Isla was terrified.

She didn't have a chance to turn around from how hard he was pushing his chest against her spine.

Nearly shaking, she let out a trembling breath, ''I was—'' Pausing to collect her words, she slightly shook her head, ''I was just going out for some fresh air.''

Draco chuckled darkly, ''You God damn liar.''

Her hand tensed around the handle, and she tried to yank the door open again in an attempt to make a run for it, but his palm kept it shut.

''I'm not lying.''

''So take some air out on the balcony,'' Draco spoke close to her ear. His voice was raspy and low. He played along with her lies, ''There's no need to walk all the way down here for some fresh air, is it?''

Isla huffed out frustratingly.

''And if you're going out for some fresh air in the middle of the night, there's no need to get fully dressed either, is it?''

Her sight landed on her dress, knowing that he'd seen her say goodnight in Theodore's shirt a few hours prior.

Gulping, she straightened her spine against him, ''I was cold.''

''So you're going out in a dress when you're cold?''

''Yes.''

''Stupid fucking witch,'' He gripped her shoulder, and he spun her around to make her back hit the door. His eyes found hers, and a collision of anger and disappointment thickened between them, ''I specifically told you not to fucking go. We broke into Azkaban for him, and still, he left. So let him be fucking gone, Clarke. I'm not risking your damn safety one more time for him.''

''I wasn't—'' Her tone broke as she stared up at him, ''I wasn't going to find him. I was just taking some air—''

She tried the handle again, sneaking her arm behind her back with more space between them, but it wouldn't budge. Her sight snapped down to the foot he had pushed up against it.

''Really?'' Draco gritted, ''You were literally trying to run away? Again?''

She knew there wasn't a way out of this, so she stayed quiet with a displeased look spread over her face.

His heart softened at how stubborn she was, even if his body felt like it would light on fire. He felt the worse type of mixture of empathy and madness right now. He didn't trust himself around her alone at night.

Not when he felt her scent lingering and her shoulders and thighs exposed. He was so weak for her thighs.

Groaning to himself, he moved a few inches, giving her the space to walk past him back up the stairs, ''Go back to bed.''

''But—''

''No, Clarke. Not up for discussion, go upstairs.''

''This is so unfair. I wasn't even—''

''I don't care, get the hell—''

''But—''

''No,'' He severely cut her off, narrowing his stare at her. He raised his hand and pointed his finger at the upper floor, ''Right fucking now.''

She sighed, clenching her teeth as she shouldered her way past him. Isla moved aggressively up the stairs again. Draco stayed behind, not taking his stare off of her until she rounded the corner to get to Theo's room.

But Isla had something else in mind. She always did.

Instead of opening the door to Theodore's room and slipping down next to him, she marched right past it.

She didn't stop until she had opened the doors leading out on the balcony at the end of the corridor, and her legs swung across the railing around it.

Seated over the stone-made fence, she peered down at the ground below her. It was a long way down, and if she'd cursed herself prior to that moment — it was nothing compared to this. Perhaps she'd land wrong and break an arm, but it wasn't anything Mila couldn't heal later.

All that went through her mind was Leo and the fact that neither of them might get to see him again if she didn't look for him.

Isla pinched her lashes shut, inhaling sharply as she scooted closer to the edge. The mellow spiring breeze danced through her hair, even if it was in the middle of the night, and everything around her was pitch black. It was still warm outside.

Scooting another bit, her nails clawed at the stone, and she didn't have anything to rest her feet upon anymore.

Her legs hung over the edge, and she bent her upper body just a little inch more. Isla didn't dare to open her eyes — if she did, she'd change her mind, and she couldn't do that, not now when Draco was on to her.

If she gave it another day locked up in Theo's house, they'd find a way to magically chain her to his bed. They'd be furious with her. She had to do this now. She couldn't get caught twice.

So she jumped.

Isla jumped. Launching herself off the stone with a squeal, and she floated through the air.

Tugging at her wand, she brought it out to save herself from hitting the ground, but as she did — a set of arms caught her before she had a chance to save herself.

Heaving out of control, she looked up, and if she didn't believe he'd kill her before this point, she knew he would now.

''Creative,'' He snarled, having an arm locked underneath her thighs and another secured across her spine, ''You're fucking creative, I have to give you that.''

She frowned confusingly for a second.

''Do I have to put baby locks on the fucking doors, Clarke? A high fucking fence around every place you can jump from?''

She shook her head, clocking back to reality by the harsh tone he used against her.

Draco was sick of her games.

