This story is inspired by many challenges on WIKTT, but mainly And Thou Shalt Not.
Hermione is happily married, but then she meets somebody unexpectedly... SS/HG.
The Infernal Paradise – Chapter 1"Mum! Mum!"
Hermione sighed. Could they never enjoy themselves for longer than ten minutes at a time? She turned around when her children came running into the room.
"What is it, boys?" she asked them.
"He stole my wand!" said the youngest, pointing accusingly at his elder brother.
"I did not! You left it lying around, I picked it up," said the eldest.
"Did to!"
"He did nothing!" joined the other one of the twins.
"Boys, boys! Stop this, and immediately!" Hermione cut in before her sons would be too engrossed in their argument. "Sean, give your brother his wand back. Will, you know that if you don't play with things, you should put them away. Besides, Sean has just as much right to play with it as you have. Brian, don't always play two to one. Will is four years your junior. Why don't you just go and play for a while?"
"We're bored," Sean said.
"Yeah, Mummy," said the youngest while leaning to her knees. "Can't you tell us a story?" She sighed again. She had hoped to get through the newest edition of Passion for Potions today, but in truth she hadn't read an entire book in years.
"All right. But after that you'll do your homework," she said to the eldest while rising and picking up Will. "Come, let's sit down here." With the youngest on her lap and the other two huddled closely towards her, she started thinking.
"What kind of story do you want to hear?" she asked her boys, but already knowing the answer.
"About the Greeks!" they yelled in unison. Hermione smiled. Ever since she had told them about the adventures of Ulysses, they didn't want to hear any other stories than Greek myths. Hermione decided she would tell a Roman story today, because she ran out of stories.
"I knew you would say that," she said.
"Do you remember the story about the destruction of Troy?" They nodded. "Good. I told you then, that none of the Trojans survived. That's not true. There was a man, named Aeneas, who took his father, his wife and his son, put them on a boat and fled. You must know, that this man was not just a man: his mother was the goddess Venus. His son, Ascanius, was destined to become king of Latium, a part of what we now call Italy.
"Juno, the goddess of marriage, held a grudge against Aeneas and his company, because she had heard a prophecy. From Trojan blood would spring a proud people, ruling over a great part of the world, which would destroy Carthage. Carthage was a city on the shore opposite of Italy, in what we now call Tunisia, and Juno held it in high esteem, like Minerva did Athens. Besides, Juno was still angry at the Trojans because Paris had slighted her and chosen Venus as the most beautiful goddess.
"Juno decided she had to prevent the ship from reaching the shores of Latium. So she asked the god of winds to help her and made the ship wander across the sea for years. Finally, they reached the shore of Carthage, with damaged ships and tired men. There and then, Venus decided to interfere. Disguised as a huntress, she appeared before her son and guided him to the city.
"Thriving and beautiful, the city was not old as Troy or Athens, but just founded by the Queen Dido, who had left her country after her brother had slain her husband. When shown to the Queen, Aeneas declared he did not want to fight, and Dido welcomed him and his men into the city.
"Venus now sent for her son Eros, to light the fire of love for Aeneas in Dido. Dido gave Aeneas presents and asked him about his adventures. She wanted to hear the tragic story of Troy over and over again, because she was under a spell of passion. Juno, seeing this, was not cruel enough to hurt Dido by killing Aeneas. Dido is so much in love she neglects all other things; new buildings and walls are left unfinished.
"Then Dido organised a great hunting party for her own people and the guests. During the hunt a violent storm raged over the land; all the company spread to find subterfuge in various caves and shelters. By chance or divine interference, Dido and Aeneas found themselves in the same cave. Lightning flashes as the lovers are united in marriage by Juno herself, and this marriage is the source of Dido's misery.
"Jupiter, however, found it time for Aeneas to continue his journey, and therefore he sent his messenger Mercury down to earth. Mercury reminded Aeneas of his journey and the destiny of his son, and Aeneas is suddenly eager to leave the city.
"Dido wasn't fooled, though Aeneas prepared for his journey in secret. When she confronted him, he denied every appearance of marriage, and though it gave him great pains, he repressed his feelings and spoke coolly. She dismisses him, grieved but speaking of hatred and vengeance. Sighing and wishing he could comfort her, Aeneas carried out the Gods' will and left.
