Draco stepped up the stairs to the upper floor.

His mind was worn, drained, and he was exhausted.

He'd tried to talk some sense into Leo for the past half hour, but nothing seemed to stick to the boy who would eventually live to be their downfall, before he had to walk away. Draco couldn't spend another minute with Leo without beating some proper sense into him.

All he wished for was Isla at that moment, for her to wrap herself around him and convince him to take a shower with her to calm down. He loved when she did that, when she got undressed and turned the lights in the bathroom off.

When she unbuttoned his shirt and led him into the heated streams, when it was just them and the pouring water, when he wrapped his arms around her, when he felt her tiny kisses on his arms.

Not in an intimate way, but emotional.

When they just held each other and understood another without a word being spoken, when he felt her bare skin against his, and he could whisper the things she loved to hear in her ear.

That was what he needed. That was what he wanted.

He just needed her, and the feeling of ice stabbed through him as he shoved the bedroom door open, only to find Theodore alone in that bed.

Draco marched forward. Something raging began to take over inside of him as he yanked Theodore back, making his spine hit the mattress.

''Theo—'' He said but was quick to hush when the brunet failed to react. He knew his best friend easily fell asleep everywhere, but he ever so woke up when he touched him.

Theodore didn't wake up now, and Malfoy knew exactly why.

Draco gritted his teeth and shot the darkened bathroom a quick look.

''I'm going to fucking kill her,'' Draco muttered. Reaching for his wand in his back pocket, he aimed it at his best friend, whispering the magic he knew would wake him up.

It did. Theodore woke up with a heavy gasp.

Flying up into a seated position, he snapped his head, looking at Draco with wide eyes, ''What the fuck happened—'' He frowned, but it didn't take more than half a second before he sighed, ''Tell me she didn't.''

''Oh, she did.'' Draco clicked his tongue, sounding so annoyed, ''She fucking did, and I don't care what you say, Nott, but once I get my bloody hands on her again, I'm locking her up.''

Theodore couldn't fight him in that. Isla had gone so far that she made him unconscious in order to sneak out. He, for once, agreed with Malfoy.

''Why the fuck would she do this?'' Draco kept going, taking a step back from the bed, ''Why would she stand here and have some moral talk about doing the right thing, when she's constantly doing everything she can to fuck everything up?"

Theodore dragged his gaze over the room, locking it at the slightly opened drawer. He knew what she hid in there. He knew she moved it around from time to time to make sure that no one could find it, but he did.

He was looking for a shirt his mother wanted him to find, and he found it — that little vial filled with Blaise's memories. He let it be. He trusted her with it.

He shouldn't have because now that drawer was open, and she was gone.

''I know where she is.'' Theo said, standing up from the bed and walking over to the desk where Isla had left his shirt, ''I know exactly where she is.''

''Where?'' Draco looked after him as he got dressed, and his jaw slightly gritted. It didn't matter how many times he'd seen that mark on him, how many times he'd studied his girl's initials on his best friend's body — he would never get used to it.

Theodore stayed silent as he buttoned his shirt, walking around Draco to pick his pants off the floor. Her dress wasn't piled on them. He'd thrown it over his pants.

''Tell me where she is.'' Draco said, a bit harsher this time, ''I don't care about all your little secrets right now. She's mine, just as much as she's yours, and I'll be fucking damned if you don't tell me where she is, right now.''

He dragged a fist through his curls, sighing as he buckled his belt and looked up at Draco, ''She's... She's at the Ministry.''

''What?'' Malfoy's voice was cold, ''Why the fuck would she— Mila.''

Theo gritted his jaw.

''That's it, right? She's going to the Ministry to blackmail that fucking Minister into letting them be together?''

Nodding, Theodore looked at the wide-open door, and he smiled at the trail of tiny paws mirroring across it. Golden stopped in the doorway. His little head snapped between the two boys.

