she?" She made a slightly devious-sounding giggle.
"I think Kellen likes Hermione a lot too," Harry said with a smirk. "He said that he's going to try to find a way to invite her back here for the next Spring Dance. She's a very good student at Hogwarts, so I'm sure that they'd work something out..."
Chelsea's giggles turned into full laughs. "I still can't get over how you socked that jerk Replogle at the dance, Potter. You've got some real guts for sure. That was one for the ages!"
Harry shrugged. "He disrespected a friend of mine - your pen pal, too. I wasn't going to let him get away with that."
"Daphne's been singing your praises ever since," Chelsea replied with a smile. "She's a very, very nice girl."
"Have you been keeping up with your letters?" asked Harry.
"I haven't mailed her since the end of term, I'm afraid," sighed Chelsea. "She's from a magical family and it's hard for me to write to her when I live with no-maj parents. I have a cat, not an owl..." She looked down at the kitty carrier beneath her feet. "I know you can't wait to get out and stretch out those paws of yours, Felicity. It's not fun, but it won't last forever. I promise..."
"I can see how that complicates things," Harry said with understanding in his voice. "School owls can send you letters, but that's just for official stuff..."
"I suppose I can ask my parents for an owl next year, I can see why everyone thinks they're so handy... I mean, look at you two," Chelsea yelped.
"I can easily no-maj mail Ana and Hermione," Kellen chimed in. "They're no maj-born, just like you... now that I think about it, I suppose we should have gotten your address... I'm sorry I didn't ask before end of term."
"It's okay, Grimseth," Chelsea replied with a grin. "It's just as much on me for not asking you two before term ended. You two were the first actual friends I've made at Ilvermorny, and I'll never forget that. Thanks for giving a bossy physicians' daughter a chance."
"Thank you for being our friend. And congratulations on being in the top five of our class last term," Harry said. "Kellen and I are both very proud of you."
Chelsea blushed. "I heard that you also made the top five, Potter. Well done." She smiled, then turned to Kellen. "And Sandy is number one... with a bullet!" Kellen's face turned beet-red with embarrassment.
"Speaking of academics, did you read your new texts yet?" Kellen asked Chelsea. "I went through all of them with a fine-tooth comb, and everything written by Lockhart is absolute rubbish! Not a single redeemable sentence in them... I feel bad for Hermione because he's her new DADA professor - thank Merlin we still have Professor Madigan! He'd probably tell us to throw the books away and just teach on the fly... he's a very practical teacher."
"Are you kidding, Grimseth?" asked Chelsea. "Of course I've read them... and I think they're freaking wonderful! They're so much more delightful than the usual dry stuff they forced down our throats last year... every last word caught my attention!" She sighed. "I wonder about you sometimes, Grimseth. Just when I thought you're an all right guy, you openly prefer to watch paint dry!"
"That rhymes," chuckled Harry.
"Chelsea, you're a very, very bright witch," Kellen countered. "Lockhart can spin a tale, yes, but you need to be able to discern fluff from fact. Lockhart's works are meant to capture your imagination, not provide facts... which is what we're supposed to learn in school."
Chelsea crossed her arms on her chest, and doubled-down. "I'd rather get an Oustanding in a phony class taught by Gilderoy Lockhart himself, than get an Exceeds Expectations in Potions! And I adore Madam L."
"I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree then, Chelsea," Kellen said with a slight nod. "But I'm just afraid that these books may not adequately prepare us for our third year, let alone the remainder of our magical lives!"
"Fair enough," giggled Chelsea. "I can't convince you otherwise as well." She stuck out her hand and smiled. "Friends?"
Kellen grinned broadly as he gratefully accepted Chelsea's hand. "I'm still your friend even when we argue."
Chelsea's smile broadened. "I'd rather you argue for me rather than against me. You're the kind of boy I want defending me." Kellen's own smiled broadened as he nodded in agreement.
The train kept plodding along - up and down hills and even small mountains, through tunnels, and snaking around lakes and rivers. The train kept its pace overnight, and it reached Boston the next morning. As there were several trains from varying parts of the country, they all came together in Boston, and all the students would ride together on the same train for the last hour and a half. They were all grateful to get out and stretch their weary legs for a little while.
Chelsea let Felicity out of her cat carrier for a little bit so she could enjoy the relative freedom. She held Felicity tightly in her arms so she would not try and escape, but Felicity caught sight of a first year boy's pet rat, and Felicity squirmed her way out of Chelsea's arms.
"Felicity, no!" she hollered as her cat started going after the rat in the first year boy's pocket. The rat jumped out, and started scrambling for dear life.
"Chelsea," Harry said. "Kellen and I will take care of Felicity. Wait right here and hold our spot. This shouldn't take long."
"Thank you," sighed Chelsea. "You two are life savers. I'll make sure nobody takes your spots while you find my kitty!"
