Drip, Drip, Drip...
Hermione awoke on a cold damp floor wondering where she was. Her eyes scanned the room as she tried to lift herself off the ground. She let out a pained scream as a searing pain traveled up her broken arm. Saiyaka and Momo were nowhere to be found and Hermione knew exactly where she was.
"Welcome back, Hermione," Riddle cackled, grinning with Ginny's face. "Don't bother looking I still have your wand."
Hermione eyed the petitte redhead and knew a broken arm was the least of the damage she needed to worry about. How-they saved Ginny! Riddle's diary-they destroyed it! This, this couldn't be real. Hermione took in deep braths and dug her nails deep into the broken hand to no avail. She had lost all control, she would die in this snake themed chamber and Harry would be left to figure out the secret of the diary himself-no, he could do that, I was useless last time, it'll be fine...I just-this isn't real. Control, regain-
"Control?" Riddle spat grabbing her by the broken arm. "You'll never have control over anything! Least of all yourself. You're losing it, you stupid girl. I think Harry Potter and Ginny would have faired better without you mucking things up, don't you?"
3, 9, 15...This is a dream wake up!
"You might as well cry out," Riddle shrugged. "If anyone can hear you, they won't care."
Regain control...you managed to reach Ginny once ...No, that doesn't matter this isn't real.
"Why didn't you help me earlier?!" Ginny-who was actually Ginny- cried. "The things I've done, the things I almost-and reaching out to me to make me aware of Riddle possessing me? I'll likely never recover, but I could have if you let me stay dormant!"
Harry appeared in the chamber holding a damaged diary and the sword of Gryffindor. "Riddle was right about one thing, you are absolutely useless."
"No, Harry-" Hermione pleaded.
"I fought the basilisk, I found the chamber-I don't care that you already had a theory, you did nothing with it! And I destroyed the diary! It was the troll all over again!" Harry seethed. "The only useful thing you did was determine the pipes were involved-and that's only because you were attacked!"
Her father appeared looming over her, glaring at her, even in the dim light she could feel his black eyes boring into her very soul. His mouth twisted and he folded his arms over his chest. "You little idiot! You could have ruined everything! I once accused you of having a martyr complex, but martyr's sacrifice themselves for the good of others. By not coming to me, by keeping this shit to yourself you've only managed to hurt the people you claim to care about! What is wrong with you? I thought I might be a failure as a parent, but you're the failure. There was no fixing you, and I frankly don't know why I bothered. You stupid piece of shit!"
Hermione dug her nails further into her broken hand, she tried to steady her breath but failed. She had to control herself, maintain composure but tears stung her eyes and sobs escaped her mouth.
"You're pathetic, weak, useless!" her father continued. "Please, tell me how lying to you to protect you is worse than what you've done?"
"Oh, Severus," Dumbledore sighed. "You must be thoroughly disappointed."
Luna knelt before Hermione and cupped her face in her hands. "Oh, Hermione," she whispered. "I liked you better as a cat."
A cold woman's laugh echoed through the chamber and the image Hermione had in her mind of her "mother" appeared before her. "This is precisely why I left! You're nothing but a disappointment!"
Hermione saw herself, covered in tawny fur with mismatched eyes, cat ears protruding from her hair and a tail, appear before her. "This is the only way you could ever be of use. Just stop trying before do actually ruin everything."
Ginny's voice was the next Hermione heard, but it was definitely Riddle speaking. "All you are is what you can do for others, and you are useless!"
"Which precisely why I find you so insufferable," her father sneered.
"I'm sorry!" Hermione cried before realizing she was in Saiyaka's dorm.
"Lumos," Saiyaka whispered. "Are you okay, Hermione?"
Hermione nodded turning her eyes from Saiyaka so she could hide the fact that she was crying. You're pathetic, stupid piece of shit! "Yeah," she squeaked. "Just a nightmare. It's stupid, I've had them since I was little."
"I had a lot of nightmares the year before last," Saiyaka confessed lighting her the lamp on her desk and finding her glasses.
"It's fine, Saiya-chan," Hermione clasped her hands. "You should go back to sleep, we have a long day tomorrow. I'm really sorry to have woken you-I-"
Back at Hogwarts Hermione was either ignored by Parvarti and Lavender, or received with extreme annoyance. She learned early on ways to keep herself quiet during the night, but Saiyaka was a good deal closer than the girls back home, and Hermione couldn't magically sound proof non-existent curtains. Even her father met her with an exasperated resignation when he went to check on her during the summer. She expected Sayaika to cut her off with a probably deserved comment on how Hermione was cutting into her sleep and if she couldn't focus tomorrow it was her fault, but instead she sat by her side and placed Momo in her lap. She smiled at her.
"S-Saiyaka?" she didn't risk venturing eyecontact but stared at the purring fat grey cat.
"You ever have a slumber party?" she asked playing with her hair.
"A what?" Hermione asked blinking.
Saiyaka smiled and shrugged. "Me neither, and it won't be much with just the two of us. We'll have to have a real one when you leave. But basically we just-erm- talk and play games, gossip about our crushes and do each other's hair, and-haven't you read about them in manga?"
Shit, I did! Images of Aiko and her friends eating copious amounts of junk food, doing each other's hair, playing board games and talking came to mind. It did look like fun in those panels, but Hermione did wonder- "How is it different from when we caught up last night?"
"Listen, you," Saiyaka chastised, but laughed.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're trying to help, I get it. But you shouldn't- Honestly, I'm surprised this is your solution," she smirked deciding the distraction would be good for both of them.
"Miyuki's been simply a terrible influence on me while you were gone, Hermi-chan!" Saiyaka lamented.
Both girls broke into giggles and started talking about anything. It started with books, fiction, non-fiction, Sayaika shared Hermione's desire to read every word to have ever been written-though Saiyaka was hardly as hyperbolic as Hermione. The conversation soon shifted to the seven school mysteries and Hermione was captivated.
"And of course there's Hanako-san, the toilet bound ghost-"
"How have I not run into her?" Hermione asked thinking she would have last year.
"Hanako-san exists in every school's girls' toilet in Japan. She's normally comes when summoned," Sayaika explained. "Though it's not always the best idea, she can get quite angry. She fluctuates between seven and twelve, and I find she has the emotional regulation of a seven-year-old."
"That's actually really sad," Hermione said. "So wait, is Hanako-san a ghost or a spirit? If she haunts every school's girls' toilet and fluctuates in age-"
"Hanako-san blurs the line," Saiyaka explained. "Kind of like Onryo, she was just a girl, but her tragic death made her more than just a ghost, and the rumours of her dying through the bombings, murdered or committing suicide all seem to be true at different times. Like an entity all her own and a product of cultural imagination at the same time."
"There's so little I understand," Hermione sighed.
"Join the club," Saiyaka sighed. "No matter how much I read, the line is confusing and spirits like Hanako-san just have to exist in their own category in my mind for me to keep sane."
