''No?'' Isla raised her voice, sounding more than annoyed with the blond, ''Why on earth, would I go to prom with you?''

Draco's jaws clenched dangerously before he — without properly thinking about it, snatched her by the arm, looking around hastily so that the Professor wasn't paying attention, ''Come with me, would you?''

Isla gulped, feeling his grip around her flesh as it tensed, and he dragged her out of the classroom. Her spine struck the wall next to the door as he booted it shut, shoving her away from him, ''I said that I needed a favor from you—''

''And I said no,'' Isla sought to stand her ground, folding her arms stubbornly over her chest, ''So dragging me all the way out here doesn't matter, because I'm not—''

''He's going with her.''

Isla frowned, looking puzzled, ''Who's going with—''

''Nott,'' Draco's eyes bored through hers, noticing the flash of hurt in them as her breath audibly ragged, ''And his girl.''

Isla's face was cloaked in a hurtful mantle for seconds before she pushed her lips together, trying not to show Draco just how much her insides wrenched by the information she'd just received.

''His girl?'' She swallowed the lump in the back of her throat, her fingers curling into fists, ''I don't know what that has to do with me, Theodore is free—''

''So you're telling me that it doesn't bother you?'' Draco kept his stare on her, taking a step closer yet holding his distance, ''That he's taking someone else?''

''I wasn't expecting him to take me if that's what you're asking,'' Isla's back scored coldly against the wall, ''If he's with her, then he's with her. There's nothing I can—''

''Even when he fucked her last night?''

It felt as if her breath was on fire. Her eyes flickered to look anywhere but straight at Draco.

The humiliation nagged, and the thought of Theodore sleeping with someone else after their moment together in the kitchen — hurt, but she couldn't question that. She did things too.

''He's free to do whatever he pleases,'' Isla mumbled, still not looking at Draco, ''If I can do what I want, so can he.''

He hissed, inhaling sharply as his head snapped to the side, and without reason — as quickly as Draco possibly could, his hand struck the wall, and he leaned closer to her, ''Are you sure?'' He whispered lowly, slightly nodding to his side.

Isla saw, in the corner of her eyes, Theodore walking out of a classroom down the hall before he stopped and watched Isla and Draco standing close.

''I'm sure,'' She breathed, her hands grasped at the flares of his suit jacket, closing the space between them entirely, ''I'm more than sure.''

It was as if, just for a moment, and a tiny one at that — he forgot why he'd moved near her. His eyes fell upon her features as she stood inches away, and he couldn't drag his sight off of her.

Her eyelashes battled, and her nose scrunched together in a grimace, trying to keep the tension friendly between them, even if she could sense the despite radiating off him.

They acted as if they didn't notice the brunet standing at the end of the hallway with his lips parted, and his hands dropped to his sides.

''How sure?'' Draco smirked, nearly brushing his nose against hers, ''How sure are you that you don't want to use me like I want to use you?''

Isla's teeth gritted, frowning as she caught the spoken words, and it clocked her, after simply a second, what he meant. She tore their connection apart, and she slightly pushed him back.

''So Pansy is taking Adrian?'' Isla questioned, a bit louder, ''Is that why you want to go with me? To make her jealous?''

Draco's face shifted coldly, and the smirk he possessed faded into a stoned facade, ''Yeah, not that she would be jealous of someone like—''

Isla didn't bother to listen as he spoke. She quickly shoved herself past him, shouldering him as she went, ''You're cruel, and I don't have to listen to this.'' It didn't reach her thoughts that he wanted to use her too.

Draco sighed loudly, groaning underneath his breath as she strode away from him, ''Clarke, for fucks—''

''Save it,'' She snapped, with her back facing him, ''Find someone else to make her jealous.''

He shook his head, placing his palms against the brick-covered wall, feeling defeated since it was a simple task, nothing that he'd ever believed that she'd make him work for. To Draco — it was as effortless as prom.

His eyes rolled as he cocked his head to the side, staring after her as she marched further away. He didn't realize that he hurt her by speaking in the way he did — to him, it wasn't a rude comment.