Isla started pushing off him, annoyingly so, ''Stop catching me all the time—'' She said as she threaded herself out of his grip, landing on two feet in front of him instead, ''I'm not a child. I should be able to—''

''Then start acting like a God damn adult,'' He gritted, nearly spitting his words at her. Draco blocked her from leaving, standing so tall in her way, ''It's hard not taking you for a child when you're acting like a spoiled kid all the time—''

''It's hard to act like an adult when I have two babysitters watching me like hawks all the time—''

''And why do you think we have to do that? Yeah? You can't even listen—''

''I shouldn't have to!'' She yelled, losing her tamed temper, ''I shouldn't have to listen to you. I should be able to go and talk to my friend if I want to—''

''Yeah?'' Draco rose a cocky brow, ''Because last time you ran after him went so fucking well? It didn't, Clarke. It ended up with you unconscious for over a day.''

Isla caught the shift in his voice, the guilt in his eyes as she so deeply stared into them.

This wasn't about them not wanting her to see Leo. This wasn't them trying to stop her. This was Malfoy being scared out of his mind that she'd get hurt again.

He still believed it to be his fault. He still felt such guilt for what happened.

Taking a step forward, she closed in on his tense frame, ''Draco...''

''No,'' He shook his head, already knowing what she would speak, ''Don't.''

''It's not your fault.'' Her hand was raised in the air, and she ran the tips of her fingers over his fixed jaw, ''What happened is no one's fault. You couldn't know what that guard was going to do. If anything, it's my fault for jumping in front of you.''

His eyes held so much sorrow that it shook her.

''But I will never apologize for doing that.'' She finished, allowing his jaw to rest in her cupped hand, ''I'd do it again, and again, and again if I had to. I know that you need me to be safe, but you can't expect me not to want the same thing. I need you to be safe too, and I will never say sorry for that.''

It was a flash of light in his dark pupils, and his jaws hardened.

He could never get used to her saying those things to him. He had never felt this before, someone caring for him like she was because she truly did.

Isla cared so much for that blond chaotic boy. She cared more for him than they would ever be able to understand, ''I know you feel like it's your fault, but it's not. I don't want you to think that it is.''

Malfoy swallowed and looked away, ''I can't see you like that again.''

She pushed herself closer, burying her head into his chest with her arms wrapped around him, ''I know,'' Whispering, she reached for his hands, and she settled them around her back, making him hold her, ''I know you can't, but I can't live with you taking the blame for every little thing that happens. The world doesn't rest on your shoulders, Draco.''

He exhaled deeply before his hands freed from her spine, and he brought them up to her jaws. Draco tilted her head back to press his forehead against hers, ''I don't care about the world. I couldn't give a damn about everyone else,'' He mumbled, slowly caving into her, ''I care about you.''

She smiled, faintly and she closed her eyes, ''I care about you more.''

''Then don't do shit like this,'' He swallowed, finding it hard to speak as honestly as he did now, ''Don't run away from me, don't risk your safety, and stop jumping off every damn thing you can find to jump off from.''

That had a weak peel of laughter escape her mouth, and she looked up at him, finding herself lost in his icing eyes, ''I can make any promises.''

''I need you to,'' Draco didn't let go of the seriousness he held, ''I need you to promise me that you'll stop this. I'll go with you, and we'll bring Nott, but you can't do this anymore. I can't—''

There was a hurtful pause as he spoke, ''I can't be scared that you'll get hurt, alright? I can't fucking sleep because I knew you'd do something like this. I can't—''

Isla felt the guilt of it all again. She could hear how exhausted he was, how worried he'd been, and how hard it was standing there, expressing his feelings.

She nodded, ''I promise, Draco.'' Still being pressed against him, she slightly arched back, ''I promise that I won't run away again.''

There was a light sigh of relief coming from his chest.

''But—''

He groaned.

''Stop,'' She felt a curl on her lips at his resistance, ''I promise that I won't do anything without telling you, but then you have to promise me the same thing.''

He tipped his head back, looking down at her.

''If I'm supposed to be honest about everything, so are you.''

Hesitating for moments, he just stared at her. Gazing over each detail he could see through the moonlight coming from above them, ''I couldn't lie to you even if I wanted to,'' He said, his voice wasn't as cold anymore, ''I might try, but if there's anyone that's able to catch me in a lie, it's you. ''

She smiled. He tried to, but it ended up with his lips pushed tight.

''So...'' Her upper body twisted, giving him innocent eyes, ''May I go see Leo?''

''In the middle of the night?''

''In the middle of the night.''

Draco rolled his eyes, but once again, he couldn't resist her, ''Fine, but I swear to God, Clarke, that if you do anything stupid, I'll chain you to that damn bed myself. And then you won't be able to go anywhere.''