Draco hunched down, snapping his fingers to make the little heart come at him, and he did. Golden ran as fast as he could towards Draco, diving into the arms of the blond as he picked him up.

''Your mother is fucking mental,'' Draco groaned, shaking his head at the licks Golden placed all over his face, ''I hope you feel that too. Completely fucking mental.''

''You can't blame her for this, Malfoy. She's... she's doing what she thinks is right. We've made our fair shares of mistakes as well. She doesn't blame us for that.''

''The hell she does,'' Draco wrapped his arms around Golden. His fingers brushed over the fluffy fur, ''She blames me every damn chance she gets, and I am done with her little rescue missions.''

Theodore reached for his wand on the desk, folding his fingers around it, ''You're already high up on the Ministry's hit list, Malfoy. One more mistake, and you'll be locked up. Don't think they've forgotten about Azkaban.''

Draco's shoulders slightly sunk, ''I did that... I did that for her. You know that. They hurt her, Nott. They fucking hurt her, and I rather go away defending her than stand by and do nothing.''

''She's not going to make it without you.'' Theodore looked at his best friend, ''She's not, and you know that. She plays all calm and steady, but you know her better than anyone. You've seen her mind, her memories, her thoughts. She's not okay, and she'll never forgive herself if she does something to put you in harm's way.''

Draco looked away with a tight jaw.

''Think about that. You might not care about what happens to you, but it will kill her.''

''She has you,'' Malfoy countered, stepping back and placing Golden on the bed, ''She has you, so no matter what happens to me, she'll be fine because you'll look after her, right?''

Theodore frowned, ''You're so fucking stupid sometimes, you know that, right? She'll always have me, and she'll be just as lost without me as she would be without you. Balance, Malfoy. She needs us both.''

''I want to hear you say it,'' Draco tucked his hands into his pockets, glaring at Theo, ''I want you to tell me that you'll take care of her, no matter what.''

''What the hell is that supposed to mean?'' Theo sounded a bit too offended, ''I always do what's best for her, no matter the cost of it.''

''I don't know what the fuck happened between you two, but something happened. She's different, and I need you to promise me that it won't happen again. She's—'' Draco dragged his gaze away. This was hard, ''She's everything I have, Nott. You and her, that's it. I can't live with myself if I don't know that she's safe, and you're the one person I trust to keep her safe.''

''Malfoy...''

''No,'' Draco tried to breathe steadily, ''I love her, Nott. I didn't think I did, I didn't think I was capable of it, but I am, and I love her. She's... She's Clarke, and I need you to tell me you'll keep her safe, no matter what happens.''

Theodore saw how he struggled with this, admitting to the things he just did.

''I fucking hate myself for loving her, alright? There can't be anything worse than being loved by me, and let's keep it real, shall we?''

They looked at each other again, standing on opposite sides of the room.

''She has to choose. She does, because it's the fucking law, and no matter how we stall it, she has to choose, and if she chooses you—'' Clearing his throat from something heavy, Draco picked his voice up, ''I'll kill you if you hurt her. I don't care, Nott. If you don't choose her back, every damn time, and if you don't keep her safe, I'll kill you.''

Theodore crossed his arms over his chest, trying to ease the aching pain he felt inside, ''I would never hurt her, Draco. You know I wouldn't.''

''Swear to it,'' His hands dragged through his blond hair before his arms dropped to his sides. He felt defeated, like he was going insane within the skull of his head.

He couldn't risk her, ever. Neither of them could.

''If you promise me the same thing,'' Theo countered, and their gazes locked intensely, ''You've hurt her too, Malfoy, more than anyone has. If she chooses you, you need to promise me the same thing.''

He knew he had.

Draco was well aware of the fact that he'd caused her more pain than any other person in her life, and he tried to mend it every day.

''You know I promise that—''

''No,'' Now Theo was the one cutting him off, taking a step closer, ''Don't just say that, Malfoy. I need you to mean it. I need you to promise me that you won't run away when she's too much for you. I need you to stay with her, no matter what she does or how little she listens.''