Hermione understood that. Things that could be neatly tucked into categories, classified and broken down made sense. It gave her a sense of control, if she could understand something at it's most fundamental level then it was something she could handle. Things that broke that broke Hermione's sense of safety, and she could tell it was the same with Saiyaka.
"Her story's so sad," Hermione said thinking how Hanako-san died.
"It is," Saiyaka sighed solemnly before shaking her head. "I-erm-let's talk about something else."
Saiyaka's face paled and her brown eyes stared at her hands playing with the ends of her wavy hair. Her whole body stiffened and Hermione knew she'd touched on something very sensitive. The bombings happened fifty years ago, she might still have relatives that remember them and the war.
"S-sorry," she bowed her head. "What do you want to talk about?"
A silence passed between them and Saiyaka leapt up from her bed to fetch her hair brush and ribbons. She returned and started wrestling with Hermione's stubborn bushy locks.
"Wow," she observed running the brush through it. "It's-erm-kind of like sheep's wool, isn't it?"
Hermione didn't know why, but she felt incredibly insulted. Though there was no trace of malice in Saiyaka's voice. She thought about it, and remembered that she only saw a handful of people with her hair type in her life-time and to Hermione's knowledge soft ringlets were the curliest hair types they were used to before her arrival. Yay, homogenous societies. She let it pass, and remembered that she was (probably) mixed, white-passing and raised by a single white parent (who might or might not have been related to her), so it wasn't her place to be insulted-at least not on that level...she didn't think. Like all the anti-Chinese crap thrown at her back home, it wasn't really a struggle she could claim...maybe.
Stop thinking about it, you little idiot.
"It's a mess," Hermione laughed. "I basically just keep it clean, it's impossible to work with."
"I think, I've got it," Saiyaka said finally separating it. "So, I-erm-I've been meaning to ask...I know you like Hiro, but do you-erm-like Kaori too?"
"Erm," Hermione was grateful Saiyaka was braiding her hair rather than facing her when the heat rose to her cheeks. What was she supposed to say? She could lie. Liking both siblings felt wrong. She always pictured herself with one partner, if she liked both could she still do that? And even if she could-siblings? Who the hell developed crushes on related people? What is wrong with you? Stupid little girl...
"I think I do," Hermione whispered. "Is that bad? I don't know I- I certainly think I like Hiro more. I want to be with him, but I feel-I don't know- attracted to Kaori-like really attracted to-I could be gay, but I really fancy Hiro-I-I-I'm not making any damn sense am I?"
"I don't think you're gay, Hermione," Saiyaka sighed softly. "I think you might be bisexual, though. And it's normal. My papa's bi."
Bisexual, how did Hermione never come across that term before? Normal, if Saiyaka's father was bi, and it had a name like straight or gay it was more than just her. Hearing that from Saiyaka did give her some relief, but she still felt somehow wrong. And Saiyaka did sound disappointed, maybe there was something wrong-she did have a crush on two members of the same family.
"N-normal?" Hermione bit her lip. "I don't feel normal." Do you really have to burden your friend with this? Figure it out yourself!
"I didn't either when I started having feelings for Miyuki," Saiyaka explained. "In fact, that's why my papa told me he was bi. I wasn't boarding yet, and so one night I confided to my parents how I felt about Miyuki. Momma said it was normal for young girls and I might grow out of it, but if I didn't that was fine too. Papa explained that from the time he was my age-at the time-he knew he liked boys, girls and others."
Hermione clasped her hands. She felt wrong asking this, bothering Saiyaka with it, but she had to ask. "And your parents are happy together?"
Saiyaka gave a soft laugh. "Completely faithful. In fact, my half-sister is from my mother's previous marriage. He told me in case I was bi too that one of his insecurities when he found that out about himself was that he couldn't be faithful. He can and is. Also having multiple crushes is totally normal for teenagers."
Hermione chewed the inside of her lip. She had been wrestling with herself for a year about this, to find out all of this was both a weight off her shoulders, but almost unbelievable. Had she really put herself through so much unnecessary anguish when she could have just been. It seemed too good to be true and then the source of Saiyaka's information-that might have been the most fantastical part of it. "You actually talk to your parents about this?"
"Yes?" Saiyaka said slowly. "You don't?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think he'd want to be bothered with it. How'd you know I liked Kaori?"
"It was really obvious," Saiyaka laughed. "'S-Senpai, O-ohayo!' Don't worry, I don't think anyone else noticed. I half-hoped I was misreading it to be honest," she sighed.
"Saiya-chan?" Hermione turned to face her.
Saiyaka immediately averted her gaze as her face flushed pink. "If I don't say this now I'll go a whole other year wondering."
"S-Saiyaka?" Hermione choked after a silence.
Saiyaka adjusted her glasses with a shaking hand. "It was easier, telling myself you only liked boys...I had a crush on a straight girl before. But knowing you like girls too...it means that you don't- Hermione, I like you."
"But why?" Hermione asked finding her feet. How eloquent! Add her to the list of people you hurt. "Saiya-chan, I- I'm, well, me."
Saiyaka balled her hands into fists at her sides. "I knew you didn't feel the same, but I had to say it."
Hermione wasn't good enough for her anyway. But she didn't feel that way about Saiyaka, maybe she should rather than crushing on the sister of the boy she also had a crush on. Hermione knew how Saiyaka felt, or understood it anyway. If Hermione had the capacity to be attracted to girls and wasn't attracted to Saiyaka-well if it were the other way around Hermione would have felt like she was the problem. Maybe Hermione owed it to her to try, but she felt that would be doing both of them a disservice. Hermione could only see Saiyaka as a friend, a close one. Some delusional part of her felt she was closest thing Hermione would ever have to a sister.
"You're not the problem," Hermione said feeling a lump form in her throat. "I just-erm-I can't think of you that way. I admire you, you're smart, compassionate, pretty, funny...you're amazing. I just-"
A year of fantasising about Hiro confessing and she had no idea how to navigate this. Tears sprang into her eyes and she suddenly felt all those dreambeings were absolutely right about her.
"Can't think of me that way," Saiyaka sighed. "I understand-w-we have a long day tomorrow. We should get what sleep we can."
"I'm sorry, Saiya-chan," Hermione choked.
"It's fine," Saiyaka smiled, but it didn't touch her eyes. "Get some sleep, Hermi-chan."
Saiyaka and Hermione were content to pretend her confession never happened, but things were...awkward. Saiyaka spent most the day buried in a book, a coping mechanism Hermione herself indulged in. When not doing homework, Hermione spent most of the week compiling her interviews into a cohesive segment for the paper, missing Saiyaka's input. Outside of classes and lights out, the two only hung out with the group, which made it very easy to pretend things were normal. That being said, Hermione cursed herself every time Hiro said something to make her blush-which was frequent-and could feel Saiyaka's eyes on them.
Though something that could make Hermione and Saiyaka exchange a strained smile was watching Inyuama Rie struggle with her new nick name 'Deku-sama' thrown about the corridors. Perhaps Hermione should have felt guilty, but she had enough on her plate, and the vindictive spirit within her still needed to see Inyuama get her comeuppance.
