It had been almost a full week since Prudence had her heart shattered and almost sucked the entire school and all the students in it into a cyclone.
Daphne and Hermione were sitting by Prudence's bedside in the hospital wing on a dismal Saturday afternoon much like they had been doing all week long. Prudence had slipped into a deep sleep after her breakdown and Professor Dumbledore said she would wake up when she was ready. The epic power she put forth took a toll on her still half mortal form. Daphne was convinced that Pru was able to hear them so she insisted they tell their comatose friend everything that's been going on as if she were awake.
"Draco jinxed another kid that asked him how he could possibly dump someone so hot," Daphne said with an eye roll.
"Another?" asked Hermione, "That's the third one."
"Yep... I wish you would wake up Pru. I bet one slap across Draco's face from you would make him remember..."
"I don't get it!" Hermione snapped. "Why isn't he even asking about Pru, it's like that curse was directed specifically toward Prudence, like he's unable to put much thought to her."
"I don't know," Daphne said sadly while looking at her sleeping friend, "But I know Draco pretty well too and I just think he's in denial..." She knew that Draco refused to look stupid, so if something was confusing him then he would ignore the problem completely. "I think that deep down he knows something is wrong..."
"Horrible Pansy..." Hermione muttered.
Daphne glared at Hermione, she didn't want to talk about that cow in front of Pru.
Hermione apologized with her eyes and changed the subject to ask how Blaise is doing, but Daph could already feel her cheeks get hot just thinking about Pansy.
That disgusting bitch has been acting as if everything is utterly normal. She pranced around with Draco, parading him in front of everyone. She did everything in her power to keep Draco's mind filled with all the lies she had weaved together to make her story compelling. And all Daphne, Blaise, and Hermione could do was watch...
The day Pru almost destroyed the castle Dumbledore sat down with them and explained the gravity of the situation. They were not to interfere, when Pru wakes she is to handle it herself... So that meant Pansy got to walk free. Pansy tried to kill Pru once and was obliviated for it. Then she found another way to hurt Pru by going after Draco... and succeeded. And she still got to walk free...
"Daph...?"
"Oh, sorry..." Daphne sighed. She thought about Hermione's question and blushed when she thought about Blaise, her boyfriend... He was incredibly torn. He tried to keep a distance with Draco which only caused suspicion with Draco. "He know's if he keeps ignoring Draco that Draco will eventually confront him, but he can't stand to be around that abomination of a relationship..."
Hermione was shaking her head, "I just can't believe she's getting away with all this..."
"She'll pay..."
Daphne and Hermione looked at their goddess friend who had finally woke up! She was looking back at them with a calm face as if she had been awake the entire time.
"Pru!"
Prudence was bombarded with hugs that she gladly embraced. The two stunned girls stared at her, they had a million questions, but now that she was finally awake they were too shocked to speak.
Pru smiled, "Guys, I'm ok, really..." But there was no hiding the sadness laced in her voice. "I'm sorry I almost lost it... I just couldn't..."
"It's ok," Daph said gently as she put her hand over Pru's, "I can't speak for Mione, but I get it. I knew exactly how you felt..."
Pru gave her a small smile, "I suppose you do."
"I would have reacted the same way if I possessed the amount of power that you do..."
Pru appreciated her words but she was still very ashamed of herself, she could have done some serious damage.
"I heard everything you guys said," Pru told them trying to lighten the mood.
"...So, what are you going to do?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I honestly don't know..."
The sound of a man clearing his throat scared the three girls out of their serious conversation. They turned to see the Minister of Magic standing there quietly. Pru's two best friends knew that it would be best to leave immediately so they gave their dear friend one more hug with promises to be back later and then quietly left.
Prudence stared into her grandfather's eyes, the last time she saw him she gave him an earful about how he hadn't any idea about what was best for her. A part of her blamed him for everything...
"So, is this what you thought would be best for me?" She asked in a frosty tone.
The old man looked angry, sad, and worried all at the same time, he sighed in a defeated sort of way as he hunched his shoulders, "Of course not Prudence."
Her anger dissipated, it was hard to hold onto when he seemed so worn. Of course none of this was directly his fault, but his encouraging didn't help matters. "Tell me granddad, how much do you really know about me? And I will see through your lies, so please be honest."
