Draco's heart had taken control of his body. He didn't listen to any of the rational things his brain was screaming at him, like you're going to burn if you keep walking toward the fire and this girl is not worth this... He ignored the thoughts because something strange was happening to him as he stared at the beautiful girl engulfed in flames. He was getting flickers of vague memories, images of her smiling at him adoringly... and he knew that they were real.

He was drawn to her, she was pulling him in, he didn't think he would be able to stop even if he wanted to. All he thought about was getting to her...

He realized as he got closer to her that he felt absolutely no heat. It confused him because all the professors around him gleamed with sweat from the sweltering flames. It clicked in his mind that it was because he was her key, or whatever that meant. The mud- Granger was right. Why else was he able to be so close and not feel any discomfort...?

The blaze reached up into the heavens, as far as he could see when he looked up in trepidation. He couldn't remember even being so scared, not for himself though. He wasn't worried that the fire would burn him, he was worried that once he got to her he still wouldn't be able to help her. In his gut he was terrified that his mistakes were too hefty and he wasn't good enough to bring her back from the edge of darkness that she teetered on. But as he looked into her blank eyes, dark as midnight, he knew that he at least had to try...

Draco looked down to see the ring of black scorched into the earth that separated him from her. He anticipated the worst as he boldly took a step forward... and then... nothing. He was standing completely in the flames and he was fine. He gave himself no time to celebrate his small victory, he had to continue on. His heart pounded aggressively in his ears the closer he got to her. He still wasn't able to describe in words what it was he was feeling. He knew he was suppose to love her even though he didn't, but that was just his mind trying to be logical. He would not give into logic with everything that has happened with her.

Finally, he stood face to face with her and he was struck with amazement. She looked so incredibly beautiful... but evil. Her eyes looked like shadows that peered straight through him. Her skin was the color of fresh blood and he was able clearly see all the foreign symbols popping from her body. He knew that this wasn't right and she was fighting an internal battle that would probably baffle the wizarding world if they really knew... he was panicking again. What was he suppose to do!?

He did the only thing that his body would register, he opened his arms to wrap around her and squeeze her against him tightly.

.

The surrounding people had stopped trying to battle the fire once Draco had entered the ring. They were unsuccessful at even slightly dimming the flames, so they stood in fear and apprehension to see what the boy could do.

Severus looked at his mentor, he was at his wits end and hoped that the old man would give him some hope.

Dumbledore was watching carefully. If Draco didn't succeed at calming the girl then there was no telling what would happen. She could engulf the world in flames, she could kill everyone around her as she turned into a demon. She could kill herself by accident... he just didn't know. He sincerely hoped that the council was there at that very moment to watch over her, because he doubted it was their intentions for this to happen. No, she was special, and she was destined to do far greater things. Young Mr. Malfoy would break her trance, because he had to.

.

Draco squoze his eyes shut as hard as he could as he held onto her securely. He was just following his heart's motion. He surprised himself when he laid his lips against her ear and whispered, "I'm here Prudence, there's no need to be afraid, I'm here." The words just spilled out without any thought.

Then, he felt a great change within himself. Like a dark curtain was being lifted from his brain and all his memories returned. With the treasured memories a floodgate of love burst from him and he began to bawl hysterically. It was bittersweet to get back what he lost because with the memories came the realization of what he did to her. This was his fault, entirely all his fault...

"Prudence, Oh Merlin, Prudence! It's me, it's really me! I love you, I fucking love you so much, please come back to me! Please!"

.

Ministry wizards began to appear in a wave, including the Minister. As they touched down their jaws went slack at the scene they were beholding.

"She's..." But the Minister couldn't form proper words around what his little girl was doing so he stuttered out, "He's...he's not burning!" The Minister exclaimed as he looked at his granddaughter and the Malfoy boy standing in a pillar of violent orange flames.

"He's the key to her transformation Rufus, I believe he'll bring her back from becoming a demon," the Headmaster told the Minister, which made sense to Dumbledore now. She's always needed Draco, without him she would be pulled toward the darkness. He was there to help her second ascension run smoothly into the light.

Despite the heat, the Minister felt a chill run his spine. The thought that she was in the middle of battling becoming a demon at that very moment was terrifying to him. He was rooting for the young man, he needed that young man to bring his beloved Prudence back.

.

The flames blazed all the way into the clouds, they were even burning the docks and trying to consume the Forbidden Forest. Everyone had noticed that once Draco held her in his arms the fire stopped growing, so they did their best to keep the forest from burning.

Draco could feel the tears cascading down his face. He thought he must be losing it... if she turned demon then he hoped that he was the first person she killed. He didn't deserve to live after what he has done to her. Except he knew she would pull through and that left him wondering how he could go on living with the guilt.

