A/N: Hehehe. I've been going back to some of my earlier ones and realizing how sloppy and thoroughly un-betaed they are. Therefore, I'm editing some of them. Here's today's, though. Not exactly how I wanted it to turn out, but ah well.

Prompt #18: 7/26/17

475 words, according to Google docs.

"Ginerva." His voice was smooth, deep, and riveting, as usual. Ginny refused to turn around.

"What is it, Malfoy?" A low, amused chuckle.

"So it's Malfoy, again?" She didn't respond. A sigh came from behind her, and she turned around, her back facing the castle.

"Why are you constantly following me?" she demanded, pushing up the brim of her wide hat - a gift from Charlie - to meet his stormy eyes. Draco shrugged with a casual elegance only born in high society.

"I don't know," he said in blunt honesty, gazing steadily back at her.

"Draco, you know it wouldn't have worked out." She gestured wildly at herself, the Slytherin, and somewhere in between. "You know it wouldn't have. You're a Slytherin, I'm a Gryffindor, and…." He raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Are those the best excuses you can come up with, Ginny?" She lowered her eyes, not replying. "I thought so." He stepped forward, hands outstretched, for once deserting his Malfoy pride. "I think this can work, Ginny, I really do. Those last few months..." He paused, a grimace briefly marring his delicate features.

"Stop." Ginny's voice was strangled, her eyes wide and wild. "Please, stop." Please, stop giving me more chances. Please.

Draco took another step. His robe billowed out behind him - a response to the gusty wind buffeting both of them.

"Ginny." His voice was pleading. She shook her head furiously, wiping away a stray tear with the back of her hand.

"No!" she shouted, taking a step back. "Stop it, Draco Malfoy! I want nothing to do with you - I made that very clear the day we broke up. So stop trying to get it back!" Her last words turned into a wail and she turned her back to him once more, tears spilling freely from her freckled cheeks.

"You ruined it once, Ginny. Don't ruin it again." His voice was even - calm, and reasonable. She hated it. Steeling herself, she let loose the words she'd promised not to utter again.

"I don't know you, Draco Malfoy," she spat, forcing a sneer onto her face. "All you ever wanted was to follow your dear old papa and get that horrid mark on your arm and -"

Smack. Draco had closed the remaining gap between them and slapped her. Ginny's head had turned with the force of his blow and she let out a startled gasp, more from the shock than the pain. But she wasn't surprised. Not really. She deserved it.

He whirled around, two spots of pink high on his cheek bones, and left towards the castle. Ginny's hand came up of its own accord and touched her smarting cheek gently. She did deserve it.

A particularly violent gust of wind swept by, taking Ginny's hat with it. She watched it disappear over the nearest hill, but made no effort to stop it.