There was pain in Draco's eyes. Something heavy lingered inside him as the silence echoed loudly between them. Both of them knew how much the other one meant what they said. Yet it wasn't enough. They needed more.

Draco knew what they needed, and somewhere, Theo did too.

''The vow,'' Draco said quietly, ''Take the vow for her.''

Theodore didn't even hesitate. He'd thought about it too. He stepped closer to Draco, reaching his hand out, ''Anything for her,'' He said, watching as Malfoy lifted his own hand up.

''Do you mean that?'' The blond took his best friend's hand, ''Anything?''

''Always,'' Theodore swallowed, ''She's ours, Malfoy. There isn't a thing I wouldn't do for her.''

Draco nodded, bringing his wand up, ''She's ours.''

Isla was it for them, both together and apart. Never had two people loved the same soul as they loved her. Never was one soul destined to have two soulmates.

She did.

All three of them did.

And now — now they vowed their lives together in order to always keep hers safe.

_____

Isla used her magic, and she landed outside a place she'd heard Draco speak about once.

It was a building next to the Ministry, almost like a library where they kept files and records of all the witches and wizards of this world.

It was late, it was the middle of the night, but that didn't stop Isla from breaking in to find what she needed.

Using a spell to unlock the doors, she made her way inside.

Quickly she found the room with bookshelves covering every single wall, and names were listed on each and every book.

Isla didn't waste any time.

Dragging her fingers over the spine of every book on that shelf, she mumbled the last name she was looking for over and over.

Dust gathered on the tips of her limbs, and her wand brightened up the particles.

"There—" She gasped after moments, and she dragged out the book she'd been searching for.

Putting it down onto the desk in the middle of the room, she began flipping through it. Her fingers ran over the pages, lazily reading the information in them. Her eyes snapped wildly.

"There you are..." Finding the address she'd been looking for, she was quick to fold the book together and put it back where it stood.

Isla walked out of that building, looking around suspiciously at the late hour, she raised her wand, and she mumbled the magic to take her away.

Landing with a stumbling step in front of a massive castle, she headed right for the front door. There were many of them, and she couldn't quite decide for which one she was going to sneak into.

Pinching her eyes shut, she exhaled deeply, and she chose the door at the right. Unlocking it with a simple spell, she snuck inside.

It was huge.

The castle was massive, and it took her minutes to decide where to start looking. It was late, she couldn't hear any sounds of anyone being awake, and the reality of that calmed her.

So she began her search, looking through the main floor first. All she could find was large rooms, dining halls, a kitchen, a room filled with portraits that spoke for her being in the right place.

It wasn't anyone who lived downstairs, and once she'd looked through every room she could find — she walked up the stairs.

Carefully, Isla felt every handle of all the doors she passed, peering inside, she still didn't find the person she was looking for.

It wasn't until she reached the third floor and opened the last door of that corridor her breath hitched in the back of her throat because there he was.

Isla stepped inside, and she closed the door behind her.

Perhaps she was mental. Perhaps Draco was right about that, but she'd rather be insane than let anyone harm her friends and the two loves of her life.

He was asleep on the bed, tucked in expensive sheets. Only the candle standing on the nightstand lit up the room, and once again — Isla couldn't afford to waste any time.

''Blaise—'' She whispered, bending down over the bed, ''Blaise, wake up.''

She used her hand, and she slightly pushed at his upper arm. Her touch made the boy groan a bit in his sleep, somewhat turning on the mattress.

''Blaise, I need you to—''

The boy flew up. Pushing his elbows into the bed, he braced himself up. Blaise stared at her wide-eyed, fright dashed his brown eyes, ''What the hell—''

''I need your help.'' She said. Her voice was low, hurried, ''I need you to come with me.''

''Come with you?'' He frowned, scratching his skull, ''What the fuck? Who are you?''

Isla's face fell.

