23a word from me: Hi everyone, It's been about two years since I last published something because I keep going back and forth on how I want my new story to be. I got frustrated sometimes so I just gave up and stall for like half a year and then got back into writing again and then stalling again and you'll get the idea what happens next.
Then I start to just sit down, knock my head for a little bit and read stories of any kind and listen to songs and I decided on this. The title 'If It Kills Me' is inspired by the song of the same name by Jason Mraz from his album 'We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things'. I love that guy and his concert was way awesome! I can gush and talk about him and sing all his songs if I don't move on. I had an idea on how this story would go but I didn't have a title and sometimes I got so frustrated I didn't want to continue writing. Then I suddenly remembered that the story I had in mind sounds like the story that Jason Mraz was telling in 'If It Kills Me'. So if you have not heard that song, give it a try and you'll have an idea of what is it about, which leaves me leaving the summary out in this introduction.
Enjoy this and I hope that I've made improvements from my previous stories. Please leave reviews, good and bad coz I think it'll keep me going.
Main Characters: Harry Potter and Hermione Granger
Claim: I do not own Harry Potter.
It was a cool Sunday evening. The light breeze was blowing Hermione Granger's hair and as it does, she felt the gentle wind caressed her neck and her cheeks. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were sitting beside her as they enjoy their last day in Hogwarts, sitting under the old oak tree by the lake. It was their favourite spot for so many years and they were glad that it was not destroyed during the war that ended exactly a year ago.
"So, what exactly happened between Ginny and you?" Ron asked.
"It's not like you don't know what happened. It's just so different after the war and after what both of us had gone through." Harry replied as he lay down on his back and closed his emerald eyes.
"But…"
Hermione cut Ron off by giving him one of her stares that sent chills down his spine. He did not pursue the matter and finished his sandwich. Harry was not disappointed that his relationship with Ginny had ended. It was not abrupt and they had talked about it.
"This…"
"..is not working."
Ginny blushed when Harry completed what she had in mind.
"I really care about you Harry and I don't want to hurt you in any way."
"I am so glad we decide to talk about this Gin. It's been on my mind since before NEWTs started. I care about you too."
"So we will still be friends?"
"Of course." They walked towards each other and embraced in a hug.
"Ron will be unhappy."
"I'll talk to him." Harry said and they walked out of the Common Room, Harry feeling much lighter than he had.
He opened his eyes and looked at his bestfriends; Hermione on his right and Ron on his left. Ron suddenly got up from where he was sitting and mumbled something about meeting someone at the Great Hall. Hermione sighed and brought her legs closer to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. Harry got up from his lying position and sat beside Hermione.
"You ok?"
"I'll be fine."
"I'm right here if you need me." Harry said and put his right arm lightly on her shoulders. "You're stronger than this."
"I just can't believe it. I had a plan in mind. I'm going to study to be a Healer and he'll go to Scotland for that internship with the Ministry and it will all be fine. I do understand Harry but I'm just sad that Ron decided that our differences are not making the relationship work."
"Let me ask you Hermione…were you really happy when you were with Ron? Does he make your heart do a triple flip and you can't cast your eyes to anyone else but him?"
"He did."
"That's right…he did. People change, you know that."
Harry was right. People changed and it was so evident and unavoidable even if you hide in the corners of the castle. During the war, a number of Slytherins fought for the good side and the relationship between the houses, especially between Slytherin and Gryffindor, were more civil than before. People became friends and sometimes, it felt like everyone belonged together. There were no houses…just Hogwarts.
"Do you feel like that with Ginny?"
"I did."
Hermione smiled and placed her head gently on Harry's shoulder. "Thank you."
"You're caring, smart and beautiful. Guys will want to date you. I know I will." Harry said nonchalantly. Hermione giggled and punch Harry's arm.
"That's not funny Harry."
Harry was about to say something when they were interrupted by Ginny.
"I knew I would find both of you here. McGonagall is looking for you. Come on now." She said, gasping for breath like she had been running around the castle searching for Harry and Hermione.
Both Harry and Hermione got up quickly and let Ginny lead the way. They were both wondering what it was all about and Hermione's face was etched with worry. Whatever they were talking about earlier was at the back of their minds and they were both now thinking about why they were called to Professor McGonagall's office.
"I'll wait for you both in the Common Room." Ginny said and Hermione immediately knew that she would want to know the outcome of the meeting with McGonagall.
Harry knocked and opened the slightly ajar door. They were both surprised to see Draco Malfoy sitting on one of the chairs in front of the Professor. Harry curtly nodded at the blond teen and he returned the same nod to Harry. Hermione avoided eye contact at all cost. Things might be better between the houses but it does not necessarily mean that things were better between the trio and Draco Malfoy. His taunts and snide remarks for the past six years could not just be easily forgotten. Draco understood fairly well that he would never be friends with either of them. He knew that what he had done in the past was horrible. He had apologized to all the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry. However, Harry had made it clear that it would never change anything.
Sensing the slight tension in the room, Professor McGonagall immediately spoke "Oh good, now all of you are here. I have good news. I'll be announcing this to the school later before the last dinner of the year in the Great Hall. I thought that I should inform all three of you first before I do that." She paused, looking at the three confused faces.
