AN: I don't know why I do this to myself. I know I have other stories to finish. But sometimes a dream would get you a new story to work on. Hope you'll like it.

Spark of Interest

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 1

Hermione was running. She felt her feet hitting the earth as she ran as fast as she could. Ever since the end of the war at Hogwarts. She felt this feeling within her heart. Telling her that she needed to be somewhere else.

There was only one place she knew that she needed to be. The problem was, ever since the end of the war. The whole Wizarding World seemed to be trying to find her. She had no idea of why. They had Harry Potter the Chosen One to look up to. Not his Bookwarm friend.

She wasn't going to go back. No matter what anyone was going to try to do. It was time to go home. Not to her parents that had no memory of her in Australia. No, she had a different home in mind and it was calling for her.

First, she needed to get to the caves. The very caves that would take her to another world. Problem is, can she get it before anyone could stop her. Every turn she had made. Nearly everyone that she knew from the Wizarding World seemed to be hunting her down.

She was in the depths of the Forbidden Forest. A place full of forbidden secrets. Even those that not even Headmaster Dumbledore never knew, back when he was alive. Hermione knew that many creatures that would have been in the forest. Had come out and aided the battle back at the school. She knew it would have been her only chance to get to those caves.

She just didn't figure that her friends...along some others to come after her. Harry, Ron, and Ginny had came rushing after her, yelling as loud as they could. Telling her to come back. That the war was over and she didn't need to keep on running.

She nearly even nearly avoided Draco Malfoy from finding her. She would never imagine him wanting to help...in finding her. "Granger," he had yelled. "Don't do this to Potter. He still needs you…"

"You're wrong," she whispered to the dark shadowed woods. As she walked away from the white-blonde wizard. "I'm needed somewhere else entirely."

One of the secrets that she had held close to her heart. Since the days that she had entered into the Wizarding World...she came from the caves that were near the school. The caves that she would fighting ever so hard to get to once more. You see, those very caves were where her family came to Earth from Earthland.

She had made a promise to her cousins. Long before meeting Harry Potter that she would come home. When she was done with her schooling.

During the last year, the year that she would have been her in seventh year. She had spent all year on the run. Teaching herself what seen from Sirius Black's old school books. After she realized that Hogwarts really hadn't changed their curriculum. Nor the material in their teachings. So without Harry's knowledge, she took Sirius' books and used them while on the run. Learning things that should have been taught in seventh year.

Ever since she had entered the forest. She had waved her wand towards her feet to silence them. After she had heard her friends coming right after her. She even blocked any spells from sticking onto her. Meaning, their tracking spells that they had tried to stick on her. Won't hold on.

The caves, she found out from her years at Hogwarts. Hermione learned that they caves went back to Merlin. Back when he was hiding his existence from muggles. Even back when he would disappear from King Arthur from a time or two. Even after the king's death, did Merlin come back to the caves and never to be seen again.

It was these caves that she had read was rumored. That if a wizard or witch with a great need. Would use it as a proportional doorway to another world. Something that she could only imagine that her parents had found out on their own. At least, they didn't tell her how before she took their memories away.

She was nearing the caves when she saw a figure sitting on one of the rocks that guarded it. A smile graced her lips as she rushing towards a woman, who looked to be her age with long flowing auburn hair. "Catherine," Hermione called out to the woman, as she ran towards her.

The young woman turned towards Hermione with a smile upon her face. She glanced behind Hermione with a hint of worry. "Come...before your friends catches up!"

Once Hermione had reached the mouth of the cave. The two women grabbed onto each other's hands and ran into the depths of the cave. Not worrying about any light. For rock walls started to shimmer and glow, like stardust. A warm air coming towards them...before they were suck into a vortex that the cave had provided.

From the outside of the cave. Many that had found their way to it. Had seen a warm flash of light before they reach the mouth of the cave. The need to follow was prevented by the knowledge that Hermione Granger...was no longer in their world.

"Why did she do it," asked a young red-headed man. He looked worn out and heartbroken like none had seen him before. He glanced towards the Chosen One of the Wizarding World with a harshness in his eyes. "You knew...didn't you?!"

The dark-haired male with accused glasses, sighed. "Yeah...she hinted." He leaned over, placing his hands over his knees. "She said...while we were still on the run. After you had left Ron...that she needed to leave."

