Pretty as a picture Chapter 1: Hermione, a harry potter fanfic

Hello,

This is a short story, probably 3-2 chapters.

Post-war, dark Hermione, not everything is at it should, as it seems.

There is angst and drama. Not ethic behaviours.

Hope you will enjoy - if so - let me know!

Yours ems

P.S This is a translation of my story, original is called 'Jak z obrazka' and is also available on this account.

Pretty as a picture

Twenty five years old Hermione Granger had everything. Her life was like a dream picture stolen from popular autobiography book.

Hermione Granger – one of the invincible trio, heroine of magic world, the brightest witch of her age. Just after the war, she came back to Hogwart. She has finished school at shortest possible time with honors. She got a job immediately in a Ministry of Magic, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creature. When she turned twenty one years, she has been promoted and moved to Department of Magical Law Enforcement. After four years, she became the Head of all department. In private, she is engaged to Ron Weasley, lives quietly in Godric's Hollow. In her free time, she reads a lot, likes Hungarian wine and lately she recently began to explore the psychological aspects of human nature.

Balls in the Ministry of Magic were famous for its glamor and magnificence. There were plenty of delicious food and fantastic drinks, the dance was always accompanied by excellent bands. Invited people belonged to the upper crust. The Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, placed the satisfaction of guests and the crown on the front page of the Daily Prophet as a point of honor.

Tonight could not have been different, and the opportunity was delicious. The party was conceived as a congratulation for the brightest witch of her time - Hermione Granger. For two days she held the honorable position of the Head of the entire Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

The room was bursting at its seams, but the interested person was not there yet. In the crowd you could see, apart from the Minister of Magic and individual Ministers, the entire Weasley family. At their side stood, with a glass of champagne in his hand, laughing Harry Potter, who was also the Head of the Aurors. Somewhere in the distance, you could see brightly shining Malfoys blond hairs brightly - Dracon was also working for the Ministry, still trying to reward the events of the war.

Kingsley began to get a little impatient, Hermione never belonged to people who were late. What did, for Merlin, stop her for so long ?!

Hermione looked at the dress hanging on the hanger and felt an unpleasant cramp in her stomach. The dress in color of hot red was chosen two weeks ago and was meticulously matched by Madame Malkin.

She must hurry up, because she should have been on Ball for a long time. If only she could cancel it ...

Today was not the best day for this type of event. Really, the date was the worst possible of the worst.

The contraction in her stomach grew stronger, and she was not allowed to get nervous, so she began to use breathing technique.

Of course, as usual, it did not work.

If only she could cancel this damnable party!

The clatter of heels echoed through the hall as Hermione quickly moved to the place of the ball. She knew she was really late, but she counted on Shackebolt's charisma and that he would somehow explain her delay.

When the door has opened and she went inside, she felt all eyes rest on her. Shackelbolt, as soon as he noticed her, began to squeeze through the crowd into her with a broad smile.

- Hermione! Finally! He whispered with unpleasant reproach as he greeted her.

"Sorry, Kingsley ..." she managed to answer when the Minister of Magic roared with a broad smile:

- And here she is - the new Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement - Hermione Granger! I am asking everyone for an applause!

From everywhere, there was a loud applause which gently shielded Hermione. Immediately she felt her breathing speed up and if not for Kingsley's slight push, she might have fainted.

"You have to make a speech, Hermione," he said quietly as they squeezed through the crowd toward the elevation. - Everything is written on parchment, all you need to do is read if you have not prepared anything.

In fact, she did not forget about that - she just did not realize she need to do it. She was never good in public speeches, it was better to answermostly unasked, questions.

- Thank you, Kingsley.

They entered the podium and if someone asked her what she said, she would have to subtly change the subject.

An hour later, she felt tired of constant greeting, receiving congratulations, and leading meaningless discussions.
The last element was left to handling for her- the Weasleys. She was most afraid of them and she knew she couldn't avoid confrontation. She had to face them. Hermione decided to start with the most neutral person in the whole family - Arthur, with whom she cooperated on a daily basis. He had been accompanied by other prominent people from the Ministry of Magic. As soon as he saw her, he waved to her. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began as she approached him. "Here is my future daughter-in-law, great Hermione Granger," he introduced her to the other Wizards, and they looked at her with an approval.
- Well, well, Arthur. Lucky you! – Said small, barrel-shaped man, with a crooked mustache. Most likely, he has been working with Arthur in the Department.

