Rose

There's no evidence to suggest that she knows of his existence. But she really can't be blamed. He's got his nose buried in a thicker, dustier book every day. And he doesn't really talk to people. But he's not a loner- he's best friends with her cousin, Albus. Neither talks much but the friendship is strong. And Albus is partly why he's enamoured by her. Albus and she spend a lot of time together, and by default he's in her presence. A lot. But does she notice him? He doesn't think so.

They're polar opposites with nothing in common. She's brilliant, really. Better than everyone at everything. She got the most Outanding OWLs- one more than her Mother, she's the best Seeker Gryffindor have had since her Uncle Harry. And she can argue- Merlin does she argue about witches' rights and house-elf rights from dawn to dusk. She's nice too- fiery and nice. She'll smile and for him the whole room will light up.

But notice him, she doesn't. Why would she? He's just secondbest.

He got one Outstanding less than her, he's only reserve Seeker for Gryffindor and she almost never skips a match. He doesn't argue much- he's learnt that the best thing for him is to let other people have opinions and not share his own- life's got less conflict that way. But the thought of arguing with her and watching those blue eyes light up and the red hair crackle with excitement- he thinks he just might lose his resolve and speak to her.

Maybe he'll smile at her one day soon, at the library. That's the only place at Hogwarts Albus and the rest of her cousins refuse to set foot in. Come to think of it, he's quite sure that she and he are the only two people who frequent it when the exams are in the distant future. He can sense that she likes it there for the same reasons that he does- the silence, the dusty air and the books. And maybe, the other person's company. At least he likes to watch her read on occasion.

But he really can't figure out that distant look she gets in her sparkling eyes when he thinks that she's finally noticed him in the library. It's a look that glazed over and dreamy- as though she's thinking of something that she doesn't have yet, but could make her really, sublimely happy if she did.

Whatever it is, he hopes she gets it soon- she deserves to be happy.

And sometimes he doesn't see her at all- he just senses her presence- as he falls into day dreams filled with red haired mermaids and blue eyed princesses.

Every day he falls a little deeper…

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