The journey through the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highnds was one Hermione Granger would never forget. The car hummed as it followed a winding, single-track road, its tires crunching over gravel and loose stones. The vast expanse of moors stretched endlessly, framed by the jagged peaks of the Fisherfield Five. The rising sun cast a golden hue over the nd, painting it with an almost ethereal glow. Hermione felt a strange sense of comfort settle over her—as though the nd itself recognized her presence and welcomed her home.

  “Are you sure about this, sweetheart?” Emma’s voice was tinged with worry as she gnced at her daughter through the rearview mirror.

  “Positive,” Hermione replied, her tone unwavering. “This area—A’Mhaighdean and the Fisherfield Five—is unique. The accounts of its isotion and the sense of unease people describe align with the hallmarks of a powerful ward. I need to understand how it works.”

  Dan, gripping the wheel, chuckled softly. “You’re too young to be this obsessed with work, Hermione. Can’t we just enjoy the view? It’s not every day you get to visit a pce called the ‘Great Wilderness.’”

  Hermione smiled faintly but didn’t reply. Her thoughts were already diving into theories about the ward she was convinced protected the Fisherfield Five. She had read about powerful warding systems in books, but to study one so ancient and vast? That was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. More than that, a fragment of her inheritance had come to mind: Bound in stone, the heart of the line waits. The star's path reveals the keeper's mark. It had seemed enigmatic at the time, but now it resonated with startling crity. The phrase "bound in stone" likely referred to familial magic—wards tied to blood—and "heart of the line" might have been a poetic way of describing the arteries of bloodlines themselves.

  The Grangers parked at the edge of a gravel lot near the trailhead. The expanse of wilderness y ahead, its untouched beauty a stark contrast to the bustling Muggle world they had left behind. As they stepped out of the car, Hermione’s parents looked around, their expressions a mixture of awe and unease.

  “It’s beautiful,” Emma said, her voice hushed. “But… doesn’t it feel a bit… oppressive?”

  Hermione turned her gaze to the peaks and inhaled deeply. To her, the air felt alive, brimming with potential and energy. “That’s the ward,” she said, slinging her rucksack over her shoulder. “It’s designed to discourage people from staying here too long. Most accounts describe feelings of restlessness and unease. Some even mention their tools failing if they try to build anything.”

  Her father raised an eyebrow. “And this is where you wanted to drag us on holiday?”

  Hermione rolled her eyes. “It’s not just a holiday. It’s research. Besides, I needed a break from… well, everything.” She hesitated, gncing at her parents, who exchanged a knowing look.

  “You mean Hogwarts?” Emma asked gently.

  Hermione’s expression softened. “It’s… complicated. There’s so much I can’t expin to you, but it helps being here. Understanding how magic interacts with the world—with nature—is important to me. And I’m gd you’re here too.”

  Emma reached out and squeezed Hermione’s hand. “We’re always here for you, no matter how complicated things get. Just remember, you’re not alone in this.”

  The reassurance bolstered Hermione more than she expected. She nodded, her resolve strengthening. “Thank you, Mum. Now, let’s get moving. The sooner we get to the base of A’Mhaighdean, the sooner I can start figuring this out.”

  As they began their hike, Hermione felt an inexplicable connection to the nd, as if it were guiding her steps. The oppressive hum that her parents described seemed to part for her, repced by a sense of warmth and belonging. Yet behind her, Dan and Emma exchanged gnces, their unease growing with every step. Emma shivered, rubbing her arms as though the air had grown colder.

  “Does it feel… heavier to you?” Emma whispered to Dan.

  “Heavier? More like we’re being watched,” Dan muttered, gncing at the peaks that loomed above them. “But Hermione seems fine. Look at her—she’s practically glowing.”

  As Dan spoke, Hermione’s wild curls seemed to grow even wilder, as though caught in an invisible breeze. For a moment, her hair shimmered faintly, catching the light in a way that made it seem almost otherworldly. Emma blinked, her breath hitching at the sight, but Hermione appeared completely unaware of the change.

  At a narrow pass fnked by steep slopes, Hermione paused. The air shimmered slightly ahead of her, and a figure began to take form. It wasn’t a person but a totem-like construct, carved from stone and wood, with runes etched deeply into its surface. Its eyes glowed faintly, a soft green light emanating from the sockets. As she stepped closer, Hermione noticed something else—etched into the totem’s surface was a faint depiction of a consteltion.

  The sight took her breath away. The star’s path reveals the keeper’s mark, she thought. It wasn’t just a sentinel. This was the Keeper.

  “What is that?” Emma asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “The Keeper,” Hermione replied, her voice steady but filled with awe. “It’s here to monitor and protect the ward. This is… incredible.”