''Who are you? And how did you get in here?''

She backed away as he sat up. Flinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he reached for the candle on his nightstand, turning up the flame of it, making the light shine brighter.

''You don't—'' Isla shook her head, ''You don't remember me?''

''No?'' Blaise spat, sounding both angry and confused, ''How the hell did you get into my room?''

Isla closed her eyes for a second, feeling the disbelief stab through her.

Of course, they wiped his memories clean. She should've known. She should've figured that Mr. Green would be one step ahead of her. That the second Isla accused Ava in that courtroom, he'd do anything to clear his daughter's name.

''Do you—'' Isla drew a hurtful breath, looking down at the boy with heavy eyes, ''Do you know someone named Ava?''

''Ava?'' Blaise scowled, shaking his head, ''No.''

''Draco Malfoy?''

''No.''

''Theodore Nott?''

''No, what the hell is this—''

''Hogwarts? Do you know what Hogwarts is?''

''No. Now you better tell me what the hell is going on, or I'll call for the guards.''

Isla felt like crying. Not only because he was one of her only chances to earn Mila and Leo's safety, but because he was a dear friend to both Theo and Draco. Even if he'd gone down the wrong path and followed Ava's sins — they'd be devastated once they found out that his memory of them was gone.

Their friend, as they knew him, was gone.

''You don't remember anything?'' She asked. Her arms came up to hug herself in the clarity of what she'd just discovered, ''Not school? Not Ava? Nothing?''

''I've been homeschooled for my whole life,'' Blaise said, standing up in nothing but his night pants, ''Now tell me how you managed to break in here—''

Isla tipped her head to the side, and she nodded to herself. She couldn't let him remember this either. If the Minister came to look through his head again, she couldn't risk him finding out that she'd been there. It was too dangerous for all of them.

''Blaise,'' She said, and she stepped closer to the confused boy, ''I'm sorry. I'm sorry they did this to you. I'm sorry that you came to me for help and I... and I didn't do anything. I could've saved you from this.''

There was so much guilt in her eyes as he met them.

''I know you don't remember it, and I know... I know you won't remember this, but you... you deserved better, and I'm sorry that I didn't help you while I had the chance.''

''What are you talking about?'' His jaw tightened, and his chest heaved.

''You're a good person, Blaise, and perhaps it's better this way.'' Isla whispered as she lifted her hand, and she aimed her wand at him, ''Something tells me you'll be better off.''

''What the—''

''Obliviate.''

Isla took the past ten minutes away from him, and she rushed her way out of the room before he opened his eyes again.

She could've given it back to him.

Isla had the vial with his memories, and she could've given it back to him. She could've given him his memories back, and she could've granted him the truth, but she didn't.

Blaise wasn't bad. She knew he wasn't. Draco and Theo wouldn't have him as their friend if he wasn't a good human being. He deserved more. He deserved a life where he didn't have to live through Ava's abuse and where they left him alone.

Tears rimmed in the corners of her eyes as she made her way downstairs again, out through the same door she'd entered. The warm breeze slammed right at her as she stopped on the grass of the property.

Perhaps this was what Blaise needed.

Perhaps he needed this, a clean start, no one that hurt him anymore.

Raising her wand to the skies, she left with a slight arch on her lips, and she traveled to a place she'd been to before.

Isla had spent time there, after they ruined their old home — they built this one.

Isla landed in front of the house belonging to the Green family.

After Ava hurt her mother, the Ministry came looking, and Mr. Green razed their old home. He got rid of all the evidence of what had happened that night to keep his daughter safe, and he built a new one for them. Isla had been there when she was younger, and she knew exactly where to find her former friend.

She didn't even hesitate to march through the front door and storm her way upstairs. She knew that Mr. Green would be asleep. After work, even years ago — he finished his night with too many drinks and fell asleep on the couch.

This was no exception.

She could hear the snoring the man let out from miles away.

