Large English manors usually had basements for storing food, wine, and various miscellaneous items—and naturally, the Granger family's residence was no exception.
In the dim, cold underground passage, only the flickering yellow light of a lantern shone faintly as Hermione slowly made her way deeper inside.
At the end of the corridor stood a brand new iron door, starkly out of place amidst the slightly aged stone walls. The door was clearly installed not long ago. Faint wisps of black mist curled along its edges like living shadows.
The little girl approached quietly, noting that the iron door remained tightly shut. She pursed her lips, pressed her ear gently against the cold metal, and listened for any sign of movement within.
But there was nothing.
"…Kai?"
Her voice was barely above a whisper, as though she feared disturbing him—or perhaps feared there would be no reply.
At the sound of her voice, the black mist recoiled slightly, retreating inward as if startled. A long silence followed… and then, Kai's voice emerged, low and familiar.
"Hermione? Why are you here?"
Relief softened her tense expression immediately.
"You've been in there for three days. Last month, it only took you one. I was worried… something might have happened."
"Three days…?" Kai's voice held mild surprise.
From behind the door, his footsteps sounded, and with a metallic creak, the iron door eased open. Kai's silhouette appeared, framed by the faint golden light of the lanterns. His sharp features were paler than usual, likely from the long stretch spent confined in darkness.
Hermione's eyes swept over him, inspecting him head to toe. Only after confirming that he was, at least outwardly, unharmed did she puff out her cheeks in frustration.
"Why do you always lock yourself down here like some prisoner? If something happened, I'd have no idea."
Kai reached out, ruffling her curls with a faint, amused smile. Hermione's pout deepened, but she didn't bat his hand away.
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to me. I promised to take you traveling, didn't I?"
"You remembered! Good, because don't forget—we've got a Soul Oath. If something happens to you, I'm finished too."
Kai's lips curled, neither denying nor confirming, as he gently changed the subject.
"Come on, let's eat. I'm starving."
"You still know how to be hungry?" Hermione huffed, but she instantly reached for his hand. "You're lucky. Mum just finished breakfast—otherwise, you'd be stuck with Dobby's leftovers."
"Dobby leaves leftovers?"
"…Don't push your luck."
In the sunlit dining room, Kai ate quickly yet with his usual composed elegance, while Hermione rested her chin in her hands, watching him intently.
"Why did it take so long this time?" she asked quietly.
Kai set his tea down, his pale eyes reflective.
"I think I've found a way to fully control the Obscurus."
"Really?" Hermione straightened, her brown eyes wide with hopeful surprise.
Kai nodded slightly. Ever since he had… killed someone last year, the Obscurus's monthly flare-ups had grown more violent, more dangerous. Though he'd barely managed to suppress it again, the threat never truly left—a storm always building beneath the surface.
But three days ago, everything changed.
He'd seen the vision—the prophecy.
A room he knew for certain he'd never visited, not in this life or his last… and yet, deep in the back of his mind, there was an undeniable certainty that he could find it.
The Obscurus had reacted violently to that prophecy—more than it ever had before.
He had a bold theory.
The original soul of this body—of Kai Adler—wasn't entirely gone.
His best guess? The original Kai had died from an Obscurus outburst, but like a certain Tom Riddle, a fragment of his soul had been swallowed by the Obscurus.
Logically, a disembodied soul fragment should have dissipated. But the Old Man had once told him—souls that cling to this world do so for a reason. An unfulfilled obsession… a powerful, lingering will.
It explained the Obscurus's continued "tantrums."
If he wanted full control, he'd have to resolve that lingering obsession.
The prophecy had given him the direction he needed.
"So? What's the method?" Hermione pressed.
"I won't know for certain until I get there. But… our trip might require a little detour."
"Where exactly are we going?"
Kai's lips curved into something between amusement and nostalgia.
"My hometown."
A day later, Hermione, dressed neatly in a smart little travel coat, followed Kai along the bustling streets, her curious eyes wide as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"So, this is your hometown? What's it called again? Hamburg?"
Kai glanced at the towering, modern buildings and the crowded cityscape.
It was far more developed than the Germany he remembered from his old life.
"Sort of," he replied vaguely. His real home was further inland, but this… this was close enough.
"It's so far… we even had to take a plane," Hermione complained, wrinkling her nose.
She hated flying, whether on a broom or an airplane. Suspended high above ground on some machine or magic always left her uneasy.
The two wandered through the city, Kai following the vague tug in his mind—an instinct born from memory and the haunting pull of the prophecy.
Hermione asked no more questions, simply trusting him to lead.
Gradually, the bright, modern city gave way to something older, grittier. The polished streets faded into cracked stone and narrow alleys. The buildings grew shorter, their facades worn by time.
This was clearly one of the city's poorer, forgotten quarters.
Men in work coats loitered on street corners, eyeing the pair with idle curiosity—especially Hermione, whose fair skin, chestnut curls, and polished clothing marked her as a foreigner at a glance.
Tourists rarely wandered into districts like this.
As Kai led them around a corner, a sharp voice called out behind them.
"Hey! You two—kids—hold it!"
The man jogged over, older, rough around the edges, but not unkind. His accent was thick, distinctively local.
Seeing their foreign appearance, especially Hermione's, he switched to broken English, gesturing wildly.
"No… that way… not safe…"
Kai offered a polite smile.
"It's alright, sir. You can speak German—we both understand."
The man blinked in surprise at Kai's flawless accent, finally taking in his German features beneath the foreign clothing.
"Ah, you should've said so earlier," the man relaxed, waving a hand. His gaze flicked to Hermione with faint curiosity. "Tourists, are you?"
The pair nodded.
"Then what are you doing here? You should be in the old city center—plenty to see and eat there! This place…" He frowned. "Not safe. Abandoned buildings, rough crowd… even grown men get mugged here. You kids wouldn't stand a chance."
Hermione glanced up at Kai, clearly not following their rapid German exchange, her eyes questioning.
Kai gently squeezed her hand. "I'll explain later."
Abandoned buildings… sounds about right.
"Thank you for the warning, sir," Kai replied sincerely.
"Seriously, lad, turn around. You'll find nothing but trouble down there," the man insisted.
Kai offered another small smile, his pale eyes darkening just slightly.
"Sir… I appreciate your concern, but it's alright now. You should head back, get some rest."
The man's expression faltered, his eyes momentarily clouding as a subtle compulsion weaved through Kai's voice.
"…Yeah… I'll head back… get some rest…"
As the man shuffled away, Kai's gaze sharpened toward the decaying alley beyond.
The place that called to him lay just ahead.
And with it, the answers they sought.