The Minister hated her goddess tone, it was is if she were older and wiser than him when she spoke that way. He nodded anyway and told her calmly, "I'm sorry about the way I handled things sometimes... it was never easy work raising the Immortal Wandwielder. It's very hard... and very complicating work, and I'm the Minister of Magic," he added with a hollow chuckle. He looked into her eyes, searching for the boisterous little girl she once was... but she was long gone. "When you were born, well before you were born, your wand was left at your mum's bedside. When she awoke and picked it up it clung to her round belly, where of course you were."
Pru sat up straighter, she had never heard this story before.
"Through... mysterious occurrences and messages from a rare black owl, your parents and I learned who you were to become and what we must do to guide you. After your parents passed... I admit, I was terribly overwhelmed... It was an immense responsibility..."
Prudence never thought about how hard it was for him, she automatically felt terrible for all the times she were a brat to him.
"The scrolls that we received always carried the same seal, a very ancient seal..." He gave his wand a flick and a satchel filled with scrolls appeared on her bed.
Pru picked up the bag and looked through it with intensity burning through her. She never knew... all the precise details that he had to follow in order to raise her...
"They explain everything, where you were to study and who with, how you will only get stronger and smarter, your transformations... and more..."
It was silent as Prudence looked through them all. It was all there, her entire life planned out in a bag full of old scrolls. Each one held only a few short and exact sentences, she felt so queer reading them...
Age five Kenya, Ngugi Moi, Age seven Tibet, Xui Lin... and on and on... mapping out her entire life path... Until she got to one that was a little different.
Two ascensions, age 17, age 22. If second ascension comes too early Prudence may darken.
Pru was suddenly very infuriated. She felt like someones fucking puppet and she absolutely hated it. "Who sent these?" She demanded.
Her grandfather didn't have the answer though, he showed her the seal, "I had my top researchers look into this seal, but nothing tangible came of their searching, only hearsay..."
"The council," Pru said in a low voice, her face pinching up with frustration.
"Yes, we believe so."
Pru sighed heavily, for the first time since she learned who and what she is she felt as if she didn't want to be herself. She wished she were a normal witch, just a regular girl with a regular relationship.
"You already had your first ascension, haven't you?" Her grandfather sounded wounded, probably because she never cared to tell him.
"Yes," she said with a bowed head and remorse.
"And when you created the storm, you almost ascended again...?"
"Yes," she told him again. She didn't have to tell him that she was almost consumed by darkness, she knew he knew. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. This is taxing, she needed to center herself. She had to control herself and come to terms and accept what her life is. A normal girl would buckle under the massively unbelievable pressure... but she wasn't a normal...
Prudence is a chosen immortal, a goddess. She was destined to be from before her very existence was even thought up, she is the Wandwielder... She fully accepts who she is, what she must do, and what she will ultimately become... but for what purpose. What was she training for?
Unfortunately, she had to also accept... that Draco did not belong to her anymore...
If she kept up her emotionally unbalanced teenage life it was only a matter of time before she erupts prematurely again and actually ends up hurting people.
She was unaware that she began sobbing... letting him go was going to be the hardest part of all. She felt strong arms embrace her and squeeze her tightly as a deep and soft voice whispered into her cheek, "Give yourself this time to cry my child because you have a very hard road ahead of you and there will be no time for tears later. You are strong, insurmountably powerful, and very special. Everything will be as it should, I love you Prudence."
She cherished his words, she needed them. She needed him to say those words to her in order for her to find the courage to move forward.
"I love you too granddad."
"But you can't! Prudence this is stupid! Don't be stupid!" Daphne yelled at her best friend once she found her packing in their shared dorm.
Prudence looked at her beloved friend with a gentle and bemused face, "Daphne," she said lightly. Firm enough to say her decision was made and it was final.
Blaise barged in next with Hermione in tow, "You can't!" Hermione yelled as soon as she saw the bags.
Prudence smiled at her frantic friends and then addressed all three of them, "Guys, listen... I have become a threat to this school and all the children in it, I must go..."
Their jaws were slack as they gaped at her, unable to come up with an argument. She was flattered really, they were amazing friends.
"But what of Draco?" Blaise asked suddenly.
