Hermione was looking at the steps in front of her that led to the shrine she wanted to visit. She let out a sigh.
"Why are there always so many steps?", she exclaimed frustrated.
With another sigh she started climbing the steps to the shrine. As she finally reached the top, she looked around. There weren't any people around, but Hermione didn't think it was strange. The Higurashi shrine, as it was called, wasn't very well known and it was rather small compared to the others she had already visited. Tourists didn't find their way here often and it seemed the neighbours and people living here were otherwise occupied.
She was snapped out of her thoughts by a boy around thirteen years old, who asked her: "Sorry, can I help you? I live here."
"Well yes, you can. I was interested in the legends and stories about this place and would like to look around. Do you know someone who could show me around and tell me about the shrine?"
"Oh yes! There are a lot of stories, for example the legends about the Jewel of Four Souls, the Bone-Eater's Well and the Sacred Tree! I know my grandfather would love to tell you all about them. Wait here and I will go get him for you!", he shouted in excitement and ran towards a building farther in the back.
Before she could say anything, the boy had already disappeared. She sighed and shrugged. What could she do? The boy was so eager to help her. She decided to wait, and while she was doing so she looked around the shrine grounds. When she visited a shrine for the first time out of curiosity what it looked like, she had thought of it only as a tourist attraction, but then she had discovered that she could feel a strange power there she had not felt before. It came from a bell at the first shrine. After that she started visiting more and found more objects with this strange power. She assumed it was some kind of old magic or maybe even holy powers. At least the tour guides, priests and monks she had encountered until now, spoke of the strange force as something holy or godly. Hermione wasn't sure; therefore, she started visiting shrines and also libraries to find out more.
In that moment her phone let out a ring. She took it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. It was a message from Harry, asking if she was alright. Since the start of her traveling two years ago she has been contacting her friends regularly to let them know she was safe and doing fine. She also visited them sometimes in between her travels.
After the war Ron and she had dated for a few months before deciding they were better of as friends. It was hard for her because one of the reasons for their break up was that Ron had fallen in love with another witch. It wasn't the only reason, they wouldn't have worked out over time – she knew that, but it still hurt seeing him with another woman. She had to hide it though, because she didn't want their friends to blame him.
A year after the war she had enough of everything. All the publicity, reporters, fans, worried friends, even her job at the Ministry; it just became too much for her to handle. She couldn't step out of her house without someone there to pester her. The situation had calmed down a lot since the end of the war, so she decided it was time to go find her parents. Harry had asked her if she wanted him to come with her, but she wished to go alone. She quit her job, packed what she needed and said goodbye to her magical family. She had to promise to contact them every two days, so they were sure she was safe.
Absentmindedly she wrote Harry back that she was fine and currently visiting a shrine in Tokyo. She put away her phone and looked around the grounds some more. A faint feeling of the now familiar power was coming from the direction the boy went. Deciding to follow the feeling she came to a big tree. Around the tree was a thick rope with pieces or paper tied to it. To Hermione's knowledge it signified a sacred place or object.
"So, this would be the Sacred Tree the boy spoke of", Hermione thought.
There was a faint power coming of the tree, but she wasn't able to tell more about it. Then she noticed a big dent on the bark of the tree. She was about to touch it, when she was interrupted by the boy.
"I see you found the Sacred Tree. This is my grandfather and by the way, my name is Sota Higurashi", he pointed slightly behind him where an old man bent over from age was standing.
She bowed respectfully to the old man: "Thank you, for taking the time to tell me about the stories and legends of this shrine, Higurashi-sama."
He responded with a nod and said excitedly: "Oh, do not worry, child. It is a pleasure to have someone interested in hearing about the legends and stories of this place. You know, my granddaughter was never interested in hearing them until a few years ago, but sadly I did not get a chance to tell her about the."
"Oh my, I am very sorry to hear that. What happened to her?"
It didn't pass by her, that the old man looked a little shaken, as if he wasn't sure what to tell her. The boy was nervous as well, but he recovered quickly. "My sister graduated a year ago and got married soon after. She met her husband while traveling, and now they live far away from here, so we don't really get the chance to see them often."
She was a bit suspicious about their reaction but decided to let it slide. The boy excused himself since he wasn't interested in hearing the stories again, and his grandfather began to tell Hermione about the Sacred Tree and the legend of Inuyasha, who once was pinned to this very tree by a sacred arrow for fifty years. He also told her about the priests, monks and priestesses and their holy powers, the legend of the Jewel of Four Souls, demons, which sounded like magical creatures to her, and the Bone-Eater's Well. Hermione was very interested in these stories and legends, and she also learned something new about the strange power she was feeling.
"If holy people in the past had possessed these powers Higurashi-sama told me about, it could be that what I am feeling from the objects is residual energy. Or maybe the objects were exposed to the powers for a long time and became magical themselves."