That was before Saturday rolled around and Hermione had her detention with Inyuama. They came to the divination classroom to meet not the moustachioed Tosaka-Sensei, but the short, stout, yet intimidating Kaname-Sensei.
"Konnichewa, Kaname-Sensei," Hermione muttered after steadying her breath and bowing. "Was Tosaka-Senesei delayed?"
"We take turns supervising miscreants," Kaname sneered. "Weeks with no detentions, and you girls act up in time for my Saturday."
"Go-" Inyuama and Hermione started.
"Don't bother apologizing," he groaned handing both girls brooms. "Tosaka-Sensei has tasked you girls with cleaning every room on this floor."
"All of them, Sensei?" Inyuama choked. "But that'll take-"
"All afternoon, Inyuama-san," Kaname nodded. "You girls take from my time and your classmates' time, I take from yours. It's only fair. Be grateful he's having you clean the rooms and not your mouths. That was my suggestion."
"Yes, Sensei," they both said, bowing.
Hours went by, scrubbing desks, blackboards and floors, sweeping, dusting and even reordering books on shelves. The girls did what they could to remain separate from each other, but every now and then Inyuama would trip Hermione with her broom, or walk through an area she had just mopped. She told herself she would live with it, not say a word. Hermione couldn't risk having a letter sent home. She quietly went about her tasks, she had practice taking shit with a fuming silence.
They were in the last bloody classroom, and Hermione could see the orange sunset streaming through the large panelled window. Hermione started on the desks closest to the window. If nothing else she could see the north garden bathed in golden sunlight while the willow fronds blew in the light breeze. She began scrubbing the fourth desk when Inyuama 'accidentally' knocked over Hermione's bucket of soapy water on to her.
"Oh, Honestly!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Snape-san," Inyuama gasped. "I didn't see you there, you'd think I would with that big bushy head of yours, squirrel teeth or those hateful Korean eyes, but I guess you just don't show up on my radar."
Hateful Korean eyes? That's a first. A phrase Hermione had never heard before in Britain or Japan, and despite having no clue what part of East-Asia she had ancestry in, the blood in her veins boiled. She understood there were tensions between Korea and Japan-to put it lightly- but Inyuama's comments were no different than the rumours around her origins focusing on Chinese restaurants and dead cats, she was being racist it was an easy way to hurt her if Inyuama didn't care about others in the group-which she imagined she didn't.
"Ran out of things to call me based on being British or ugly?" Hermione asked. "I'll admit, it took you longer than I thought, but now you're grasping at straws. Exhaust that last braincell of yours, deku-sama?"
Inyuama narrowed her black eyes and clenched her fists tightly around her broom before hissing. "Muggle loving, Kimchin ni-"
"Inyuama-san!" Kaname shouted.
Both girls turned to see that Kaname was much closer than either of them had taken into account. He glared down at the two of them, his dark brown eyes staring daggers into them. Hermione was familiar with this from back home, that seething rage behind his glare was not going to go unaccompanied by some hateful statements. She bowed and apologized along with Inyuama.
"You may leave, Snape-san," he said very slowly before turning his gaze to Inyuama. "Inyuama, a word."
Whatever Kaname was going to say to her, Hermione was certain she would pay the price for it later.
"Hermi-chan!" Hiro called out.
"Oh, Hiro-kun," Hermione choked looking up from her books using her sleeve to dry her eyes. "I'm sorry, I think I fell asleep."
Hiro sat beside Hermione, and ran a hand through his black hair. "I-erm-are you okay?"
Those kind hazel eyes looked into hers without judgement and Hermione wanted to spill everything, but couldn't shake the feeling that doing so would only burden him. What should she say? Inyuama said a bunch of racist stuff that may or may not apply to her and it cut deep anyway? No, that probably sounded pathetic. Especially when it didn't even occur to her to be hurt until she was alone. How did you explain that?
"I can't believe we used to be friends," Hiro sighed. "Inyuama, she's-I want to blame Matou, but it was before they got together she turned nasty. Did she say something to you?"
Hermione bit her lip and stared at him. Hiro smiled gently and placed his hand on top of hers, linking his pinky into hers and sending a warmth through her body. That was enough, the barriers Hermione put up came down, not like a dam bursting, but more like Hiro had carefully picked at the wall brick by brick. Hermione couldn't help but sigh.
"Apparently I have hateful Korean eyes," she admitted closing her book. "Last year she said truly awful things about me being British, but-it was too much like back home-and if Kaname hadn't cut her off she would have said much worse. Is it stupid I'm this upset?"
"I don't think it is," Hiro said. "But I think I know something that'll cheer you up. The others are in the clubroom, we've been working on it while you were in detention."
"I just assumed you would have let out by now," Hermione frantically wiped at her eyes. "You didn't even know-what if you didn't find me?"
Hiro took her hands and pulled her up from her chair. "Okay, okay, they're still assembling it for print on Monday. But you should really come."
Hermione smiled back and her heart pounded in her chest, forgetting that she had been reduced to tears moments before.
"And that completes the print for tomorrow!" Kaori announced as Hiro led Hermione to the studyroom.
Saiyaka awkwardly smiled at the two of them and Hermione dropped Hiro's hand feeling quite unsure of everything that was going on. There was too much. Hermione had never rejected anyone before, she never thought she would be in a position to reject someone. She thought being ugly would save her from that, but instead she rejected a friend. Some part of her still felt as though she should have just said yes. She was attracted to girls, surely she could try to be attracted to Saiyaka...but she preferred their friendship...or she did before her confession.
"Hermi-chan, you and Saiyaka were the powerhouses behind this," Hiro proclaimed. "You both had nearly perfect articles from the interviews, so Saiyaka helped me take the two articles with the interviews and research and hybrid them."
Hermione wasn't sure how she felt about that. Both she and Saiyaka conducted the interviews, they did the background research together, but to take Hermione's writing and-
"I'm sorry, Hermione-chan," Saiyaka bowed. "I should have waited. But most of the article is yours, though it's evident Japanese isn't your first language in a couple places, and I provide cultural context. Your article was very good outside of those. We went with my headline for that reason too."
Hermione didn't expect that. She picked up the front page article and found it to be true, Hermione's article was enhanced by Saiyaka's input, read much better if Hermione was honest, but the a good chunk of the article was still hers. It was printed with both of their names, and it appeared Toshio got permission from Kiki and Sunni to have their picture taken, the two praying at a shrine to their ancestors. Something very intimate, but she knew Kiki and Sunni allowed it, given Toshio's last encounter.
"They said this would be the most relatable and sympathetic," Toshio explained. "Though I did feel a bit like a tourist snapping pictures at a shrine."
"This is beautiful," Hermione gasped. "You know, in Britain loads of wizards claim that elves can't feel pain or sorrow as deeply as we do. Showing a shrine, that'll be rather convincing."
"We have the same myths here," Saiyaka admitted adjusting her glasses. "That's why we need something so evocative. I can't look at that picture without feeling what I feel when I place an offering and light incense for my ancestors."