"Dido now considered her life ended; she made a pile of all the presents Aeneas had given her. She climbed upon the pyre and bared a Trojan sword, not meant for this abuse. She speaks her final words, saying her life would have been happy had Aeneas never reached her shores and hoping he would see the fire and repent. Then she fell on top of the sword, and the sword foamed with her blood, blood staining her hands.
"Aeneas had meanwhile reached the entrance to the Hades, the realms of the dead. He wanted to speak with his father, who had died during the long years at sea, but recognised another familiar form instead. Seeing her wound and her cold stone-like face, Aeneas cried and spoke lovingly, finally spoke the truth about his forced depart. But nothing he said, nothing he did, could move the stony face, until she fled to her husband Sychaeus, who heard her grief and answered her love. And long stood Aeneas there, watching, with tears in his eyes and pity in his heart."
She stopped and sighed. She had been so engrossed in telling on of her favourite stories she hadn't heard the tell-tale "pop" of someone Apparating. She turned her head to see her husband approaching. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Hello, dear," she said, while disentangling herself from her children. She hadn't realised it was that late already; otherwise she would have told the twins to make their homework before. Well, they just would have to do it tonight.
"Come, boys. Wash your hands and sit down. Dinner is almost ready." She flicked her wand at the dish she had prepared earlier, and then levitated it onto the table. She gave everyone his share and cut the meat for the youngest. They ate mainly in silence, apart from occasional remarks about Brian and Sean's eating habits.
When they had finished the meal and the dessert, Hermione cleared the table with her wand and made the dishes wash themselves.
"Right. Sean, Brian, I believe you still have some work to do."
"How about Will?" the boy reacted.
"Will is going to take a bath and go to bed."
"But, Mum..." the youngest threatened to start whining. She shook her head warningly, which stopped the boy short. She took the three of them upstairs, setting the twins to their homework and putting the other one in the bathtub, where he played contently until the water got colder. She wrapped him in a large towel, rather than using a drying charm. He was now almost asleep, so she cleaned his teeth quickly and dressed him for the night. When she put him in bed, he was already sleeping. For a moment, she stood just looking at him, and then turned away.
When she had repeated the procedure with the older boys, who were less inclined to fall asleep and more inclined to complain about homework, she went downstairs and fell down in a chair by the fire. Her husband was already sitting in the other chair and pointed his wand at the teapot, without looking up from his newspaper.
"Perce?" she asked. "Could you keep the boys busy tomorrow? I am afraid I'll have to visit Diagon Alley for some supplies. You know them, they would probably tear half the Apothecary apart."
"All right," her red-haired husband answered. "Can you bring some parchment and a few quills for me?" She nodded.
"Anything else I can get you?"
"No, I'm fine. But you might consider buying some new dress robes. Not that the ones you have don't suit you," he added quickly when he saw her straighten up. "But as we will be dining with the Minister next week, I think you could buy something appropriate."
Hermione sank back in her chair. She didn't like the Minister for Magic, she didn't know his wife very well, and she didn't want to know what other guests there would be. Never had she been a great fan of formal dinners, though she had attended some as a child, when her parents had had important visitors. The wizarding dinners were another matter entirely. Though she had been present at a couple of weddings, including her own, she didn't feel comfortable at formal wizarding events. She always felt like they looked down on her for her parentage, especially where the Minister was concerned. And she had never dined at the Minister's Residence.
"What is the occasion?" she asked.
"There will be an important meeting with the French Minister for Magic. It has something to do with the rise of a Dark wizard in France. As head of the Department for International Magical Cooperation, it is appropriate that I am there. The Minister will be there of course, his wife, the French Minister and his wife, and I believe some members of the Order of the Phoenix have been invited."
That was some kind of a relief to Hermione. The summers spent at no. 12 Grimmauld Place had ensured she knew most of the members of the Order, at least by name and occupation, enough for empty chitchat. She despised talking without saying anything at all, but it was better than sitting in a corner and not talking at all.
"Right, I will see to new robes as well. You should go too, if it is that important. You have worn the same dress robes to every occasion for these past four years. The Minister could probably draw you out in those," she answered.
"The Minister can't draw," Percy retorted seriously.
-^-^-
Author's Note:
The title of this story is the literal translation of the title of a Dutch children's book, Het Helse Paradijs, by Thea Beckman.
I have retold the story of Dido and Aeneas after the original of Vergil's Aeneïs, with help from two websites I can't mention due to ff-policy. I will be happy to provide you with them, if you drop me a line.