"Did she say anything else," asked the young woman with flowing ginger hair. "Anything at all?"

"Yeah," the dark-haired male nodded. "She said...no matter how hard she tried. This wasn't her home that her promise to get herself back home was too great for her to ignore. Especially after the war would end…"

"You're telling me Potter," stated a while-blonde young man with a glare in his eyes. "That your muggleborn friend...is from another world? An Alien?"

The red-headed young man gapped at his friend. "Is that true, Harry? Hermione is an Alien?"

Harry shrugged his shoulder, "I guess so…" He glanced towards the cave. Not really hearing everyone that came after them. Making their way back to the ruined structure of the school. 'Where ever you go Hermione, I hope you're happy…'

He turned to those that stayed with him, those that didn't want to be far from him. Since Hermione Granger was no more...fearing for more to disappear after a war. Just as he was about to make his way towards the school a centaur came out of the dark woods towards him.

"Mr. Harry Potter," he droned out in an old wizen sound of voice.

"Yes," he answered simply. He knew to respect the half-human creatures of the woods. They had saved him from time to time.

"Don't fear for your friend. She has gone back to where she belongs."

"What do you mean," Harry asked with a hint of wonder in his voice.

"Years ago...long before you started at the school." He glanced towards the cave. "I saw her walked out of these caves...with her parents. Making their way into the world beyond. Telling me...that one day, she would come back this way again."

"So," Harry asked as he walked towards the centaur. Knowing that he wasn't being lied to. "That way is to her home?"

"It was," the centaur sighed, closing his eyes. "I feel the magic of the cave dying." He opened his eyes to see the sadness in Harry's green eyes. "She is never coming back."

"Will...she be happy," Harry asked. He had always been worried about his friend. A friend that he had always thought to be his sister.

The centaur cave the young man a warm smile. "What does your heart say, Mr. Potter? What does your heart say, for the one that have kept you alive?"

Harry glanced towards the cave. Feeling rushing through his eyes from sadness, anger, worried and happiness. "I feel a warm feeling...something that I've not really felt." He glanced towards the centaur again. "Not since I was able to remember a snapshot of my parents…"

"Harry," whispered Ginny with wonder in her voice.

He turned to those that were still standing around. "Hermione is safe. She...went back home."

Ron looked like he was about to argue. But it was Draco that raised his hand. "Leave it Weasley, even I can't find fault in the centaur's logic. They do in fact, read the stars."

The centaur smirk, "That I do...for the stars say that great happiness also comes from a long journey."

Harry smirk, "That it does…" He came up to Ginny lacing his fingers with hers. Before leading the group back to Hogwarts.

xXx

Hermione and Catherine were shoved out into Earthland with a great thud. Causing the two the roll around the ground. Before their bodies had stopped from the momentum that they had gone through. They glanced around, seeing that the Heartfilia Estate grounds were deserted.

Hermione groaned, "I'm glad I don't have to go through that again." She managed to pushed herself onto her shaky feet. "No wonder my parents said that they weren't ever coming back."

Catherine hissed as she pulled her arms back. Hearing a few pops coming from her muscles that she had moved. "Ooooh...that felt good. I wasn't able to do that in weeks. Back when I had gotten your message to meet you at the caves."

The auburn woman glared at Hermione. "You took your damn time with the war! What took you three so long in ending it?"

Hermione groaned, "It's a long story...with so many missing leads to find." She shook her head, smiling. "But...it's good to be back."

"Glad to see you've come home," stated a rough sounding male voice. "I was beginning to think that you weren't going to hold onto that promise that you had given Lucy."

The two young women turned towards the voice. Each of them gave the man a warm smile. "Hi Uncle Jude," the chimed together.

The man sighed, shaking his head. "I would imagine that you would love to see Lucy. But sadly," he took a deep breath. "She isn't here."

"What happened," asked Catherine with a slight edge to her voice.

"I happened," the aged man stated. "As I imagine, she should be at Fairy Tail Guild at this time."

The two young women glanced at each other before facing the man again. Hermione stepped towards the man with an readable look in her eyes. "What did you do?"