It was Pru's first test to let him go, trying not to collapse at the simple mention of his name... "I... I have to let him go," She said as calm as she could muster. It felt terrible to sat out loud.
All three began to immediately protest.
"You can't!"
"Prudence no!"
"Oh bollocks!"
Hermione sat down beside Pru and scooped up her hands to hold them tightly in her own, "Ridiculous Prudence, I thought you were a smart all knowing goddess, you can't just let the love of your life slip away! And be controlled! You have to free him!"
It was killing Pru to hear even Hermione speak of Draco so passionately... Free him? She had been thinking for the greater good. That meant that her love would have to be sacrificed. She knew he would be set free eventually and that he would make Pansy pay. In the mean time she would be able to put as much distance between them as she could. He would probably search for her... but he couldn't find her... it was too dangerous.
Merlin, she created a storm so large she nearly demolished a thousands of years old castle and hundreds of students... she couldn't let that happen again. She didn't want the dark to get her, so she would give it absolutely no chance.
Prudence's serenity unnerved them. It was times like this that they knew she was a higher being.
"In due time he will be freed, I will take this time to find a place of solace where I can't endanger anyone... including myself."
Her friends didn't know what to say, they didn't know if they had anything that could change her mind...
Daphne sighed, "So just stay tonight, hang out with us one last time before you go..."
Pru smiled, yeah she could do that.
It was a Saturday night and Draco was sitting completely alone in front of a blazing hearth, fire whiskey in hand. He had managed to dodge Pansy for awhile, but he knew it was only a matter of time before she found him again...
He loved her... sort of. He thought the marriage made sense. His pure blood lineage and hers... it made sense.
But it felt wrong, like everything in the past week had felt. Ever since that girl seemed to look into his soul and create that storm nothing felt entirely real. Blaise would barely speak to him at all, students looked at him with the queerest faces, and Pansy refused to ever leave his side or shut her yapping mouth. Sometimes small children would dare ask him what happened to him or how could he dump her and he was so outraged and confused by their questions he usually sent them to the hospital wing unrecognizable...
Draco roared and threw his glass across the room, the shattering sound and feel of destruction gave him very little comfort. What the fuck was going on? Why couldn't he find any answers? The more he thought about it the angrier her got at that Ministry tart. He knew that she was some how the cause of all his problems and he hated her for it. She was fucking humiliating him and he didn't know how.
"D."
Draco lurched out of his reverie to see Blaise in the archway to his hidden hide away. He heaved a breath and composed himself, "Oh look who showed up..."
"Enough Draco, you have to snap out of it." Blaise wasn't sure what fueled him more to confront his cursed friend, the fact that his best mate was about to let the love of his life run away or that his love was about to lose her best friend.
Draco wanted to growl. There he goes, suggesting he needs to snap out of it! There was nothing to snap out of, nothing was wrong with him, it was her making everything fucked up. "I don't know what you're talking about..."
"So you feel nothing for Prudence?" Blaise spat.
"That Minister bitch?! No, why the fuck would I?!"
Blaise knew that this wasn't the real Draco, his best mate, but he was still furious with the idiot. "Do you remember the first day of this year? Don't you remember how she was sorted into Slytherin and everyone immediately loved her? Her first night Daph brought her down and she recognized you from when you were just small children? Your mums were friends, don't you remember?" He was desperate for Draco to remember anything... but he knew that it was hopeless, Pansy's curse was too strong...
"Enough! What the fuck are you playing at! Pansy is a liar, I understand that, but you?"
"I'm not lying Draco! She is! Draco-" But Blaise was unable to finish his thought, unable to tell Draco that he was cursed by Pansy. The council was more powerful than he could fathom... "Why don't you just ask Pru yourself!"
Draco narrowed his eyes, tired of that girl being brought up, "Ask some random crazy bint, that I don't even know, why my life is all fucking askew?!"
"Yes," Blaise told him deadly calm.
Draco took in deep breaths through his nose, maybe it was the whiskey, but he figured, why the fuck not?
Prudence sat under a dazed whomping willow with her two closest girl friends doing her best to talk about things that regular school girls would discuss, not her tediously planned life, when she heard Daphne give a small squeal of delight. She smiled when she realized the gleeful sound was due to Blaise approaching from the shadows. She smiled watching her friend's face light up, she couldn't be more happy that at least someone got to be in love...
