Then suddenly he felt her warmth against his mouth and it was like the sun bursting through the clouds. The fog that had captivated his mind lifted, his wand lowering so he could wrap an arm around her waist and pull her close. "Don't you ever be that reckless again. I almost killed you." Ben muttered, pressing his face into her hair. Mal shook her head, she'd do it again if she had to, she couldn't live if it meant living without him.

Maleficent was furious, not only had her daughter thwarted her game, there was also a severe lack of carnage in the room. People were supposed to be dying in agony not kissing. Furious she raised her own wand, it seemed the only way to do it was to do it herself. "Avada Kedavra."

Ben heard Maleficent's voice and shoved Mal behind him, it was his turn to protect her. Tears fell down Mal's cheeks, nothing stopped the killing curse, in fact there was only ever one that had survived it and he'd lost everything in the process. Reaching for Ben she tried to make him let her take the curse but she knew it was too late. A flash of green shot at him before a bright light blinded everyone.

Blinking Ben glanced around at the protective barrier surrounding him. He should be dead and yet something had shielded him from the blast. Something that looked a lot like feathers. Reaching out he gently stroked the barrier, frowning as one feather dropped to the floor, turning black before crumbling to ash.

There was a reason faerie wings were sought after for potions and spells, they held immense power. They couldn't be taken from dead faeries though, they lost their magic when the faerie died, they had to be cut from a faerie while she lived. Most faeries had delicate gossamer wings that fluttered in the slightest breeze but Maleficent's had been large and strong like an eagle's with the plumage to match. The dark browns had matched her desires, her potential for dark deeds, but she hadn't really turned to the darkness until a greedy man ripped them from her. Stefan was desperate to be more than he was and he'd used her wings to gain the life he now had. He hadn't counted on just how powerful Maleficent was, for a faerie was always at her most powerful when she had her wings but Maleficent proved they could be just as dangerous without.

Mal had always been a disappointment. Being born without wings Maleficent had deemed her as 'too human' and therefore too weak to be her child. Sending her to Hogwarts had been Mal's chance to prove she was just as rotten and nasty without wings as her mother was. Straightening up Mal's eyes widened at the two large wings furled around Ben like a shield, their feathers a mix of purples and pinks but a few feathers seemed to be changing colour to a gold-tipped blue. Her wings had heard her need to protect Ben and answered her call, shielding him from the worst of the curse. One feather had fallen, a casualty of the blast but one she would gladly pay if it meant saving Ben.

"That's enough mother." Stepping in front of Ben she waited for her mother's next move. Even if Maleficent intended to kill her along with everyone else in the room, she was still Mal's mother and she didn't have it in her to kill her own mother. Maleficent raised her wand once more, this time aiming for her daughter before firing a spell right at her heart.

With one powerful beat of her wings, Mal turned the spell back on her mother, adding magic of her own to the dark curse. A crack of thunder and a swirl of purple smoke and Maleficent was gone, a tiny lizard left in her wake. Snatching a jug from a table Mag placed it carefully over her mother, preventing her from leaving to find a way to reverse Mal's magic.

Once Maleficent was trapped Ben grabbed Mal's hand, spinning her around so he could pull her into his arms. "You did it. You're magnificent." Reaching out he reverently stroked one wing, smiling at the soft, silky feel of her feathers. "You looked stunning before, I wanted to tell you but…you know, but now, with these wings, you just look…radiant." He hadn't thought Mal could look any better than she did in her lilac dress but he was wrong, the wings really suited her and it just made everything better that she was his girl.

Mal chuckled, leaning in until their noses almost touched. "You're just saying that because you want a kiss." She knew it wasn't a lie though, Ben was terrible at lying. Besides, his eyes showed just how beautiful he thought she was and he couldn't stop smiling.

"That too." Ben admitted, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. He'd spent the past few weeks without her taste on his lips and he intended to make up for lost time. So many cuddles, numerous kisses, all denied to him because of Queen Leah and her sharp tongue. Yet somehow he had a feeling those negative words would never leave the elderly Queen's lips again, at least not directed towards Mal.

Fairy Godmother stepped forward, breaking their moment but for once she gave Mal a beaming smile. "For courage in the face of danger, I think you've earned one hundred points for Slytherin and possibly a holiday for the whole school tomorrow." The Slytherins hooted with glee, her points bringing them almost in line with Gryffindor for house points. Reaching out Fairy Godmother placed a warm hand on Mal's shoulder. "I'm proud of you."

Taking her place back on the dais Fairy Godmother waited for Ben to take his place so they could resume the ceremony, not noticing Bartok slipping in to place Maleficent in a small cage. The house-elf winked at Mal, fading back into the crowd as Ben grabbed her hands and led her up onto the dais to stand with his parents. Mal glanced around nervously, surely she wasn't meant to stand with the royals, but Queen Belle took her arm and gently pulled her over to stand beside them as they watched Fairy Godmother blessing Ben's reign.

May your thoughts and creativity flow

-Lady Ami DragonHeart