3. Bill
Two years earlier
Shortly after the engagement, Ron left, and Hermione returned to the gray reality. For some time she was assigned to new tasks, which turned out to be one of the darkest experiences in her life.
She was responsible for creating new rules that would once and for all bring order to the world of magic. She had to devote a huge amount of time to investigating the cases in which judgments were given earlier. In the post-war world, rules had to be redefined. Something that was once allowed due to prevailing circumstances must now be forbidden with derogations or forbidden. She often struggled with terrible situations in which she had to judge the situation of people and decide whether the spell was cast in accordance with the law. Often reading the protocols of offenses, she returned her thoughts to war. Judgments were made very often, people were convicted for what was once obvious.
Her new tasks - work - focused on finding precedents and nuances that the Ministry could support the new regime. The people she worked with were called specialists, the best of the best. Often their knowledge has been acquired in a way far from legal. Most of them worked in the Ministry during the war, and thus during the reign of Voldemort. They did not commit any crimes, so they were not judged and put in Azkaban. On the contrary - they were promoted and made even more important.
For Hermione it was a huge shock, once again her ideals crashed like a glass ball.
The whole project her department was working on was darker than anyone suspected. Methods that were used, no one in their right mind would treat asethical. Not once, not twice, Ministers broke the law. They did it in a ruthless way, but due to their functions they were unbeatable.
The cruelty of some of the units touched her - she was often unable to protest the situation in which in the past, she once got up and left. The moral code did not exist during the war, it was obvious. For many it was not obvious that there was no place for leniency in the new reality. Everyone could be judged by a measure didn't have known publicly.
And Hermione's task was to invent a measure that would bring order and chaos at the same time.
Working in this department caused Hermione to put some human instincts to sleep - a bit like she was starting to participate in 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 fears, for the first two years, she was using alcohol as help.
It was hard to call it a habit, it was more like a springboard from everyday life. There were times when she did not touch the Fire Whiskey, because she simply did not want to do anything but sleep. Sometimes she could spend the whole weekend buried in a blanket, with a book and a glass. It also happened that she sat in the kitchen with tears in her eyes and poured whiskey into a glass, which was later emptied in two gulps. Sometimes she did not even use a glass.
She did not see the problem because no one else could tell her that she had a problem indeed. At least until she was engaged to Ron.
Ron himself was absolutely unaware of what was happening in Hermione's life. And he never actually learned.
In the woman's life, another Weasley accidentally appeared. Although accidentally it would have to be changed by all cases of alcohol.
One evening after a very hard day at the Ministry, she said she did not even need a glass. She dropped the keys on the dresser, changed into a bathrobe and opened a new whiskey. Hermione sat in the kitchen and felt the emptiness that enveloped her.
Last years were all alone, not counting short trips to the Nora or shopping with Ginny. Her only friend was loneliness. And whiskey.
Hermione began to slowly realize that her life is going nowhere. She was entangled in a relationship with a man for whom the broom had more value than his beloved one. She worked in a place that, under the guise of the rule of law, broke many rules. She lived like a ghost, being a guest at home. Her only escape from reality was a book and alcohol. Or alcohol and a book. Or just alcohol, like today. She had absolutely no power to read anything, her head pulsed as soon as she left the Ministry.
The post-war reality turned out to be a chuckle of fate.
She put the bottle to her mouth and took some solid gulps. Strong alcohol burned into the esophagus, but she knew it perfectly. Fire Whiskey has never let her down.
It was past 10 pm when there was little more than half of the drink in the bottle. Hermione realized that perhaps she was exaggerating a little and that she should end up when she heard a knock on the door.
With great hesitation, Hermione came up to door - she absolutely did not expect any guests today. She opened the door and saw Bill. She felt that the man had to drink at least a few beers before.
,,Hermione, we have to talk.''
She let him in with mixed feelings - she was sure she knew the reason of his visit. They went into the kitchen, where there was only a half-empty bottle of whiskey and a piece of yellow cheese. This view confused Bill - it intimate in a very uncomfortable way.
,, Sit down.'' Hermione's voice instantly became harsh, as if his words had activated defensive reactions in her.