"Is he... with Draco?" Hermione asked with uncertainty.
Pru's blood ran cold, "No...No! He couldn't, why would he bring him here!" She wanted to flee, she couldn't face him, not when he was Pansy's Draco... She felt Daph and Hermione each holding onto her by her wrists, not letting her run away.
"Just wait a second, let's see what he wants," Hermione said gently.
Pru felt her pulse quicken the closer he got to them. She felt the pit where he heart use to be scorch with a burning sadness... C'mon Goddess, she told herself, you're stronger than this. The words in her head felt empty as he came into view and she was able to see his tortured scowl and hear his burning thoughts of hatred toward her. He blamed her for everything... although he wasn't entirely accurate, he was right. It was all her fault he was in the mess he was in...
Draco couldn't help his pinched face and stony eyes when he saw the three girls, "Since when do Slytherins hang around Mud-?"
Pru reacted without even knowing she did so. Faster than any of them could comprehend, Pru was on her feet holding her wand to Draco's throat, silencing him. "If I ever hear you call Hermione that name I will slice out your larynx so you will never speak again." She didn't know where her sudden fire came from, but it was easier to deal with him angry rather than a blubbering lovesick mess. She felt Hermione tug at her arm.
"Really Pru, it's alright."
Draco stared daggers into the audacious witch's eyes. How dare she threaten him, and over a stinking mudblood, "You are a disgrace to the Slythrin House," he gritted out.
Pru slowly lowered her wand, this was his body, but it was not Draco. She ignored his snide remark and asked, "What do you want?"
Blaise shook off his shock and put himself between the two, "Pru he has some questions for you." Draco's face seemed to suggest he'd rather turn and walk away...
She stared at Blaise, wounded by his betrayal, "Why Blaise, why would you do this? I told you what I had to do."
But Blaise was not sorry, "You did, but I think it's the wrong decision."
She wanted to sulk, but she shouldn't be surprised that her friends wouldn't let this go so easily.
Merlin! Draco hated this, he was standing there like an idiot, confused as all hell why his best friend could be so compassionate with these idiotic girls.
"Fine!" Pru seethed. Being alone with him would require all her strength, but him acting like a complete ass would make it slightly easier... She began to walk away toward the glassy black lake, expecting him to follow.
Draco looked at Blaise outraged. "Follow her!" Blaise told him exasperated.
He couldn't believe he was lowering himself to asking some creepy girl why he felt his life was so off.
.
Prudence felt his presence behind her. He stopped a few feet away so she was unable to see him. She preferred it that way. Normally, she would be anticipating his strong arms wrapping around her and kissing her neck softly... but not this time.
"Just tell me what you know about what the fuck is going on," Draco said bluntly.
Prudence scoffed, "That's vague..."
Draco pursed his lips, this was so bloody stupid. His next question was more direct and quite honestly surprised him, "What did Pansy do to you? How did she hurt you?" His damn curiosity got the best of him. As crazy as he thought she was, and poison to the Slytherin House and Purebloods alike... he still wondered about her.
Pru turned on her heel to look at him, enraged by his question because the fucking irony was just too much to handle, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you..."
"Humor me," he replied in a cold whisper.
What the hell was she suppose to say? She couldn't tell him the truth, he couldn't know what they use to be, not before she leaves. His reaction would tear her apart... Still this is what came out; "She cast a spell on the love of my life."
Draco rolled her words around. His first thought was that she was talking about him, that would explain his fuzzy memory, her longing look she gave him, all the things that Pansy and his friends have said but he just didn't want to listen to... but looking at her, he felt absolutely nothing, so it couldn't be him...
"Did he love you back?" He was unnerved when she laughed darkly.
"He did..."
Prudence had to turn away from him again. His curse was so strong. Even when she laid it out and she knew that he was connecting all the dots, he still couldn't see the truth or feel what he felt for her before... She supposed she should be grateful, it will be easier to leave him when he is like this.