"All three of you have scored top honours in Hogwarts. The school and the organizations involved are extending full scholarships to each of you to the institute of your choice. You're not obliged to of course because I will like all of you to take this more as an opportunity rather than something that you think you have to do."
"Any institute?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Any institute of your choice Miss Granger and I have heard that you would like to continue your education in the prestigious Healer Institute of France. I may add that the school has actually expressed an interest in you."
Hermione's brown orbs sparkled in delight and her cheeks reddened at the attention from all the people in the room.
"Now Mr Malfoy, if you're interested the Ministry would like to take you into their wing and guide you towards becoming their next Foreign Affairs representative. I understand that you rather go to the Wizard Education Academy but I hope you'll consider the Ministry."
Draco was about to say something but McGonagall beat him to it. "Well of course if you decided to go to the Academy, it will all be paid for."
Hermione was trying hard not to roll her eyes. He don't need a scholarship, she thought. His inheritance could pay for it. After Lucius Malfoy died, everyone knew that Draco inherited the family's fortune and estate. Hermione called it dishonest fortune knowing that whatever Lucius had earned was from illegally selling Dart Artifacts to dark wizards around the world.
"Now Harry, you've not told me what you would like to do and I've received numerous letters from every corners of the world, offering scholarships for you to study with their institution. What would you like to do Harry?"
Hermione and Draco turned their head slightly to look at him and Harry felt warmth rising up his neck, hating the attention. "I've not really decided yet."
"Alright then, I do not want to push you. You'll figure it out sooner or later."
She dismissed her three brightest students and Draco walked out hurriedly leaving the other two behind.
"So you're going to take it then?"
"It's the Healer Institute of France Harry…you know I've been talking about it for a year."
"You should." Harry said softly. "You deserve it. I'm very proud of you."
"Thanks. Come on, Ginny is probably waiting for us, dying to know what's up."
That evening, the Professor announced to the whole school about the achievements of Harry, Hermione and Draco and they all received very loud cheers from their houses. They humbly accepted the honours and Harry still had not decided what to do. After dinner, Hermione told Harry and Ron to go ahead without her and made an excuse that she had left her notebook in the library earlier. Her eyes scanned through the crowd for a certain blond and caught him making his way towards the dungeons.
"Draco!" She hollered and he stopped in his tracks, turned around and was surprised to see Hermione jogging towards him.
Slightly panting, Hermione held out her hand and Draco reluctantly took it. "I just wanted to congratulate you…you deserve it."
Draco could see that it probably took a lot of will for Hermione to sincerely mean what she had just said.
"Thanks. Congratulations to you too. So you'll be going to France in September?"
"Yes I will."
"You know, if you'll like I can give you guidebooks on France."
"That would be nice. Thank you."
Draco's lips turned up into a slight smile and turned his back to Hermione to walk back to the dungeons.
"Wait." Hermione exclaimed. Draco's eyebrows shot up in a questioning gaze. "I know about you and Ginny."
Draco's facial expression remains calmed and he smirked. "I'm not surprised."
"You're going to take good care of her aren't you?"
Draco chuckled and Hermione's lips tighten into a straight line. He looked Hermione in the eye, his gaze unfaltering. "Of course…I really like her you know." Draco said in a soft voice and he looked almost embarrassed to have to express his feelings out.
Hermione nodded and start to smile. "Good. Then you can pass your guidebooks to her later." She walked away from Draco.
"Wait! How did you know I was going to meet her later?"
"I have eyes and ears on the back of my head." Hermione said and laughed quietly.
Back in the Common Room, Harry and Ron were playing Wizard's Chess. No one else was around as they all were in their rooms, packing to leave the next day. The fireplace behind Ron was crackling silently and neither had said a word for the past 15 minutes. Ron won the game a few minutes later and he smiled triumphantly.
"That's our last game mate…our last game in this Common Room." Ron said.
At that moment, Hermione walked in and sat on the sofa beside Ron.
"What took you so long?" Ron asked.
"Amelia Evans from Ravenclaw wanted to pass me back my books. So I only head to the library after she passed them to me." Hermione casually said, avoiding their gazes, afraid that she might blush.
"What books?" Ron continued to ask.
"My Susan Sorensen fiction." Hermione replied and showed him the book. The cover of the book that she showed them was dark with a blond vixen, wearing a tight corset top and leather pants with high heel boots. The background was a thick forest with a full moon glowing in the dark sky. Her hair was blowing in the air and she was holding on to a wand.
"Ginny was reading that last summer. Bill gave her the whole series for her birthday." Ron remarked.
"I know, she told me."
The trio talked late into the night, keeping the banter lively and laughing as they reminisced at the times they had in Hogwarts. Occasionally, they fell into a moment of silence, remembering the lives that were lost along their journey to freedom.
Harry was relieved that a burden had somehow removed itself from his shoulders and he could go out again knowing that nothing would stop him. He knew that his friends would be safe, out of harm's way and there was no need to be on guard anymore.
His mind was reeling with thoughts and he had not reveled to his friends yet on what he had decided to do. McGonagall and his friends did not know that he was invited by Puddlemere United and the Chudley Cannons to play for them. He was scheduled for tryout in two weeks time. He would miss all his friends. Hermione would be in France and Ron would be in Scotland. He would remain in England, occasionally traveling around the world for friendly games and offsite training. He started to wonder what was going to happen in the future. He had hoped for nothing but the best and he had gotten just that.