If That's What It Takes
--by Egon Starcollector
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger (Potter), etc. are the property of J.K. Rowling. "If That's What It Takes" lyrics copyright Jon Bongiovi and Richie Sambora.
A/N: Special thanks to my friend Wendy who found the song for me.
Hermione sat at home on the couch, her feet propped up on a stool. It had been a rough term at Hogwarts (a couple of Slytherins had caused more trouble than usual), and she was glad to be done with it. She read the new 'Magical Homemaking Monthly' and sipped a cup of peppermint tea.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Who in the world...?" she said aloud. She'd never encouraged many visitors. Well, perhaps it was Ginny Weasley- Longbottom; she'd said she might stop by during the holidays before Neville came home on leave.
Hermione opened the door--and nearly fainted. "Hi," said Harry Potter.
"Wha--wha...?"
"I got tired of missing you."
I played the part of a broken heart upon a shelf
I played that part so lonely and so well
Thought that love belonged to someone else,
Not me and you
She recovered herself, glancing at the calendar as she caught her breath. It was exactly the third anniversary of the night he'd stormed out. *I thought he'd never be back,* she thought. She wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him until she bruised his lips. *After the way he acted?* her pride spoke up.
She folded her arms and gazed at him coolly. "Perhaps you should've thought of that earlier." *Oh no! Did I really just say that?*
He winced. "I know...but after all we've been through together...I thought maybe I'd beg for another chance."
Harry studied her. He couldn't read her face; she'd always been very good at hiding what she was thinking. *She's furious. Can't say as I blame her.... Have I made a bigger prat of myself coming back than I did leaving? Oh 'Mione....* He didn't recognize her dress, but he loved the color (silver-blue) and the way it swept softly over her body. He could almost taste her kiss...he wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to breathe.
Yeah, I know that you've been shattered,
You been bruised
We both know what it feels like when you lose
But I'd bet my life on a roll of the dice for you
"You don't seem to be begging very hard."
"'Mione...I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry. I was so wrapped up in how well my team was doing, I didn't realize I was losing the best prize Fate ever gave me: you." *Think, Harry, think. Say _something_ right.* "I miss you. I want to come home...and be your husband again."
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
Tonite's the night, I'm gonna prove it to you
Do I have to break down, baby just to break through
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
Oh, *why* did he have to call her 'Mione? She always went weak in the knees when he did that. "So just like that, you think everything will be all right?" *Hermione! Stop being so vindictive!*
"'Mione, please!" He teetered, and for a second Hermione thought he was going to fall over. Then he crumpled, right before her eyes. When he looked up again, tears were streaming out under his glasses.
*Oh, now why did he have to cry?*
I bet you counted all the tears I bet you've cried
I bet you swore you'd never let love back inside
'Cause it hurt you way too bad to say good-bye
"Please, Hermione. I know I can't make up the time we've lost. I wouldn't blame you if you could never forgive me...but I just want another chance." Harry was literally begging on his knees by now. If she didn't forgive him, or say that she still loved him.... He didn't want to think about the alternative.
Now, there'll be times when I might put us to the test
And it's hard for broken hearts to just forget
But I'm driving blind, I'll lay it all on the line for you
He started babbling. "I'll do anything I have to do. I'll wait on you hand and foot. I'll never look at a Quidditch book again in my life. I'll do ANYTHING. Whatever you've ever dreamed of finding in a husband, just tell me and I will do everything within my power to be exactly that." *I don't care how desperate, how pathetic I sound. I want her back.*
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
Tonite's the night, I'm gonna prove it to you
Do I have to break down, baby just to break through
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
Hermione thought she was hearing things. "You want me back so badly you'd give up Quidditch?"
He nodded. "If that was what you wanted me to do."
Hermione's pride dissolved like sugar in hot water. She knelt down so they were face-to-face again. "I'd never ask you to give up Quidditch." She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. "You were all I ever wanted in a husband. Just you."
So, when you feel like jumping,
Just when your heart starts pumping
When you're standing out on that ledge--staring over the edge
I'll be there to talk you down, I'll be there before you hit the ground
Now Harry was the one nearly fainting. She still loved him! He kissed her back, thanking God, fate, and whoever or whatever else looked out for gits like him. "Hermione, I swear this, though: I will never, EVER leave you again. Not as long as I have breath in my body."
"I love you too, you stubborn fool." She smiled at him, and he felt like he was soaring on his broom.
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
Tonite's the night, I'm gonna prove it to you
Do I have to break down, baby just to break through
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
Hermione collapsed into his arms. They held each other and cried, still kneeling on the front step. She'd missed him so badly...she inhaled deeply, drinking in his comforting scent.
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If we take the time to do it right, I know we'll pull through
If it took all my life, I'd prove it to you
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
He smiled down at her, kissing her forehead. "Thank you...I know I don't deserve a second chance. But I never stopped loving you...I had to hope you never stopped loving me."
"Not for a heartbeat." They kissed again.
"I still think we can make it."
"I know we can."
"I love you, 'Mione."
"I love you too, Harry Potter."
