Pru wasn't able to sit anywhere near Draco the next morning due to Daphne's excessive ignoring of Blaise. So she was forced to say a quick good morning to him and offer an adoring smile as they crossed paths in the Great Hall.

Blaise was trying his hardest to hold back his scowl as Daphne and Pru walked by. Daphne intentionally turned her head away and her nose up at him...then he was forced to witness Prudence and Draco smile at one another...

"What?" Draco asked acidly when he noticed Blaise's sour face aimed at him.

"Daph's treating me like a plague and you're smiling like a bloody creepy doll..."

Draco only shrugged, not letting his mopey friend's mood bring down how good Pru was making him feel, "Rough luck mate, don't screw the Pug."

Blaise's eyes flared, "You know I was pissed, it was one fucking mistake...I don't even remember it!"

Draco looked into Blaise's eyes squarely, "Then stop your whining and get her back."

A square of toast was then thrown very angrily into Draco's face.

Draco tried very hard to manage his excited feelings as he sat patiently waiting for Pru to arrive to class. He knew he told himself that the two of them should be quite unthinkable, but that didn't stop the rapid acceleration of his heart when she was near.

She never showed up for class though. He wondered if he should be worried...the longer Binns prattled on the more worried he became...

What if Pansy found out?

Prudence stared at Professor Dumbledore. He had an urgency behind his voice that she wasn't accustomed to hearing. From what she gathered, he had spent the entire night trying to figure out a way to lift her curse. So, with her permission, he, along with Professor Snape, were going to try and break the curse she had on her. He said it may take many sessions to cure it completely, each one splintering away only pieces.

"Will it hurt?" She asked skeptically.

He did not answer right away, a definite bad sign.

"I am sorry to say that it will not feel pleasant, but Madame Pomfrey has already provided us with pain serum for your safety."

Pru took in a deep breath. Was he serious, could he actually break her curse? "But you can cure me?"

This time he did not hesitate and replied with a smile, "I am sure of it."

"When do we start."

"Immediately."

Nobody had saw Prudence the entire day. She did not show for any classes, she did not show up to lunch or dinner.

Once Draco had found out that not even Daphne had been with her he began to feel slightly panicked.

Pansy was the first person he tracked down. He was easily able to deduce she was clueless so he moved on.

Now he sat uneasily with Daphne and Blaise as they tried racking their brains as to where she could be...

Daphne sighed, too worried about Pru to care that she was beside Blaise, "I don't understand...where could she be?"

Draco took one solemn look at the girl that was near tears and stood up, "This is ridiculous I'm going to find Snape."

Daphne watched Draco go, and Blaise watched her watch him go, "Don't worry Daph, I'm sure she's fine."

She wanted to turn her head to give him a small smile of appreciation, she couldn't deny his sweet sincerity. But she didn't.

Draco walked through the dungeon halls briskly. He knew his mind was beginning to unfurl at the possibilities of something bad happening to her and how crazy that made him look.

Prudence had endured nearly three hours of lying stiff on her back in a silent cocoon of agony as her headmaster cast ancient incantations over her. She felt like her body was literally being torn apart, blazing with torture as the professor's words chipped away at the curse slowly. She wouldn't scream though, she wouldn't let it get to her.

That was nearly three hours ago.

She had polity accepted her pain management serum that they already dosed her with and refused an escort back to her room. She thought she would feel better after she had went through what Professor Dumbledore explained to her he would do for her, but she didn't, not at all. Her serum had worn away faster than she thought it would and now, she was collapsed in an abandoned dungeon classroom, so close to her dorm, yet so far.

She had come into the room to collect herself before she was bombarded with questions when she entered back into her Slytherin common room, except she soon found herself on the floor writhing in unexpected pain.

The panic bubbled up in her chest quickly, she couldn't move, she couldn't reach her satchel...The pain was practically blinding as she tried her hardest to reach for the bag just inches from her reach. It was no use, she couldn't grasp it, all she could do was whimper like a broken soul.

Draco just happened to notice the open door at the end of a hall he normally didn't go down. Instead of going straight to Snape like he said, he had found himself roaming the halls searching for the missing girl himself.

He walked closer, listening for any sounds and then gasping when he actually heard some.

It was a muffled sound, and it was a girl. He couldn't differentiate if she was in pleasure or pain, but he took a chance anyway and walked purposefully into the room.

There she was, in the center of the room, crumpled like a rag doll. At first he couldn't move forward, overwhelmed by the sight of her, but he soon ran to her side once his wits returned. He felt his chest seize up as he realized she was sobbing and laying awkwardly, like it hurt to be inside her own skin...

"Pru, can you hear me? Pru, it's Draco!" He tried to cradle her head, but dropped it immediately as if he were scorched when she howled in pain.

She did her best to find the strength to look up at him, "Draco?"