The man's golden brown eyes looking into her brown one. "What a father should never do. Thinking that money would answer all of my problems...by trying to force my daughter to wed for said money."

"Uncle Jude," growled Hermione. "Don't you realize that all the women in our family are stubborn and headstrong. We wouldn't allow such a thing to happen. Not even for the love for our parents."

The man chuckled softly, "Oh do I know it." He shook his head with a smile upon his face. "It took me hiring a shady guild for her to come home and nearly state that much to me. Except she stated that Layla would want her to marry for love." He nodded, "And I would have to agree."

He glanced at the two women before him. "Come into the manor...I still have your old rooms for you to use. It's looks like you could use it…" He glanced at their torn clothes and dirty smudges that littered across their clothes and skin. Even a bit of blood in a few places.

"We would like that," Catherine gave a smile. "It would make us...look human enough to travel."

The man chuckled, as he lead them towards the main house. "That it would." The three entered the house, it was when that Hermione noticed something. "Where's the staff?"

"They were let go," stated Jude Heartfilia with very little warmth in his voice. "If you can manage it. Take whatever you can before you leave. I won't be having this place for that much longer." He glanced towards the girls. "If you can, can you please take Lucy's things to her as well?"

The girls glanced at one another before they managed to agree with him. "After you're done, find me in my study. I'll allow you to use something to communicate with Lucy with. Hoping that she would answer the call from me."

"Thanks again, uncle," replied Hermione with a small smile. Once they were alone in the hallway, she looked towards Catherine. "You've been working on those studies that I had provided you?"

"Yes, teacher," Catherine replied cheeky. Ever since Hermione was able to get into Hogwarts and Catherine couldn't. All because the magical world couldn't pick up on her magic. Hermione took it upon herself to teach Catherine.

Plus she didn't pass through the caves until, Hermione's fifth year at Hogwarts. Years too late for the Hogwarts' book to pick up on her name. Not when she was nearing her sixteen years of life. Too late for the book to add her name on the list.

"When we're done, find a back and use those charms I told you about. Before I had to leave and go hunting with the boys." Hermione sighed deeply. "It's a good thing that I had taught you magic or we would be here for a while."

"Something tells me that we don't have that much time," stated Catherine with worry in her eyes. "You felt that pull leading us east, don't you?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded with worry. "Lucy needs us."

The two went into their separate rooms. Where they found their ways into their bath suits, going through the motions of deep washing. Once dried, they went through their closets. Finding that their clothes were way too young for the likes of them. Then again, with a flick of their wrist and wands. Their clothes fitted and fashioned for their tastes.

Each one of them wore leather pants. A cream button up dress shirt, leather boots, and a long leather coat that came down to mid thigh. Hermione's outfit was done in dark, earthy looking brown. While Catherine's was a dark earthy red. Each outfit highlighting their features nicely.

They had found bags to do the necessary charms and packed up their belongings. They had done the same thing with Lucy's things. Which they had found...a few things that belong to Aunt Layla as well. Before they made their way into Jude's study.

The man was sitting behind his desk with a worried look across his face. When the girls were in front of his desk. He glanced up at the two of them. He took a deep breath before he reached into the top drawer. Before grabbing something and handing it off to Hermione.

"I don't know if you remember. But that is a communications lacrama, a magical crystal." He glanced towards his desk, lacing his hands together. "All you have to do is feed a bit of magic into it, from your hand."

She nodded for moment, before doing what he told her to do. "Lucy," she whispered softly. Hoping that her cousin would hear her. After a moment later a face of a young blonde woman came upon the crystal screen. "Lucy!"

"Hermione," asked the blonde woman with a surprised look in her brown eyes.

"Hey cuz," she smile warmly.

"Don't forget about me." Catherine moved her way closer to the screen. Where Lucy could see her as well.

"Catherine," she gaped at the two of them. "Wow! When did you make it back?"

"Just now," they stated together.

The blonde nodded, she glanced around where she was. They saw that she was outside in a town, somewhere. "Come find your way to Magnolia to a guild called Fairy Tail. It's where I've been living."

"Uncle Jude told us," stated Hermione. Her eyes glaring towards the man slightly. Before she glanced down at screen. "We should be heading towards there...soon."

