Erased But Not Forgotten
Chapter 9
The Date and Forgotten Memories
Rose stared in disbelief at the reddening welt on her forehead. "Don't burn yourself!" her mother had told her. And just look at what'd happened! 'That's the last time I try to curl my hair the muggle way!' she thought to herself, absolutely fuming. Of course, since she was trying to impress someone, her mother's cautious warning turned out to be a jinx.
She, Liz and Hermione had spent most of the previous night giggling and picking out her outfit and makeup. Sure enough, as soon as they both left for the store, Rose decided to try doing her hair…and burned herself. She could really use one of Hermione's wicked healing spells right about now.
Thoroughly frustrated, she finally controlled herself enough to say the spell to curl her hair. A few muttered words later and her naturally straight hair bounced to life, each lock of hair a perfect ringlet. Rose smiled, twirling one around her finger, moving her bangs to cover her burn mark. Satisfied, she began working on her makeup, a much easier and less hazardous task.
After what would seem like ages to any guy, Rose finished with her makeup and went to put on her dress and accessorize. As she heard the front door open, signaling Hermione and Liz's return, Rose poked her head out her door and whistled sharply. A minute later the two girls knocked on her bedroom door.
"Come on in!" Rose replied to the sharp rapping. "What do you think?" she asked, spinning for her best friends. They both smiled.
"You look perfect, Rose," Liz said in slight awe.
"Yeah," Hermione agreed, "no wonder they're fighting over you."
Just then the doorbell rang.
"That's probably you're dates!" Liz squealed with excitement. "I'll go answer the door!" she volunteered.
"No fair! I want to answer the door!" Hermione piped up, racing Liz to the door. It was a tie and they both threw open the door, revealing a very spiffed up Harry and Jul.
"Come in, Rose will be down in a moment," Hermione invited, managing to retain some manner of sophistication after running down the stairs after Liz…amazing.
Right on cue, the stair lights lit up, revealing Rose in all her glitz. Jul's mouth fell open slightly but Harry just smiled. No matter how many times she dressed up, Rose always managed to enchant him. Rose was a vision of aquamarine. Her clear blue dress draped elegantly on her curves, the straps widening at the bottom, forming a low V, which wrapped with the rest of the dress around her ribcage. The ocean blue silk fitted her slender form, flaring out from her waist. The smooth material cut off a little below her knees at an angle, rippling as she moved. Her chestnut hair was curled into ringlets, was left to brush her shoulder blades and a pair of blue and silver earrings dangled from her ears, glinting from behind her curtain of curls. She'd decided to wear a bracelet with pearls and mermaid charms on it, though she couldn't remember when she'd gotten it; and though she had searched her room for the Neptune's Garden Topaz ring, she couldn't find it.
'Oh well, at least I won't have to worry about fainting or anything strange like that,' Rose thought to herself as she glided down the stairs. Her rosewood wand and her cell phone were both in a small clutch purse the same color as her dress. She smiled broadly as she reached the bottom of the long staircase and the two awestruck boys, her green eyes accented by light silver and aqua eye makeup.
She softly giggled at the sight of Harry and Jul, her suitors. They were total opposites. Both were breath-taking sights. Jul's white-wash jeans and blue button-up shirt the color of his sapphire eyes, rolled up to his elbows and unbuttoned at the top to let his white tee show through, and slightly gelled golden hair expressed his clean-cut and humorous nature, perfectly paired with an angelic face that smiled easily at her. On the other hand, Harry's dark-wash jeans and forest green button-up shirt reflected a more intense, fierce beauty. His emerald eyes peeked under his unmanageable jet black hair and pierced through the wire-rimmed glasses on his nose as if he was trying to see into her soul.
Upon reaching the landing, Harry and Jul finally noticed that they were staring and Jul closed his mouth before smiling up at Rose too, each filling his eyes simply with the sight of her.
"Are we ready to go?" Rose asked tentatively, looking from Jul to Harry and back again, smiling. Neither could give her a straight answer.
"Rose, you look stunning," Jul said breathlessly.
"Phenomenal," Harry added in the same breathy tone.
"Gorgeous."
"Beautiful."
"Thank you," Rose cut in before they kept going or else they were likely never to leave…not that she didn't appreciate the praise. Nonetheless she was smiling, slightly flushed from the compliments. "I'm flattered," she couldn't express with words the way that both of them made her feel, more than weak at the knees, unable to choose which was more perfect.
"Should we go?" Harry asked after a moment. Rose and Jul both nodded. Jul pulled the door open, holding it for Rose, as they all stepped onto the porch.
"So where are we going?" Rose inquired.
"It's a surprise," Jul replied, grinning mischievously.
"Well, then how am I supposed to apparate there if I don't know where I'm going?" she retorted still smiling, making a forceful point.
"We'll take you there," Harry answered with a mischievous grin, winking to Jul. Harry knew that Rose hated letting someone apparate her anywhere when she could easily apparate there herself. Rose let out a low growl before linking arms with Harry and Jul, bracing herself for the peculiar feeling of apparating with someone else.
