A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any other related characters

This is a gift fic for Amanda (DarylDixon'sgirl1985) I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I enjoyed writing it! May you have a wonderful holiday season!

She couldn't help it that she was the fairest in the land. Her pale skin was perfect without a freckle or spot, her hair was dark and shone in the sunlight. Yes, she was absolutely perfect and that was why she was doomed.

In the beginning, life was perfect. She lived with her family, growing and blossoming in the sunlight. She slowly grew to maturity and then the unimaginable happened. She was ripped from the loving home she'd once had. Long, gnarled fingers plucked her, clenched her, turning her around and around studying her every aspect. Long fingernails touched her flesh, gently scratching at it, but not enough to leave a mark. Oh, how she hated being touched.

"You, my pretty will be the ending he so deserves," a gravely voice stated. Terrified, she was shoved into a prison with walls that seemed to move and breathe. The walls were soft against her skin when she dared touch them, what kind of prison was this? One that moved leaving her unsteady and unable to find her footing? Would she ever see her family again? Would she ever see the light of the sun again?

Days seemed to merge together creating an eternity in solitude. Suddenly light poured in from above. The horrible woman had opened the ceiling to the prison. She wanted to scream, to do something, but she was frozen in fear as that same gnarled hand yanked her from the prison. The light was blinding, and she felt she had become paler than before. She wondered if the slightly bit of rosiness her skin had possessed was gone now, if she was nothing more than a ghost of who she had been.

"This curse should do it," the voice stated. She felt ill as something washed over her. Her skin became waxy and she felt faint.

Poison. She'd been poisoned! Her head was spinning as she was held in place, held up, on display. Her captor was carrying her, holding her out so the sun hit her unblemished skin. They paused at a cottage house made of mismatched stones set in grey mortar. That's when she saw him through the windowpane. His hair gleamed like white gold, his eyes were the sky, and he didn't notice the evil so close to him. She wanted to act, to warn him, but she was unable to move as her captor knocked on the wooden door. The sound echoed through her core. The door opened with a creak and he stepped out. There was something about the way he carried himself, the way he spoke to her captor in a polite voice. He was even more dashing! She could tell he was special despite the tattered clothing he wore.

"Care for an apple," the voice rasped, yanking her up again and holding her out to him.

He was staring at her now, reaching for her. His fingers brushed against her flesh and she wished dearly she could do something, anything, to warn him of the poison that was slowly spreading through her body. He brought his lips to her, his teeth nipping her flesh and he fell, collapsed, still holding her in his hand. Her captor laughed, a swish of black fabric and the evil one was gone. They were alone, her and the handsome man she'd just killed. She wept at seeing him lifeless next to her. She'd finally found someone worthy, someone she could love and through a strange and horrid twist of fate, she'd killed him!

As the sun rose, she started to warm, to sweat, the poison trickling from her skin until she was once again herself. She rolled to him, her pale skin now bruised and freckled from being kidnapped, poisoned, thrown to the ground. She was no longer the beauty she once had been, no longer the fairest, but she did not care. Her heart was pure and that was all that mattered as she rolled against his lips. Slowly she kissed him, wishing she could change their fate. The color started to return to his face, a faint rose blush coming to his sharp cheeks. Her sweet heart had saved him. He blinked his eyes open, staring at her. He picked her up, held her carefully, tenderly and she could feel the love radiating from him.

"An apple, a thing of such beauty," he whispered, kissing her flesh again, this time gently as he rose to his feet. "You have saved me, my Apple, my love. Now, we must defeat the witch who cursed you, who tried to use you to murder me and take my kingdom," he stated, as they started walking. She watched the world go by as he carried her. The blue of the sky meeting the green of the trees, the way the shadows flittered across the earthen path. At one point, he stopped by a cool stream, lowering her gently into the crystal water. She bathed in delight at the crispness of the liquid.

"You need rest, my love," he said. "We have both been through so much today and it will soon become dark. We will camp here tonight," he explained, tucking her gently into the soft leather bag he carried. She slept, dreaming of him, of defeating the one who had wronged both of them.

Morning came too soon as he lifted the flap so she could see the sunrise.

"You're still beautiful," he whispered, giving her a soft kiss. His lips were warm, like the flutter of a feather crossing over her skin. She smiled as they started walking again. This time, knowing the palace wasn't too far.

"Here we are, my Apple," he said, as they reached a pair of men dressed in metal. She wondered if she would soon see her home. She knew her family lived near the palace. What would they say that she'd found someone to love her? Were they worried about her, think her dead? She pushed those thoughts from her mind as they crossed the drawbridge. Suddenly, she was thrust into darkness again.

"You're safer here," he stated, touching her gently with his fingertips, reassuring her that it would be alright. She believed him, she would always believe him, he was her True Love after all. She didn't see the battle, but the sound of swords clanking together sent chills down her. There was yelling, screaming, and then, silence. She feared the worst. Had he lost? Was she to be imprisoned again, or worse, killed?

"We did it, my Apple," his voice stated, as he pulled her out for the world to see. Everything was bright and cheerful. She could feel the air filled with excitement. A voice proclaimed,

"All hail King Draco! Long may he reign!"

Her entire body shook from the shock. The man she'd killed and then saved had been the prince!

"Don't worry, my Apple, you will make a wonderful queen," he promised, kissing her as he walked through the palace and into the large garden in the center. There stood her home, her family all falling into attention as King Draco walked over. They stared at her, having been gone and now returning engaged to the king. She'd found her place in the world and they couldn't have been happier for her. She couldn't be happier for herself. She'd survived her kidnapping, a murder, a miracle, and now, she was with the man she loved, ready to live happily ever after.