"Grief is the universal language," Sam mused eyeing the lay-out.
"I just hope it's received well," Kaori sighed.
"We all do, Oneechan," Hiro said.
Hermione examined the lay-out herself, re-reading the article to ensure they did Sunni, Kiki and the rest of the elves justice. She laid her hand out on it feeling the fragile paper beneath it. Could this ink and paper truly start something, change the minds of Japanese young wizards? She hoped so, and wondered if the elves got to read the peice they consented to, or if they were just supposed to trust them. She mused staring at the layout when Hiro's hand found hers once more.
She looked up and saw the gleam in his hazel eyes flickering in the orange candlelight. He smiled gently at her before speaking. "The Elves can't read Japanese, but when Toshio, Sam, Saiyaka and I went to get the pictures and consent, Saiyaka read the final draft aloud to Kiki and Sunni. They approved of it."
Hermione smiled back at him. "You four are brilliant. No, all of you are. This is great."
"Kaori and I just helped put it together and print it," Anya smiled. "This is on you kiddos. You should be proud."
"Pride can wait until we see how well it's received," Saiyaka muttered at the same time Hermione said "I'll be proud if it works" under her breath.
Saiyaka and Hermione shared a knowing glance, before turning to the rest of the group who did not wait to be proud as Miyuki predicted the five younger members would surely grow up to be hard-hitting journalist. Saiyaka blushed at this, adjusting her glasses, Toshio beamed (he had wanted to be a photo-journalist since he was nine according to Hiro), Sam smiled, and Hiro gave his trade mark carefree grin. Hermione simply stared at the spread, as if she could will its message to go through.
Monday saw the circulation of their special issue of the Mahoukatoro Mercury and its reception was all over the place. Most simply didn't speak of it, while others seemed sympathetic and a vocal minority mocked it.
"Look at them taking proud Japanese traditions and mocking them!" Matou Shirou hissed to Inyuama during History. "Of course it's written by that Okinawan mudblood and that stupid gaijin girl."
"It's simply dreadful!" Inyuama agreed. "Anyone bother to tell that bitch that slavery is her country's number one export?"
Hermione bit her lip. She wanted to call Inuyama out, but she couldn't afford another detention. She didn't know how much she could push the rules before she was kicked from the program. Or when they might send a raven to her father. It seemed the outright slur against Saiyaka would go uncontested once again. They were whispering at the back and Higurashi-Sensei was lecturing at the front. What the hell did these people have against muggle-borns anyway? Was their xenophobia so strong that only pure-blooded Japanese wizards counted as people? No, Hermione already knew the answer to that.
"Ignore them," Saiyaka whispered.
Hermione tried, taking notes on Ida period policies for regulating magic use among muggles. It was their luck that they sat close to Inyuama and Matou in this class as well as divination. The hate they had for Saiyaka should have meant they would want to sit anywhere else, but despite Inyuama's complaints in their first divination class last summer, it seemed they loved picking on Saiyaka more.
"You know," Inyuama giggled. "I overheard that limey girl telling Yamato, Okasha, Hitoromi and the other gaijin last year that she didn't know where she came from. I bet she was one of those half-Korean box babies! A face not even a mother could love. That's why they're sold to desperate Westerners. Bet she's a mudblood too!"
No...not here too! How could Hermione have been so careless as not to tell them that in private? Why couldn't she just lie. Say something like 'oh, I'm from London'? None of them would have asked which part of London? Hermione's stomach churned. This was the one place her origins didn't matter. No one here knew about her father, about the rumours that started up around a Chinese restaurant or transfigured cats. Hermione was just another gaijin girl...and that was all gone.
Hermione dug her nails into the back of her hands and tried to steady her breathing. How could this all come crashing down behind her? This was her sanctuary and Inyuama destroyed it with a single giggled comment. Hermione lost control of yet another aspect of her life and she didn't know how to get it back. Tears stung her eyes and Hermione dug her nails deeper into her hands and watched blood form on her nails. She was not giving that bitch the satisfaction of crying.
Higurashi's lecture went over Hermione's head as she tried to focus on not crying. When the melodic chimes ended to signal the end of class Hermione carefully rose, gathered her books and subtly sped to the nearest toilet.
You're pathetic, get it together! She instructed herself drying her eyes in the cubicle. Fuck, you are used to this. This isn't a big deal. You've endured years of this. Your feelings don't matter...think of actual Koreans in Japan or Black people, or Saiyaka and other muggleborns. They have it so much worse than you! You're not entitled to be hurt by this. And what about the Elves? If you're going to be upset about anything, it should be anger no one gives a damn about them! You stupid-
Hermione's self-chastisements were interrupted by a knocking on the door.
"Hermi-chan?" Saiyaka's voice called. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Hermione lied. "I'm just not feeling well. You should go on without me. I'll be fine."
"Hermi-"
"Please," Hermione choked. "Just leave me be."
"O-okay," Saiyaka said, sounding rather dejected.
Hermione should have handled that better. She did apologize to Saiyaka when she finally returned to the dorm, but the damage had been done. Things continued to be awkward toward them at club meetings and in classes, but Hermione didn't know how to fix it. She wished she could just go back in time and stop herself from waking Saiyaka that night. Though, that would only make things better for Hermione if she could. Saiyaka probably needed to confess. And now Hermione had hurt her twice.
Hermione felt control slip through her fingers. She could do everything thrice, ensure she knew precisely how to conduct herself before embarking on a new thing, and still she fucked everything up! She wondered if Saiyaka told Hiro, as he spent more and more time with her in the library.
"The world won't end if you take a break, Hermi-chan," Hiro smiled, placing his hand on hers.
Despite spiral into self-pity, Hermione felt a pleasant tingle move through her body at his smile.
"You're right, I suppose," she sighed, staring at their hands. "What do you want-shit!" Hermione slapped her forehead.
"Hermi-chan?" Hiro knit his eyebrows in confusion.
"I totally forgot! I have to get to girls' Kendo! I'll see you after, Hiro-kun! Promise!"
"Kaori lets friends watch during practices, so long as there aren't too many," Hiro rose with her. "I'll come with you."
"That sounds great," Hermione bit her lip.
So long as I don't make a complete arse of myself...
Hiro led Hermione to a red-walled gymnasium with wooden floors and wide windows along the western wall, casting everything in a warm orange glow. Hermione appreciated the magic used to contort the castle's space for large rooms such as these. The wall opposite the windows were stands that a few spectators sat in, including Anya and Saiyaka.
At the centre of the gynasium stood about twenty girls of different ages in white hakama chatted holding long shafts of bamboo-shinai, Hermione thought read- each looking rather confident holding them.
"Hey!" Miyuki waved Hermione over. "You're just in time, Hermione-chan!"
Hermione walked over into the throng of girls and listened to Kaori, standing at the centre explain club 'house-keeping', review rules and take attendance. One name made Hermione very nervous.
"Busaiku!" Inuyama seethed, staring daggers into her.
