The next morning, Jade was packing things away in her trunk, folding robes carefully and stacking her books by title. Alana watched her, concerned.

"Jade? Are you leaving?"

Jade looked up from pairing socks. "Yes and no."

"You are coming back to school, aren't you?" West poked her head in and perched on Alana's bed. Her concussion had been healed, and now she was smiling brightly. She had on a Lammasador sweater and cargo pants, and her short hair was clipped back with a jewel-toned dragonfly.

"Of course I am!" Jade's long corkscrew curls hung in her eyes as she adjusted the stack of books in her trunk. She sat back on her knees and brushed her hair out of her face. "I'm just going to visit my parents for the last long weekend of the month. They were so worried when I sent them an owl about our adventure, so I promised I would come to visit over the weekend."

"Where does your family live?" Alana asked. Her hands had healed, except for a few long scars. She would have the scars forever, but for now she was wearing a pair of thick dragonhide gloves.

"Oh, we have this huge house up in the Berkshires. It's amazing, all nestled in the woods. I can practice my magic, and no one's there to see it! And we take long walks in the forests, and swim in the lakes when it's warm...and you should SEE the leaves this time of year! You guys will have to come and visit over the summer."

"Only if you'll come to Arlington," West said, smiling at Jade and Alana. "It's so cool there, all parks and libraries! My mom works at the menagerie there, and she brings the best pets home."

"And you guys should come to our Halloween parties in Vermont- they're legendary!" Alana enthused. "We have jack o'lanterns enchanted to sing scary songs, and the paintings all dress up, and our costumes are so cool sometimes we don't even know who some of the guests are!"

"When I come back, we'll have to have even more fun to make up for a bit of a busy month," Jade said, folding a skirt that she had never had the courage to wear.

"We can play pranks!" Alana whooped, throwing a mini Dungbomb at West, who ducked.

"And try out for Magical Melody Choir!" Jade had always wanted to try out for the choir, but she had never had the nerve. "And I'll try to hide less."

"We can fix Jade up with Jack," West crooned, and didn't seem even remotely surprised when Jade smacked her with her right arm. Her left arm was still cramping a bit, but it felt much better. Her fingers had stopped twitching, and the glow around her wrist was much fainter.

"Not gonna happen," Jade cooed back, laughing.

"Oh, Jade, your parents are here on their broomsticks," Alana said.

"I guess I have to go- but I'll see you next month!" Jade gave her friends a tight hug before running out of the common room, her trunk floating along behind her.

West and Alana waved goodbye until their friend was just a speck in the sky. They were already awaiting the adventure that next month could bring.