Draco sighed, shaking his head at his own stupidity. Why was he asking, he truly didn't give a shit, this wasn't helping at all! "Bloody hell, I honestly don't care. If you have any answers as to why my life is fucked up, then please tell me! I have no interest in your love bullshit... Unless it comes to killing my fiance, please don't kill my fiance before-"
Pru was facing him once again, he own body deceiving her and looking helplessly into his eyes, "You're engaged to her!?" All over again she felt like she fell back into the blackness that threatened to take her over...
Draco's lip curled at her reaction, "Yes, it's necessary for our families."
It was taking everything in her not to explode and tell him everything, plead with him to please stop and just run away with her... She wanted to tell him she loved him and that Pansy is ruining his life... but she couldn't...
Draco was bewildered when the irritating girl sat down and closed her eyes as if she were meditating, "Um... what are you doing?"
"Trying to keep the demons at bay..."
Draco took a full exaggerated step backward, she was nutter and this was useless! Why did he ever listen to Blaise's bullshit? "Alright, fuck this! Thanks for nothing!" He turned to storm away, passing Blaise as he went, "Waste of my fucking time!"
The three that were left watching kept calm as Prudence stayed in her sitting position. They approached her quietly and sat in silence until she finally decided to speak.
"They're engaged," Pru said in a far away whisper after ten minutes had passed.
"What?!" Her friends yelled in unison, unable to believe the news.
Pru sighed heavily, still trying to keep calm, "He will come to before it goes too far... but it still hurts like hell..."
"So you didn't tell him?" Hermione asked
"No, I told you guys, he can't know..."
"Ahem..."
All four students turned in the direction that a older male's voice just came from, they were surprised to find Professor Snape standing behind them quietly.
Pru scrambled to her feet, "Professor, is everything alright?"
He seemed grave, but that wasn't anything new. What was startling was that he went to seek Pru out.
"A word Prudence."
Prudence sat in her Head of House's office where she wasn't all too thrilled to see another scroll sitting on his desk. It was similar to the ones the her Grandfather had shown her earlier that day.
"What is this?"
"Just read it."
Pru didn't know is could handle anymore twists... Still, she carefully unraveled the scroll that held the same seal from before.
"Pansy Parkinson must stay at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry no matter what actions she takes, she must not be harmed in any way..." Pru read aloud. It was the most detailed yet, although she had already deduced as such. But why did this council decide to keep her around and keep her protected...? What did Pansy's existence have to do with...?
How stupid of her, Pansy has had everything to do with everything that has happened to her since the day she arrived.
It was another test. Of course, Hogwarts, which was no doubt on one of those scrolls, was just another place where she was to be molded. Not academically, but emotionally. Pansy was her chosen enemy. Pansy was only kept around in order for Prudence to learn to control herself...
Snape watched the girl with masked awe. She read the scroll and then immediately came to terms, not the least bit astonished or upset.
"...Of course..." She muttered bitterly.
"This makes sense to you." Snape concluded.
The young girl looked at him squarely, her eyes a thousand years old, "Yes Professor, Pansy Parkinson is nothing but another lesson on a long list of delicate lessons that is my life..."
He nodded, categorizing the information and putting truth to some of his assumptions, "So this means you will stay?"
Pru's eyes ignited, "Of course not!"
"Well it seems you fail then."
Prudence was offended at his choice of words, she was saving lives! "You seem to forget I almost killed everyone in this castle!"
"Except you didn't did you?"
She hopped up to stand on her feet, teetering over his desk to holler in his face, "I could have!"
Snape stood to his feet as well, matching the velocity of her shrill voice, "But you didn't!"
She looked into his raging eyes, what was he trying to prove? "How could you possibly believe that it would be a good idea for me to stay here?"
He sat back down, never breaking his eye contact. She sat as well. Then he spoke in a placid tone, "Because you are capable Prudence, you will not walk away from this lesson and leave my godson pining like a spineless fool."
Her jaw dropped and her brow furrowed for only a short second before she found her composure again. This was all about Draco to him, it was very touching... but irrational.
She looked away and deadpanned, "He will be fine." She did not want to talk about him, it hurt way too much.
Snape took in a steady breath. He had another scroll to show her, but he was actually scared to do so.
She heard him set something else down on the desk, she was anxious to see that it was another scroll. Her eyes snapped to his fiercely before she snatched it up and read it quickly... her mouth went slack as her insides clenched...
Draco Malfoy is The Key