"DAMNIT PRU! Come back to me, please come back to me! I love you!" He was lost at what else to do except never let go. Fuck, he was such an idiot...

He could remember every single detail of what happened with Pansy and all the lies she told him and what he told her back. He could vividly remember the way he treated Pru and the horrific things he said to her, how fucking ridiculous! He was so disappointed with himself for not being strong enough to break the curse!

"I'm sorry... I'm so fucking sorry..." He wept into her shoulder. Her skin was warm against his face, but as he spoke he could feel it begin to grow hotter.

He took a chance at pulling away just enough to take a look at her face. He has seen her this way before, during her first transformation. Her skin was glowing through the scarlet color as all the cryptograms began to change to white as opposed to the haunting black that they were minutes before. He knew that was a good sign and since the first time he grasped her he finally began to feel hopeful. Her dark eyes were closed now and he realized that her glowing skin was getting brighter... he knew what happened next.

Draco closed his eyes as tightly as he could and buried his face into her neck to prepare for the blinding white light he knew would come shortly. He toughened his grip around her and told her he loved her.

.

Dapne's nails dug into Blaise's palm, but he couldn't feel a thing. They were too shocked to witness something so epically romantic and amazing happen. They couldn't breath as they watched Draco stride towards Prudence determined and walk through fire just to hold her against him. He never let her go. The longer he held her the lighter her skin glowed. Her raging red and orange fire turned to a calming white and blue as her aura lightened.

Suddenly though, the crowd that had gathered, was forced to look away as a shocking wave a white light erupted forth from the embracing couple and threatened to blind them if they looked.

.

Draco felt the colossal power explode from with in her, he didn't dare let go as it pushed at his strength. He continued to clench onto her until he finally felt a calmness settle and her body relax in his arms. He held his breath, unsure what he would see if he moved his head away and opened his eyes. He was too petrified to look. It became eerily silent and he thought maybe he had died... until he heard her beautiful voice, "Draco?"

He jolted away from her quickly to look into her eyes, her calm ember eyes. She was smiling, and once again, completely naked. His jaw dropped as he tried to form words to say something to her, "P-Prudence...?" He quickly realized that he was naked too and she was blushing slightly. He barely noticed as a large cloth was draped around them, he didn't dare look away from her serene face. Finally, he smiled... they made it. She survived her ascension.

"You did it," he whispered and he pulled her to him again, "we made it intact."

Prudence felt incredible. She had just fought off all the world's darkness and now she has become a fully ascended goddess. She didn't know how she would be able to explain to her love that for the past twenty minutes she wasn't even in the same realm as him. She was in a place she never imagined where she met the council and she also met a demon. She was no longer discouraged or overwhelmed, she was fully realized.

"We did it," she whispered back. She didn't have enough time to explain it to him, she just wanted to treasure the moment.

Draco could no longer resist her, it had been too long since his lips felt hers. He rushed in to kiss her searingly.

Pru's breath hitched and her heart fluttered. After everything she had been through, he can still take her breath away. He felt needy against her lips, his tongue insistent and hot. She could hear herself whimpering into his mouth, the emotion of actually being in his arms once again actually catching up with her. Merlin she missed him. One moment she's a demure goddess and the next a panting school girl.

"I love you!" She cried as she wrapped herself around him, the tears falling from her chin.

The professors had closed in on them as the flames dissipated and they stood merely feet away. Everyone was speechless, unsure of what to say or what was next.

Draco gazed into her sparkling eyes, his smile practically bursting, "I love you too Prudence..."

Pru wanted to always remember how he looked at that exact moment for the rest of her life... The truth was... she wasn't going to get to keep it. It was all going to change in a few seconds...

"...But I have to go now..." The words pained her to say.

How much more could Draco's heart handle? He felt it drop hard into the pit of his stomach with disbelief, "...What?"

But she wouldn't let her smile go, this was not goodbye. "D-Draco... I have to go now... but this is not goodbye, not by a long shot..."

Draco's head was shaking 'no' gently. No, she couldn't leave him now, he just got her back, she couldn't go now...

"You can't Pru, please..."

Her smile didn't falter, she looked at him deeply like he was her entire world, "I love you so much Draco..."

He panicked as he felt her slipping away from him. His lip trembled as he watched her presence begin to soften, the luminous glow she gave off beginning to fade... He felt his chest caving in, he didn't know how to handle being away from her.

"Please Prudence please! Don't go!" His voice ripped from his throat. His fingers couldn't feel her any longer as she was practically particles. Her light dimmed rapidly until... she was really gone... and he was alone...

