Kefira was glad that her and Professor Snape had patched things up as the end of the year was nearing. Or at least things were as good as they were going to get between the professor and student. Professor Snape still obviously found the child incredibly annoying and an overall nuisance while Kefira was determined to at least see the man genuinely smile before she graduated the school. She still have four years to try. She figured she had the summer to come up with some new jokes to try to get the Potions master to crack a grin.
However, the surprise came in June when Kefira received a letter from her parents telling her that they were going on a family trip that upcoming summer to South Africa. To say the girl was excited was a complete understatement, but she grew even more excited when her parents had offered the invitation for Neville to tag along.
Of course, Neville wanted to go, the trip sounded amazing, Hogwarts was the furthest he had ever traveled from home. But he doubted that his grandmother would let him go especially after they hadn't exchanged much conversation in letters since Kefira sent home the Howler.
Kefira offered to send a letter home to apologize to Mrs. Longbottom but Neville wasn't sure how Kefira would word the letter as she wasn't known for her apologies.
So the two were sitting outside the castle near the Black Lake, Kefira writing the letter that Neville carefully edited.
"Dear Mrs. Longbottom," Kefira began, " I'm sorry you overreacted and have absolutely no sense of humor. You and Professor Snape would get along magnificently. I will plan the wedding for the two of you...I'm thinking of a winter wedding, because the cold reflects your hearts-"
"Kefi!"Neville said taking the quill and parchment paper from her.
Kefira fell back into the grass laughing holding onto her stomach.
"I'm kidding! I didn't really write that, Nevs." she told him. "See for yourself?"
Neville looked over the letter. She had actually written a sincere sounding apology.
"Is it to your liking?" Kefira asked him.
Neville smiled. "Sorry...I should have known that you were only kidding, but you are rather convincing."
"I know, that's the point." she said. "But I wouldn't insult the woman if I'm trying to convince her to let you go on vacation with us."
"I don't think she's going to let me go, Kefi. It's one thing if I'm at your house for the summer but to go to South Africa...well it's just..that's far?"
"No place is too far if you're a witch or a wizard. She's fully capable of apparating. If she's that concern she can show up to South Africa to check up on you. But you can't miss out on this trip Neville. If you go with us, you'll be able to see all the animals I described in the book I made you up close."
She watched him shiver at the thought of possibly facing a lion or rhino up close before she let out a small giggle.
"Well, you won't be that close, but it'll be so cool to see them in person. We can't let you miss that. Even if I have to sneak you into my luggage. Although, I imagine that would be quite an uncomfortable trip for you."
"Let's just see how Gran responds..." Neville told her. "Then we'll go from there. I think the letter is a good start."
"South Africa?!" Augusta repeated out loud in her kitchen in a high pitch voice.
Algie looked up from his pastry and tea.
"What about it?" he asked.
"That Walsh girl and her family are going to vacation there in the summer and they've invited Neville to go along."
"Really? Nice family. I wish I had friends that invited me to travel when I was younger." The man said. "Neville must be thrilled at the idea."
"Thrilled? He's not going!" Augusta said.
"What? Why the bloody hell not?"
"Because...he...he's not." Augusta told him placing the letter down on the table.
"You know..you're too hard on that boy, no wonder he's got troubled thoughts and the self-esteem to match." Algie told her. "All he does is try and all everyone else does is put him down, except for that girl. I've seen him grow since he's made friends with her and you should be happy he has friends. Before he started Hogwarts it was damn near impossible to get that boy to carry a conversation. But look at him now, he's got a girl who likes him enough that she wants to bring him on a family vacation and you're going to deprive him of that opportunity? Why Auggie? Why?"
The woman remained silent.
"How do you expect the boy to grow when all you and everyone else seem to do is chop him down? Let him go, let him discover things and let him be his own person, Augusta. I know what you're trying to do but...I'll say this...he's not Frank, Auggie."
"I know he's not! He's nothing like Frank or Alice for that matter-"
"And do you plan on holding that against him? Because he's not exactly like Frank and Alice, because he is his own person with his own interests?!"
Augusta frowned and looked down to the floor as Algie arose from his chair and walked over to the woman.
"He's going to do great things with his life, Augusta," he said. "You just got to give him a chance."