Isla was frozen, not moving a muscle as she caught the severe footsteps marching down the courtroom, halting right where the benches began.

She didn't dare to look back at Theo. She was so scared that he'd catch her. That Malfoy would see her there and that he would put two and two together.

That he would find out that she'd spent every day since Christmas lying to him because she had, Isla had been lying. She had been hiding the truth from him, even if she, herself, believed it to be the right thing to do — deeply within, it was wrong.

He was honest with her, and she should've given him the same faith, but she didn't. Isla believed that she was protecting him, saving him from knowing the truth.

She didn't know what to do at this moment. It was doomed to fail no matter what.

''Mr. Malfoy.'' The same man who searched Isla's wand welcomed, ''Your wand.''

She could hear as she gripped the armrests of the chair, holding on for dear life, how he grunted something underneath his breath, displeased with the fact that they needed to validate his identity.

The man peered up at the lady, seated high up as he nodded, ''The wand belongs to the wizard.'' He said before he backed away, disappearing into the shadows around them.

Draco scoffed, tucking his wand back into his suit jacket before he stormed past where Isla was seated. He didn't look at her. He didn't look at Theodore, who sat with his eyes growing wide at benches a few feet away.

Malfoy just stared at the lady as he halted right in front of the podium, ''Are you pleased now? Happy that I'm here?''

Isla gulped, her eyes flickering nervously back to Theodore. He knew what she wished to do. He wasn't foolish. He figured that her fingers were grasping at her wand as she looked at him, and he slowly shook his head at her.

Isla wanted to apparate, she wanted to flee that scene that was going to get her caught, but he knew it wouldn't work. Not from inside a courtroom.

That type of magic couldn't be used when a trial was ongoing. So he shook his head at her, mouthing the word no. The messy curls crossed his forehead, leaking and kissing his furrowed brows.

She cocked her own head, slightly scowling at him as her shoulders shrugged, mouthing a clear why, but he didn't comply with her. Theodore simply gave her a serious glare. His sight discreetly flickered to the guards standing in every rounded corner of the room. Her own eyes followed, looking at what he wished to show her.

Trapped. She was trapped. Even if she would try to use the magic she craved to use at this moment, she couldn't. It would be too dangerous.

''I'm delighted that you came to your senses and joined us, Mr. Malfoy.'' The lady placed her tangled fingers upon her desk, bending over and looking down at the blond, ''You haven't made it easy for us. It's almost like you... have been working against us, Draco.''

Draco clicked his tongue, still not bothered that someone was seated behind him.

He didn't care.

He couldn't care less for anything but to be done with this so that he could be with Isla. So that he could join them in the courtroom next door, ''I've done everything you've asked of me. I've provided all the evidence you wished for. I've gone through my father's files, his books, and everything connected to the war — as you asked. I handed over what I found, so I don't see a point in dragging me in here every damn chance you get.''

''You are well aware of why you were asked to be here today, Mr. Malfoy.'' The lady retaliated, and Isla felt her chest as it began to cave. Her heart as it began to pace. Almost as if her life was flashing before her eyes.

She knew about Malfoy's hatred towards the Weasleys. She knew that he wished to cease every last one in the bloodline of their life. If he knew her secret, he'd want her dead, but to her — that wasn't even the worst part.

The worst outcome of this was that she'd lose him. To Isla, the worst thing wasn't that he would kill her, that he would despise her, that he would think she wasn't worth the air she was breathing.

To her, the worst part was that she knew she'd lose him. She could stand him hating her, despising her. She'd dealt with that before. Draco Malfoy hating Isla Clarke wasn't anything new. For months she took his temper of despising her.

She could deal with the fact that he most likely wished for her to die because losing him — losing that part of her heart he carried would be worse than death.

Losing the piece of Draco Malfoy she was allowed, that piece of his own heart he'd given her, was worse than anything could ever come to be.

Losing him — no. Isla couldn't even think about losing him. She didn't want to. She'd break if she did. Having him hate her would be so much easier.

Isla felt Theodore's stare as it burnt through her, pinning her to that chair he pleaded she'd stay on. He didn't want to know the consequences of her trying to run away, knowing it would come back to hunt them all if she did.

''I am,'' Draco spat, annoyingly, ''I am well aware. I never claimed that I wasn't. However, I don't see a point in making a spectacle out of something simple. I don't know why you dragged a witness all the way in here to hear about something we've gone over—''

''She's not a witness.'' The lady cleared, her eyes flickering to Isla before they were back on that furious boy, ''She's a member of their family.''