--by Egon Starcollector
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger (Potter), etc. are the property of J.K. Rowling. "If That's What It Takes" lyrics copyright Jon Bongiovi and Richie Sambora.
A/N: Special thanks to my friend Wendy who found the song for me.
Hermione sat at home on the couch, her feet propped up on a stool. It had been a rough term at Hogwarts (a couple of Slytherins had caused more trouble than usual), and she was glad to be done with it. She read the new 'Magical Homemaking Monthly' and sipped a cup of peppermint tea.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Who in the world...?" she said aloud. She'd never encouraged many visitors. Well, perhaps it was Ginny Weasley- Longbottom; she'd said she might stop by during the holidays before Neville came home on leave.
Hermione opened the door--and nearly fainted. "Hi," said Harry Potter.
"Wha--wha...?"
"I got tired of missing you."
I played the part of a broken heart upon a shelf
I played that part so lonely and so well
Thought that love belonged to someone else,
Not me and you
She recovered herself, glancing at the calendar as she caught her breath. It was exactly the third anniversary of the night he'd stormed out. *I thought he'd never be back,* she thought. She wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him until she bruised his lips. *After the way he acted?* her pride spoke up.
She folded her arms and gazed at him coolly. "Perhaps you should've thought of that earlier." *Oh no! Did I really just say that?*
He winced. "I know...but after all we've been through together...I thought maybe I'd beg for another chance."
Harry studied her. He couldn't read her face; she'd always been very good at hiding what she was thinking. *She's furious. Can't say as I blame her.... Have I made a bigger prat of myself coming back than I did leaving? Oh 'Mione....* He didn't recognize her dress, but he loved the color (silver-blue) and the way it swept softly over her body. He could almost taste her kiss...he wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to breathe.
Yeah, I know that you've been shattered,
You been bruised
We both know what it feels like when you lose
But I'd bet my life on a roll of the dice for you
"You don't seem to be begging very hard."
"'Mione...I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry. I was so wrapped up in how well my team was doing, I didn't realize I was losing the best prize Fate ever gave me: you." *Think, Harry, think. Say _something_ right.* "I miss you. I want to come home...and be your husband again."
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
Tonite's the night, I'm gonna prove it to you
Do I have to break down, baby just to break through
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
Oh, *why* did he have to call her 'Mione? She always went weak in the knees when he did that. "So just like that, you think everything will be all right?" *Hermione! Stop being so vindictive!*
"'Mione, please!" He teetered, and for a second Hermione thought he was going to fall over. Then he crumpled, right before her eyes. When he looked up again, tears were streaming out under his glasses.
*Oh, now why did he have to cry?*
I bet you counted all the tears I bet you've cried
I bet you swore you'd never let love back inside
'Cause it hurt you way too bad to say good-bye
"Please, Hermione. I know I can't make up the time we've lost. I wouldn't blame you if you could never forgive me...but I just want another chance." Harry was literally begging on his knees by now. If she didn't forgive him, or say that she still loved him.... He didn't want to think about the alternative.
Now, there'll be times when I might put us to the test
And it's hard for broken hearts to just forget
But I'm driving blind, I'll lay it all on the line for you
He started babbling. "I'll do anything I have to do. I'll wait on you hand and foot. I'll never look at a Quidditch book again in my life. I'll do ANYTHING. Whatever you've ever dreamed of finding in a husband, just tell me and I will do everything within my power to be exactly that." *I don't care how desperate, how pathetic I sound. I want her back.*
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
Tonite's the night, I'm gonna prove it to you
Do I have to break down, baby just to break through
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
Hermione thought she was hearing things. "You want me back so badly you'd give up Quidditch?"
He nodded. "If that was what you wanted me to do."
Hermione's pride dissolved like sugar in hot water. She knelt down so they were face-to-face again. "I'd never ask you to give up Quidditch." She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. "You were all I ever wanted in a husband. Just you."
So, when you feel like jumping,
Just when your heart starts pumping
When you're standing out on that ledge--staring over the edge
I'll be there to talk you down, I'll be there before you hit the ground
Now Harry was the one nearly fainting. She still loved him! He kissed her back, thanking God, fate, and whoever or whatever else looked out for gits like him. "Hermione, I swear this, though: I will never, EVER leave you again. Not as long as I have breath in my body."
"I love you too, you stubborn fool." She smiled at him, and he felt like he was soaring on his broom.
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
Tonite's the night, I'm gonna prove it to you
Do I have to break down, baby just to break through
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
Hermione collapsed into his arms. They held each other and cried, still kneeling on the front step. She'd missed him so badly...she inhaled deeply, drinking in his comforting scent.
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If we take the time to do it right, I know we'll pull through
If it took all my life, I'd prove it to you
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes....
He smiled down at her, kissing her forehead. "Thank you...I know I don't deserve a second chance. But I never stopped loving you...I had to hope you never stopped loving me."
"Not for a heartbeat." They kissed again.
"I still think we can make it."
"I know we can."
"I love you, 'Mione."
"I love you too, Harry Potter."