She smiled again, broader now as she spun around, ready to walk in and wake Theodore up. She shot him a taunting glare over her shoulder, ''I wouldn't mind being chained to a bed by you.''

That had his pulse quickening, his heartbeat pacing as she disappeared out of sight. Oh, how Isla knew what she was doing.

_____

''Why didn't you just apparate from our room?'' Theodore asked through a yawn, his steps lazy as they walked through the gates, ''I mean, the other day you were all clever, and now you need to jump off the balcony?''

Draco tried not to seem bothered with the way he'd just stated that the brunet's room wasn't just his, but both of theirs. It bothered him a lot.

Isla's eyes widened, her fingers tensed around Theo's arm, ''I don't—''

''Mhm?'' He peered down at her as they crossed something that looked like an abandoned front yard of a house that didn't exist anymore, ''Brat.''

Isla gasped, her lips falling parted, but Theodore was fast to curve his neck and push his mouth to hers in a quick kiss, not clearly thinking about the fact that Draco was walking a few steps ahead of them.

She frowned into the kiss but let her lips meet his with just enough pressure for him to stop. Theodore halted with her nose brushing against his, and his hand swiftly grabbed her jaw. He kissed her again, harder this time, ''Don't jump off the balcony again.'' He muttered, letting go of her abruptly.

She barely understood what just happened, why Theodore kissed her as he did just now. Perhaps it was the fact that he felt jealous about the time she and Draco spent out on the porch the day before, that he was mad over the fact that Draco caught her sneaking out because he was asleep.

Or simply because he wanted to feel her. He had a crease in the midst of his brows that spoke for the later guess. He was worried about her.

Theodore was worried because she didn't tell him about this. She told him everything, no matter if she thought he'd agree or not, but she didn't now, and that caused him to be a bit disturbed. Of course, as the man Theodore Nott lived to be, he didn't show it. He kissed her instead.

''Malfoy might not be there to catch you next time,'' Theo's hand slipped down her bare arm, and he gripped her fingers, tangling them together.

''I have a feeling that he will,'' Isla whispered, lowly so Draco wouldn't hear, ''I think he'll always catch me.''

She didn't mean for the blond to hear what she said, yet he did, and he smiled to himself because of it.

''I hope he does,'' Theodore slightly nudged her to the side, giving her a smirk, ''And if he doesn't, then I'll be there to do it for him.''

Her heart nearly exploded out of warmth, not just because he was the perfect person — but because those messy curls covering his forehead trapped her attention as she looked up at him.

His skin still had prints from the pillow he'd buried his face in. His cheeks warmly blushed.

Isla just wanted to jump him, to pour kisses and tiny words across him, to whisper how much she loved him and how lucky she was to have him as he looked ahead of them again, and his sharp jaw came into view.

Her knees weakened, and she had to look away not to implode.

''You alright?'' He noticed her head as it quickly snapped away from him.

Isla gulped, embarrassed and startled. She forced a smile, ''I am.''

''Then why did you—''

Letting go of his hand, she stretched up on her toes, and she dragged her fingers through his hair, making the curls lay back.

It didn't help. She sighed silently to herself, ''Why do you have to look like this—'' She breathed out, not wishing for him to catch it, but of course, he did.

A smirk climbed him, and he rose an irresistible brow, ''Look like what?'' His hands moved to her waist, pulling her into him, bending down to brush his lips against hers, ''Look like what—''

''For fucks sake—'' Draco growled from meters away as he noticed that they didn't walk behind him anymore, ''Can we do this foreplay shit some other time?''

Isla pushed herself back, nearly stumbling away from Theo. He caught her in his arms, and he placed himself behind her.

Draco gritted his jaws at the sight of Theodore wrapping his hand around Isla's throat, ''Why?'' He spoke lowly, and he playfully stroked his nose against her ear to provoke the blond more, ''Are you jealous, mate?''

"Of what?" Malfoy scoffed, giving his eyes a spin as he turned around, ''Of the whipped cream?''

Both Isla and Theodore tensed. Cringing, they stepped back from each other with a stare so awkward shared before they kept walking.

''There's no need to bring that up every time—'' Theodore muttered, visibly displeased.

''Isn't it?''

''You need to learn some magic for that shit,'' Theodore shot Isla a nervous look, ''It's messed up that he—''

''Even if she did, I'd be skilled enough to go past it,'' Draco spoke confidently with his spine facing them as they moved across the lawn, ''So there's no need—''

''Oh?'' Theo shoved his hands into the pockets of his striped night pants, ''So you want to see the strawberries too?''

Isla froze.

Draco spun around hastily, ''What the fuck? What strawberries—''

''Can we not do this—'' Isla mumbled annoyingly as she quickened her speed and shouldered her way past Theodore with a glare. Gripping onto Draco's arm instead, she dragged him forward, ''Both of you stay out of the other's business.''