Draco cocked his head, arching back as he kept looking up at the judge. He still didn't turn to face Isla. He didn't think about it as he scowled, ''I was told that the Weasley's moved overseas—''

''That was what we believed as well, but apparently, new information was discovered yesterday. Someone came in and claimed their daughters to be distant cousins of the Weasley clan, legally — she has their last name.''

''And we believe that?'' Draco narrowed silver at that lady, raising his eyebrows as he flung his hand back, gesturing for Isla still seated in that chair. She had forgotten how it felt, being treated like she was air to him.

This was what Malfoy did to unknown people. He didn't look at them. He didn't approach them. He didn't give them as much as an ounce of dignity.

''You really expect me to believe that some witch magically appears the day before the trial starts to what? Save the day? To make my parents out to be coldblooded killers? This is fucking insane, and I won't—''

''Her identity is verified, Mr. Malfoy. She is who she says he is.''

Draco pointed his finger at Isla, and every time it looked to her that he would turn around, she began shaking. She was terrified.

''I don't care. I couldn't be bothered less. That does not change the fact that the Weasley's are as responsible for death in my family as my family is responsible for death in theirs. It doesn't prove anything.''

''I never said that it changed anything, Mr. Malfoy. I am, however, telling you that I want to hear what that girl has to say about her cousin. I want to know what kind of man Fred Weasley was before I ruled in favor of this to be dropped. That's the right and the fair thing to do.''

''I understand that,'' Draco hurried, ''I do, and I am willing to agree to what you ask of me. I am more than willing to grant you my time, but I can't do that today. I have somewhere to be—''

''You're not going anywhere, Mr. Malfoy.''

Theodore locked his jaws in anger, staring out over the chaos in front of him. He began wondering what to do, what he could do to save her from the situation she'd been placed in.

Perhaps, he could cause a scene, take their focus away from Isla, and create a span of minutes where she could run out, but the guards standing by the doors would most likely stop her.

He gazed over the room, over to the windows. Illusions, he knew that the light flickering outside it was magical. They were deeply below ground. It couldn't possibly be a string of light finding its way down here.

Then he looked back at Isla, finding her already looking at him. Her eyes were crowded in panic. Her otherwise rosy cheeks drained of color. She had a ghastly cloak as it took over, scared. She was so scared. Theodore understood at that moment that Isla and Draco had secrets they didn't let him take part in.

He couldn't blame them for that. He couldn't be upset or feel betrayed because Isla wouldn't keep something from him if she didn't have to.

Their relationship was honest, clear, uncomplicated. Everything around them was chaotic, messy, but not them. They were immaculate together, perfect for the other. He just wished that whatever secret made her shake out of fear as she sat there, she would've told him.

But Isla didn't. She didn't tell him because this wasn't her secret to tell. She indeed let him know about her last name, she'd even carved it into his chest a few days prior, but she couldn't tell him about Draco's parents. That wasn't hers to tell.

''The hell I am.''

''Mr. Malfoy.'' The lady raised her voice, ''You will stay here, and you will listen to that girl's testimony just like the rest of us. What she has to say may be of great value to the investigation regarding your parent's death. So I suggest that you stop talking about that girl as if she weren't here. It's unethical, and it's frankly rude, Mr. Malfoy. I expect better from you.''

Draco's lips pushed tight as his hand dropped back to his side, ''I don't care about any fucking girl. I don't fucking care because I have my own to get back to, so if you excuse me—'' He began to back up, turning in the other direction from Isla. Still not looking at her.

The lady dropped her papers back to her desk with a thud. Her eyes snapping between Isla and Draco for the shortest of moments, nearly as if she realized something, ''Mr. Malfoy?'' The judge asked, swallowing, ''May I ask you something?''

Malfoy sighed, rolling his shoulders, ''What?''

''The—'' She swallowed again, understanding what kind of position she was caught up in, ''The name of your choice—'' Shaking her head, she tried to gather herself, ''What is her name?''

Draco stopped altogether in his movements as he turned back to face the judge, ''Excuse me?''

''Your choice—''

''I fucking heard you,'' Draco snapped, rudely, ''I just don't know why you're asking for her name. She has nothing to do with this.''

The judge stayed silent, not truly sure where to look anymore.

''I never want to hear you speak about my choice. That's none of your concern.'' Malfoy bit.