'I hate this part,' she thought as she heard the loud popping and felt herself leaving her front porch.
Dinner was fairly uneventful. It was in a gorgeous restaurant with music and candlelight. They talked about everything; from their most embarrassing moments to scars to their plans for the future. But as dinner ended, Rose knew that the fun was just beginning.
"You ready to go?" Harry asked as he and Jul split the bill.
"Yep, I'm going to use the ladies' room and then we can go," Rose replied, heading towards the bathroom.
Checking her appearance in the mirror, suddenly the song "Wish You Back to Me" by Erika Jo came on, and Rose was swept into a memory.
Hermione, Liz and Rose were all in Rose's dorm room back at Hogwarts, crowding around the mirror. Rose found herself in a red, rose-like dress with tendrils of thorns wrapped around her arm, touching-up her makeup.
"I'm so nervous! What if he doesn't get it?" she ranted to Hermione and Liz as they got their dresses on, listening to her Erika Jo CD. Rose began humming "Wish You Back to Me".
"Relax, Rose, he's in love with you, he'll just know," Liz reassured her, "I hope."
"Thank you, Liz. That just fills me with confidence!" Rose snapped sarcastically. Liz shrugged. Rose just rolled her eyes and smoothed out her dress before putting on a rose-covered mask, rendering her unrecognizable. Then she turned to her friends.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked Liz and Hermione uncertainly.
"Harry won't be able to resist you," Liz said smiling.
Hermione handed her the red silk clutch purse before saying, "Go get him. Your Prince Charming is waiting."
As the memory ended, Rose gasped and slid to the floor as her knees gave out. The scariest part was that she couldn't recall what had just happened, like a story that she just happened to include her…and apparently Harry…or someone named Harry.
"Rose, are you okay?" she heard Harry ask from outside the door. Rose gradually stood up and checked her hair and makeup, giving herself time to calm down. After a moment she opened the door to a very concerned looking Harry and Jul. She smiled at how they were both doting upon her.
"I'm fine, my heel slipped. That's what I get for wearing shoes without traction," she lied through her smile.
"Let's go," Jul suggested, noticeably relieved. He held out his hand for her to take, smiling. As Rose reached to take his hand, she noticed that her own hands were shaking. She quickly grabbed Jul's hand, holding it tightly to keep it from quaking.
Harry frowned when he saw her hands shaking. "Rose, are you sure that you're alright?" he asked, obviously worried.
Rose looked up sharply, before resuming her small smile of reassurance. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry." She let Jul lead her out of the restaurant, deliberately avoiding contact with Harry for fear of triggering another…episode.
As soon as they got out of sight of any muggles, Rose let Jul apparate her to the dance club. She opened her eyes to meet his, a fierce clashing of his sapphire blue and her smoky green. She noticed how perfect his lips looked in the dim light. Rose blushed ever so slightly and smiled a small secretive smile. It was like there was a fire hidden in the depths of his crystalline iris that beckoned to her, drawing her closer. They were a mere inch apart. Jul and Rose simultaneously turned their heads and their lips met, setting off an explosion in her head. She smiled and suddenly it was over. The sensation left a tingly feeling on her lips and a sweet taste in her mouth. Jul grinned down at her and leaned in to kiss her again just as Harry apparated in.
"Hey, am I interrupting?" he asked tentatively as Rose and Jul sprang apart. A wave of guilt washed over Rose; she was here with Harry too, even if Jul was tempting. Very tempting.
"No, it's fine," Jul muttered. "Dance with me?" he asked Rose.
"That's why we're here," she replied with a grin before turning to Harry. She managed to say, "The next dance is yours. I promise," before being swept away.
And so the night went on. An hour or two went on like that: Rose dancing with Jul, then Harry, then Jul again, before repeating again and again.
Harry went up to the DJ as they all got drinks. After talking for a minute he rejoined Jul and Rose, all of them were flushed from dancing.
"What was that all about?" Rose asked, inquisitive as ever.
"Just requesting a song," Harry replied, a mischievous glint in his emerald eyes. Rose cocked an eyebrow at him before shrugging. Just then a very familiar song came on, bringing forth a grin on Harry's face to match that mischievous glint…the tango.
"Rose?" Harry asked shortly, the rest of his question in his eyes.
She sighed. "Harry, we just sat down!" she pointed out, but Harry began using the puppy-dog pout.
'Where'd he learn that?' Rose thought inquisitively.
"Please Rose! It's the tango!" he pleaded, looking extra-adorable with his humongous puppy eyes.
Rose couldn't help but smile, shaking her head. "I guess!" she gave in. Harry grinned and pulled her onto the dance floor.
As they danced across the floor, Rose noticed the room was darker around them. She looked up at the DJ to see a spotlight focused right on them.
"Harry is did you set this up?" she asked playfully.
"Yeah," he answered as he spun her out and then back in again. She just grinned at him, unable to resist his charm any longer.