Bill sat down and looked at her. He saw in her a little girl who was stifled by brutal adulthood.
,, Would you like a glass of Fire Whiskey?'' Without waiting for an answer, she took out two glasses and poured them in a solid portion.
,,Cheers!''
She gave him the glass and he caught her hand. He pulled her closer to him, feeling that he is stopping to think logically. It was not the reason he came here, it shouldn't look like this. They were supposed to talk.
Once again, the alcohol in his blood released all the brakes. When he saw those big brown eyes, he didn't think brightly about anything anymore. In addition, her smell - Fire Whiskey mixed with femininity.
The glass was released and shattered, because Hermione's hands were on his face. She touched his eyes, cheeks and lips. Hermione didn't know when he kissed her so hard that he even bit her bottom lip. They kissed as wild as before. Maybe even wilder?
They both perfectly knew well this should not happen. But this consciousness flowed away. Once again, all the brakes were released.
He stripped off hes robe and set Hermione down on the table with a violent gesture, breaking with a kiss her lips violently. Hermione groaned, but it was a moan of ecstasy that had even more effect on Bill's senses.
Hermione didn't hold back either, her kisses becoming more and more wild, unbridled. As if the wolf were released I herself.
Once again, instincts set a path for them.
Bill completely lost himself and in the next minutes they joined their bodies together. Hermione, when she felt his sweet weight, felt that this is something she needs the most in the world. Thinking whether they action is ethical has gone completely. Bill Weasley was here, she could touch him easily.
The ecstasy embracing her body with each subsequent thrust made her thoughts went blurred. She wanted more and faster, and Bill didn't mean to stop or refuse.
The passion, which broke between them, was like a volcano approaching the eruption.
At one point, a grimace of pure pleasure crossed Bill's face, which meant he had reached the top. Hermione did not peak, but she had to admit that it was the best sex in her life.
After the act, Bill's dark eyes changed color and returned to a normal human appearance. Hermione felt a slight embarrassment when her emotions subsided.
What they did was absolutely unethical and should not happen. But did she regret it?
She didn't. Either the first time or the second time. Her life has absorbed the darkness for a few years, so a bit more did not make her a difference in general terms.
After a few minutes, Bill dressed in silence, and Hermione put on a robe. Were any words appropriate in this situation?
,,Hermione, we should talk''- Bill started, but she shook her head.
,,Get out, Bill.'' The tone of her voice was harsh but unmutable.
The man looked at her - she saw that various thoughts were galloping in his mind - he was fighting with himself.
Amazingly, he surrendered and left. Hermione stood in the kitchen for a moment - she could smell their bodies. She opened the window and her eyes caught the Fire Whiskey.
She was sure it was enough for today - she turned off the light in the kitchen and lay down on the couch. She fell asleep at once, and for the first time in many days she did not suffer any nightmare.
A week later, Ron arrived, because Christmas were approaching. And that meant celebration in the Burrow. After Ron's arrival, everything looked normal - nothing, nothing changed.
The role of Hermione was brought to the cleaner, laundress and mistress once again, as usual. The latter came with great difficulty.
Sex with Ron was the complete opposite. Ron was not one of the prominent lovers - all his movements were uncertain. They did not know each other, they did not know their needs. In fact, they were strangers in bed. However, Hermione knew her duties and preferred not to raise suspicions.
Not that Ron guessed something ...
The day before Christmas, they went to Burrow as a pair of freshly betrothed brides. Everyone was already there, and Molly was raging with joy. The whole family under one roof! Hermione, as always, felt quite uncomfortable - especially because of her alienation recently.
Despite everything, she tried to take a good face to the bad game. And she only had a problem, as she saw Bill.
William and Fleur Weasley arrived late in the evening the day before Christmas. It has been over a week and a half since the memorable evening, which Hermione noted with extraordinary precision. They were both greeted by Molly with a warm supper and a million questions. Fleur was happy to answer them, and Bill kept his distance. In his eyes, Hermione saw a strange kind of coolness.
Late in the evening, when most of Nora was asleep, Hermione couldn't sleep. Insomnia was nothing new to her, but it was difficult to explain it to the Weasleys.