Hemione swallowed and clasped her hands together. She had no idea that Inyuama Rie was part of the Kendo club, or she would have-no, she would have still signed up for it. But she was worried. She came here because she wanted to escape the constant victimhood that seemed to follow her around. Now one of the only girls her age was one who had gone out of her way to make Hermione a victim in Japan as well.
Hermione dug her nails into her flesh as she tried to reassure herself that Inuyama wouldn't risk another detention to terrorize her. She had been so upset about the first one. She tried to control her breathing and a dormant part of her brain awoke telling her to dive under the stands. She ignored this.
She wished she hadn't when sparring came around.
"I'll take the new girl!" Inyuama volunteered, while three girls giggled behind her.
Again Hermione felt her core freeze at Inyuma's black stare. She once heard someone describe her father's eyes as blackholes threatening to swallow unwitting victims in to their freezing void, Hermione felt that was true of Inyuama's gaze. Something very, very sinister laid behind her pretty little smirk, and Hermione's stomach churned.
She looked up to see both Hiro and Saiyaka sitting in the stands, both waved at her, Saiyaka with a weak smile and Hiro beaming. She didn't want either of them to see how shamefully she was about to lose to Inyuama.
Hermione clenched her bamboo shinai in her hand feeling the weight and length of it more keenly than she had in drills. Was it exhaustion or nerves? Both, likely. Even the wood beneath her barefeet grew cold. She stepped forward from one end and Inyuama entered opposite her. She refused the urge to shrink as they made eyecontact.
Don't fuck this up, she told herself.
The girls bowed to each other and Kaori instructed them to begin.
Inyuama charged at Hermione with a wide swing, which Hermione managed to dodge, but twisted her ankle in the process. She steadied herself, ignoring the pain in her ankle as Inyuama came at her again, more aggressively. Hermione attempted to parry the attack and a loud smack of wood against fabric and flesh filled Hermione's ears. Pain shot through her right arm as she tried to dodge another deceptively powerful blow from Inyuama across Hermione's chest, knocking the wind from her as her vision went purple. She lost her footing but not before trying to parry a last blow from Inyuama and this time the sound that accompanied the shinai hitting her right arm was a loud crack. A sharp, throbbing pain overtook Hermione and despite herself she dropped her shinai and fell to the hardwood floor with a scream.
"Where am I?" Hermione asked.
Her eyes focused and she didn't need to be told. The long lines of beds with white sheets and smell of anti-septic were universal. Hermione had landed in the hospital. Hiro and Saiyaka stood on either side of her bed, while Kaori, Anya, Toshio, Sam and Miyuki stood at the foot of her bed. A very cross looking, elderly nurse in white came to her side and examined her.
"Broken arm, broken rib and three ankle bones broken!" she tallied off. "I can't believe your parents signed the medical consent form."
Medical consent form? Shit...
"You'll be fixed up in no time," the nurse's tone changed. "Should be out of here in the morning. Call if you need me."
"This should have never happened, Hermi-chan," Kaori explained. "I'm so sorry. I reported Inyuama, but it happened so fast we didn't realize she was being excessive until you hit the ground! And I didn't tell you about the consent form because Hiro said your father would never approve."
Hermione smiled at Hiro. "You have no idea how right you are!"
"Hermi-chan," Hiro said. "I'm so sorry."
"You two shouldn't blame yourselves," Hermione said. "Inyuama was the one who-oh no! You reported her? She's going to make the next two weeks of my life hell! Sorry! You're probably going to send what's left of me back to my father in a matchbox.."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Kaori snapped. "She'll do no such thing. I'll admit, she's a bully, but she won't risk any more trouble. I have no clue why she's acting out as much as she is."
"She's had it out for Hermione since they landed in detention together," Saiyaka said. "And you were just defending me..."
"It's because I'm a gaijin degenerate with hateful Korean eyes," Hermione sighed. "She's just a bigot. What's with all the anti-Korean crap anyway? She hated me last year-"
"Not as much as she hates you this year," Saiyaka explained. "Inyuama presents herself as the perfect Japanese witch. Coming number three in class, not out performing an Okinawan muggleborn and now landing in detention because of a gaijin? It's easy for her to blame you instead of herself, and you have East-Asian features and Koreans are especially hated by families like the Inyuamas. So deciding you're half-Korean or any other group she hates suits her. And if she happened to be right, it was a bonus for her."
"Should have figured," Hermione sighed. "Honestly, I'm surprised she hasn't decided I'm some how Okinawan as well."
"If she made you part of every group she hates you'd have to be at least ten different people," Hiro laughed.
"So that's why I have such trouble choosing a favourite animal or colour!" Hermione giggled. "It makes so much sense now!"
The lot of them talked and Hermione could feel the mood lightening. She was in the hospital and in enough pain she didn't forget about Inyuama Rie, but she was happy to keep her second in her thoughts. Eventually everyone filed out, except for Saiyaka who nervously played with the ends of her braids. She looked up at Hermione with tears in her eyes.
"Sai-Saiya-chan?" Hermione choked.
"I'm so stupid!" she cried throwing her arms around Hermione.
"Ow!"
"Shit, sorry!" Saiyaka adjusted her glasses. "I just-I-erm-" she sighed. "It was hard for me to accept that you like girls too, but not me. But I-Hermi-chan, you're probably my closest friend. I love Hiro and the lot of them, I do, but you're my closest friend. And I wasted one week out of four we actually get to spend together being mad at you for something you can't help. I just- I like being your friend. And if you never feel the way I do, I still value that."
"Hey," Hermione took Saiyaka's hand. "You tried to comfort me when Inyuama started that rumour about me being a Korean box baby. I feel stupid for telling you off."
"It was pretty stupid," Saiyaka smiled and wiped her eyes under her glasses.
"It was."
"Oh!" Saiyaka summoned Hermione's instant messaging book. "So your father doesn't ask you get sent back, in a matchbox or whole."
Everything's going well, Hermione wrote when asked how things were, remembering her father's aversion to the word 'fine'.
Your handwriting's very different. He wrote back almost instantly.
I was going to get into that. I broke my right arm. Saiyaka's cat got stuck in a tree and I volunteered to get her out. Long and painfully stupid story short; I fell out of the tree and broke my arm. I'm fine, Momo, the cat, is fine. I'll be back out in the morning. Pride is more wounded than anything.
Hermione liked cats and her father was ready to believe she was an idiot. She hoped he would buy it. She had been telling little lies like this all year and kept them stock piled in her brain. No racism, no bullying, no reason for him to request she come home. She painted a picture of a nigh idyllic school environment where her biggest problems were minor embarrassments that she felt safe divulging to her father.
Merlin, Hermione, he wrote. Two weeks speaking Japanese exclusively and you've already forgotten the definitions of 'fine' and 'well'. And a damn cat? You should know better. I'd ask what's wrong with you, but I imagine that'd be pointless. You're O.K? Was the break bad?
Bad enough to stay the night, good enough to have full range of motion by the morning.
Very well, he wrote. Classes and club activity going well then?
Same as yesterday, Dad, Hermione wrote. So yes, they're going well.
