Disclaimer: Harry Potter books and characters are the sole property of J.K. Rowling.
Minutiae
Ginny Weasley was an observer. She had always seen things that others carelessly overlooked, she had always hunted for hidden patterns or details that would normally be unnoticed. She had been labeled shy at an early age, but that had only given her more time to wander on her own and muse _ so she was never really lonely in her revery. She was the only one of the Weasleys, besides Percy, that enjoyed so many hours of solitude.
Ginny had changed though, as she had grown. Still astutely aware of detail, but bolder and more light_hearted _ a characteristic that had been instilled in her by her brothers Fred and George. She could feel her age, her confidence, stir around her as she sat next to Hermione Granger _ who was busy scribbling on a piece of parchment, her sharp eyes beady in concentration. Ginny smiled to herself, but Hermione never noticed.
It was amazing to Ginny how lovely Hermione really was, but how so few people actually noticed. No one cared to looked at the small perfections that made a whole masterpiece _ they only hoped to glance on one smoldering sculpture of beauty in it's truest form. Ginny thought Hermione was more beautiful than any other girl in Hogwarts, but Hermione never noticed that either - and Ginny tried to keep her racing thoughts hidden and guarded.. Just in case the older girl actually took time to actually see...
The Gryffindor common room was quiet that evening, a few students were left in the room, whispering softly in groups of twos or threes. Ginny and Hermione did not speak to each other right then, but Ginny was content watching her friend working diligently, hunched over her homework in a way that only Hermione could of made alluring.
Hermione's hair had spilt over onto the desk without her noticing, and Ginny idly reached out her hand for the slight brown curls. Ginny smiled as her fingers twisted gently soft tendrils - she was careful, barely touching... just letting the strands caress her cool hand and nothing more. She thought of how beautiful all of Hermione's hair would look in a long braid.. Hermione had such wonderful hair... unlike her own thin, bright red tresses that would do nothing more then hang limply around her face... Hermione was so perfect..
..Ginny's hand tightened slightly around the bit of hair on the table, and Hermione instantly looked up, pulling her hair quickly from Ginny's grasp. She was blushing slightly, and her eyes stared into Ginny's with a vague surprise. Hermione didn't see what was raging inside of Ginny's dark, large eyes, she didn't notice the slight waver of unspoken affection and hope - so her surprise turned to aggravation.
She was busy - didn't anyone see that?
Hermione's eyes sharpened in slight annoyance at being disturbed, and her lips curled down slightly. Without saying anything to Ginny, she raised up her hand and flicked in at the other girl - a gesture to go away. To leave her alone... She then turned her full attention back to her homework, and let her hair fall carelessly down the back of the chair.
Hermione never noticed Ginny's eyes fill with a shimmering disappointment and melancholy as she stood up and walked away from the table.. Hermione never saw anything at all.
Minutiae
Ginny Weasley was an observer. She had always seen things that others carelessly overlooked, she had always hunted for hidden patterns or details that would normally be unnoticed. She had been labeled shy at an early age, but that had only given her more time to wander on her own and muse _ so she was never really lonely in her revery. She was the only one of the Weasleys, besides Percy, that enjoyed so many hours of solitude.
Ginny had changed though, as she had grown. Still astutely aware of detail, but bolder and more light_hearted _ a characteristic that had been instilled in her by her brothers Fred and George. She could feel her age, her confidence, stir around her as she sat next to Hermione Granger _ who was busy scribbling on a piece of parchment, her sharp eyes beady in concentration. Ginny smiled to herself, but Hermione never noticed.
It was amazing to Ginny how lovely Hermione really was, but how so few people actually noticed. No one cared to looked at the small perfections that made a whole masterpiece _ they only hoped to glance on one smoldering sculpture of beauty in it's truest form. Ginny thought Hermione was more beautiful than any other girl in Hogwarts, but Hermione never noticed that either - and Ginny tried to keep her racing thoughts hidden and guarded.. Just in case the older girl actually took time to actually see...
The Gryffindor common room was quiet that evening, a few students were left in the room, whispering softly in groups of twos or threes. Ginny and Hermione did not speak to each other right then, but Ginny was content watching her friend working diligently, hunched over her homework in a way that only Hermione could of made alluring.
Hermione's hair had spilt over onto the desk without her noticing, and Ginny idly reached out her hand for the slight brown curls. Ginny smiled as her fingers twisted gently soft tendrils - she was careful, barely touching... just letting the strands caress her cool hand and nothing more. She thought of how beautiful all of Hermione's hair would look in a long braid.. Hermione had such wonderful hair... unlike her own thin, bright red tresses that would do nothing more then hang limply around her face... Hermione was so perfect..
..Ginny's hand tightened slightly around the bit of hair on the table, and Hermione instantly looked up, pulling her hair quickly from Ginny's grasp. She was blushing slightly, and her eyes stared into Ginny's with a vague surprise. Hermione didn't see what was raging inside of Ginny's dark, large eyes, she didn't notice the slight waver of unspoken affection and hope - so her surprise turned to aggravation.
She was busy - didn't anyone see that?
Hermione's eyes sharpened in slight annoyance at being disturbed, and her lips curled down slightly. Without saying anything to Ginny, she raised up her hand and flicked in at the other girl - a gesture to go away. To leave her alone... She then turned her full attention back to her homework, and let her hair fall carelessly down the back of the chair.
Hermione never noticed Ginny's eyes fill with a shimmering disappointment and melancholy as she stood up and walked away from the table.. Hermione never saw anything at all.