I know every crack, every creek, every turn, every floorboard, and
the precise location of every chair and table. Usually, I used this
knowledge to sneak out of the common room without being detected from under
my invisibility cloak. But tonight, it was different. I got to use this
knowledge so that I could study Ginny Weasley very closely; to memorize
every detail of her body, from her smile, to the gentle curving of her
shoulders, to the arch of her back.
I wanted to take her all in, incase Ron didn't invite me to spend the summer with him-- which, at this point, didn't seem too likely. I wanted to put her face in a frame, and keep in the back of my head, to look at over and over.
So, I stopped before the last step and looked her over, then closed my eyes, to make sure I had the right mental picture. Once I was sure I had it right, I stepped onto the last step. It let out a loud CREEK, as I knew it would, and Ginny turned to see who was coming.
She closed her book, and smiled brightly.
"Hiya, Harry."
"Finished packing already?" All I had brought was the bare minimum, and even I wasn't done yet.
"Finished an hour ago."
I nodded, politely. I had to admit I was still slightly miffed about how much she'd changed this year. No longer was she the blushing adolescent who used to idol me, but a beautiful young woman.
"I thought you hated reading… what's up with the book?"
"It's Hogwarts: A History. Thought I'd read it so I could actually have a conversation with Hermione this summer. But I'm not sure it'll help- I don't really understand much," she laughed.
I laughed along with her, about how Hermione was always referring to Hogwarts: A History. I'd tried reading it too, but fell asleep in the middle of the first chapter and decided to give it up.
"So what are you Weasley's up to this summer?"
"Nothing really. Hermione's staying over the first week, while her parents are in Sweden- that's why I have the book- and I think she's staying the last week, too, to go to Diagon Alley with us," she paused obviously trying to read my expression. "Oh yea, and you're spending the summer too," she finished, in a casual manner.
"Am I?" I asked. Suddenly she seemed to realize that Ron hadn't invited me. I mean, I figured he would want his time alone with his girlfriend, Hermoine, but I was still hoping he'd invite me.
"Oh Harry, if Ron's going to be self-centered and not invited you, then I will. Come stay with me this summer, please."
"HARRY!" Ron yelled from upstairs. "ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH PACKING OR NOT?"
"Yea, be right up," I got up to leave.
"Please, Harry," she spoke softly, as if to a little kid, who just lost his best friend.
"Ginny, you really don't want me following you around all summer. Trust me, I know I'm annoying."
With that I was climbing the stairs to finish packing.
My last night here this year. I thought. Back to the people I hate most… the Dursleys; Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon…Dudley… here I come… I sighed. Why can't Ron just invite me?
I wanted to take her all in, incase Ron didn't invite me to spend the summer with him-- which, at this point, didn't seem too likely. I wanted to put her face in a frame, and keep in the back of my head, to look at over and over.
So, I stopped before the last step and looked her over, then closed my eyes, to make sure I had the right mental picture. Once I was sure I had it right, I stepped onto the last step. It let out a loud CREEK, as I knew it would, and Ginny turned to see who was coming.
She closed her book, and smiled brightly.
"Hiya, Harry."
"Finished packing already?" All I had brought was the bare minimum, and even I wasn't done yet.
"Finished an hour ago."
I nodded, politely. I had to admit I was still slightly miffed about how much she'd changed this year. No longer was she the blushing adolescent who used to idol me, but a beautiful young woman.
"I thought you hated reading… what's up with the book?"
"It's Hogwarts: A History. Thought I'd read it so I could actually have a conversation with Hermione this summer. But I'm not sure it'll help- I don't really understand much," she laughed.
I laughed along with her, about how Hermione was always referring to Hogwarts: A History. I'd tried reading it too, but fell asleep in the middle of the first chapter and decided to give it up.
"So what are you Weasley's up to this summer?"
"Nothing really. Hermione's staying over the first week, while her parents are in Sweden- that's why I have the book- and I think she's staying the last week, too, to go to Diagon Alley with us," she paused obviously trying to read my expression. "Oh yea, and you're spending the summer too," she finished, in a casual manner.
"Am I?" I asked. Suddenly she seemed to realize that Ron hadn't invited me. I mean, I figured he would want his time alone with his girlfriend, Hermoine, but I was still hoping he'd invite me.
"Oh Harry, if Ron's going to be self-centered and not invited you, then I will. Come stay with me this summer, please."
"HARRY!" Ron yelled from upstairs. "ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH PACKING OR NOT?"
"Yea, be right up," I got up to leave.
"Please, Harry," she spoke softly, as if to a little kid, who just lost his best friend.
"Ginny, you really don't want me following you around all summer. Trust me, I know I'm annoying."
With that I was climbing the stairs to finish packing.
My last night here this year. I thought. Back to the people I hate most… the Dursleys; Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon…Dudley… here I come… I sighed. Why can't Ron just invite me?