Chances
It was by chance that they had met, but their choices would determine their destiny. Would he choose to remember? Or choose to forget. Would she choose to fight? Or choose to let go. How many chances do they have? How many choices do they have to make? HHr
A/N: My first fanfic ever. Hope you don't flame me, constructive criticism is very much welcome. I have to admit that I am not a writer, just a frustrated writer. A friend helped me in writing this so please be nice. And by the way this is AU (ALTERNATE UNIVERSE). Supposed to be dead people are present here. Or an alive person might be dead. Voldemort was officially dead when Harry was just one. Okay!
Disclaimer. I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 1. Tragedy in Seconds
A tall and handsome raven-haired man was emerging through the throngs of people who were impatiently waiting for their luggage in the airport. He was excited to go home. He went to Australia for two weeks for a special mission assigned by his seniors.
He thought that his one and a half weeks of stay in Australia was the longest mission he had ever gotten into. His partner in the mission as well as his one of his best mates, Neville Longbottom, was shaking his head whenever he would notice him fidgeting with his muggle mobile phone, even if he had just finished making an overseas call to talk to her.
"If you really miss her that much," Neville said with conviction, "why don't you just go home?"
He looked at his best mate for many years tentatively. He shook his head not believing a word he was suggesting; They both know that is impossible since they are not yet done with their mission. Yes, they had captured the culprits, a bunch of neo-death eaters wannabes, whom just want to cause chaos on the state they were in. Neville laughed when he saw his unbelieving expression, "It's not as if I'm driving you away. I know you wanted to see her so badly. So why force yourself to stay when I can now manage the situation here? All I have to do is some paperwork and last minute instructions from Kingsley back at the Ministry of Magic and then we're free to go home."
His face lit up and pulled Neville into a manly hug and immediately made two letters. One, a letter informing the Ministry in Australia about his sudden and early leave from the mission, and one letter to the Airline Customer representative to have his portkey changed into an earlier schedule. After writing the letter, he sent it through the owl in the magical hotel they were in. He made a phone call to the girl he wants to see so much.
He smiled silently when he remembered how Neville was laughing hard when he was packing his things. "You're like a kid who's going to meet Santa", he joked. He threw a pillow at him. But what he said was true, he was excited to go back to London.
Once he spotted his bags, he grabbed it and walked towards the door. He immediately grabbed his phone from his back pocket and began to dial a familiar number. It rang twice before a sweet voice answered the phone.
"Hey I'm at the airport now," he said excitedly. "I'll be at your flat in a few minutes."
He heard a squeal of laughter and then a touch of panic in her voice, "I haven't cooked yet! I just finished cleaning the flat, I have to take a bath first. Oh and I stink."
He gave a hearty laugh with what she said. She always makes him smile. "You always smell nice." he assured her.
He heard her laughing and saying, "You're telling me that because you want me to give you a massage later. Why don't you go home first? I'm sure your father is waiting. "
He walked through the parking lot trying to remember where he left his car. He would always leave his car in the airport parking services even if he's off for a mission or vacation. He doesn't want to bother his father, who is too busy with leading the wizarding world.
"I already called him and told him that I'll be meeting you first." He answered as he spotted his parked vehicle. He stopped in his tracks and asked her, "Why is it that you don't want me to go there? Are you hiding something from me?"
Instead of feeling insulted or angry, she burst into another fits of laughter. "There's nobody here, you prat. I'll be waiting for you. I miss you!"
His heart melted in her last words. He fumbles in entering his car keys into his door. He smiled and said, "I miss you more."
"No, I miss you more," she answered putting an emphasis on the last word.
He laughed at her stubbornness and said goodbye, "Okay, I'll see you later baby. I love you."
"I love you too, baby." the voice on the end of the line sweetly answered.
He slipped into the car and could not help himself from smiling. He's going to see her, after almost two weeks of not holding her, he would be able to touch her, hug her and kiss her again. He carefully drove his car out of the parking lot and into the streets.
The traffic was moderately heavy. He assumed that there was an accident ahead; He turned on the radio and smiled when he caught the chorus of the song. They were playing the song "Angel" by Jack Johnson. It was already an old song, and he was unaware that it is still getting some airtime. He could not resist singing along even he is bit out of tune. He glanced at his phone and saw his picture with his girlfriend. They were sharing a tight hug and making faces at the same time. He smiled.
His mind was on driving and getting home fast. He wished he just apparated but he knows it's not safe to apparate in a muggle neighborhood where his girlfriend had decided to live. By being a muggleborn witch, she was brought up as a muggle by her deceased parents and decided to live a muggle way to honor them.
Thinking deeply on what will happen later, he hadn't noticed a big truck a few blocks behind. The vehicle was swerving as if the driver has lost control.
The driver had indeed lost control. He honked his horn, trying to warn the cars ahead of him.
He heard the horn and looked at the rear mirror. He is a careful driver and very proud of having no accident nor violation record since he started driving. He started to go right, but a Volkswagen car was temporarily parked on the side of the road. He tried to honk his horn trying to get the attention of the driver who must be waiting for the companion walking toward the miniature car.
One. The truck at the back was getting near.
Two. His car was not going anywhere.
Three. The truck was getting nearer. The Volkswagen driver got off his car and tried to help his companion in bringing in some heavy stuff.
Four. He started to maneuver to the right.
Five. WHAM!
The truck hit the back of his car and he was thrown forward. The airbag did not work and his head hit the windshield. He heard screams, he was pretty sure it was not his. He was seeing black and white. He tried to focus but failed. Then he saw a blurry vision of a man looking at him through the broken glass, asking if he was okay. He could only murmur incoherent words, he felt something warm gushing on his head, he lifted his hand and touched it. It was red. And that was the last thing he saw.
She was pacing around the flat. Something's not right. It's an hour after he called and he is still not here. Traffic was not heavy, and if he had decided to drop by at his father's house first, he would have definitely called.
Something's not right and she could not put her finger on it. She went back to the table and reset it. She could not remember how many times she moved the fork and spoon. Then she heard her mobile phone ringing. She quickly answered it thinking it was him, but a different voice was at the other end of the line.
"Hello is this Hermione Granger?" asked the unfamiliar voice.
"Yes," she squeaked. Her heart was hammering in her chest.
"Do you know a man named Harry Potter?" He asked.
Hermione held on the nearest chair for support. She doesn't like where the questions are leading. "Yes, I do," she found the courage to voice out.
"We saw two numbers listed in his wallet for numbers to call, yours and Mr. James Potter."
"That's Harry's father," Hermione explained.
"We cannot contact Mr. James Potter's number," explained the unfamiliar voice. "We have bad news Ms. Granger," he continued. "Mr. Harry Potter, was in a car accident. He is currently here in St. Mary's Hospital."
The man was telling her how the accident happened. But she cannot comprehend anything he's saying. All she remembered was telling the man she would be there immediately and that she would call Harry's father.
When she ended the call, that's when it hit her. Harry in an accident, wounded and in a hospital. She slumped into the nearest chair and her phone as if it was a lifesaver. Hermione started to wish that there would be another phone call, telling her that there was a mistake. It was not Harry who was in the accident. It's not Harry who's in danger or unconscious in a hospital bed. But no call came; her phone did not ring again. She pulled her knees to her chest and rocked herself and cried.
A/N2: I know. Cliché right with the seconds' thingy ma jiggy. Can't help it. It's so crucial to the story. Haha. Please rate and review. Thanks!
[Edited 6/8/12: Proof read by Alexus (Congress)! Thank you! :3]