The chill of winter hung heavy in the air as Hermione Granger stood by the frost-covered window of her small flat, gazing out at the snow-dusted streets of London. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more painful than the last. Draco Malfoy had left her.
It had been six months since the death of Voldemort and with him everyone who was marked, including Draco.
Granger and Malfoy formed an unexpected bond right before the end battle. Draco sat quietly when Hermione approached him. They both felt the same, scared and helpless. And for the first time, Draco Malfoy let his true colours show, just a scared little boy who's life has been dictated by his family, no choice or action was made by him. A puppet. And Granger fell for that boy, who was so desperate to take the matters into his own hands.
They had found solace in each other, a shared understanding of redemption and a desire for a better world. But now, all of that seemed like a distant dream.
She put herself to work, worked days and nights just to not leave space for her to think about Draco.
Hermione's disillusionment reached its peak when she stumbled upon a hidden section of the Ministry archives. There, she found a collection of ancient texts and artifacts related to dark magic. Initially repulsed, she found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the forbidden knowledge.
Her fingers traced the spine of a dark, leather-bound book she had found hidden in the restricted section. The title, "Magia Obscura" was both terrifying and alluring. She had sworn never to delve into dark magic, but desperation had pushed her to the edge.
Dark magic—ancient and forbidden. It might be the only way.
The magic demands a life for a life.
Weeks passed, and Hermione's obsession with the dark ritual grew. She isolated herself from her friends, unwilling to share the burden of her decision.
The night of the ritual was dark and stormy, as if nature itself opposed Hermione's decision. She stood in the center of the clearing, the sigils she had drawn glowing with an eerie light. In her hand, she held a knife, its blade etched with ancient runes.
As she began to chant the incantation, the air grew thick with dark energy. The ground trembled, and the forest seemed to hold its breath. Hermione knew there was no turning back now.
The final part of the ritual required a sacrifice, and she had chosen herself. She hoped that offering her own life would be enough to bring Draco back. With a deep breath, she pressed the knife to her palm, ready to complete the spell.
The air crackled with dark energy, shadows danced around her, whispering promises of power. And suddenly she couldn't do it anymore. She felt this urge for power and it told her to put the knife down. And she did.
A cold, consuming darkness enveloped her, and she felt her soul being tainted.
In the days that followed, it became clear that Hermione had changed. Her once kind and compassionate demeanor was replaced by a cold, calculating presence. She began to see the world through a different lens, one where power and control were paramount.
As Hermione's power grew, so did her influence. She began to gather followers, those disillusioned with the Ministry and its failures. She promised them a new world order, one where justice and power were inextricably linked.
The wizarding world plunged into chaos as Hermione's dark regime took hold. Harry, Ron, and a resistance of loyal friends and allies fought to restore balance. They knew that to save the world, they would have to confront Hermione directly.
The final battle took place at Hogwarts, the place where their journey had begun. As spells clashed and the castle trembled, Harry and Ron faced Hermione in the Great Hall.
"Hermione, please! Stop this madness!" Harry shouted, his wand raised defensively.
Hermione's eyes, now glowing with dark power, narrowed. "You can't stop me, Harry."
"Hermione, wait!" Ron yelled as he pushed the mirror of Erised closer to her "This is what you've been wanting all along?" He stood next to Harry, hoping that Granger would come to senses after seeing Draco.
For a moment, the old Hermione flickered in her eyes. She hesitated, her resolve wavering.
There he was. Draco Malfoy. Standing in front of her. She wanted to run to him, to make everything right.
But the darkness was too strong. With a final, heart-wrenching cry, she unleashed a powerful curse.
The image of Draco turned into her reflection.
Hermione screamed, a sound of pure agony. The darkness that had consumed her began to recede, and she fell to her knees.
Hermione was left a broken shell of her former self. The darkness had been purged, but at a terrible cost
And as the world moved on, the memory of Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age who had fallen into darkness to save the one she loved, became a cautionary tale of the dangers of absolute power and the price of love.