Going straight for Ava's room, she stopped with a frown. Bars were covering the door, locks, and chains kept it sealed.

A strange feeling raveled in her chest, and she pointed her wand at it, whispering a spell to make it all fade for one slight second so she could walk through.

Isla hadn't seen Ava in months. Her heart stopped beating as she watched her former best friend sit on that bed, staring right back at her with broad, confused eyes.

"Isla?" Ava put her book down without once letting their eyes part.

Isla let her spine tilt against the door behind her. Her fingers nervously tugged at the edges of her dress. She thought she was so certain of this, that it was what she wanted.

That she could come here and talk to her without falter, but with one look at the girl she'd once called her best friend, she wasn't certain anymore.

"Isla, what are you—"

"Why are there locks on your door?" Isla blurted out, trying to focus.

Ava shifted a bit in her position, "Father locked me in here when the trial started," She said. Her voice slightly shaking, "He didn't want me to do something... unexpected."

Isla felt a fist clenching around her heart. He had locked Ava up like a wild animal in a cage. Even her windows had bars covering them.

"Did he..." Isla tried so hard to stay fixed on why she was there, even if all she wanted to ask was if she was alright, "Your father, did he tell you anything about the trial?"

Ava blinked, still not clear with the fact that Isla was standing in her room. The only human she'd seen for the last couple of months was her father.

"Only that he pardoned Leo," She said, silently, "He said that they cleared him of all charges and that the case was closed."

Isla's insides twisted.

"So you... you don't know?"

Ava frowned, crossing her legs to sit up more properly, "Know what?"

"Your father sent Leo to Azkaban."

"What?"

It turned silent, and for the first time this night, Isla didn't know what to do.

''He did,'' She cleared. Worry ghosted over her face, ''He... He locked him up in Azkaban for a month.''

''But he said that Leo is living with you. He said he's fine—''

''Well, I don't know what else to tell you, Ava, but your father is a liar.'' Isla's tone sharpened, and she felt that rage within her again, ''He lied to you. He lied to Leo, and the trial is not over. They're still charging him with obstruction of the marriage law.''

Something within Ava snapped at the accusing note in Isla's words, ''Well, perhaps he should've stuck to the law then.''

Isla frowned.

''I mean, it's their own fault, isn't it? Mila was given two choices, and Leo wasn't picked by his. That's the law. That's what he could've stuck to. I don't know about you, but to me, this is their own—''

''They tortured him in there!'' Isla broke at Ava's lack of understanding, ''He was tortured, Ava. They did... inhumane things to him. Your father hurt him, all because he refuses to give you and your sorry lies up.''

''You don't know anything—''

''I don't?'' Isla pushed off the door, taking a step over the floor, ''I don't know anything? I was there. I was there the night you, Ava, the night you hurt your mother. The night you hurt your mother and all of you chose yourselves over him.''

''That's his fault!'' Ava yelled out, losing the facade she'd kept, and the girl who Isla couldn't stand was back, ''They told me to be quiet. They told me not to confess, ever. Leo was okay with that. He was okay with everything—''

''And after that?'' Isla narrowed her cold-blooded eyes at her, ''I understand that he wished to protect you from that, and I've spent the past years respecting it, but after that, Ava? What you did—''

''I didn't do anything—''

''You should've known better.'' Isla cut her off, pointing her finger at Ava in the dimmed room, ''You should've protected your brother just like he protected you all those years, but instead, you report him to the Ministry.''

Ava stayed silent.

''I don't care what your father told you because that is on you and your father. Everything they did to him in there, that's on you two.''

''I had to. Father promised me—''

''He took Blaise's memories away.'' Isla said, accusingly looking at her old friend, ''He doesn't remember anything.''

Ava looked away.

''But perhaps that's for the better. He didn't deserve anything of what you did to him. None of them did.''