The lady looked right at Isla now, giving her a confused stare, but Isla didn't meet it. Her own eyes were bored to the floor. She knew this was it.

''Her name—''

''Why the hell does it matter—''

''Her name, Mr. Malfoy—''

''No—''

''Her name!''

''Fuck off, why the fuck would I give you her name—''

''Because she's sitting right there!''

The whole room turned numb the second that lady said those words.

It was as if someone had stilled time. It felt as if someone had cursed that entire room to move in slow motion the second his eyes caught hers.

The very instant silver bored through her, penetrated her soul, and tore it in two. Her world fell apart.

Isla had seen a lot of expressions on Malfoy's face during the past year, all from anger to hurt, to love, disgust, sorrow, guilt, but never had she seen this.

That look of betrayal, that sweep of treachery as he stared at her with such empty eyes.

Theodore gulped from the stands, his veins aching in panic, and without any reason at all, he stood up, raising his wand, and he fired a spell that hit the judge, knocking her out to create chaos, to give Draco and Isla the time to sneak out of there.

He did. Theodore created chaos like never before.

Everything that passed after that point was like a dream, a nightmare, something that would happen yet not.

The guards stormed towards Theodore, wrestling him down to the ground and shouting for everyone to get out.

Similar to being trapped in a trance, Isla saw how Draco marched towards her. Gripping her by the arm and he dragged her with him.

He didn't stop. Draco tugged her numb body with him out the courtroom, down the hall until he pushed her around a corner into a deserted corridor.

She blinked. All Isla was capable of doing at this point was to blink as the faded shouts and screams of guards taking Theodore away echoed through the marble coating the walls.

Draco simply looked at her as he pressed his body against hers, pinning her to the wall. Gasps left her throat, looking to find her missed voice, but he pushed his palm over her lips.

She couldn't think. Her mind was crowded in all the ways she'd failed Theodore in there, understanding that he did this for her, yet she couldn't quite grasp how it all went down.

Her eyes met the sterling ones, her skin shivering at how hard he was pressing over her mouth. He tried to read her, he was consistent in reading her mind to figure out what was happening, but he couldn't.

Draco hadn't read her thoughts for months. He didn't want to invade her privacy, not after he started feeling for her. Never had he searched her head past that point, it didn't feel right, and now — now he didn't have the strength to do so.

It felt to him as if he was scared, terrified almost. Like he could see the truth as he stood there, in that dimmed corridor, his body shaking against hers, her trembling breaths hitting his palm.

He ignored it. He didn't want to see it. He didn't want to understand what just happened, why she was in that courtroom, and why the judge thought she was related to the Weasleys because she couldn't.

Could she?

''Draco—'' Isla shook her head at him, trying to loosen the solid grip he kept her jaw in, ''What are you—''

''It's not,'' Draco breathed out, heavily, ''It's not— wait—''

Tracing his wand up from his back pocket, he aimed it at her, whispering 'finite' underneath his breath to rule out the fact of someone messing with him. In case this was poly juice or some other curse to fool him. It wasn't. All his magic caused was for her to frown in disbelief.

He put his wand away, locking his jaws as he let his hand slowly slide away from her mouth, pushing into the wall behind her instead.

Isla swallowed richly as she looked up at him, feeling the was his body was twitching, ''Draco—''

''It's...'' He cut her short again, a nervous chuckle fled his throat, ''It's not... Right?''

Isla's lips parted, her hands slowly moving to hold around his arms, ''Draco....''

''It's not. I know it's not. It's some sick joke to get inside my head and to make me plead guilty for what happened that day, right?'' His words were fast-paced, rambling, and blurting. Like he couldn't quite figure out what he wanted to say, how to form proper words, ''They want me to take responsibility and be locked up for what my father did... It's about that, isn't it? They gave you—''

''Draco...''

''They gave you some sort of deal, didn't they?'' Draco nearly heaved. His palms caught her jaws, his fingers brushing over her cheeks as he pulled her in. Pressing her body to his, shaking. Draco Malfoy was shaking,

''No—'' He said, tremblingly, ''No, no, no. It's not true. It's not true. I know it's not—''

Isla shut her eyes closed, feeling how he kissed her. Pushing his mouth against hers, she could feel how unsteadily his breaths were, how the constant hitches caused her to shudder.