She sounded weak, but he could also hear some relief, "What happened? Where have you been?"

Prudence wanted to respond, but she just couldn't. It felt as if her bones were trying to escape her body...

Draco felt helpless and agonized as he watched the tears cascade down her face when she was unable to speak any words, "Please Pru, what can I do? Tell me what to do!" He was almost manic with fear until she managed to point to her bag. He didn't think twice as he snatched it up and searched through it for anything that he thought would help. His eyes lit up when he found the glowing blue vial.

Promptly, Draco uncorked the bottle, internally screaming at his violently shaking hands, and poured a bit into her mouth.

It took only seconds for Pru to feel a gentle coolness circulate through her entire body and the pain to cease.

The room was silent as Draco listened intently to her sobs melt into silent quaking whimpers. She wouldn't look at him and he couldn't help but stare at her crippling beauty. He was reminded of the Angel statues he has seen while on holiday, the ones that look even more beautiful when the rain falls over them. He had the urge to kiss her then, he just stared at her parted lips, the only part of her face her dark hair wasn't shadowing.

He batted away the urge and pulled her small frame into his arms so he could hold her to him tightly. He was elated when he felt her relax just from his touch, but ignored that as well because although her physical pain was gone, the emotional pain had just begun. A new wave of tears overtook her as she clung to him desperately. All he wanted to do was make her pain go away...all of it. He had never encountered a crying female that he actually cared about. Each tear that he watched fall onto his leg was like a small dagger burrowing into his ribs, and he was incapable of making it stop.

Pru tried to hide her face from him. She knew it must seem crazy for him to find her this way and for her to cling to him so recklessly. And she surely looked a frightful mess... she was defenseless against stopping herself. She was so grateful that he found her. The pain that coursed through her body moments ago was so intense she thought it would kill her and the emotional distraught that followed as she remembered she'd have to do it again was just too much. She didn't want to do it again, she would rather live with the curse the rest of her life than feel that way ever again...

Pru was both relieved and humiliated that it was Draco particularly that found her. It was comforting to know that it was his arms that held her tight at the moment, his hand that gently stroked her back, he was doing a marvelous job of making her feel like she was safe...

Draco waited patiently for her shaking shoulders to still and her tears to dry up.

Finally, he heard her breathing even out so he asked, "What happened?"

She heaved a shaky breath and sat herself up, her face still turned away. He wished that she would just look at him.

"Dumbledore and Snape found a way to break my curse."

"That's wonderful Pru." But she didn't respond... "Pru?"

"I mean, I guess so...but is it worth the pain? It hurts a thousand times more than the actual curse..."

"Tell me what happened," he whispered to her dark tresses.

She replied calmly, "This morning after breakfast I sat down with Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore, they told me they were positive that they had found a way to break the ancient curse, but it would take many long tedious sessions of incantations..." She felt the tears beginning to well up again as she recalled laying on her back, screaming in silence.

When she spoke again Draco knew the tears had returned, "...It hurts so bad..." she whispered through the crying.

Pru had never felt so vulnerable, never in her life had she laid her problems out for another to comb over. He was the first person she had ever confided in, she has always just suffered in silence because she believed that that was the strong way. "...It's like the curse is a hard shell encasing me...and every session cracks at it..."

"But don't they understand the agony it's causing you?" Draco was now livid because being angry was a feeling he could rationalize. Feeling like his heart was bleeding, and he was helpless about a girl he just met was not something he wanted to latch onto at the moment.

"They do...but this is my fault. I didn't take the serum right away again like I should have. By the time I tried to get to it I was too consumed by the pain..."

His pulse was raging in his veins, he was at a loss for words.

His hand reached out and lightly touched her shoulder, it felt like fire thriving into her soul, "Pru, look at me," she heard his voice whisper smoothly.

But she couldn't, she was so embarrassed, "Draco, I probably look terrible, and I can't- I've never..."

A small smile played about his lips, as if she could ever look terrible, "What?" he asked.

"This is so embarrassing, " She finally grumbled causing him to lightly chuckle, "I've never...cried in front of anyone before..." His smile broadened, that some how made him feel special.

"Please, just look at me..."

She huffed defiantly before turning slowly to look up into his eyes.

Merlin, she was stunning, she looked like one of those muggle picture girls...Her black make up was smeared lightly below her eyes, but it only added to her dramatic appearance. Her lips were swollen due to her gnawing on them and her skin was flushed... He imagined that this was probably close to what she looked like after sex...

Pru frowned at his stunned face, "I told you I look-"

"Beautiful."

She was speechless as she looked into his honest silvery eyes that portrayed his confidence. She felt her teeth pull at her lip as she tried to hide the smile that wanted to burst, but she was positive he could see the way her eyes danced.