"GOOD," the blonde exclaimed loudly. Causing a few around her to ask, "Are you okay, Lucy?"

"Yeah I'm fine, my cousins are going to be coming to down."

"Good, then we party," a male voice cried out before rushing towards Lucy. Leaning into her shoulder to see the two girls. "Hey cousins!"

"Hey," the two answered back with a smile.

"Hurry up and come already," the pink-haired male stated loudly.

"NATSU, get off of me," Lucy yelled at him. "I don't think they like your...childness behavior!" She shoved him off of her, making the man whimper.

Catherine and Hermione looked at one another and chuckle. After the life that they had experienced or worried for the other. They were ready for something outrageous entertainingly normal. At least as normal as they can get.

"What's a guild, Lucy," the two asked. Seeing that they heard about guilds but not really understanding what it was.

"A guild," she asked with a thoughtful look. "I forgot...where you've lived you wouldn't have known about any guilds. Well...it's a place where mages go and find work. Where they can use their magic."

"So, you don't have to hide your magic," asked Hermione. She had dreamed for a time where she didn't have to worry about hiding her magic from other people. But on Earth, people fear the unknown that magic seemed to have.

"No," gasped Lucy with sorrow in her eyes. "We don't here…" She glanced at her two cousins. "So...are you going to be on your way or what?"

Catherine and Hermione couldn't help it, the giggled at their cousin's inthusaum for them to be seeing her again. It had been so long, since all three of them were together. It seemed that Lucy was trying to sell them on settling down at Fairy Tail. Even before they had even planned on doing so.

"So how long does it take for us to get there...from you dad's?"

"YOU'RE THERE," she yelled out very loudly. Lucy did not looked very happy. "Alright...I guess it couldn't be helped. I guess...I'll see you in six hours. Since you'll be walking about an hour."

Hermione smiled knowingly, she knew that her magic worked different on Earthland. Hell, even Catherine's magic worked different there as well. "I know a fast way to get to you. All I need is an address of the place to get to you."

"Oh," Lucy gaped at her for a moment before looking towards those around her. "Well, shoot. What's the address to the guild?"

A female voice spoke up with a hint of authority but also friendly. "Don't tell me you've forgotten, Lucy? 1138 North Rivers Edge, Magnolia, Kingdom of Fiore."

Hermione nodded, "How far away are you from this guild of yours?"

"About a couple of blocks," stated Lucy. Then she glanced at Hermione as she was moving around the room that she knew well enough. "What are you doing, Hermione?"

"A moment," she answered. Before finding something that she could use. Since it looked like an old vase that her aunt had once used. She waved her wand over it saying, "Portus," as the address flashed across her head for it to be used to get there. "See you in the flash, Lucy," before she hung up the communications device and was about to give it back to Jude.

He waved his hand. "Keep it, you might need it again."

Hermione pushed the object into her pocket. Just as she told Catherine to hold onto the vase. They said a quick goodbye. Before they felt a tug, before they disappeared from the Heartifila manor.

A flashed later, the two young women found themselves before a massive building. With the sound of loud voices coming from the two great big doors before them. Hermione waved her wand over the vase to protect it from harm, she put it into one of her bags. Just as a blur of blonde came rushing at her, dragging her and Catherine to the ground.

"Oh...I'm so happy to see you," cried a voice that they heard just moments ago.

"Hi Lucy," the two answered in a giggle.

They heard some footsteps making their way towards them. "Lucy," some voiced called out as they came closer.

"Are these your cousins, Luce," asked a slightly high-pitched male voice asked. Causing the three to look up at the pink-haired man with a big arse grin.

"Natsu," the blonde smile warmly at him. She then faced the girls that were still on the ground with her. "This is Hermione," she pointed towards the brown-haired woman with slightly golden brown eyes. "And Catherine," she pointed towards the auburn haired woman with green eyes.

"Hi," they spoke to the group, smiling sheepishly.

"How did you make from Luce's old house to here so fast," asked Natsu, as he helped the three to their feet. "I, for one, would like to know. I hate transportation devices!"

Hermione and Catherine glanced towards Lucy very openly. "He gets motions sickness."