Nobody could speak. Of all the hundreds of people that had gathered outside, not one could utter a word. They could only watch the lone figure shrouded in black fall to his knees and lay his head on the ground.

Snape was the first to step forward and go to the shattered young man.

Draco could barely feel the hand on his shoulder, he could barely feel anything at all...

Blaise sat quietly at the end of Draco's bed. It was four o'clock the next day and Draco hadn't moved a muscle since he stormed away from the scorched earth where Prudence left him the day before.

Blaise didn't know what to say to his best mate, he had never before witnessed Draco so crushed. But he could relate, it took him close to a full week to function after Daphne broke up with him. So he just sat there and waited, letting Draco know that he was there for him whenever he needed him.

"She said it wasn't goodbye..."

Blaise's eyes widened as he looked around the room, did he just speak! Then he replayed what Draco said, "She did?"

Nobody had any answers to where Prudence went. There weren't any more scrolls or premonitions that gave any clue to what happens after she becomes fully realized. All anyone could do was speculate, and Draco hadn't spoken a word until that moment.

"She did." Draco confirmed.

Blaise hesitated, "Did she say anything else?"

Draco rolled over and finally sat up, his bones creaking in protest. He had to snap out of it. She didn't break up with him, she told him she loved him and that it wasn't goodbye. So he had to man up and quit wallowing. He couldn't act so weak if he was going to be the boyfriend of a goddess...

He looked at Blaise squarely and said almost casually, "All she said was that she had to leave and it wasn't goodbye, she told me she loved me... and then vanished."

Blaise nodded, it could be worse. "Well that's positive mate innit?"

Draco nodded in agreement, a little bit of life thriving back into him, "I guess so."

Blaise cleared his throat, "In the mean time... maybe you have some other business to attend to..." He looked at Draco, his jaw firm, "...Pansy."

Draco jerked at the sound of that twat's name... it made him feel sick. He could remember in disgusting detail how he kissed her... how he punished her...

"You mean she's still here?"

"She locked herself in her dorm, she's scared to come out."

"She should be," Draco gritted out.

"There's been discussion of her expulsion because of what she did to you and Prudence. But she's also the reason Pru ascended anyways... so it's sort of gray..."

"I don't care," Draco stood to his feet, "I'm going to kill her." He felt the rage building in him, all the pent up anguish he harbored against that despicable cow, and some he carried for Pru. He would definitely kill her...

Pansy huddled in the corner of her room petrified.

Her plan didn't work, her curse didn't work. She should have known that she would fail, like she fails at everything. But for Draco... she would never stop trying.

And now... he was probably coming to kill her. She thought back to when he tried before, when he wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed until his fingers turned blue. That killed her on the inside, even though she still walked away.

She hadn't been able to move after she watched him chase after Pru and the Professor recklessly... and still under her curse. Pru was stronger that her, Pru held onto his heart tighter than she ever could. But even worse, Draco held Pru's back... Now that Pru has ascended and Draco's curse was broken there was nothing left for her to do... except wait to die.

She didn't know how much time had passed, how long she had been sitting in her room. She was aware that the sun had set and risen and was now beginning to set again, the light fading, just like her...

The loud thumps on her door didn't surprise her. She was waiting for them. She could hear Draco screaming from the other side for her to open up and that she wouldn't be able to keep him out. She wished he was saying those words under different circumstances... but it wasn't because he loved her so much he couldn't stay away, it was because he wanted to take her life. Pansy couldn't stop the tears from falling...

Draco began to throw spell after spell at the door as Blaise watched with silent encouragement. Eventually he was able to burst the door into splinters and stomp through the opening, his wand out ready to harm her. He had lava running though his veins. The cold-hearted wench almost cost him his entire life, his Prudence. He would succeed at killing her this time.

Pansy watched dazed as Draco marched into her room, a lethal look in his eye. She wouldn't fight it anymore. If she couldn't have him then she would rather be dead anyway... how fitting that he should be the one to do it...

Draco's stomach churned looking at her. He wanted to laugh at how pathetic she looked, but his overwhelming anger wouldn't allow it. His mind replayed all the disgusting things they did when he was under her spell, so he took great pleasure pushing his wand directly into her throat.

"This time you will die," he said coldly.

"Draco! Enough of this!" It was Snape who found the disturbing scene in his house dorms. He had come to check on his two most troubled students with the intent of expelling Pansy as quietly as possible. He shouldn't be surprised to find his godson ready to take out the deceitful girl who tried to ruin his life.

Draco turned to his godfather, the rage ever apparent, "Never Sev, not until she stops breathing!"