''Nice one, mate,''

Draco forced himself off the wall, leveling Theodore as he leisurely stalked closer, ''That didn't take long.'' Theo kept on pushing him, causing the blond to scoff.

''It's none of your business, Nott, so stay the hell out of it,'' Draco fired, turning around to storm off, ''Just stay the fuck away from everyone.''

''Is this about Pansy again? Is that why you have been acting like a complete bitch these last few—'' Theodore's arms crossed over his chest, staring blankly at his friend, ''I get it, she left you, but you don't have to take it out on me,'' His arm gestured after Isla, ''And you certainly don't have to use her—''

Draco flung back around, glaring at the brunet, ''And how is that any of your problems? What I do with Clarke, isn't—''

''So you are doing something with her?'' Theo hewed him off, sounding accusing almost.

It turned silent. Draco's eyes narrowed as his jaws gritted. He didn't feel obligated to tell Theodore anything. He didn't want to. What he was using Isla for wasn't relevant to his friend.

Draco took a step forward, pushing his friend back, roughly before he turned back around, ''I'll tell you this, one more time, and the next time I hear that question coming out of your mouth, I'll beat it shut.'' He began to walk away, leaving Theodore startled behind,

"Mind your own fucking business.''

_____

''He did what?'' Leo looked at Isla in a fusion of shock and confusion, ''Why would he ask you to prom as some sort of agreement?''

Her head shook, huffing loudly, ''I don't know. He wants to make Pansy jealous, I suppose,'' Her tone lowered, ''She picked Adrian, and he's been...'' Her words faltered, not knowing how to describe it properly.

''He's been distant.''

Leo's eyes widened, nodding slowly, ''That's not your problem. Why are you being used to feed his ego? I don't get it.'' He dropped the puzzled look into a stern cloak, ''I don't understand how someone like Malfoy just takes people—''

''Guys,''

Both Isla and Leo flinched around, staring at the girl approaching them in the common room. She slipped down between them, shoving her shoes off before she placed her legs across Leo's.

''What are we talking about?'' Mila smiled cheekily as she turned to Isla, immediately tucking a curl behind her ear, ''Are you alright there, love? You look a bit down to me.''

Isla returned the smile with one of her own, melting instantly to Mila's kind embrace, ''I'm alright, you?'' She asked, tilting her head to rest on her shoulder, ''It's not often we see you in the Slytherin common room.''

Mila laughed, tipping her chin against Isla's head, feeling the stands of her long hair as it tickled her nose, ''I'm not invited in here that often, so it's not really my fault, is it?''

Isla and Leo both chuckled, easing up from their conversation, and fell into Mila's safety.

She was always so gentle with everyone, kind beyond explanation. She didn't spend as much time with their friend group as they wished she did — but she was settled in a different house, and that could, especially these days, be a bit difficult to overcome.

''Well,'' Mila broke the seconds of silence, ''I'm glad to see you, but enlighten me please, what were we talking about?''

''And we're happy to see you,'' Leo smirked beside them, placing both of his hands upon Mila's legs, ''Nothing, our dear Isla has some problems.''

Mila's head snapped, staring straight at her friend, ''What problems? Is someone mean to you again? Because I heard of that stupid game at the party a few weeks ago, and if that were me, I would've—''

''It's alright,'' Isla laughed it off, reaching to grab one of Mila's hands, intertwining their fingers, ''It was a stupid game, but it's alright now.''

''Did Malfoy apologize?'' Mila sounded serious. She had never been a fan of either of the Slytherin boys and the reputation they carried even before their eighth year, ''Because what he did was foul and cruel and nobody should—''

''It's alright,'' Isla said again, with more pressure this time, ''We... talked, and I'm not going to bother myself with either of them anymore.''

Mila nodded, looking curiously at the girl next to her. She knew Isla from inside out, and she grasped that talking wasn't something she and Draco had done, but she didn't want to push her. Especially not now. If Isla wanted to speak about Malfoy, she'd do so honestly when she felt ready.

''If you say so...'' Leo snickered, bending forward to roll his eyes in a clear display, ''I heard that before.''