The cheek, Hermione Elizabeth. She could hear his voice in her head at that one.
Sorry. Things are well with you?
Indeed they are, he wrote.
There was a long pause, it was noon and she imagined he got distracted by an owl or two.
What's this about a detention? You were expected to be on your best behaviour! Have you any idea how poorly this reflects on British wizards? And you've failed to tell me this a week ago because...? Jesus, Hermione. You were raised better than this!
Fuck! Hermione thought. Gaijin students apparently got letters home for anything. She thought of her reply and prayed she wouldn't be sent home. How much did the letter say? Did Tosaka, Kaname or Yamato send it? Was she painted as the instigator? She sighed and penned a palatable version of the truth. Inyuama was a bully and she let her get under her skin, it was the only detention she received, she'd been following the rules and avoiding the girl where possible.
That account seems accurate, he wrote. Continue to avoid this girl. If she continues to bother you I suggest you don't verbally attack her in class. It won't end well for you. I imagine you can think of other solutions to your problem. I'll let you go. I expect you to behave yourself going forward. I would appreciate it if you stopped omitting details as well. Get some rest. Stay out of trees. I'll write to you tomorrow. Love you.
Write to you tomorrow, she replied. I'll be more forward with you and careful about my behaviour. Love you, Dad. Goodnight.
Hermione found it easier than she expected to avoid Inyuama Rie for the rest of the month. However, the rumours she started followed Hermione with a vengeance. She had no clue how willing the student body was to cling to rumours about one gaijin girl. Every now and then, she would hear girls in the toilet or common room giggling and Inyuama would smirk. Hermione won the battle but Inyuama won the war.
A war Hermione was glad to put behind her for another year when the students changed into summer muggle clothes and gathered in their chosen groups to be ferried to the nearby island. Hermione, of course, didn't care for the actual ferrying part, but soon they were assigned their camp in the bamboo forest and the excitement that filled Hermione on her first night returned.
Hiro, Kaori, Saiyaka, Miyuki, Anya, Toshio, Sam and Hermione made their way through the cloying heat and thick bamboo forest to their campsite. Hermione basked in the golden light seeping through the gaps of the green leafy canopy. She had no idea how tall bamboo could grow before this moment, having never ventured into the forest surrounding Mahoukatoro. She felt so small, but in a good way. The scent of bamboo (bamboo had a scent!) blew on the salt breeze blew on the salt breeze as they climbed. A stream nearby trickled down the gentle slope, she could hear it with an assortment of birds singing overhead.
"This is beautiful," Hermione breathed-part from amazement, part from the hike.
"It really is," Anya agreed, for once as amazed as Hermione. "I can't wait till the blossoming!"
The clearing chosen was close enough to the cliff that the ocean could be heard far below them, but surrounded by foliage. An unlit circular fire pit sat in the centre with ten smooth rocks arranged around it. They erected the tents, one for the girls and one for the boys, and sat around the firepit for a packed lunch and tea, basking in the afternoon sun.
"So little oversight!" Miyuki squealed collapsing onto the lush grass. "This weekend is going to be so much fun!When do the teachers check on us again?"
"After sunset," Kaori said finishing her last onigiri. "Goes without saying, they're expecting us to stay at the campsite after dark. We'll be making performing the rituals tonight at sunset and collecting our group's flower in the morning."
"Until then," Anya took Kaori's hand. "We have time to enjoy ourselves. Let's explore!"
Kaori flushed a bright pink, something Hermione had never seen before. After collecting herself, Kaori followed Anya into the forest and the rest of them turned a bright pink for a moment before Miyuki spoke up.
"Have you heard of Yokai-Mannendake?" Miyuki asked dramatically raising her eyebrows.
A bamboo yokai that feeds on lost travellers? You do love your scary stories, Miyuk-chan. "No," Hermione lied taking in Miyuki's excited smile. "Is it scary?"
Crickets chirped and the forest was bathed in a brilliant orange glow, giving the yellow flower buds on the bamboo shoots a radiant halo. Hermione walked beside Saiyaka barefoot along the warm soil. Hiro waved his hands while speaking to them, and Hermione couldn't help but stare at the orange and green light playing in his hazel eyes. Like the flower buds, the sunset cast an orange glow around his messy black hair, giving him a halo too. Every now and then he would say something like : "right, Hermi-chan?" and shut his eyes with a beaming smile, exposing his micheivious canine.
Miyuki flushed pink and giggled at Hiro's jokes while, Toshio and Sam laughed loudly. Saiyaka every now and then would nudge Hermione with an encouraging weak smile. Which made Hermione turn as pink as Miyuki. Anya and Kaori led the lot of them, hands clasped together.
Hermione could listen to the birds and crickets sing forever, she could listen to Hiro talk forever. They made their way to the babbling stream, each with a tiny clay bowl in hand. Kaori would chose their bamboo tree before dark, and a more academic part of Hermione's heart fluttered with excitement.
The stream sparkled sapphire, orange, gold and pink, cutting through the rocky hills at a slow and certain pace under a canopy of bright green leaves and fluffy purple clouds. Mountain streams were far prettier in real life than she had pictured. The scene wasn't just beautiful, but there was something ancient and knowing about it. A serenity washed over Hermione as she knelt down to gather her bowl of water, feeling the fresh cold water run over her hands.
"Arigato," she whispered, setting the bowl down to clap her hands together and bow her head.
They wove through the darkening forest until they found an exceptionally tall bamboo with an inordinately wide stock, with several, narrower, leafy stalks shooting up from its expansive root system. The main stalk was covered in buds, but the younger parts of it faired well as well. If Hermione needed a reminder that this forest was made of deceptively fewer bamboo than it appeared, this tree was it. It stood proud in the sunset as Kaori knelt, pouring the water from her bowl over its roots.
The others followed suit, one after another. Hermione, being the youngest, went last. She rose and saw Hiro taking an uncharacteristic interest in the ritual. She wondered if she had fucked up some part of it, but his smile wasn't uncomfortable, but serene, and the light still danced happily in his hazel eyes.
"Everything okay, Hiro-kun?" she asked leaning in to examine him.
His face went pink and he averted his gaze, running a hand through his messy hair. "Erm, nothing, Hermi-chan. You-the forest is pretty, isn't it?"
"Erm," Hermione bit her lip. "It is, yeah."
"That was a disaster," Miyuki sighed in their tent.
"I thought it went well," Hermione said. "Did I do something wrong?"
Saiyaka sat beside Hermione and rolled her eyes. "She's not talking about the ritual. She's talking about Hiro."
Hermione clasped her hands in her lap. Was he staring because he liked her? She wanted to believe it, but it was too good to be true. What would she do if he did like her back? And then there was always the matter of-
"More specifically," Kaori said sitting dangerously close Hermione's other side, her dark brown eyes glinting in the candlelight. "My little brother was supposed to confess tonight. He's been going on about it all year, saying something about the perfect time. You like him too, don't you?"
Kaori's unbound hair fell over her shoulders in glossy black waves and she blinked her beautiful eyes at her, sending Hermione's heart to her throat. Hermione shrank under her gaze for more than one reason.