Severus panicked, he feared the young blonde was actually going to do it, "No, think of Prudence! She wouldn't like this!" The greasy haired man's eyes widened as he watched his godson seem to fire up even more.

"Don't say her name!" Draco roared.

"But I'm right! You know that!"

Draco looked down at the sniveling girl he wanted dead almost as much as he wanted Pru back in his arms. Fuck, Prudence wouldn't like this... but Prudence wasn't there, so it didn't fucking matter.

For a short second Pansy thought he might actually spare her, but it passed and he jammed his wand into throat harder, causing her to wail.

"It's a good thing Pru's not here to see this then..."

"Draco I'm here!"

Draco turned around lightening fast to search the room with wild eyes, his heart clenched, that was Pru's voice!

"I'm not physically there Draco, but I'm always with you when you need me..."

His anger returned and his nostrils flared. It just hit him how angry he was with her too for leaving him there all alone. He didn't let up on his wand, "Bullshit," he muttered.

"Please, I know you're upset I left, but I told you, it's not goodbye. Please just leave Pansy be, she will only get her way in the end by still ruining your life! If you do this you'll go to Azkaban and we'll never be able to see one another!"

"I don't care! With out you here I have nothing to live for anyway!"

The other three in the room watched Draco have a one sided conversation. After his last sentence it was obvious he was some how speaking with Pru the Goddess.

Draco was thrown off by how angry Pru sounded next, "Damnit Draco! Don't ruin your life because of her! I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry I'm not there, but right now I just can't be! I love you! So just back away and leave... Snape's about to expel her anyway."

"That's not enough!"

"It has to be! Now leave!"

Draco let out a primal growl of frustration and dropped his wand, "If I ever see you again... you...will...die..." Then he left, leaving them all dumbfounded.

.

Draco sat on his bed stewing. "Pru," he said firmly, questioning if she was still there. "Pru!?" But she was gone. He was so misguidedly angry that she was already gone. He listened to her and what does he get? Silence...

He wanted to scream at her. His heart was bruising and it was agonizing. And yet... he couldn't be mad at her for anything at all. It was his fault that they were they are, his fault Pansy attacked them... his fault she's gone now... The things he did and said to her when he was under the curse were unforgivable. And what she saw last to make her lose control... disgusting. All the more reason he should have killed Pansy... He was losing his mind, he had to get out the castle and go for a fly...

.

The cool air felt good on Draco's hot skin. He kept fleetingly thinking about just leaving, flying away from the castle and never stopping. There wasn't anything left there that he wanted anyways. Except he knew he was being irrational and childish, he would think of Pru and he would always do what he thought she wanted. She wouldn't want him to flee away in anger, she would want him to stay and finish his schooling and be responsible...

It was hard, it was dreadfully hard to even think about her at all. So much time was wasted... when would she come back? Would it be days? Weeks? ...Years? He knew no matter how long, he would still wait. She was worth it.

He made himself stay around the pitch and suppressed the urge to go any farther. When he looped back around he noticed a figure standing directly in the middle of the pitch. A man, looking up at him... the Minister.

Draco took a few deep breaths as he landed not far from the old man. The Minister was obviously there to talk to him about Prudence. He knew he had to muster all his strength to keep his anger at bay while speaking with the narrow minded man. They stared at one another for close to a minute before either spoke.

The Minster found it difficult to say what he needed to say to the boy. It wasn't easy for him to swallow his pride.

"Mr. Malfoy... I believe... my apologies are in order..."

Draco looked at the lion of a man suspiciously, "Excuse me sir?"

The Minister gruffed, annoyed with repeating himself, "I am sorry. I treated you harshly and you did not deserve it."

Draco took a breath, his jaw still hard. He could see it took a lot for him to even say that, and it wouldn't be polite of him to just let it linger in the air, "Thank you sir, I really appreciate that..." He continued to watch the man closer. He could see he still had more to say, "Is there something else?"

The old man felt the emotion well up in him. Merlin he missed his Prudence. He steadied his voice to ask, "Wha-What did she say before she left?"

Draco nodded, understanding the poor man missed Prudence just as much as he did, "She said... it wasn't goodbye..."

The Minister nodded, the corner of his eyes beginning to water. The boy had no idea how good it felt to hear that. He was scared to death that he would never see her again. "That's good, thank you for telling me that... thank you."

The young man nodded again and took a few strides forward until they were close enough to shake hands. He looked at Pru's stern granddad contemplating how to say something comforting, "Prudence would want us to stay strong sir, Merlin knows I'm trying my best not to lose it without her here. Don't worry, she'll return to us..."

The two clamped hands firmly, both finally coming to a mutual understanding, "Yes, yes she would," The Minister told Draco.