  As she drew closer, the totem’s glowing eyes shifted to her parents, and the faint hum of the ward intensified. Dan and Emma both took a step back, their unease now palpable.

  “It’s watching us,” Dan said tightly. “Hermione, are you sure this is safe?”

  Hermione turned back to them, her expression firm. “It is. But I need to make sure it recognizes you as my kin.”

  Reaching into her bag, Hermione retrieved a small knife. Without hesitation, she pricked her finger, allowing a single drop of blood to fall onto the totem’s surface. The runes fred brighter, and a low, resonant hum echoed through the air. The phrase "bound in stone" took on a literal meaning as the Keeper’s glow responded to her blood.

  “I decre them my kin,” Hermione said, her voice strong and clear. “By my blood, let them be known to the ward.”

  The Keeper’s glow dimmed momentarily before surging with renewed vigour. The hum softened, and the oppressive atmosphere around Dan and Emma eased completely, repced by a sense of calm and quiet invitation. The surrounding air seemed to lighten, and the faint scent of heather wafted through, as though the nd itself had opened its arms to them. Emma let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

  “Well, that was… dramatic,” Dan muttered, though his tension had clearly lessened.

  Hermione smiled faintly, wiping her hand on a handkerchief. “We should be fine now. Let’s keep going.”

  As they turned to move forward, the Keeper shifted again. Its glowing eyes dimmed, and a hidden compartment at its base slid open with a soft, grinding sound. Hermione froze, then crouched down to inspect it. Inside y a stone tablet etched with another riddle:

  Five peaks rise to pierce the sky; in their shadow, secrets lie. Paths unseen, yet must be found—the heart awaits within the ground.

  Hermione read it aloud, her brow furrowing in thought. "Another riddle. This must be tied to the Fisherfield Five." She gnced at her parents. "We’re definitely in the right pce."

  The chill of the December air wrapped around Hermione and her parents as they ventured deeper into the Great Wilderness. The ground beneath them was uneven, with a mixture of rocky outcroppings and patches of moss that made each step deliberate. Hermione consulted a map she had brought along, her fingers tracing the route toward the first of the Fisherfield Five, Beinn Tarsuinn.

  The pn was straightforward: follow the established trail for the first day and reach a suitable camping spot. From there, they would hike to the peaks and explore the surrounding areas for any signs of the riddle’s meaning.

  By mid-afternoon, they reached a ft, grassy area surrounded by scattered rocks and tall, slender trees. The sunlight filtering through the clouds cast dappled shadows over the campsite, and the distant peaks loomed, majestic and unyielding.

  Dan set down his pack with a groan. “I don’t know how you convinced me to do this, Hermione, but my legs are going to remember it tomorrow.”

  Emma ughed, shaking her head. “I thought dentists were supposed to have stamina. Besides, or is that not what you meant when you said you could drill for hours?” she smirked whilst Dan just looked shocked she made the joke in front of their daughter.

  Hermione, however, was less focused on her parents’ banter. As she unpacked her own bag, her attention was drawn to a peculiar ring of mushrooms just beyond the campsite. The arrangement was unnaturally perfect—a perfect circle of small, white-capped fungi standing in stark contrast to the uneven wilderness.

  “A fairy circle,” she murmured under her breath.

  Her mother caught her tone. “What’s that, dear?”

  Hermione hesitated before replying. “It’s… a naturally occurring phenomenon, but in magical lore, they’re considered portals or pces where the Fae gather.”

  Dan raised an eyebrow. “The Fae? You mean like fairies?”

  “Yes,” Hermione said, stepping closer to the circle but stopping just shy of its edge. She crouched down, her eyes scanning the mushrooms. “In magical tradition, they’re pces of power. You never step inside one unless invited, and you always show respect.” She gnced back at her parents. “There are rules to interacting with the Fae, and you do not want to fall foul of those rules, no one has ever been heard of after they do.”

  Dan looked sceptical. “I take it that means we’re not going near that thing.”

  “Exactly,” Hermione said firmly. “But I need to leave an offering. It’s considered polite.”

  She rummaged through her bag, pulling out a small vial of honey and a pinch of dried vender. She pced them carefully at the edge of the circle, murmuring a quiet thanks. As she stepped back, the faintest shimmer passed over the circle, as though the air itself had acknowledged her offering.

  Her parents watched silently, and even Dan refrained from making a joke.

  As night fell, the trio settled into their tents, the stars glittering brilliantly above them. Hermione y awake, her mind turning over the riddle and the day’s discoveries. The fairy circle had been unexpected, but it was a sign that the wilderness was alive with old magic, and old magic, was exactly what she was looking for.