Draco took in a breath, momentarily getting lost in her warm honey eyes. Damn he wanted to kiss her. For the first time in his life he was hesitant about making a move, she made him feel all sorts of nerves on his insides.

Fuck, this was really serious.

Prudence turned her head and sniffled, still feeling overwhelmed, even though he just told her she looked beautiful. The softness and sincerity laced in his voice when he said it stayed at the front of her mind, she wasn't sure how to respond...

"I think maybe we should get you back to your own bed so you can rest," he told her softly after a few moments of comfortable silence.

"I think you may be right."

Draco grimaced through Daphne's squeals of delight once he brought her back, but then demanded she be taken to her bed to rest.

He then...he went straight to Snape.

"I need to speak with you," Draco growled as he stormed into his Head of House and Godfather's office.

Severus Snape looked up from his papers to look at his godson calmly. What could ever be so bothersome to Draco that he actually showed he cared?

"About?" the professor drawled.

Draco narrowed his eyes, the rage inside him threatening to burst. It came in a furious whirlwind after he said good night to Pru. They were responsible for Pru's pain. They did too much, her body could barely handle it! They, two of the most powerful wizards alive, should have known better!

"I found Prudence collapsed in a dungeon classroom this evening, she couldn't move, she couldn't talk, she could barely breath. She was in so much pain that it felt like a continuous wave of the Cruciatis!"

Snape was now alert, but his only tell was one slightly raised eyebrow. He couldn't have the Minister of Magic's only grand daughter in mortal peril. How could she have been in that much pain? She didn't make one sound through out the process, barely a grimace. He had underestimated her, she was more powerful than he thought.

He also immediately noticed Draco's obvious display of a bleeding heart. The boy cared for this girl already...teenagers...it would only end in heartache...

"Well!" Draco yelled, now visibly shaking with anger, "Explain yourself!"

Snape narrowed his eyes. "I suggest you calm down Draco, take a seat...and a breath..."

Draco heaved a deep breath and did what was asked of him. He knew his Godfather wouldn't tell him anything until he did... So he sat down, still fuming.

"When did you find her?"

"Just about thirty minutes ago."

If it weren't for Snape's concern for Prudence he would be amused by Draco's attitude.

It looked as if Snape's complexion turned even sallower which threw Draco harshly, "What?" the blonde asked eagerly.

"She must have been that way for over four hours..." He told the young man solemnly.

Draco could feel his words rip from his throat as a roar, "Damnit! How could you have not been more thorough? You should have seen her Sev, trembling and crying. It was like she couldn't even see or hear! And you did that to her! You, and our mighty leader Dumbledore!" He couldn't comprehend the way his heart raced against his huffing lungs. It was pure torture to recall how broken she felt in his arms.

Snape's eyes cautiously watched the young man pace the room, "You gave her the serum then?" The boy's head snapped to him and glared at him as if he were a twit.

"Of course I gave her the serum!"

The greasy professor could only nod, "Good," as he stood to leave the room swiftly.

"Where are you going?" Draco questioned, his voice still wavering with anger.

Snape had had enough of his godson's enraged teenage hormones, he turned on his heel sharply, pinning the boy to the cold brick, "Enough! Get a hold of yourself, you're acting like a lunatic!"

The torn young wizard watched the man billow away, leaving him stunned, gulping for air as the adrenaline finally left his body.

A lunatic?

How the hell else was he suppose to react when he finds the girl that he...the girl that he what?

Maybe he was getting out of hand. This was very unlike him to surrender so weakly to his emotions...

"They took her."

Draco sat down calmly. He was still angry, but at himself. He must have more self control, he could not have a girl making him act wonky.

He figured they would take her, she needed medical attention.

Blaise scanned his friend, why didn't he seem more concerned? "Why so calm?"

"She's...changing me..."

Blaise could only chuckle, "So I've noticed."

There was a throbbing ache between Draco's eyes, so he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. He felt like he had just stepped out of an emotional whirlwind.

"I have to have better control."

"C'mon D, what do you expect when you fall in love?"

In wha..? In love? "Not that again."

"Hey, I only say it because it happened to me last year...once it starts it's unstoppable mate."

How could Blaise be so calm when he said such ridiculous things?

"I don't know why you're fighting it? She obviously likes you as well..."

"Because it makes perfect sense for a Purist son of a Deatheater to date the M.O.M's grand daughter!"

Blaise looked off into space dreamily, "Like Romeo and Juliet.."

"What?" Draco questioned, visibly irritated.

"You know, that muggle love story..."

"No Blaise, I don't! Not much muggle lit in my house," Draco snapped, reinforcing his argument.

But Blaise could only scoff, "Oh shut it, and stop being such a twit. If you let her go or push her away another bloke will go after her...if they're not already! Maybe she'll end up with Potter, is that what you want?"

No, that is definitely not what he wants.