Several minutes after midnight, she went down to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. The whole household was plunged in the ubiquitous silence - it was only her and the heartbeat. She wanted to pour something stronger than water, but Molly kept all beverages under control.
Standing and looking into the sky, she heard a rustle. She turned around and saw a face that both attracted her and raised her fear.
,,Bill? ''Her voice was uncertain, it was hard to relate to it all with the right distance.
,,It's me. ''He answered, but his voice was different from what she was used to. It was primitive, much more dark.
Bill didn't know what he should do in this situation - here he was in snare, suspended between good and evil. Between wife and ... lover?
,, Hermione, we should talk.'' He tried again, and she nodded. Yes, it was probably the right time for this type of conversation.
,,Will we go outside? '' She offered, and he didn't object. Witnesses were the last coveted things at the moment.
They both dressed and went outside. For the last few days the weather was playing pranks and it was raining, but today the cool front came and it started to snow.
,,Hermione, we have to stop this.'' Bill started bluntly, and she nodded.
,, Bill, actually, nothing serious happened.'' She knew it was blasphemy , but she couldn't admit directly that Bill was right.
,,Nothing?'' His voice was really surprised. ,,It was nothing for you?''
Hermione moved away from him and started looking at the sky, at the snowflakes. After a few moments, with her face in the snow, she looked at him: "Was it something for you?" She bit her lip, staring at him dreadfully. Immediately his pupils widened. He took a few steps and grabbed her waist.
,,Hermione.'' His tone contained a few warning sounds that the woman ignored. Their faces were several centimeters apart, and they felt their breaths again.
,,What if someone catches us now? ''She glanced at him defiantly. ,,Then what?''
Hermione did not finish her sentence because she felt his rough lips on her lips. She surrendered to him without a fight, knowing that resistance wouldn't make any sense.
The kiss lasted, but at one point Bill sobered up. Once again, at the back of his head, he heard a voice that what they were is inappropriate.
Hermione felt very disappointed, and as soon as she noticed the hesitation in his eyes, she took the initiative.
She kissed brutally his lips, just as he did last time. The reaction was immediate - he grabbed her hair and pulled her to him. She felt her member swell up and it made her savage satisfaction. His senses couldn't refuse her.
"Bill," she whispered, hiding her groan. Immediately, his hands burst under the jacket in search her breasts. When he found them, Hermione was ready.
"Hermione." His voice sounded dark, as if he were coming thousands of miles from Nora.'' Hermione''
The woman had no intention of ending kisses. If he was so tangibly close, she knew - she had to - use it.
,,Take me, Bill.''
Her hoarse voice made him shiver and his member felt an unquenchable pain. Wasn't able to refuse her, even if he wanted to. His decency was overshadowed with lust.
A few minutes later he felt a bittersweet delight as soon as he joined Hermione again. A few sudden movements, restless breaths and everything made sense, even though it didn't.
,,Hermione, this is bad. '' A manifestation of consciousness forced him to react, but her half-closed eyes and the fact that she probably didn't hear his words extinguished remorse.
The chill was beginning to overwhelm them, despite the heat their bodies were making. On the other hand, they both knew that their whole meeting was a matter of a few moves.
When the emotions were gone, and in the silence they heard only their quickened breaths, they felt remorse. Bill no longer had the courage to raise this subject, and the only thing that came to his mind was the question that filled Hermione with anger.
,,Do you somehow ... protect yourself?''
Her face stiffened, and then, before heading to Burrow, she answered him coldly:
,, Of course. I'm not stupid.''
Christmas morning was treated exceptionally in the Burrow. Molly arranged a ceremonial breakfast during which the whole family would catch up. It also happened this time. Surrounded by presents, smiles and kindness, Fleur confessed to the whole family that she and Bill are expecting a baby.
Hermione's expression, like the others, indicated a deep shock. In addition, even Bill himself was surprised by the confession of his wife. He definitely wasn't aware of this fact during his meeting with Hermione yesterday.
Hermione avoided his eyes, just like interacting with everyone else. She realized once again that she is walking by herself and cannot count on anyone. It was quite a serious reflection, but she knew perfectly well that there was no time to ponder.