Anya and Miyuki joined in crowding and staring Hermione down. A furious blush rose to her cheeks as she drew her knees up to her chest and buried her face in them. "Okay! Okay!" she cried. "He makes my little bisexual heart go doki-doki!" But he's not the only one...Saiyaka said it was normal to have multiple crushes at our age. "Is that what you want to hear?"
Anya burst into laughter. "That has to be the best coming out I've ever heard!"
"That has to be the best sentence I've heard," Saiyaka giggled. "Maybe you should say that to him?"
"I can't," Hermione muttered. "I'm a cocoon. Cocoons don't move or confess."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Miyuki lifted Hermione's face. "I've read enough shoujo manga, which Hiro likes too, mind, to know you don't take away a boy's confession."
Hermione shook having her suspicions all but confirmed. This was too good-good things didn't happen to Hermione. "But-"
"But nothing!" Miyuki tutted. "I'm not listening to him pine over you for another year. 'why didn't I confess at the Matsuri, Miyuk-chan!' I'll go mad!"
The girls giggled and Hermione felt the full wieght of the night. Everyone knew about this but her! She had absolutely no control here, and Miyuki's plan to gather around the fire and 'let things happen' terrified her. Not only did she not have control, but she still harboured her doubts. A thousand voices told Hermione exactly why this was bound to go awry as Miyuki tied Hermione's forelocks into small dumplings with red ribbons. You're broken, you'll always be broken. Do you think that poor boy deserves that?
"You're beautiful," Saiyaka smiled gently.
"I pride myself in my work," Miyuki smirked. "Let's get the boys."
Hermione clasped her hands together, digging her nails deep into her flesh as she stared at the crackling fire. This was a dream come true..and a complete nightmare!
"Are you okay, Hermi-chan?" Saiyaka asked, taking her hands.
"I'm fine," she squeaked, not taking her eyes off the flames.
"It's okay if you're not," Saiyaka whispered.
"What if-" she choked. "I kept telling myself I imagined he liked me back-I think I founding it comforting and-I-erm-Saiya-chan, what if I ruin everything? What if I'm not what he thinks? What if we get together and he realizes I'm nothing but a disappointment?"
"And what if you get together and things are great?" Saiyaka blinked. "You won't know if you don't try. If it's not me, I'm glad it's him."
"I brought sake!" Miyuki sang.
"Miyuki!" Kaori gasped scandalized. "How did you even-?"
All eight of them gathered around the fire, telling stories and looking at the stars and reveiwing plans for August break. Hermione tried to feel normal, but her stomach did sommersaults and the voice that told her she was a burden to Hiro refused to shut up, even with him beside her. Liking Hiro was so much easier when it was a fantasy.
"I'll try some!" Hiro volunteered.
"You're fourteen!" Kaori scowled.
"Says the fifteen-year-old," He groaned. He then turned to Hermione with a mischievious grin, his whole face glowing in the orange light of the campfire and the lines formed along the sides of his eyes. God, he was beautiful! "Do you want to try too?"
I need to be in control, Hermione thought. But a little bit of sake, they only had the one bottle to split between them. Maybe Hermione could get just enough to silence the damned voice. "I'll try some."
"Is that a good idea?" Saiyaka whispered in her ear passing her the bottle.
"Yes."
Hermione poured an amount into Hiro's small clay bowl while Miyuki launched into yet another urban legend, abandoning tales of bamboo yokai for the likes of Kuchisakeonna and Teke Teke. Hiro took the bottle from Hermione and poured an amount into her bowl. The two nervously smiled at each other, and Hermione's heart thudded in her chest. They clinked the palm sized clay bowls gently and downed the cloudy, clear liquid in one swallow.
Hermione instantly regretted it. It burned all the way down from her tongue to her throat, her eyes watered and even her nostrils burned. She didn't even taste it, she just felt hot, and her insides stung as she coughed.
Hiro hadn't faired much better, his pale olive skin flushed a deep pink as tears sprang to his hazel eyes and he coughed into his elbow. "Oh, that's-grown-ups drink that for fun?! My nostrils are burning!"
Hermione couldn't help but burst into laughter and she buried her face. "I'm just glad I'm not the only one! Awful, isn't it?"
"I told you so," Kaori smirked.
The lot of them all broke into fits of laughter, those less brave imitating Hermione and Hiro's attempt to drink. It turned out Miyuki and Anya were the only ones to drink more than a sip (Sam and Toshio did not repeat Hermione and Hiro's mistake of downing the whole bowl), and Kaori's judgement subsided. They took turns telling scary stories from their homelands late into the night. The fire crackled, the crickets chirped and the warm breeze encircled them. Hermione felt the night was almost perfect.
Saiyaka was the first to turn in for the night, whispering "ganbatte" and disappearing into the tent.
No pressure though, Hermione thought, looking around.
"Kaori-chan," Anya whispered shaking Kaori.
Kaori lifted her head off Anya's shoulder and rubbed her eyes."Anya-chan?"
"I think we should get you to bed," Anya kissed the top of her head. "You kiddos don't stay up too late."
"Oyasumi!" the five of them chanted.
"Hermi-chan?" Hiro turned to her during another one of Miyuki's stories.
"Hiro-kun?" Hermione looked up at him.
Hiro gave a nervous smile and offered his hand to her. Once again, she admired his eyes in dancing orange glow, appreciating the rosy flush to his cheeks and gentle curve of his lips. His pale olive hand, palm up was soft and warm to the touch. Hiro had taken her hand before, but this felt different. Maybe it was because she knew he intended to confess, maybe it was the sake-no, there was no way Hermione drank enough, even if it was her first time drinking-maybe it was the way his smile finally silenced the damn voice.
The two rose and she let him lead her into the forest, closer to the sounds of the ocean. Hiro lit his wand and Hermione surrendered control to him. He knew where he was going, and the forest was safe, despite the stories Miyuki told.
She expected the forest at night to be foreboding, but in truth, it was gorgeous. The bamboo towered over them, but they could see the stars peaking through the leafy canopy, and everything had a calm, blue cast to it.
Serenity washed over Hermione as they stopped. Something small and yellow caught Hermione's eye in the light of Hiro's wand on one of the bamboo shutes.
"Hiro!" Hermione whispered, pointing. "I think this one's opened early!"
Yellow geometric petals spread out like a star among the ovular leaves, its centre and long stamen upturned to them. The scent wafted to them on the warm breeze and Hermione stared awestruck. "It's very pretty, isn't it?"
"It's beautiful," Hiro breathed.
These flowers only bloomed in summer every sixty years, and Hiro and Hermone were just lucky enough to have one bloom for them. The striking flower had no apprehensions, sitting completely open, its petals pointing in all directions, swaying gently in the breeze.
"Hermi-chan," Hiro turned her to face him.
There he was. Hiro smiled beautifully, lines forming around his hazel eyes as his hair blew in the gentle summer breeze. He sighed as he took both her hands in his and lowered her face to hers.