''I loved him, and I loved you, Isla. My brother. All of you—''

''Oh shut your mouth,'' Isla snapped, raising her voice, ''You don't know what love is, Ava. You don't know anything about love. You hurt people. That's what you do. You hurt people, and then you let other's take the blame for it. You hurt your mother, and now Leo is facing life in prison because your father chose to protect you over him. You hurt me, Draco, and Theo, and you blamed it on that girl. I'm sure she played her part in what you two did to us, but she didn't come up with all of that herself.''

Ava looked like she could cry.

Isla didn't stop there, ''Your brother loves you. I loved you, and in some bloody way, I still do. I still love you, no matter what you did to me. You left me, Ava. You chose everyone above him and me, only to blame it on us.''

Tangling her fingers into the sheets of her bed, Ava tried so hard not to cry.

''Don't you dare tell me that you love us because you don't do this to the people you love. You used Polyjuice to make me hate Draco and Theo. You stole my letter to make me turn on them. You are framing your own brother as we speak, and he's too damn kind-hearted to see it.''

Heaving, Isla was heaving as she spat out her words.

''You called me names. You called me a whore, and you threatened Mila. You do not get to tell me that you love your brother or me when you've done nothing but prove the opposite.''

''Isla—''

''Tell me,'' Isla said, ''Tell me why you did all those things.''

''Isla, please—''

''Tell me!''

''Because I love you!''

Silent. It turned absolutely silent.

Ava cried out, combing her fingers through her hair, ''I love you, okay? I loved you, and then—'' She panted, shaking her head, ''Then you just... You just went straight for those two idiots. You just... You... I could see it on you. You were falling for them, both of them, and you didn't see how bad they were for you. I tried to show you. I tried to tell you, even that party when Malfoy humiliated you—''

Isla's lips parted. She couldn't understand a thing anymore.

''You... You didn't see it, Isla. You didn't see how bad they were for you and how bad they are for you up till this day. You fell behind in your classes. You dropped out of school. You didn't even care when I moved out—''

Ava sobbed out, burying her face in her hands, ''I... Everything I did was for you. You just can't see it. You can't see any of it. You just... You were so blind for them, no matter what they did to you. You just forgive them like it was nothing.''

''So you did all of those things to make me hate them? Because you... you were jealous?''

''I could feel how you slipped away from me, Isla. I could feel all of it.''

''So you hurt me to make me stay? You couldn't talk to me about it?''

Ava tipped her head back, tears streaming down her face, ''I was your best friend for years, but the second those two came into the picture, they took you from me. Mila took you from me. You started to spend more time with Leo than with me. You left me, Isla. You abandoned me for them.''

''No,'' Isla shook her head, turning away from her with a heavy sigh, ''You do not get to blame this on me. I didn't. You changed. You hurt me, Ava. You hurt them.''

''Because everything is about them.'' Ava scoffed, rolling her eyes, ''Everything was always about them. Always! It was Theodore and Draco all the time, it wasn't us—''

''You changed long before I fell for them.'' Isla turned back around, knowing she was right. She spent so much time trying to adjust to the person Ava had become, ''You don't get to blame this on anyone else. I understand that it must have been hard for you to see me get closer to them, but that doesn't excuse anything you did. You hurt Blaise. Your brother is facing life in prison.''

''I... I was so scared to lose you. I was just trying to make you stay.''

She tried not to feel bad for Ava, to take herself out of her shoes and not see it from her side, but she couldn't. In no life did Isla believe that hurting the people closest to her would solve anything.

She felt bad. She didn't want to feel bad. Ava and her father hurt too many people.

It was as if a realization hit her, like she knew what to do.

Isla needed to set Ava free, and not like she'd done before. Isla needed to let Ava go for real this time, to walk out, and never look back.

Ava was drowning in the friendship they once shared, and Isla couldn't be the anchor. They weren't good for each other. She knew that.

So she looked down at the floor, ''I don't even know why I came here. I don't know what I expected from coming here. I was going to ask you to help him, to pardon your brother for the crimes you committed, but that's... I can't let that happen.''