- Don't be envious, just congratulate me for such a beautiful, talented future daughter-in-law! - Arthur replied, and Hermione felt uncomfortable.

Apparently, Arthur did not know yet. And that was not the right place nor time for ... such revelations.
- Hello Gentlemen, it's very nice to chat with you, but I have to apologize and rush to a different place. Hermione tried to mask her real feelings with a forced smile.

- Of course, Hermione. It's your ball, go have fun as you are still young! Mr. Weasley laughed and the rest followed him.

She quickly fled to the toilet, because, in fact, she felt really weak. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. She did not see in the mirror this genius person she was created in the minds of others. The picture has not been that pretty as it seemed to be.

All she could see was gray complexion, dark circles under her eyes and anger. Nobody knew what was happening in her soul lately. The last years and months were not that perfect. She splashed her cheeks with cold tap water, but it did not help much. She knew she had to get herself together and get back to the party quickly. Her absence would have been noticed and she would not get away in Kingsley's eyes.

And again, Hermione felt a cramp in her stomach. She has closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She put her hand on her stomach and rubbed him. She shouldn't experience that amount of stress in such an early stage of pregnancy. Just two days ago, she began third month and it was not a straightforward time. Nobody has been informed yet. When trying on a dress, she noticed a small bulge in her abdomen. Only a trained eye could catch it, but nobody ever suspected it. In the perfect picture of her, there was no place for pregnancy. In the perfect picture there was no place for many things that happened in her life.

Only she made the decision to return to Hogwarts. Harry couldn't look at the gloomy walls of the castle that had been destroyed during the war. He preferred to focus on rebuilding the entire magical world from the debris. At first, Ron enjoyed the fame they were surrounded and did not want to get back to school for anyamount. After one and a half year, he got a lucrative proposition to play professedly Quidditch, which he accepted with big relief. Thanks to this, Molly could not reproach him and nagged him anymore. In the end, he had a job that was not entirely consistent with her standards, but he at least did something.

Hermione returned to Hogwarts for two main reasons. First, she knew she would have to finish school sooner or later. She preferred the soonest option. Second, she didn't want to be lonely at that time. The postwar world didn't look beautiful - it was dirty, full of pain and anger, mixed with some joy, uncertain, but finally free. She also wanted to help Professor McGonagall in rebuilding the splendor of the castle.

It was a hard, dark time. Whenever she walked along the dilapidated corridors, she felt the weight of history with redoubled strength. She knew that although they were victorious, it was really a long road ahead of them. The war has tarnished everything and everyone. Only material losses could be seen with the naked eye, spiritual losses were hidden deep into souls.

War in the world of magic took a fraction of humanity from people. Crimes and terror they have suffered have left their mark forever. War destroyed goodness, nobility, selflessness. Not at all, but t a significant part of it.

Hermione felt empty after the war. As if Dementor deprived her of her soul. She never confided to anyone completely - she didn't feel such a need. She thought that her wounds were only hers and no one should know about them. It was only with the passage of time that she learned to seal off her wounds and open her soul more than she usually used during the first post-war years. Over time, she learned to heal wounds and open her soul more than she used to in the first post-war years. Time spent in Hogwarts, though short, gave her space to put her life back together. Thinking about who she was, who she is and who she should be in the future. And of course her plans didn't have much in common with what was happening later, nevertheless this time gave her the foundation of trust in reality. She never came back to that Hermione from before, she was never able to look at the world as if nothing had happened. The burned scar on her hand reminded her of it too painfully.

She immediately got a job in a Ministry of Magic, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creature

After Hogwarts, she wondered what department she should go to. In this situation, Arthur Weasley helped her. He offered her the job of assistant in his department. He apologized for a low-paid position, but Hermione accepted his hand with gratitude.

At this stage of life, there were not so many positives aspects, however - she was happy that she survived the war and graduated from Hogwarts. She was constantly struggling with various traumas and she needed new, neutral stimuli.

Duties in the department were arduous, not very interesting and unlike anything else. Hermione made them conscientiously and at the same time, tried to put life back on track. Now, in the perspective of time, it was the most pleasant place she could work.

