15-year-old Ginny Weasley was in love.
The man of her dreams was just within her reach, yet she couldn't seem to get to him. She reached her arms out…
And felt the curtains around her four-poster bed. The soft velvet moved beneath her fingertips, yet it was not the feel she was searching for. Ginny was depressed. The same dream plagued her night after night, but it never came true because she was too afraid to ask her love out. He was a 6th year Gryffindor student who was not shy at all. In fact, he was best friends with Ginny's own brother.
The love of young Ginny's life was Harry Potter. She had been in love with him since her first year at Hogwarts, but every chance she had to ask him out was missed. Sometimes, Ginny felt left out when he flirted with Hermione Granger, even though the two girls were friends.
Ginny debated what to do. She desperately wanted to date Harry, but he was very hard to come by. However, she wanted him to go with her to Hogwarts' first annual Christmas ball, and the best present she could give herself would be a date with Harry Potter. She had already fantasized the perfect outfits for the two of them- a red dress for Ginny and a red suit with a gold tie for Harry.
Just as Ginny came out of her stupor, Harry meandered down the stairs and into the Gryffindor common room. Ginny stared agape. He was so handsome; so close, yet so far away.
"Hey, Ginny, what are you staring at?" questioned Harry as he made his way to the other side of the room. Ginny's mouth just hung open wider. Harry Potter was actually talking to HER!
"Just leave her alone; she'll get out of it sooner or later, mate. She must be in love or something, but I can't tell with whom," voiced Ron as he came downstairs with a tired look on his face. Harry's face turned redder than Ron's hair. He knew that Ginny was in love with him, just as he was in love with her.
The boys worked their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast, soon followed by their friend Hermione.
Ron asked, "Hermione? Have you seen my sister anywhere? She was acting really weird earlier this morning, but I don't know why. She was just, like, staring at Harry."
"Ron?" began Hermione. "I know you've never heard of it, but it's a simple, four-letter word- love. L-O-V-E."
"Love? My sister is in love with my best friend! How creepy!"
Hermione, Ron, and Harry took their seats at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Dishes of wonderfully prepared food, such as eggs, hash browns, and juices appeared on the table. Starving, Ron heaped mountains of food onto his plate. He shoveled an enormous spoonful into his mouth when Ginny plopped down across from him.
Without thinking particularly about taste, Ron began talking right away. "Ginny? Why are you in love with my best friend?" Harry blushed with embarrassment.
Ginny did not utter a sound. Her face turned as red as a clown's nose, and she suddenly became intently interested in the bowl of poached eggs. Then, as Ron opened his mouth to speak again, Ginny muttered something about a potions essay to write, and ran off.
Questioned Ron, "Hey, sorry, I just wanted to know why you want to date Harry! He's just-just Harry, you know."
"You really have no taste sometimes, you know, Ron," complained Hermione.
