Disclaimer: I own Izzy and nothing else.

A/N: This will be a short but sweeeeeeeeeet chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 14: Strawberry Lips

By her second morning at Hogwarts, Izzy was more confident amidst the crowd. She had learned to mix in with Harry and his friends easily and that's why she was adjusting rather well within her new environment. She had even raised her hand to answer Professor Sprout's question in Herbology during their first period, and she was now chatting spiritedly with Ginny over lunch. Harry saw this change in Izzy that day and he felt relieved and happy for her. He was worried that the Hogwarts crowd would turn her off, being the high class society girl that she was. But then again she's not like most of those girls. She's just—different. Harry smiled as these thoughts occupied his head. Sure enough, as if to prove his point Izzy suddenly elbowed him.

"Will you stop smiling? You're starting to freak me out. You look like some maniac who's high on drugs", Izzy whispered.

"What? Don't you find my smile charming? I know Romilda Vane does.", Harry said with a pout.

Izzy started to pretend vomiting. She was playing the part so faithfully that her pretending suddenly turned into loud coughs.

"Ah. That's what you get for mocking my smile", Harry joked as he patted her on the back and handed her a glass of water.

Izzy took the glass of water but rolled her eyes at Harry's remark. Then she started pretending to vomit again, this time with less enthusiasm.

"What, pregnant already?", Ron joked from behind them.

"Ha ha, very funny Ron. Do you honestly think that's even possible?", Izzy retorted.

"Why not? Aah. Of course! Harry Potter, the great noble savior of the wizarding world, too noble to get past kissing!" Harry blushed at Ron's joke which was partly true.

"Don't be too harsh on Harry. It's not his fault. He and Izzy got together very recently. So actually, it makes sense not to take things too hurriedly, especially with the Cho incident", Hermione asked.

"Who's Cho?", Izzy asked.

"Harry's ex-girlfriend. You see that girl Michael Corner is—with right now? That's Cho", Hermione said as she pointed Izzy to the direction of the Ravenclaw table where Michael Corner and Cho Chang were currently snogging.

"Ugh. I don't know what he sees in that boy. That's just disgusting, they way they're kissing, like he's eating her face. I don't like him", Ron said

"Uh-huh. I don't like him either", said Harry who started poking the eggs on his plate. From time to time Harry shot glances at the two Ravenclaw lovebirds snogging. Then suddenly, his mind started playing images, much like flashbacks or snippets of scenes from dream. He couldn't place it but he seemed to recall experiencing a fiery kiss which was way better than that, remembering the feeling of a cold nose against his, the feeling of warm pink lips that tasted very much like strawberries.

"Your nose is cold"

"Mmm hmm, yours is warm"

And then Harry looked at the pink lips so longingly, as he licked his own. He wanted so badly to feel what those lips were like, to taste them, like a forbidden fruit tempting him to take a bite. And so he indulged himself. He caressed her lips gently with his own, and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Oh, those strawberry lips!

Voices from a distance seemed to hook Harry back into reality. He frowned. He didn't want this daydream to end. He wanted to know what will happen next. He hoped that he would dream about it tonight. That was highly probable for Harry anyway, since he usually has dreams that continue their story, much like a television drama actually. Surely, this was a dream he had before? He doesn't recall kissing any girl in that manner, or kissing a girl with strawberry flavored lips even. Yeah it's definitely a dream, Harry thought sadly knowing that he'd never taste those strawberry lips for real. With a lot of effort, Harry woke himself up from his daydream.

"Of course you both don't like him. Michael used to date Ginny and now he's dating Cho", Hermione said in the background. Her mention of Cho suddenly made Harry listen.

"He used to date Ginny? What did Ginny find in that guy? There are better people around here! She should have looked around further", Izzy said, thinking about Harry. Harry was way better-looking than that Michael Corner. And with the way he was kissing that Cho rather awkwardly, Izzy can bet that Harry is loads better in kissing. Yeah. Harry's a great kisser, even when he's drunk. He has a way with his soft lips, the way it caresses her own, the way—oh stop it Ysovielle! Izzy was battling with her thoughts. He doesn't even remember that he kissed you.

"What are you all watching? Eeeew! Gross!", Ginny was curious about her friends looking like they were watching a movie and was revolted when she saw that they were looking at Michael and Cho snogging at the Ravenclaw table.

"Harry, you look disturbed. If it's any consolation to you Michael Corner kisses like crap. He's too fidgety, not a single drop of expertise at all. That's why Cho looks awkward like that.", Ginny said from experience.

"And how do you know that Corner kisses like crap?", Ron asked, turning the Weasley shade of red that spelled danger.

"Ron. Come off it! She used to date Michael, just deal with it! It's over now anyway", Hermione said, trying to calm Ron down.

"But what about Dean, eh? Would you know if Dean kisses like crap as well?", he asked hotly.

"I refuse to tell you anything right now, seeing as you seem to react a little too irrationally. Grow up Ron!", Ginny said.

"What? Hey! If that Dean tries to—ouch! What was that for Mione?", Ron was suddenly elbowed hard by Hermione.

"Just stop it Ron! Cool it down! Ginny's grown up now. You don't have to be so protective over her. And besides, don't you even remember that she's got a lot more older brothers to deal with?", Hermione asked.

