Please be aware of the angsty beginnings. I didn't put this story under angst because i like happy endings;)
Chapter 1
Her heart beat wildly, the water around her heightening its volume, muting the unhindered pants she has been making.
She could feel it, at the pit of her stomach… building up… building up, as she went faster…
Memories flashed through Hermione Granger's mind… Harry and Ginny's wedding, both happy, both in love… Ron holding her hand, blue eyes on hers as they mutually agreed what they had was not what they'd hoped.
Sighing, she removed her fingers from where it had been, thinking she will never be able to find that kind of happiness. She longed for that fullness, that glow; A year since her break-up, and two since the war's end, and she was still lacking it.
She feels more alone than ever before.
Her eyes remained close as she willed her self to relax, take in the scents of mixed citrus from her bath oils, and forget everything. It is only at the confines of her bath that she felt this free.
Not a single care about the world and its on going prejudices, or her life of solitude.
Weightless.
Free of the pity glances from strangers and from her friends… They never believed her when she told them they'd long since parted. Ron loved her and would never, even dream of the one letting go, unless…
And they were right. He did love her. She does, too.
That reality eats her alive… The knowledge that her Ron, her selfless Ron, spent the remaining days of his precious life in solitude just so she would not witness it, and so it would be easier for her to move on.
That only made it worse. The guilt is tearing her apart. She made Ron feel unloved and unwanted. She made him feel he has wasted a year of his life with her. The thought that her best friend, the man he loved… the man she thought she loved left this cruel world thinking those has driven her to this.
She deserves this life. She has no business ruining other people's lives with her presence. She's done enough.
She rose up the bath, pushing all thoughts aside, putting her concentration to the task at hand.
Hermione Granger is currently the leading Healing Potions Researcher in the country; although, others knew her as Jane Watson, the blonde, unattractive girl who grew up outside Britain. She wore thick-rimmed glasses, had acne on her face and always, always wore a frown. The latter probably the only thing Jane and Hermione had in common.
Even as Jane Watson, she rarely ever met people. She's mostly stuck in her research lab, or in the comforts of her own studio flat-slash-make-shift library. She lived at a magical community just outside Central London, her apartment is in a tower, built fairly recently, that boasted the latest wizardry architecture and, of course, her most coveted privacy.
She liked her flat, it was very her… it wasn't enough that each wall was covered with muggle and wizard literature, she also had her levitating bookshelves that glow in the dark and act as an alternative light source. She also liked the view.
She lived on the top-most floor, with another tenant just across her flat. It was a pity she didn't have the other flat, she could have made a greenhouse for her herbs, or maybe just read and relax. She wonders if the tenant would be kind enough to let her have a peak, 'No matter', she thought, 'this flat is enough, and what use would having a look at it, do?'
She's never had a chance to meet said tenant, and she never intends to. She rarely ever uses the tower lift, opting to floo or apparate to her lab instead. However, this day, she was going to have to. The tower had placed new rules to enhance privacy, which she found unnecessary. Flooing and apparition are still allowed, given that the witch or wizard's name is listed. This made Hermione's eyes roll, as the idea of your visitor's names compiled in one parchment completely dishevels the whole point of privacy. That wouldn't apply to her anyway, she doesn't receive visits nor does she plan to, she wonders if Jane Watson is considered a different person.
Jane Watson came from the marriage of Polyjuice potion and some Advance transfiguration. Technically she was still herself. She used her own DNA, transfigured some genes and put it in the polyjuice. She had thought of permanently transfiguring herself as Jane Watson, but backed out. She can't, and won't run away from her self-imposed solitude.
She does not deserve a second chance.
Hermione drank her coffee laced with polyjuice, and left her home as soon as she felt her body change. The tower's changes meant that she was going to have to floo from the Apparition Floor, the only place that allows travel, at the moment. She couldn't very well apparate to where she's headed because of its wards, and she was wary that if she apparated to the only place in that house she recalled, her cover might get blown. And besides, she needs to act professional.
The room is lined with fireplaces, much like the Ministry's atrium, only this room was all white save for the fireplaces which were tiled in black.
Hermione chose the one closest to the door, grabbed a handful of floo powder as she shouted,
"Malfoy Manor!"
review please?;)
intended it to be a one-shot but the story just grew and grew. oh well, it's still going to be short though.
be a dear and tell me what you think:)