''What?'' Isla's brows knitted, and she pushed herself away from Mila, arching over her own legs to meet his gaze, ''What is that supposed to mean?''

''You completely shut down when they come close to you, and you don't stand up for yourself—''

''I do,'' Isla sounded offended, snapping her head slightly, ''I do stand up for myself, but it's difficult too because I have to pick one and neither of them—''

''Is that why Theodore is still with that girl?'' Leo rose a brow, pushing his lips together. He knew, deep within, that this wasn't the way to go, indicting her the way he was doing right now, but he couldn't help it.

He loathed seeing her being mistreated back and forth between both Theodore and Draco. He didn't find any pleasure in watching her being dragged out of class and them manipulating her. Working their way underneath her skin to use her kindness.

''Or why Malfoy—''

''Leo, that's enough.'' Mila cut his sentence short, sending him a severe glare, ''If Isla feels as if she's handling this well, then that's up to her, not us. We shouldn't tell her what we think is right and wrong in a situation that isn't ours.''

Isla blinked quickly, and so did Leo — both caught off guard by her coming to Isla's defense.

''I'm not saying that—''

''Then stop asking her to explain herself. She shouldn't have to. You're her friend, and you should support her, not make her feel bad in a situation she barely has any control over.'' Mila stated, still grave in the meaning of it, ''Let her do what she thinks is for the best, and if she asks for your help, then you can help her, but until then, you have to trust her.''

Isla nodded, ''Right,'' Agreeing with her friend and the speech Mila just held for the two made her realize just how right she was.

Indeed, Isla needed to think more clearly of what she'd done with the two boys, but it was her mistake to make. Nothing in the wizarding world scored the same anymore, and she needed to find her own way through it.

Even if that meant exploring both Draco and Theodore, searching and gathering her strength to one day make a choice and live by it. Her life had barely started, and she was allowed to learn her own way, to mess up, and to master from it.

''Well, when you put it like that...'' Leo's spine struck the backrest, giving in to what Mila said, ''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overstep, I'm just worried about you.'' His eyes flickered and caught hers.

''I know,'' Isla hushed, staring vacantly into the air in front of her as her head spun, ''I know, and I'm sorry too.'' She heard as Leo and Mila rise to talk about something else, and her own mind wandered.

For moments they remained there, close to each other, and Isla held so buried into her thoughts that she didn't notice the door leading into the common room, being open and shortly after, slammed shut.

It was her friends, resting close to her, turning utterly quiet, that caught her attention, and she peered over at them. Her hair followed the movement and tousled around her face, ''Why did you—''

Her eyes flicked as she watched the brunet walking up the stairs with the girl he always seemed to spend time with, strolling after him. Isla swallowed, looking away in a heartbeat, and her eyes squeezed shut.

She didn't understand why it bothered her as much as it did — she'd seen Theodore with multiple girls over the years, this wasn't a rare thing. Still, it pained her, seeing how he led her up the stairs, his fingers tangled with hers without even noticing Isla.

She didn't tell him to stop seeing her. Even when she realized that he wanted her to tell him — she didn't, and now that felt regrettable to her, but it was too late to change her mind.

''Get out, right now, Malfoy.''

''You can't just—''

''Hell, I can.''

''Nott, for fucks sake—''

A loud bang echoed throughout the rooms, and Isla's eyes caught Leo's wide ones. He looked as confused as her, but neither of them said a word. They simply glared at each other before heavy steps marched down the stairs, and the blond came in viewing.

''Oh God,'' Mila muttered, dragging her legs off Leo's before she stood up, stretching her hand to his, ''Walk me back to my room?'' She shot Isla a smirk, nearly a playful one, as Leo frowned.

''Why can't Isla—''

''Stop being so slow,'' Mila yelled in a whisper, snatching his wrist to pull him off the furniture, ''Just walk me to my room, that isn't too hard, is it?''

Leo's eyes rolled, grunting to himself as he nodded towards Isla. She didn't have the chance to react — to ask them to wait for her or to stay before the blond had made his way close to her.

