"Hey, Weasley," Malfoy called out from across the hallway, raising his voice enough for her to hear him easily.
Ginny turned, her jaw set to face him and her shoulders squared, prepared to face him with her walls up.
Then promptly had them knocked flat at the sight of him.
Malfoy grinned at her, showing off twin dimples. His arm was wrapped around Astoria Greengrass, a girl a year younger. "I haven't seen you for a while."
That's because I was avoiding you, she thought darkly. It just hurts too much to look at you and not actually have you. "Must have missed me," she shrugged carelessly as though she didn't have a care in the world.
She looks too good. Too happy. Why should she be happy when I'm not, Draco raged internally. I miss her so much. Doesn't she miss me?
"What've you been up to lately," Ginny asked casually, sliding her gaze over to Greengrass. Why is he with someone? Doesn't he want me back?
"Not much," he answered vaguely. I want to numb the sensation of missing you with every narcotic known to man. "Hey, Astoria, would you leave us alone for a moment?"
"Sure," she replied, placing a possessive kiss on his lips before leaving.
"How's Quidditch," she asked him. I hate that I love you while you love someone else.
"Fine." How can you ask me such casual questions when we shared so much?
"The weather's good for matches," she commented. Just thinking about you being with someone else makes me nauseous.
"Yeah, it is." It's a nightmare trying to forget you. You and your curves and temper and all that hair and the way you used to kiss me after we argued-
"Well, I've got to run," she muttered. I really don't matter to you, do I?
"Yeah. Me too." Don't leave.
"Snape will have my head if I'm late," she murmured.
They stood, looking at each other, for a few seconds.
"Kind of weird, isn't it," he whispered. "It's ridiculous."
"What is?"
"This. I'm not a stranger. Why treat me like one?"
Her lips parted. "I can't do this. This…being with you…it hurts too much."
"I'm shocked. I thought a Gryffindor would have had more courage," he taunted, desperately trying to get a rise out of her, a reaction of some sort, anything but this blank refusal to connect with him on anything.
"Nothing shocks me anymore," she whispered. She blinked away tears then turned, unable to keep her guard up for any longer. I'll never fit into your world. And even if it hurts, we're better off.
Draco stared after her, an odd feeling in his stomach. It felt…empty. You were different, Ginny. I let down my walls for you. But it didn't work and I can't make it work alone.
He turned and left in the opposite direction.
Author's Note: This is a response to Somewhere Sky's challenge:
Prompt: "Nothing shocks me anymore" somewhere in the text.
Bonus Points: Hogwarts era.
Required: Draco/Ginny centered.
Length: Min. 300 words, no max.
Rating: Any.
Deadline: May 17th.