During the last flourish of the song, Harry dipped her low, so the ends of her hair brushed the floor. At that moment, their eyes connected, sending a shiver down her spine, a good shiver. They slowly stood back up as the song ended. The final notes of the song faded out, unheard by Rose as she was immersed again in another forgotten memory.
Rose was in the rose-dress again, at the Harvest Moon Ball. She was dancing in the middle of the room with the Rose Prince.
As he dipped her, he inquired, "Who are you really?" Rose saw the flicker of hope that was shining in his emerald eyes.
Rose could feel her masked self pull him closer and kiss him just as the clock struck midnight. Her memory-self thought 'I love him, I always have.'
Feeling her mask slide to the floor, she felt herself draw back; looking into the face of the man she'd just been kissing and saw Harry Potter, the Harry Potter, and felt a tear trickle down her cheek as he opened his glorious emerald eyes.
Rose gasped for air as her eyes shot open. Her knees gave out like before but this time Harry caught her. Her hands shook violently as she grasped Harry's forearms with a vise-like grip. She looked pleadingly into his eyes, as if begging for it not to be true, without actually seeing him.
She didn't like her lack of memory, and she especially didn't like it coming back so…violently, like a premonition. She didn't know what was real, what was happening; whether she had just kissed Harry or had in some distant time. Either way, she was terrified.
After a minute she realized that someone was holding her up and what ever her head was resting on was moving up and down, breathing. She looked up and saw Harry, looking down at her with worry shining clearly in his eyes.
"What happened?" he inquired softly.
"I don't know," she answered truthfully, her voice quivering as violently as her hands. She tried to stand on her own but suddenly got very dizzy and would have fallen again if Harry hadn't caught her. He scooped her up and basically carried her back to their table.
"What in the bloody hell happened?" Jul asked fiercely as Harry sat Rose down.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Harry replied, his eyes never leaving Rose's face.
"I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling very well," Rose answered shakily. "But, for some reason, Harry, I remember you…at the Harvest Moon Ball, the Rose Prince." Harry's eyes widened with alarm as he shot a glance at Jul.
"But how could I suddenly remember you?" she asked unsurely, "We've never met before…have we?"
"I don't know. We've met informally, but it was a little thing that anyone could have forgotten," Harry lied.
"Oh," she said quietly. "I don't feel like dancing anymore, could we go?" she asked softly. In truth she was terrified that she might be plagued by another episode.
"Sure. Is everything ready?" Jul asked Harry. Harry nodded and Jul stood up.
"Come," Harry softly commanded, standing up and holding out his hand, smiling.
"Your chariot awaits, milady," Jul said quietly with a matching smile, holding out his hand also. Rose blushed and stood, putting her hands in each of theirs, unable to suppress feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. The two wizards led her outside into the moonlight.
Waiting in the faint illumination was an open carriage drawn by two horses as pale as the moon. Rose let out a small gasp, reaching out to pet each steed's muzzle. Jul came up behind her and guided her into the carriage before climbing into the drivers' seat as Harry helped her in. Making sure they were seated, Jul clucked and they were off.
As they arrived at home, Harry helped Rose out and both boys walked her up the porch.
"Thanks guys, it was fun," Rose said as they stood at her front door. She fiddled with her bracelet, working up the courage. "Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight Rose," they both replied. 'Screw it,' she thought, her hand on the door handle, as she suddenly walked up to Jul and gave him a sweet kiss. She stepped back, smiling, seeing the slightly surprised look in his blue eyes. She knew how to kiss Jul.
Then she stepped towards Harry and kissed him too. Fireworks she hadn't expected went off in her head like the Fourth of July. When she pulled back, she wasn't surprised to find that he'd taken her breath away. It had been more than a simple kiss good night. It made her want to kiss him again and again.
She smiled, catching the yearning look in Harry's eyes; that look that pleaded for more. Then she remembered a very interesting fact.
"Harry, aren't you staying here with James and Ron?" she inquired slyly, managing to sound innocent.
"Yeah, I'll be inside in just a minute. Good night," he replied, seeing that glimmer of the seductress shine in her green eyes.
"Good night," she said, going inside and up to her room.
Jul turned on Harry as soon as the door shut. "Okay, so what the heck happened when you two were dancing?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think we just triggered a part of her memory," Harry answered truthfully, dragging himself into the present, unable to forget how Rose had looked at him.
"Ok, but we have to be more careful from now on," Jul pointed out.
"I know."
They stood in silence for a minute before Jul said, "Well, I'm going to head out."
"Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow," Harry answered as Jul turned and a loud crack resounded through the night. Harry turned and headed inside.
"Until tomorrow," he muttered as he started to head down the hall to the room that he was suppose to be sharing with Ron and James.
"Harry," a voice called softly. Harry looked up to see a figure at the top of the stairs.
"Rose?"
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ok so my sister actually burnt herself last year prom right after mom told her not to! hehe, she's good material! and another cliffhanger! read on! read the fluff, enjoy the fluff, love the fluff! and reply!!!!