The little brown and grey tabby cat darted to and fro, trying to catch the rat that scampered across the train's platform. Harry and Kellen were in hot pursuit, with emphasis on hot as they were in their hot and itchy formal robes - they had a Start-of-Term Feast to attend, after all. They were so intent on getting Felicity and the rat that they didn't even notice the rest of the students beginning to board the second train... and when Kellen had cornered the rat and stuck it in his pocket, the familiar whoosh of the doors closing let the boys know that they had missed their chance. Harry had scooped up Felicity and ran frantically to get the train to stop for them, but it was too late... the train was on its way to Ilvermorny.
"Ugh," Harry said. "That's the last time we volunteer to catch live animals... so, what do we do now?"
Kellen threw Harry a look of utter defeat. "We wait here," he said. "I'm guessing we'll have a bit of a chat with the deputy headmistress when we get there, but they aren't going to forget about us... they'll probably send a CAB or something our way."
The boys remained on the magical side of the train station for several hours... it was a very awkward wait, filled with dread... what punishment awaited them at the castle, they wondered? It was nearly eight o'clock in the evening when a balding man with reddish hair and a matching bushy mustache tapped Harry and Kellen on the shoulder.
"Mister Grimseth? Mister Potter? I'll need you boys to follow me," he said in a low voice.
"I know, we missed the train," Harry replied in a resigned whisper. "And the sorting ceremony, and the Start of Term feast..."
"You'll get your meal in your dormitory," the man said. "I am Mister Malloy, and I'll be personally taking you to the castle. Professor Goode would like to have a word with you two when you arrive. Now, buckle up... it's going to be a bit bumpy." He led them to one of the infamous CABs - Charmed AutomoBiles, and helped them put their belongings - including Chelsea's cat Felicity, and the first year boy's pet rat in the far-more-spacious-than-it-looked backseat.
About an hour and a half later, they arrived at the castle, where the boys were immediately greeted by the school caretaker, Mister Keith Floyd. He had a serious expression on his face, and his muscular arms were folded on his chest... he clearly wanted to give the boys a message of his own disapproval on the situation.
"Gentlemen, you will follow me to the Deputy Headmistress' office immediately," Mister Floyd drawled. "She would be most interested in hearing your story as to why you missed your scheduled method of transportation." He looked at the boys' belongings. "Mister Malloy will handle your belongings - you'll find them in your room later."
"The cat and the rat aren't ours," Harry said. "We tracked them down for a friend... she'd be most relieved to get the cat back. And the rat belongs to a first year student, I don't recall his name..."
"Malloy will handle that," Mister Floyd replied briskly.
He led the boys inside and into Professor Goode's office... it was after ten o'clock at night, and she was already dressed in a nightgown and the boys were disheartened to see a complete lack of her usual bubbly expression... she had a bit of a scowl, in fact - one that was quite unbecoming of her normally lovely features.
"Sit down, you two," she said to Harry and Kellen, before turning to the former auror. "Thank you, Keith. I'll take it from here."
"You're welcome," Mister Floyd said. "Just don't go... too hard on them. I was their age once..."
"I shall deal with the matter most appropriately, Keith," she replied glibly. "Enjoy what's left of your evening."
"You too, ma'am," Mister Floyd drawled, as he returned to his own office.
It was just the three of them, and neither of the boys knew what to expect as they'd never gotten in trouble before... they had only seen Professor Goode for well...good things, and they felt positively rotten for disappointing her.
She gave them a bit of a glare. "Mister Potter. Mister Grimseth. Explain yourselves."
"Well, Professor, our friend Chelsea brought her cat Felicity out on the platform while we were switching trains, y'know, to let her stretch out a bit," Harry began. "And she caught sight of a firstie's rat... you know how cats are with rats... so Felicity jumped out of Chelsea's arms to chase the rat, and Kellen and I volunteered to find her cat and return it to her. She's quite attached to Felicity..."
"We completely lost track of the time," continued Kellen. "We were just trying to do right by our friend."
Professor Goode nodded, then took a sip of her hot tea. "I see your intentions were honorable, albeit rather misplaced. At the end of the day, your failure to board the second train still falls squarely on you both... and you must be held accountable for it. There will be a detention of sorts..." She looked at Harry and Kellen squarely in their eyes. "Tomorrow evening is your first Astronomy class of the term. I'd like for you to meet me two hours early so we can get the tower prepared for instruction. There will be some cleaning and organizing, and I will also need you to help me calibrate the telescope."
The boys nodded, accepting their fate.
Professor Goode's expression softened. "Now, go on upstairs. Your meals are in your room. Enjoy your dinner, and get some rest. I hope we don't meet under these circumstances ever again. You're both exemplary students - I expect much better from the both of you going forward. Oh, and the password to get into your common room is 'Thomas Paine'."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry and Kellen replied as they exited Professor Goode's office and made their way back to the Horned Serpent tower.
