Beautiful

Don't look at me...

She looked into the mirror that hung on the back of her door. Yes, this was perfect. Tonight it would all end.

Everyday is so wonderful
Then suddenly
It's hard to breathe
Now and then I get insecure
From all the pain
I'm so ashamed

She walked towards that closet where he always met her. Every day, she went there, to experience more of the pain and brutality that Draco Malfoy used as his version of love. He had become an addictive drug to her, a drug she could not resist. Until now.

I am beautiful
No matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful
In every single way
Yes words can't bring me down
So don't you bring me down today

She chanted this mantra as she walked towards the door. She had told him she would be there at midnight - actually he had insisted she be there at midnight. There was not requesting, no asking, no love in this relationship. Her only memories were the scars and bruises that nightly covered her body. She had had enough of this pain, this suffering.

To all your friends
You're delirious
So consumed
In all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The pieces gone
Left the puzzle undone
Is that the way it is

It had taken everyone a while to realize what was happening. As she spent more of her time sneaking around, making excuses of why she should have to go to bed early and rise early, people started to notice. She only wanted to protect Draco; her love for him and loyalty for him had gone that far. She didn't want anyone to see what he had done to her, the bite marks covering her body, the hand-print-shaped-bruises that were all over her small, frail body. Hermione had been the first to notice, and had gently coaxed the story out of her that one night, the night she had come back to the common room with blood dripping from the cut on her neck. Hermione had washed her up, and listened to her, allowing her to say all the things she didn't think she could actually get out: how much she loved Draco, but how much he was hurting her. Hermione had given her the strength she needed to overcome this, and to face her fears. The idea on how to give Draco his just reward for being a cruel bastard had been Hermione's idea, but the shirtless part was all Ginny.

You are beautiful
No matter what they say
Words can't bring you down

Draco had always used clothing as a sort of shield. Her bruises and scars had been in places that were concealed by clothing, and her shirts and robes had always seemed like shackles to her, her prison. She felt free, and powerful, like an ancient person doing a ritual. And that really was what this whole thing seemed like, a ritual to break her ties with him. She also knew that if she went in there, topless, he would pay more attention to her body then to what she was about to do. And that would give her the precious moments she needed.

Cause you are beautiful
In every single way
Yes words can't bring you down
So don't you bring me down today

After she talked to Hermione, things had actually gotten better. For some reason, he didn't really hurt her physically anymore. But he was doing something worse. He was using words; cruel wheedling words that made her want to cry but crawl to him like a beaten puppy every night. And that's just what she had been: a little, runty, wimpy beaten cocker spaniel. Not tonight. This would be the last night Draco Malfoy did anything to her.

No matter what we do
No matter what we say
We're the song inside the tune
Full of beautiful mistakes

She opened the door, and heard Draco's mocking voice

"You're late. And late girls get what they deserve."

She could feel his evil smirk, even in the gloom. The Dark Lord really had pulled Draco under his spell over the past few months, and it was beginning to show. In a small corner of her heart, she hoped that somehow, someone would save this poor, tortured little boy. But right now, she had to save her own self, her own soul.

And everywhere we go
The sun will always shine
And tomorrow we might awake on the other side

Draco's eyes lit up as she slowly walked towards him, careful to keep her head bent. She was trying to look as submissive as possible, so he wouldn't be prepared when the blow came. He was slender, but strong, and if he knew what was coming he would certainly be able to hurt her in ways she didn't even want to imagine. He walked towards her, the malicious remarks dripping from his mouth like drool. He was close...closer....his hand was reaching out to brush aside her hair that hung down as the only covering on her torso ... he just within her reach...when she pulled her weapon from the pocket of her robe.

Cause we are beautiful
No matter what they say
Yes words won't bring us down, no

Virgina Weasley shut the door behind her, cutting off Draco's screams of pain. He would heal, as would she. But he would always have a reminder of her. As she would always remember him.

We are beautiful in every single way
Yes words can't bring us down
So don't you bring me down today