Hermione began to slowly realize that her life was going nowhere. She was entangled in a relationship with a man for whom the broom had more value than his beloved.  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 in her own  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 had begun to pulse  the moment  she left the Ministry.