Erased But Not Forgotten

Chapter 14

Close Calls and Chilly Feet

Harry awoke the next morning with a slight pressure on his chest, feeling incredibly warm, and more alive than he had in weeks. As something brushed against his arm, he felt compelled to wake up. Lazily opening his eyes, he was greeted by a sight that had long become familiar and recently become intangible: Rose's head resting on his chest, hair cascading down to dust his forearm, jade eyes closed in pleasant slumber.

His Sleeping Beauty's lips were gently turned up into a faint smile and she seemed to be dreaming. Her warm breath whisked along his pectorals as her head nestled deeper into his neck, sending shivers down Harry's spine as her nose tickled the sensitive flesh. As her mouthwatering scent washed over him, Harry wished he'd never let her go. When he gently brushed away her chestnut hair from her face, her eyes sleepily opened.

"Good morning, gem," she murmured, half-asleep, smiling.

"Oh, screw it!" Harry exclaimed in a hushed, ragged tone, hands sliding around her waist.

"What?" Rose inquired sleepily, but Harry simply raised her lips to his.

He completely let go, unable to contain himself when he felt her respond as if nothing had changed at all, shifting so she was pinned underneath him, but not uncomfortably so. All thoughts of her engagement flew from his mind as he kissed her fervently, her fingers lacing into his hair as she kissed him just as anxiously in return. Finally after a few more moments of bliss, they broke apart, breathless.

"Harry," Rose sighed contently, eyes still closed, "You really shouldn't be here."

Harry's eyes shot open. "W-what?!" he stuttered. Glancing over at her open closet, he stared at his reflection in her full-length mirror. Not Jul's. 'It must have worn off while I was sleeping!' he thought, berating himself for forgetting something as simple as that. Major spells, like appearance-shifting spells, require a lot of power and an awareness of your current appearance to sustain for long periods of time. When he fell asleep, Harry's concentration was totally thrown off and he'd resumed his natural physical appearance.

"Is something wrong?" Rose asked, gradually nearing total consciousness. She rubbed sleep away from her eyes and Harry was certain that when she opened them, she wouldn't be lingering in reoccurring memories. She'd see Harry, in her bed, on the morn of her wedding to Jul instead of the "Jul" that had snuck in the night before.

Just as her hands were leaving her face, Harry dove down and kissed her again. Distraction provided, Harry grabbed his wand from her bedside table and pointed it at himself, wordlessly recasting the spell, replacing his wand on the small table next to hers. When they pulled apart and Rose opened her eyes, he was Jul again.

"Nothing," Harry replied, quickly getting up and grabbing his t-shirt. "I should go." Just as he had reached the window, Rose noticed his wand still resting on her bedside table.

"Jul, wait!" she said as she snatched up the wand. "Don't forget this." As the wood touched his hand, red and gold sparks flew into the air. When he pulled her in for one final kiss, similar sparks seemed to explode as their lips touched.

He pulled away, smiled at her, and left through the window. Watching him as he Disapparated, she couldn't help but notice that wasn't Jul's kiss. It was too passionate, too fiery, just too breath-taking to be Jul. It reminded her of…Harry.

As the thought registered, a sudden chill swept over her body, raising goose-bumps. It was her wedding day, supposed to be the happiest day of her life; so why did she feel as if something was missing?

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so srry it took so long, and that its so much shorter, but i didn't know what else to write! the next chpt will be the wedding so hang in there! it will be longer!!! writer's block sucks, im sure there are many out there who can verify! hope you liked it! please tell me what you think of it!! also i want to see what you think should or will happen next, who knows i may use it ;-). lmk!!! REVIEW!!!!!!

please and thank you,

Miss Romantic