VB.Net Tutorial/Class Module/Friend

Friend members are available to any object in the same assembly (Friend is referred to as internal in C#)

Public Class SomeClassInMyAssembly
    
    Friend vFriend As Integer
End Class

protected friend members are available to any object that is in the same assemby or inherits from this class, or both.

Public Class SomeClassInMyAssembly
    
    Protected Friend vProtectedFriend As Integer
End Class