The Department's atmosphere was very joyful, the work wasn't so demanding. It helped her to enter much more calmly into real adulthood than she would dare to expect. Arthur was always a rock for her, he was someone she could turn to in case of a doubt. Of course, she could not tell him everything, but he often lifted her spirits. As of today, she would not have the courage to go to him and look into his eyes. He persuaded her to change as soon as the opportunity arose.

When she turned twenty one years, she has been promoted and moved to Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

When she came to this department, the first thing that struck her was silence. People working in this Department haven't talked to each other, they rather used owls or sealed airplanes. During first months, Hermione felt very uncomfortable, used to the looser atmosphere in the previous department. After a few months, she got used to it and fell silent too. Not much left of the talkative Miss Granger from the past.

Their work was much more demanding, and she often stayed overtime. In the post-war world, rules had to be redefined. Something that was once allowed due to prevailing circumstances, now had to be forbidden with derogations or forbidden at all.

Hermione often struggled with terrible situations, when she had to judge people and decide if the spell was cast in accordance with the law. It had happened quite often, when she read the protocols of offenses, that her thoughts returned to the war time. The moral code during the war did not exist, unforgivable curses were used as often as Lumos. Now, in the new reality, there was no place for such indulgence.

Judgments were made very often, people were convicted for actions that were obvious in the past.
Working in this department put some human instincts to sleep in Hermione. She sometimes felt a bit like starting a new war. Only this time it was happening in herself.

Every war is devastating, so at some point she felt she had enough. She wanted to drop it all and hide somewhere at the end of the world. In overcoming her fears, alcohol began to help her.

In addition, after two years she was assigned to create new rules. Principles that once and for all had to sort out everything that has not been explained since the end of the war

This project was much darker than anyone suspected. Ministers who worked on it often violated the law themselves. They did it in a ruthless way, but due to their functions they were unbeatable.

Hermione at the beginning was silent and watched what was happening. Her voice had little meaning - maybe she was the brightest witch of her time, but that glow in the depths of the Ministry was a rather pale afterglow. The cruelty of some individuals touched her - she was often unable to protest, while in the past she would stand up and leave the room. Now, in the face of a new, better world, she sat meekly and did all the commands. There were days when she sat up late into the night in the company of the Fire Whiskey.

After four years, she became the Head of all Department.

She always had very good contact with Kingsley Shacklebolt. It is obvious that they were approached by the war for Hogwarts and the struggle against That-Whose-Name-Is-No-Longer-Terrible. She knew that the Minister of Magic fully trusted her and that if she had a problem - she could boldly come to him.

For four years she remained silent, holding everything within her. In fact, there were only two people who suspected that something bad was going on. One of these people was Harry and he caused an avalanche. One time, Hermione's superior got mad at an unfinished report. Her explanations didn't help her. She said that the day before she left at midnight and that she would finish report in two hours. He got furious and started throwing things in his office. Previously, such things have already taken place, attacks happened regularly before the end of the month. House elves were always witnesses.

Hermione stood at the right side of the desk, near the wall. Today, he brought a decorative cat figurine, which was in pieces near her feet, a pen, a feather and a glass inkwell. Unfortunately, he did not aim with the inkwell, which crashed exactly at the right of his desk against the wall. A dozen of larger glass fragments drove into Hermione's hand. She only stood and looked at him with cold eyes. He did not even notice this fact in the madness.

Hermione left the office, after a few minutes she realized what had happened and began to tremble. She decided that for a long time she would hide on the least-frequented floor - in the Department of Mysteries. When she got there, she sat down with a trembling hand and took out pieces of glass. At the same time, a few hot drops flowed from her eyes.

- Hermione, what the hell?

It was Harry, and she remembers the rest as if through fog. He dragged her to Kingsley, which caused a storm. She had never seen such horror before in his eyes.

The Ministry of Magic was shocked when she was appointed Head of the entire Department. Of course, everything was somehow swept under the carpet. Kingsley said she deserved this promotion absolutely. Hermione could say that she was always standing next to these events - taught by the experience that real emotions must be deeply hidden. From the moment the statement was made, exactly three months passed - it took so much to organize the department.
At the age of twenty-five, she had practically everything.

In private, she is engaged to Ron Weasley, lives quietly in Godric's Hollow.

Immediately after the war they stated that it was good if they were together. Actually, they spent the first year alone. Only after she started working in the Ministry, they lived together in the house in Godric's Hollow. For the first few months it was really good - Ron was there and he was looking for a job while basking in the splendor of the survivor. She herself was fascinated by work in the Ministry and had a lot of new energy to try and create a relationship.