Hermione's heart didn't threaten to leap from her chest as their foreheads touched, but instead fluttered pleasantly while her nausea became simple butterflies. All her certainty that this would be a disaster melted away.
"I like you, Hermione," he whispered. "And I want-erm- I know you have to go back home, but-we-we should go out."
Hermione rose to her tiptoes and smiled. "I-erm-think I'd like that."
Hiro brought his mouth down to hers, cautiously brushing her lips before Hermione leaned into the kiss. She closed her eyes feeling the pleasant tingle move through out her body and her heart fluttered in her chest. Warmth and butterflies silenced the thousand voices in her head. It was every bit as beautiful and exhilarating as in the books she read. She wanted the moment to last forever.
Fate had other plans. Hermione lost her balance, falling forward. Hiro's teeth scraped her upper lip before there mouths separating and he fell back. The two fell to the bamboo roots cackling madly. Hiro beamed at her, and she was certain if there was enough light she could see the lines form around his eyes. The two stared at each other for a moment. Hiro flung his arms around her and kissed her again.
She didn't know how long they sat on the ground kissing, but eventually they separated.
"We should get back," Hermione sighed. "Before Toshio, Sam and Miyuki wake the others for a search party."
"When you're right, you're right," Hiro admitted lighting his wand and helping her to her feet. "Let's go."
"Wait," Hermione said lighting her own wand. "Isn't camp this way?"
They were lost. The wood was different at night, and Hermione should have accounted for that. Hermione and Hiro walked for what felt like hours before finding an opening. The opening wasn't what they hoped for. Instead they found themselves standing on a long cliff over looking the ocean. The exact opposite direction of their camp.
"Let's walk along, maybe we'll find another group's camp," Hiro ran his hand through his hair. "I'm so, so sorry."
"I couldn't remember how to get back to camp either," Hermione smiled taking his hand.
Hermione followed Hiro along the legnth of the cliff, trying to ignore that mere metres separated her from either the tangled depths of the forest or the sheer drop into the ocean. They talked to distract each other. First they ironed out their story, Hermione couldn't afford any more trouble and could only imagine her father's comments if he found out she followed a boy alone into a forest while abroad. They decided that Hermione fell asleep while around the fire, and unresponsive wondered into the forest. Hiro followed the sleepwalker, knowing you're not supposed to wake them, with the intent on bringing her back to camp when she woke.
She just hoped no one got lost in the woods looking for them. If they did, it was her fault...
"You'll let me know if anything does happen with the house elves?" Hermione asked as they walked hand in hand.. "I hate that I'm not going to be around long enough to see the outcome, if any."
Hiro nodded. "I don't expect anything more to happen, at least not for some time. But you know I'll write you- Is that a teacher?"
A tall figure stood at the edge of the cliff, a man, Hermione thought. What was he doing? The two cautiously approached and Hermione's glee vanished. The man stared into the three-quarter moon. He wore shabby robes- a wizard- and despite looking to be about her father's age, his light brown hair was flecked with grey and she thought he was balding. This was a troubled man, and not one of the teachers.
"Don't do it!" Hermione shouted before thinking.
The man looked back and noticed the two of them, examaning them quietly, his green eyes-tearless- carefully evaluating them. Hermione noted he looked old before his time.
"What are you-" he started. "I thought this island didn't have people on it."
"We're camping," Hiro said nervously. "The bamboo flowers tomorrow and we're here to see it."
"Ah," he smiled. "Yeah, that's one of the reasons I'm here too. Only once every sixty years? H-how many of you kids are there?"
"Loads," Hiro answered.
The man's mouth twisted uncomfortably. Hermione did believe he wanted to see the bamboo blossoms, but she also thought there was a reason he wanted this island to be without human life. Hell of a way to go...
"If you need help," Hermione clung to Hiro's hand. "We can get you it. I-erm-I don't know what you're going through-but-erm-I-erm-please don't jump!"
"Jump?" the man scoffed. "I was just enjoying the veiw, komusume. Sorry to have worried you both. I did think I was alone."
A camp was visible closer to the tree-line, and it seemed Hermione misunderstood a lot. A bedroll lay unfurled by an unlit firepit with an open book face down over it. A closed trunk sat beside it with an empty, dirty bowl sitting on top of it.
"I'm researching Yokai-Mannandake," he explained. "That's all. You two should get back to your camp."
Hermione's face flushed furiously as it became more and more apparent that she had been very wrong about the man's intentions. She was relieved of coure, and something made her feel like he wasn't being entirely forward, but he had no intention to jump. It should have been obvious. Why would a British wizard bother coming all this way just to off himself?
Stupid peice of shit...
"Yessir," Hiro said bowing. "Let's go, Mi-chan."
Hiro and Hermione found their way back to camp before sunrise to a slumbering Miyuki, Sam and Toshio around a dying fire. They woke them up to head into their perspective tents and decided not to tell anyone about the mysterious British wizard who claimed to be studying Yokai-Mannandake.
Mi-chan, Hermione mused as she drifted into asleep. I think I like it.
"Nee-chan!" Saiyaka hugged Hermione tightly. "I know you have a boyfriend now, but you'll remember to write, won't you?"
Saiyaka had recovered from Hermione's rejection fully, and adapted started calling her 'sister'-which is how Hermione thought of Saiyaka- so quickly it gave Hermione whiplash. Though she was happy the two could remain close while Hermione and Hiro were dating.
"Of course I will!" Hermione promised. "Every week, nee-chan!"
Hiro grinned at her in the brilliant afternoon sun, his messy hair blowing in the wind, lines forming around his beautiiful hazel eyes. "I'm going to miss you, Mi-chan."
Hiro lowered his face to hers and they kissed. They'd gotten much less awkward since the forest, navigating around their height difference in a way that didn't lead to the two of them falling over.
"I'll write once a week," she said before kissing him again. "I promise."
"Would it kill you two to do that alone?" Miyuki scoffed. "You don't see Kaori-chan and An-"
Anya and Kaori were indeed kissing each other goodbye as well. And though they weren't quite snogging, it did make Hiro and Hermione look very tame.
"Get together before the gaijin have to go!" Toshio ordered holding his camera. "We're going to remember this summer!"
"Toshio-kun!" Saiyaka groaned as he squeezed her next to Hermione and Hiro.
"Toshio-chan!" Sam joined in as he was squeezed onto Hiro's otherside. "You're always taking pictures. You won't even be in this one! I-"
He was cut off by Toshio yelling instructions to Anya and Kaori to squeeze in behind them. Sam was proven wrong as Toshio leaned in over his shoulder holding the camera at arms legnth, and Miyuki leapt in centre front of the group holding two fingers up and beaming. The tight cluster buckled in together as Toshio snapped pictures with a teetering camera.
Hermione didn't know which click and flash it happened on, but the lot of them crashed into the soft grass together in a tangle of limbs, each howling with laughter. Hermione sat among her friends, holding Hiro's hand and knew that no matter how the picture turned out, they would all remember this summer for the rest of their lives.