Ava wiped her tears, glaring at Isla instead.

''I am sorry that I made you feel that way, Ava. I really am. That I made you feel like I was leaving you. I can't imagine anything worse than that.''

That fist Isla felt around her heart slightly loosened. It didn't feel as heavy anymore.

''But that will never excuse what you did to them.'' Bringing her wand out, Isla pointed it at the door, ''Hurt me all you want, but never them. They shouldn't be responsible for what we did to each other.''

''Wait—'' Panic shattered Ava's voice. She was prepared for them to fight, for Isla to throw a tantrum, and for them to somewhere become what they once were. Their fights always resulted in Isla forgiving Ava. It didn't now, ''Wait, Isla—''

''No...'' Her shoulder's sunk as she faced her former best friend again, ''Sometimes the best thing you can do is let the people you love, go.''

''You don't mean that—''

''I do.'' Her voice calmed. Her nerves didn't shake. She was slowly coming to peace with what this was, "You were my best friend for years, and I will always cherish that, but you're not meant to stay with everyone forever. People come, and people go, Ava, and believe me, I know that hurts.''

The tears were back in Ava's eyes as she stood up next to her bed. A defeated look took over.

''I will mourn our friendship for the rest of my life." Isla's mouth went bone dry, "And I will forever be grateful for the time we had together, but this needs to end. We can't keep doing this."

She didn't hesitate with stepping up to Ava. Reaching her hand out, she let her fingers tuck a wave of hair behind Ava's ear, "I hope you get the help you need, and I hope you find yourself."

"Please—" Ava trembled, falling to her knees, "Please don't go. Please don't leave."

This was so hard for Isla. She'd grown up with that girl. She'd spent her whole childhood with her.

"Everyone leaves eventually," Isla's voice was so thin, "And it's not what you did to make them leave... It's what you do to be better once they're gone."

Ava's sobs filled the room. It broke her heart. It broke Isla too.

"You're not this person, Ava. I know you're not, and I am so sorry that I couldn't help you become the person I know you are."

"Please. You promised you wouldn't leave—"

"We're not good for each other..." Isla whispered, brushing her hand over Ava's hair as the girl clung onto her legs.

They weren't, and that was one of the healthiest things Isla had ever come to terms with.

She knew when to let go, when to stop dragging each other down, and start fighting to make it to the surface on their own.

No matter how much she wanted to be the person who healed Ava, who mended the heavy soul she carried, Isla knew she couldn't be that.

Only Ava could save herself.

Tears slipped the corners of her eyes as she kneeled next to the girl, and she took her face in the palms of her hands, "But that doesn't mean that you're not good, Ava. You are, and I have seen it. You were my best friend for all of those years for a reason."

Ava couldn't breathe. All she did was cry.

"Only because I couldn't save you doesn't mean that you can't save yourself," Isla whispered, pushing her lips against Ava's head, "Don't become the person your father wants you to be. Fight, Ava, and don't fight for him. Fight for yourself."

"I can't—"

"You can, and you will..." Isla was crying too. Struggling to get her words out, "Who knows? Perhaps we'll meet years from now when we're older, better, wiser..."

Isla choked on her own sob as she wiped Ava's tears with soft strokes of her thumbs, "Just don't give up, Ava. Never stop fighting for yourself."

''I love you...'' Ava was shaking.

''I know,'' Isla breathed, pushing a kiss to Ava's head, ''And I love you, but I have to let you go.''

Ava just cried. She cried and cried at everything they lost at that moment.

Pearls of sorrow fell from Isla's eyes as she leaned back, looking down at the girl who she'd once put above everyone, ''Don't give up, Ava. I am rooting for you.''

They held each other on that floor for moments, holding on and letting go at the same time.

Then — then Isla stood up to the sounds of sobs mirroring, and she walked out. Leaving the friendship, she once adored behind.

She left for the Ministry.

It was time to fight now.

_____