For a time, she could not wait for Ron to propose. She was hoping for every time he came home after the football season. But instead, he brought figures of dragons, players or huge posters that were never hung on the wall.

In addition, Molly began to insist and be pushy on Ron, but he was very stubborn. Sometimes Molly complained to Hermione and said she could not wait to the moment Hermione will be in the family.

In fact, Hermione did not feel such a need - she valued the Weasleys, but she didn't necessarily have to be part of them just now. She needed affection and a sense of security, love - all those elements that can fill an empty, burned soul.

Their relationship began to deteriorate as she changed Department. With this change, darkness reached her soul. She was less and less like the warm, happy Hermione of her youth. She became colder, which impacted their relationship.

It's not like it was just her fault. Ron also didn't try, he treated everything for a certain - that he has home to go back, that he will find freshly washed things, a bed covered and a warm dinner. It was enough for him. Although not - sometimes he also required sex.

Hermione never considered herself as a sexual person. Rather, she had a reserve for that. Yes, it was pleasant, but it did not make sense to her life. He would not call Ron a skilled lover, nor did she consider herself an expert in these matters. They had sex on average once a month, which over the years even decreased.

And this time it was Hermione's fault. After two years of work at the Department, when her responsibilities were changed and new ones were imposed, she fell into a state of depression. Ron wasn't home at all, he went on a two-year contract to Brazil. He only returned to England for Christmas.

Hermione was left alone in this whole traumatic situation and tried to find a solution. She came to the conclusion that alcohol is not something that helps her forget. Yes, it loosens her and makes reality a bit easier for the moment, but in the long run?

The solution came on its own.

One cloudy evening in Burrow, Hermione sat with Bill's company.. It was one of the days Ron was returning and they were visiting Weasley's together.

At the same time, Bill and Fleur also decided to visit. Ron decided to use this time and bought tickets for a rare festival of something.

Hermione didn't want to go, so she offered Fleur her place. Fleur accepted the offer. they were left alone, Hermione and Bill.

After a very hard week at the Ministry, she dreamed of a glass of Fire Whiskey, so she proposed a drink to Bill as well. The oldest of the Weasleys was a little surprised by the offer, but he did not object. They sat on the sofa and drank the liquor.

Hermione, taught to silence, did not start talking. This situation has hit Bill very much. He kept a different image of her in his head all the time. After all, her life was pretty like a picture.

After some time that he started a casual conversation that stopped at some point without a conclusion.

- Bill, how are you living after the war?

He wouldn't have expected this question in his life, and he didn't really want to answer it. But Hermione's blank stare and the change in her, somehow forced him to answer. They talked with each other for several dozen minutes and only poured more and more whiskey.

Suddenly, when the topic was over, Hermione burst into tears. Anesthetized with alcohol, everything that happened in the last days has reached her. There was no longer cold Hermione, just a lost, sensitive one – this side that is hidden deeply every day.

Bill didn't know what to do, so he took her face and began to wipe away tears. The sight of this large, brown eyes moved a string in his soul.

Before he knew it, Hermione kissed him. He saw that only after a dozen or so seconds she realized what she had done. But he didn't see any fear or regret in them - her eyes were inscrutable.

He should have moved away, but he haven't. Hermione has repeated the kiss, and he haven't pushed her away. With each kiss, he felt an increasingly stronger moral need to retreat, but his body had a different opinion.

He felt excitement and it was at this moment that his instinct took over him. In addition, wild lust in Hermione's eyes washed away all hisdoubts.

It was not a vanilla sex, they made love like a couple of savages, for whom only instincts rule. Feelings went to the background, only emotions were important.

Here and now.

After the fact they were silent, what they did was not ethical, but they needed it the most at this point.

The next day, at the solemn family dinner, Ron knelt down and took out the box with the ring.

That's her dreamed-for, expected-that ... It was not needed anymore.

Molly cried with joy, Fleur clapped, and Bill - his eyes were a mystery.

She agreed, because what was she was supposed to do?

In her free time, she reads a lot, likes Hungarian wine and lately she recently began to explore the psychological aspects of human nature.

Two years after that event, she stood in the bathroom and stared at her reflection. The last two years were similar to nothing and if someone heard this story, she doubted that he would believe her.
Because in the end she was the brightest witch of her time and her life was pretty like the picture.