''I know it's not—''

''Draco, listen to me—''

''You're helping them fool me, but it's not working, Clarke. It's never going to work. It's not true—''

''Listen to me, Draco—''

He kissed her again, over and over until her lips began to ache out of how hard he was pushing his mouth to hers.

''Draco, please—''

''I know you....'' He whispered, holding her close, ''You wouldn't do this to me. You wouldn't let me fall for you, not after what I told you about them, right?''

Isla stayed silent, her lips parting from his.

Draco's throat closed in on him, frowning slightly, ''Right?''

She swallowed the tears she felt. The salty taste bit its way down her throat, ''Draco—''

''Right?'' He said again, more pressured this time, holding her harder, ''You wouldn't do that to me?''

A heartbreaking silence took over. She could practically feel his pulse slowing, his heart as it shattered within the cavity of his chest.

''Clarke,'' Draco cocked his head, never letting his stare away from hers, ''Tell me you wouldn't.''

Isla drew a shaking breath, allowing her hands to drop from his arms, falling to her sides, ''Just—''

''Tell me.''

''Draco—''

''Tell me right now.''

''If you just listen—''

''Clarke!'' Draco took one step back, signing his touch off hers, ''Tell me right now that you're not a fucking Weasley.''

''I—''

''Tell me!'' He was shouting at her now, so loudly that it shook her, ''Tell me this is a sick fucking joke! Tell me that he was your friend and you wouldn't do this!''

Isla sobbed out, slowly shaking her head at him, ''Please, if you just—''

''Tell me that you would've broken this off, that you wouldn't let me fall for you—''

''Draco, listen to me!''

''Fucking tell me!''

''I can't!''

His face fell. It hurt so much within him to yell at her, to see her cry in front of him, to slowly understand what this really was.

Isla looked away, her sight flooring, ''I can't tell you because I don't want to lie to you.'' She said, ''I've... I've been lying and I—''

''You're a Weasley?'' Draco said, so coldly, ''You're a God damn Weasley?''

Isla nodded, stilly.

''You're—'' He nearly laughed out, throwing his arms to his sides, ''I've been fucking a God damn—''

''Don't—''

''I fell for a fucking Weasley....'' His laugh faded, and he was looking at her again, ''I... I don't believe you.''

Isla didn't know what else to do. He wouldn't believe her. She knew he wouldn't believe her no matter how she played this. He felt too much for her to understand. Taking a step closer to him, she closed her eyes, reaching for his hand and pulling it up to her cheek.

''Clarke, what the—''

''Look,'' Isla said, standing as her jaw shook against his palm, ''I know you don't look anymore. I know you don't want to because you feel for me but look, Draco. Look.''

This made it easier for him to access her mind. Her putting her whole head on display for him made it clearer for him to see, and he did.

Draco flipped through her thoughts like an open book. He saw it all. The secret holidays she'd spent at the burrow, the nights Fred snuck her out of the dungeons at school to get her mind off everything after Cedric died, how he lifted her body off Cedric's numb one the day he passed.

The times he taught her spells helped her to improve her magic, the days they would spend together, him, her, and their family, playing cards, reading, joking, baking, cooking, cleaning, everything.

Everything.

Every single thing Isla had kept hidden from the world, she now showed him.

Draco let go of her, quickly, abruptly, almost.

''There it is,'' She said quietly, ''All of it. All my secrets.''

''You're a—''

''I am,'' She cut him off, not quite daring to look at him yet, ''I am born a Weasley, and I'm sorry—''

Something darkened within Draco. Something that only lit up for her burned out. Something soft, caring, all he felt for her, shifted into something rock hard, solid.

Isla could see it.

She could see it, and she couldn't blame him for it. This was her fault, her secret she didn't share with him. Isla lied, and this was the price she was meant to pay.

Losing him. Isla was losing him.

''Please—'' Her tone was thin, hesitant, ''Say something—''

Draco didn't. Draco didn't speak. He just looked at her with that dash of darkness as it took over. He looked at her with so much despise, so much hatred.

Draco hated her more than he'd ever hated anyone else before. He hated her so much that he wished he could grab her and smash her head against the wall. He wished he could kill her right there and then.

But he couldn't because no matter how much Draco Malfoy hated Isla Clarke, he loved her even more. As he once read in a book she'd left on her nightstand, love is meant to kill you.

The second she watched him reach for his wand, lifting it and aiming it right at her — she froze.

''I will fucking kill you.''

Kill her.

If Isla wasn't certain that he would've killed her before, she was sure that he would kill her now.

_____