Hermione sighed, "Then he wouldn't like our way of traveling either. Granted its faster, but also more motion than I would like." She glanced at the other three in their group. Seeing a knight looking woman and a shirtless guy, with a flying blue cat. "We came here by using magic…"

Everyone nodded in understanding on how they had gotten there. Lucy smiled at her cousins. "Well," she pointed towards the tall building. "Welcome to Fairy Tail Guild. I hope you'll love it like I do."

Catherine smiled, "Don't worry Lucy. We're not traveling...that far or that long again." Her green eyes trying to hold back the emotions that it wanted to show. "We're planning on joining your guild, like we had planned on doing."

"GREAT," yelled Lucy, before grabbing her cousins and dragging them into the building. Where everyone had turned towards the doors with smiles upon their faces. Waving as the group passed on by. They reached the bar, where Lucy asked, "Hey Mira, where is the master at?"

The woman known as Mira, with long white-hair pulled back from her face smiled at the group. "The master should be down in the minute." She glanced at the two women next to Lucy. "Who are these two?"

"My long lost cousins that I told you about," answered the blonde girl with a knowing smile.

A couple of seconds had gone by. Causing everyone within the guild to freeze as they glanced towards Mirajane. The one woman who was hard to surprise. Seeing a great by shock written across her face.

"YOUR COUSINS," yelled Mira with a her eyes nearly popping out of her eye sockets. "How?"

Hermione turned towards Lucy with a harsh look in her eyes. "Lucy, what have you been telling people?"

"I only told them that you had been forced to go on a journey with your parents. And after Catherine's parents died, she went after you." Her brown eyes glanced towards the ground. "You have no idea how it's been like, not knowing where you were."

Catherine sighed, "I didn't realize that following you, Hermione. That it would had caused issues for Lucy." She shrugged her shoulders. "It was planned with the family that whatever happened to me. I would be living with you…"

Hermione nodded, "I know." She closed her eyes. "Well it can't be helped," she looked towards Lucy. "We're not going anywhere now…"

"Good," her smile grew bigger than anyone had ever seen before at the guild.

"Who are these people," asked an aged male voice. As a small structured man came down the stairs. "As far as I heard, they are you cousins, Lucy."

"They are," she beamed. "I would like you to meet, Catherine Mason and Hermione Granger. My two wondering cousins…"

The elderly man chuckled at Lucy's high energy. "Glad to meet you, I'm Markov Dryer. The master of Fairy Tail Guild. Would you like to join our little family?"

Catherine and Hermione glanced at each other, smiling. They knew that they wouldn't be going anywhere else. At least...not without Lucy. "We're in!"

He waved towards Mira, who would be giving them their guild marks. "So, where do you want them and what color?"

Catherine answered, "Light purple, right hand." Then Hermione, "Periwinkle, right hand."

"Let's celebrate," cried out the master, causing many cheers.

When Lucy saw the worried looks in your cousins' faces. She smiled, "Don't worry. Fairy Tail likes to throw parties. Sometimes they find anything to party about."

"Okay," stated Hermione with worry in her voice. But soon lost herself by being dragged around by Lucy's team. Each one of them with a story for her and Catherine to hear.

Meanwhile on the second floor looking down. A group of four mages had overlooked on what had taken place moments ago. A massive blonde male had his eyes focused on one of the new women that came in with Celestial Mage.

"Boss," asked one of this gathered few that was near him. "You've seemed...more distant than normal boss." He leaned over the rail, as to find the source of his troubles. "Does it have anything with Cosplay's auburn-haired cousin," he asked, as his voice purred.

The massive blonde turned towards the one that was talking to him. "What's it to ya," he grumbled harshly.

The man raised his hands. "She's all yours, boss man."

The blonde turned towards the massive gathering that was happening below them. "Change of plans for Fantasia…"

"What kind of plans," asked the only woman in the group. "I thought the original plan was fine!"

"That was before she came," he pointed towards Catherine. Who stand next to Lucy, leaning into the table as she listened the stories that Team Natsu was telling. Causing many to laugh at the early days of Lucy's adventures.

"What's the plan, Laxus," asked the minted-haired man.

The blonde man turned to his fellow male friends. "Isn't there someone in this guild...that you want...to have notice you?" The other two glanced at each other before looking over the rail. When they turned towards their leader, they gave a small nod. "Then this is what we will do…"