Ron sighed. "I'm sorry Gin. Just got carried away. I'm the only brother left to look after you here", he said.

"It's nice of you to be protective about me, really. But I'd like to learn things for myself, and I won't be able to do that with you guarding my every move.", she said softly.

"Right. I—I'm just sorry. It won't happen again", Ron apologized.

"Good. That's my Ronald! What's up with Harry?", Hermione asked as the group turned to Harry who was still looking at Michael and Cho, thinking about those strawberry lips of the girl he was dreaming about.

Her lips are so soft, so warm so—wonderful! I can feel her breath against my skin—so light, so feathery. Harry sighed. I wish that dream were true. I want to taste those strawberry flavored lips for real.

"Harry?", Izzy called.

"Oh—what?", Harry broke off from the wonderful strawberry lips in his daydream.

"Oh Harry, you don't care about Cho anymore, do you? You just look so lost in your thoughts. I was wondering", Ginny asked him.

"Of course not. I couldn't care less about someone who wouldn't stop crying. I was just thinking, that's all", Harry said.

"Thinking? What were you thinking of, a passionate kiss that you had? Was there even one?" Ron joked, while Harry blushed and Izzy stiffened.

"Uhm—well, I—I", Harry said trying to find an excuse. That's when he saw Izzy beside him.

"Of course! What do you think of me, a rock? I have a girlfriend and I do believe that I have the right to kiss her. You tell them Iz", Harry said in a rush.

"Oh—alright." Izzy was taken aback. Did he remember the kiss? Nah. That's impossible. Oh well, I better play along. They're waiting for my answer, she thought.

"This is really stupid you know, sharing the details of our snogging sessions with our friends. But if you insist! Harry's a great kisser, yes, definitely better than that!", she titled her head towards the direction of the Ravenclaw table and then she continued describing Harry's kisses, "Harry knows how to kiss a girl. He knows how to be gentle and doesn't rush things up. It's like he's slowly tasting my lips, enjoying the flavor. Plus, his nose is warm! I like its feeling against mine!"

"Ugh! Too much information!", Ron said disgustedly.

"I'm going to see Dean. Why doesn't he kiss me that way?", Ginny said distractedly as she walked towards her boyfriend. Harry kisses Izzy that way? Oh I am so jealous! Aargh! Stop it Ginny, you have a boyfriend! You have Dean! Ginny thought as she walked away.

"You—you—how did you know my nose is always warm?", Harry suddenly asked Izzy. He was beginning to think that maybe—maybe that magical kiss did happen.

Izzy raised her eyebrows. Was Harry slowly remembering the kiss?

"Uhm Harry, you finish your food, alright? Ron you'll wait for him, won't you? Izzy and I will go ahead to the Defense classroom. She wants to talk to Marius before class", Hermione lied cut him short.

When the two girls were out of the Great Hall, Izzy found the need to ask Hermione if she had noticed the way Harry reacted earlier.

"Uhm, Hermione? Was it just me or did Harry look like he was remembering the kiss", Izzy asked.

"I think he was. Did you see the look on his face when you told us that his nose is warm? And the way he was looking at Cho and Michael? He wasn't really staring at them, more like he was trying to recall a dream he had", Hermione said.

"A dream he had?", Izzy asked.

"Well yeah. I've been friends with Harry for a long time now. He often has pretty strange dreams. If it's not some image fed to him by you-know-who, it's usually a series of dreams that are connected together. And the look he had on his face? That's how he always looks like when he's trying to figure out his dream or recall its details.", Hermione explained.

"But it wasn't a dream!", said Izzy.

"I know. But knowing Harry who hardly had any experience with kissing by the way, he probably thought that memory was just a dream", Hermione analyzed.

Izzy felt downtrodden. So I'm just a dream, eh? Why do I care anyway? It's good that he doesn't remember, isn't it? That saves me all of the awkward moments, and it makes it easier for us to make Ginny jealous, Izzy thought.

"Here we are! Defense classroom! Let's go see if Marius is there already, shall we?", Hermione asked and then the door suddenly opened.

"Oh, Izzy? Hermione? Come in, come in. You're pretty early! Excited for your first Defense lesson?", Marius said as he ushered them into his classroom.

"Of course! We can't wait to have you as our teacher!", Hermione said.

"Izzy? Are you alright? You seem rather upset", Marius asked her.

"What? Oh, I'm fine.", she replied while Marius frowned. He obviously knew that she wasn't fine.

"Oh I almost forgot. I found this at the parlour by the Great Hall the other night. You know, the night you and I had a little chat while Harry was waiting for you by the door? I seem to recall that you were rather fond of this flavor. You had no hesitation in putting it on even while we were studying. So I knew right away that this was yours.", Marius smiled at her as he handed her a small jar containing a pale-pink potion.

"You found it! I've been looking for this since yesterday! I was beginning to worry that I've lost it. Thank you Marius, you obviously know me very well!", Izzy said smilingly.

"What's that?", Hermione asked her

"It's my lipgloss. It's from Adara Wizarding Cosmetics. They make this flavor just for me. The owner of that company was my mother's childhood friend, you see.", Izzy explained.

"Really? Ooh. Wow! What flavor is it?", Hermione asked.

"Strawberry."