''Wait—'' She called out, but both of her friends had already snaked their way out of the room, leaving her exposed behind. Her sight snapped to Malfoy's as his narrowed at her. His hands closed around the backrest of the armchair he stood behind.

He looked furious, mad to say at least. She gulped because of it. She'd walked out on him earlier, and she felt as if a punishment would rise.

''I need to—'' Isla quickly pushed herself up on her feet, her view grounded as she meant to stroll past him, ignoring him and every unfair word she knew to be spilled as she did.

''Not so fast,'' He spat, taking a step to the side, stopping her from leaving, ''You're done walking away from me, do you understand that?'' Draco caught hostile, rolling his tongue on the inside of his cheek.

She met his gaze, trying to evade the intimidating look it held, ''I can do what I want—''

''Yeah, you can—'' Draco squinted, shoeing closer, making her take a step back, '' —but you won't because you're a good girl, isn't that right, Clarke?''

Isla gulped again, not knowing how to feel by his closeness, ''I'm—''

''Are you a good girl for me?'' He was towering over her, making her feel tiny to his length, ''Good girls do as told, and you do what you're told, don't you?''

Draco was so near her now. Standing not more than a few inches apart, closing the space between them. He enjoyed it, toying with her nervousness. Isla's chin rose, looking back at him, his pupils dimmed as he watched that tiny flash of hurt in her eyes.

''I have somewhere to be, Malfoy,'' She sought to avoid the question he constantly asked, ''I have somewhere to be, and it's a bit hard when you're always keeping me from leaving,''

Draco scoffed arrogantly, ''You had no problem in walking away from me earlier, did you?'' He leaned forward, just enough for her to breathe in that filled scent of his. Her knees weakened.

She tried so hard to resist it. To stand against that tingling feeling, she felt inside.

''Perhaps you're not as much a good girl as I believed you to be,'' It wasn't a question or a conflict even. It was a statement. Malfoy cherished the words that caused her eyes to flicker and her cheeks to burn.

It flustered him, watching as her chest heaved a bit heavier and the constant swallows she made not to appear tense. God how he wished for her to swallow something else than her own saliva.

Her thoughts circled. He caught them in a second, ''Clarke, you filthy—''

''Don't,'' Her veins rushed in embarrassment, feeling his chest brush against hers, ''Don't make fun of me.''

Draco nodded slowly, ''You know he's fucking her as we speak, right?''

Her eyes flared open, in a complete loss of her own mind at his words, ''What—''

''He does this every damn night. He kicks me out so he can fuck her. It's starting to get a bit old—''

''Stop it,'' Her brows knitted. The stinging feeling in her chest drowned her again, ''It's none of my business, and I don't want to—''

''His bed broke the other day,'' Draco provoked her, ''I wonder why,'' He kept his eyes on her, studying every emotion as it played on her features. How hard she tried to keep it in and not give herself up.

She truly was stubborn.

''I don't—''

''Care?'' He finished for her, her breaths felt so sweet on his lips, ''So I've noticed. Like I don't care about Parkinson and Pucey?''

Isla's face fell. She didn't know what to say or do anymore to make him believe her, to convince him that this wasn't about Theodore or the girl.

''So you still care for Pansy?'' Isla sought to be as rude back, ''Isn't that a bit—''

''Watch that fucking mouth of yours,'' Draco spat, his jaws clenched tightly.

The corner of her mouth arched, ''Only if you do the same.''

It turned quiet. They stood close, almost too near, but neither of them spoke a single word. All they did was observing each other in silence, learning to despise the other more.

''If you...'' Draco growled, lowly, ''...listen close enough, you can hear her moan. She has a sweet moan, but not as addicting as yours, but Nott doesn't know that, does he?''

Isla inhaled sharply.

It was none of her concern.

It was none of her concern.

It was none of her concern.

''And if you...'' His note held so huskily that it vibrated through her, ''...listen, you can hear the bedframe hit the wall, and you can just imagine how hard he's fucking her. How he's filling her up—''

''Fine!'' Isla blurted out, her eyes snapping across him. Her face in a grimace, ''I'll go to the ball with you.''

_____