The end of January brought grim work events that forced the woman to clamp her teeth. The only savior was Fire Whisky, but it didn't give as much satisfaction as it used to be.
Bill, since the announcement of pregnancy, never appeared in the Godric Valley. Actually, she didn't expect this to change in the future. Their adventure was definitely over at Christmas. It was obviously supposed to be so, the fate decided on theirs behalf.
The first day of February brought cloudy weather and a lot of snow. After tiring days at work, Hermione tried to cook dinner when the doorbell rang. She came to them and, with some hesitation, she opened them.
Hermione saw drunk Bill in the door with an empty whiskey bottle. His eyes were strangely glassy, and he was shaking from side to side.
,, Bill? ''Her voice expressed surprise, but he ignored her and went uninvited inside.
,, Bill, what's up? What happened?''
He looked at her and burst into tears. Men's tears were completely different than feminine ones - more sincere, moving, bringing a great deal of emotions.
He clung to her, craving for the closeness of another body.
"Bill ..." her voice gradually softened, smoothed, returned to the tone that old Hermione had once used.
,, Fleur had an miscarriage.''
Those words made Hermione shudder. She hugged him harder.
A dozen munut later Bill was sleeping on the couch, covered with a blanket. Hermione was confused - what should she do in this situation?
She lied down next to him and fell asleep.
On the other hand, she felt something pressing her around her hips. She thought Bill woke up, but his steady breathing said he was still asleep. Hermione felt uncomfortable, because Bill's member was definitely not interested in sleeping.
,,Bill?''
He did not hear, though he woke up. Hermione concluded that this was the best and most appropriate moment to get up. When she tried to free herself, the iron hands drew her. She tried to argue, but she did not have strength when she felt a warm breath on her neck.
Everything seemed to be back to normal. Seemingly. In a world that was made up of pretences.
Over the next year and a half their relationship continued, each meeting ended in the same way - wild or less wild sex. Sometimes they talked with each other, but this happened rarely. Rather, it wasn't any place to talk in the short moments they devoted to each other.
When they met in the Burrow they pretended that their relationship was purely brotherly sister. In the eyes of others, they didn't arouse any suspicion.
A breakthrough occurred when Hermione was brutally treated by the head of the Department. Harry and Shackelbolt were included in the action.
The effect was to turn the Ministry upside down, at least in this one department.
On that day, Hermione sat huddled by the fireplace all night, crying and shaking. She couldn't get herself together for a whole day. It was so traumatic. She knew she have no right to inform anyone about it - it was her business only.
Despite everything, she had a guest that day. Bill, like every Wednesday, came to her with a smile on his face. Only when he saw her he did realize what could have happened.
Quite time ago, he understood his is a Hermione's supporter. Like a stepping stone from Hermione's problems from everyday life and from working in the Ministry. He helped her acquire distance and relax.
At the same time, he knew that Hermione was getting worse and worse, that she is moving into dangerous spaces. But who was he to supply herwithany preaching? As much as he could, he tried to support her.
But were his efforts effective?
,, Hermione? What happened?''
She raised her head and looked at him with big hazel eyes full of tears. It was obvious that she had been crying for a long time.
,, Bill, I need you.''
That night they loved each other completely differently than usual. It was full of feelings, warmth, some kind of strange love. Bill was tearing the tears from her face, hugging her and whispering soft words. The act itself was filled with tenderness, it was far far from wild. An unusual situation was also that they fell asleep in their arms, and Bill stayed until morning. This has not happened in the past.
The present, a week earlier
Three months earlier, she'd seen Bill the last timeHe spent the whole night with her. Now, less than three months later, it turned out that she was pregnant with him.
That night she forgot to protect herself. Thinking about something so mundane was out of place at the time. After what were the chances that something would happen?
As soon as Hermione learned that she was pregnant, a thousand thoughts ran through her head. She realized that they have a lot in common. She even loved him in her own way, but did it matter at this point?
Their relationship from the beginning was based on a lie, sin, understatement. It was unclean, sinful ... And beautiful, in its twisted way.
Today she learned from Shackelbolt that she was nominated as the Head of her Department.
But why was something that she wanted to hide in such a bitter-sweet taste?
