Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Written for: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Triwizard Tournament (Task 10)

Prompt: Write a story, either romantic or plationic, where one of the characters is cruel or violent towards the other character. You should use the word 'aggressive' in your story. Draco & Ginny.

"Screw you Malfoy! Screw you and your stupid stuck up prejudiced-" She didn't finish her sentence, spinning around on her heel and storming off instead.

Draco watched her go, her red hair bouncing on her shoulders in utter disarray.

He should have followed her. Should have ran after her and held her in his arms, not caring about the bruises and scrapes she would have undoubtedly marked him with in her struggle to escape. He should have held onto her until she listened to everything that he said.

But he didn't. Instead he watched her go with a dull, numb feeling in his chest. The little voice inside of him told himself that it was alright, that it was better this way. She was too good for him. Her passion, her fire, her enthusiasm for life made her engaging and happy and beautiful. She practically glowed, she was so good. She was his angel, his only hope.

And what did he have to offer her in return for the fulfilment and peace she brought him? A crumbling estate, a reputation in ruins, the threat of a jail sentence looming over his head. Voldemort was gone but the Malfoy family was still paying for their sins.

When the final battle had finished and he had stood around looking at the ruins of Hogwarts she had been there. Still strong, still defiant, still brave even after she watched her brother's cold body laid down on the cold stone floor. He had wanted to go to her then but he had held himself back. He had wanted to wrap his arms around her and let her sob into his shoulder. But he couldn't. The protective ring of Weasleys kept him away, and kept their secret safe.

No one knew about their weeks of secret meetings. No one knew about the empty classrooms, the desperate kisses, the need that overwhelmed him whenever they were alone together. He knew that if anyone knew she would be ridiculed, perhaps even outcast. No one wanted to associate with the friend of a Death Eater.

Eventually he had realised that it was unfair. Unfair to keep her trapped with him, trapped in a toxic relationship that could only end in shame for her. If her family found out she would be outcast, if his found out she would be killed.

He had simply stopped everything. At first, he had refused to speak to her. He missed every meeting they had arranged and ignored the look of confusion in her eyes. He had neglected to open any of her letters, had stopped any smiles or looks during the day, and hurried past her in the corridors as if she didn't exist.

Eventually her pain stopped hurting him. He stopped caring when she looked at him in confusion and sadness. He blocked her out. But it wasn't enough to just ignore her. He had to hurt her, had to drive her away so she would never come back.

He hurled insults at her whenever he could and the string of words that followed him around; bastard, death eater, murderer, the words that she hurled back at him gave him some sense of satisfaction. Every time she tried to hurt him it simply made him more closed off, and he welcomed the pain because it anchored him. The pain kept him safe, kept her safe, kept everything normal. With her he was flying, soaring above everything but the problem with flying is the possibility of falling.

Every word that she uttered felt like a knife being thrust into him and he deserved it. He deserved punishment and pain and that was what she could give him. The pain was his sentence, the aching knowledge that he had given up the most important thing in the world was the burden he had to live with.

No longer was he dependant on her, no longer did he watch her with an intensity bordering on desperation. No longer did he lie awake every night, paralysed by the fear that someone might find out. No longer did he fear falling from their perfect paradise.

No, now he was alone and the isolation was what would heal him.