Draco swallowed hard as he moved with her, looking down at her with raging eyes. She could feel his stare burning through her, and she knew she'd be hearing about this once they returned home.

''He started it,'' Theo grumbled to himself, walking behind them as they reached a tree line, ''And Isla, what are we doing—''

''Here,'' She let out, letting go of Malfoy and sneaking into the woods.

Draco stopped, looking back at Theodore confusingly, ''Where the hell did we go wrong?''

Theodore furrowed his brows.

''I mean, what the hell did we do to end up here? With her? Sneaking into a bloody forest in the middle of the night?''

That had Theo laugh out, patting his best friend's shoulder, ''What? You don't enjoy breaking into Azkaban? Chasing her friends all over Scotland? Catching her jump off the balcony at midnight?''

Draco huffed out, ''I don't like the power she has.''

''I do,'' Theodore smirked, nudging Draco to the side as he stepped after her in between the trees, ''I love the power she has.''

Not speaking more to each other, they marched after her, seeing how she was on her way up in a tree. Draco stopped again, sighing so loudly that it had his friend turn around.

The blond pointed his finger at her, ''You can't tell me that shit is normal.''

Theodore pushed his lips tight, scratching the back of his neck, ''I never said it was normal...''

''What the hell is she doing?''

Both of them just stared at her as she climbed into something that looked like a treehouse. Neither knowing what to say, ''Let's just...'' Draco leaned his shoulder against a tree, seeing how Theo rubbed his temples, ''It's too damn late for me to deal with this.''

Isla struggled into the treehouse she'd once spent all of her time in as a child, and she wasn't surprised to find her best friend sitting in the corner, asleep. Leo was sleeping all nestled up in the pitch dark little house they'd built.

''Leo—'' Isla whispered, crawling to where he'd hunched down, and she placed her hand on his knee, ''Leo, wake—''

He flew forward, scared out of his mind. The lids of his eyes flayed wide, his body was so tense that she could see veins popping out of his neck, ''Isla?'' Heaving, he rushed his hands over his head, but he quickly frowned at her, ''What the hell—''

She pushed him back, scoffing at him as she seated herself against the wall across from his, ''You're mean.'' She said, ''We all risk our lives to break you out of Azkaban, and you run away?''

His frown faded as he dropped back to the floor, ''Isla...''

''No. I don't want to hear it. I know this is hard for you, but running away in the middle of the night isn't going to solve anything. I know you didn't ask to be broken out, and I'm not expecting you to be grateful, but the least you can do is treat the people who are trying to fix this for you with an ounce of respect.''

He swallowed hard and thick at her lecture, but he took it. He knew it was wrong of him to flee back to the only place he felt safe in. Their treehouse.

Isla and Leo built it as kids. They built it when Ava was being mean to them as children so they could escape to someplace she wasn't able to find them. They loved this place, and they kept it hidden. So when Leo's father leveled their childhood home with the ground, he couldn't ruin this place too. No one knew it existed.

But it hadn't been used for a decade, and it looked old and worn now.

''So what?'' Isla kept going, ''You've been in here the whole day? And then what? Did you plan on staying in a treehouse for the rest of your life?''

''Of course not,'' Leo dragged his knees up to his chest, ''I just needed to think.''

''Think about what?'' Hearing the ache in his voice, her own became gentler, ''You didn't have to run away for that, Leo. You could've come to me—''

''Mila, my father, Ava...'' He whispered, looking down at his arms hugging around his knees, ''I just needed to think about everything, I guess. It's hard to think when you're around the people you're trying to save from yourself.''

In some way, that hit her harder than she thought it would.

Not because of Leo, but because of herself.

Perhaps she needed to save Theodore and Draco from herself too.

''I don't know. I'm sorry for running off, but I... I couldn't think with her there, and with you being hurt from saving me, and for what Malfoy did while we got out of there. It's just... overwhelming.''

''I know,'' She nodded slowly, ''I know it is, but don't do that to me. Don't run without talking to me, please? I can't—''

''I know what I want to do, Isla.''

She hushed, her sight snapping to his, ''What?''

''I know how I want to fix this. I know what I want to do for all of this madness to be over with and for Mila to be okay.'' His breaths shifted shallower, his skin slightly paled. Like he'd decided for something he wasn't truly sure of, something that would hurt him, ''I have a plan.''

Isla propped herself up, not understanding anything anymore. Her voice cracked shakily, ''Leo, what are you—''

It felt like the world drained of light, and all darkness took over.

''I am going to obliviate Mila.''

_____