It happened with her kind of magic, so why not with this strange power?
While telling her about the Well, the old man brought her to a little house. She could feel a faint power from inside. It was similar to those she had felt previously but different at the same time. It was somehow a little familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. She tried to, but her thoughts were interrupted yet again by the Higurashi boy.
"I am sorry for the interruption, but mum says dinner is ready, and you are welcome to join us."
She decided to accept the invitation and followed them to their house farther in the back. Mrs. Higurashi was a very warm-hearted woman and welcomed her with joy. She asked Hermione about her travels and life and Hermione told her a bit about them, leaving out the whole magic and also the darker parts of life. It was a nice evening. She then excused herself to the bathroom, and on her way back to the kitchen a few family pictures caught her eyes. In the first one there was a couple with a little girl and a baby in their arms. The next one showed the old man and Mrs. Higurashi holding hands with the girl, now a bit older, and a little boy. There were a few others similar to them, but the one that stood out the most was a family picture with a strange looking boy in red clothes in it. She picked it up to study it. The boy had his arm around the waist of the Higurashi girl. He was wearing something traditional looking which was a bit strange since the others on the picture where wearing normal looking clothes. However, the most interesting about him were his silver hair and golden eyes. Could he have some creature blood in him? The girl he was holding had long black hair, blue eyes and was wearing a school uniform.
"That's my older sister Kagome and her husband", came from behind her. She stiffened, put down the picture and turned around, trying to relax her posture again. She didn't like being caught unaware.
"I am sorry, I was too curious." She bowed slightly to him.
They returned to the kitchen and finished drinking their tea. Not long after that Hermione bid them farewell and promised to come back another time.
Feeling a bit tired, she decided to apparate directly to her hotel room. She let herself fall on the bed and laid there, thinking about her day. After a while she got up again an went to the bathroom to take a shower before going to bed.
Rubbing her wet locks with a towel and wearing her pyjamas, she sat back on her bed. She had let her hair grow to her hips and had discovered that it was a good choice, because through the length and weight of her hair, her unruly curls could be tamed. It now was manageable with a little bit of magic.
Hermione started thinking about her home and friends in England. She missed them a lot and would have to visit them soon. She also missed her parents, but sadly they didn't remember her. At the beginning of her travels, she had gone to Australia to find them which she managed to do not so long after, but unfortunately, she hadn't been able to recover their memory. It had been very difficult for her to cope with it. She had decided to not tell her magical family and had travelled to a lot of different places to try to find a solution, but also to try to accept the fact that it was possible she would never be able to have her parents back. Harry had somehow felt that something wasn't right with her at that time and had come to find her. When he did, he hugged her, and she started to cry immediately. After a while she told him the whole story and then cried again. She had cried a lot, but he helped her, and they grew closer as friends and as siblings by choice.
Hermione now decided to call him and see if he picks up.
"Hey Hermione, is something wrong?"
"Hi Harry. No, no, don't worry. I just wanted to talk a little. I miss you and the others."
"Ah, okay, that's good. We miss you too. When will you come and visit us?"
"I am not sure, but I think soon. I want to figure out something before. The Higurashi shrine I visited today was very interesting. I discovered a lot of new things."
She told him about some of the legends, especially about the Bone-Eater's Well and the feeling she had about it. "I probably will go and take a closer look at it tomorrow."
"Sounds interesting, but be careful, remember what Moody said, 'constant vigilance'!", he said a bit jokingly, but she knew too well, that it was to be taken seriously.
"Don't worry too much. By the way, how is Ginny and the others doing?"
"Ginny is great", he hesitated for a moment, "I think about proposing to her. What do you think?"
Hermione let a loud squeal escape her lips. "Oh Harry, that is wonderful! You and Ginny are a great couple and I am sure you will be very happy together", she told him overjoyed.
He chuckled slightly: "Thanks Hermione. I am glad you think that way. She makes me very happy." He sighed a little. "I just wished you had someone that makes you this happy as well. I know it didn't work with Ron, but …"
"Harry", she interrupted him, "I don't want to discuss this with you again. Now tell me about the rest of our friends and family; how are they doing?"
He sighed again but complied to her wishes and told her about their lives in England. After she had yawned for the fifth time, Harry decided it was enough for today.
"You need to go to sleep. You will be visiting soon, so we will talk more then. Good night, Hermione. I love you."
"Good night, Harry. Love you too. Send my love to the others, please."
"You now I will. Bye Hermione. See you soon."
"Bye Harry."
She put her phone away and went to bed hoping that this night would be a one without her nightmares. They weren't that frequent anymore, but she still had them from time to time. Sleep came easily to her, and fortunately, no nightmares bothered her that night.
AN: I hope you like it! I am always thankful for feedback to improve my writing.
This story is now betaed by Pyo-Kiyo, I am very grateful for her help.
Thanks, and enjoy!
