"What's Thanksgiving?"

It is now October 4th, if you would like to know. In Herbology, Professor Sprout gave us a free day to trim, prune, and provide general care of the plants she placed in our care. "Shears." Mattheo handed me the shears while Lorenzo distracted the venomous tentacula plant. I clipped off dead leaves and pulled out some weeds that had found their way in. Lorenzo was feeding it rats so it wouldn't snip its mouth at us. We climbed out from under its vines. "Okay, we're good, Enzo."

"Paulie, are you feeling good now?" Mattheo said as the plant chowed down on a particularly big rat.

"Paulie?" We turned and looked at Professor Sprout. "Not many name the plants. The only other person who does that is Ms. Lovegood in Ravenclaw."

"You know we're cousins?" Mattheo elbowed me.

"You're pure-blooded, your cousins with everyone." Professor Sprout stated bluntly before walking away.

Lorenzo and I laughed at Mattheo. "So that's why none of the girls in Slytherin house want to date you?"

"They do," Mattheo said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Who?"

"Dianna Welsh"

"Dianna Welsh?"

"Margaret Thames, don't forget her," I added. "I did not believe it when it happened. But I saw her flirt with him, with my own eyes." I looked at Margaret, who must have heard us say her name. Her cheeks were flushed.

"There is a school dance at the end of the semester, before everyone leaves for Christmas Break. You should ask her out, Mattheo?" Lorenzo smiled.

Lunch was after Herbology. We got there after Theo. He took his bag off the seat next to him. Owls came in bringing the last bits of mail for the day.

I got a letter.

Ruby,

Please notify your professors of your Thanksgiving Day plans. Headmistress McGonagall knows, but your others might not. If Theodore agrees to mine and your father's stipulations, you can bring him along with you. That has also been okayed with Professor McGonagall.

Love,

Your Mother

Theo read over my shoulder. "What's Thanksgiving?"

"It's an American holiday." I breathed out a worried sigh. "Do you want to go? We get to leave school for a couple of days."

"Who will be there?"

"Everybody," I said, looking back at the letter.

"Like Seamus, everybody?"

"No." I chuckled.

"Won't your dad be notified if you leave school?" Lorenzo said with a worried voice.

"Yes," Theo sighed. "But he doesn't care, he'll pretend he does. But, on holidays, like Christmas, I never see him. Summers's that way too. He has no right to have an opinion."

"What about your uncle?"

"He might make an appearance after the fact, but we'll be protected back at Hogwarts by the time that happens again." Theo folded back the letter and handed it to me.

"He wouldn't try to start someone with all my family and stuff around, would he?" I looked at Theo, puzzled/worried.

Everything would be okay even if it wasn't.

I added a little easter egg to pay homage to Lord of the Rings, just for fun. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please leave reviews if you have any suggestions. Sorry, it took so long, I had to get my computer fixed.