All things must pass

None of life's strings can last

So I must be on my way

And face another day

"Gotcha" Harry said, grabbing hold of Malfoy as he tipped forward.

Together, they tried to pull Chloe over the edge but the combined weight of both Draco and Chloe was too much to bear. Just as Harry started to worry, a funny sensation engulfed him and without warning the three of them were lifted from the ground, gently being let down a few feet from the crack. With a quick glance behind him, he saw Hermione lowering her wand. Next to her, Ron was watching them, his face white, and across from them the Cromwells and Jasper were also watching. Isla's face was distorted with rage and she let out a strangled cry. Her eyes were set on Chloe and just as she raised her wand to attack, both Draco and Harry shielded Chloe from her and Ron and Hermione raised their wands again.

"Get her out of here" Harry told Malfoy, as he stood up raising his own wand.

Without waiting for Malfoy's reply, Harry turned towards the fight to help my best friends. Draco grabbed Chloe, slightly harder than he wanted, by the arm and hoisted her up. She was shaking violently, but walked weakly with him, all the while watching Harry. Shielding her as much as he could, they walked behind Harry, Ron and Hermione, going for what was left of the double doors.

"Ron, NO" Chloe yelled suddenly.

Ahead of them, Weasley had just been hit by a spell and had dropped down. Chloe tried to run over to him but Draco held her back. Walking over Ron with a look of pure murder on her face was Isla, eyes pinned on Chloe.

"You will pay for what you have done, YOU KILLED MY HUSBAND" She yelled, raising her wand.

Draco reached for Chloe to throw her down and out of the way when someone collided with Isla, both figures falling down.

"RUN" the figure said.

"YOU" Isla spit, in pure disgust as she managed to get up "Avada Kedavra"

The spell hit the person right on the face, with such a force that the body slid over Draco and Chloe's way, stopping right in front of them.

"Jasper" Chloe gasped.

"You two are next" Isla said, sounding truly wrathful now "You first Malfoy"

"Mother, wait" Said Edward, joining them "Let me do it"

"Go on then" Isla hissed "But hurry, we must leave"

She turned around to watch for any incoming spells as Edward walked closer to Draco and Chloe. When he was almost face to face with them, Chloe stepped between the two men.

"Stop it" She said.

"Out of my way, silly girl" He replied, grabbing Chloe by the throat with surprising strength and throwing her aside as if she was nothing more than a rag doll.

Without a wand, Draco did the only thing he could think off and copied Jasper's move. Edward and Draco came crashing down and immediately began to wrestle for the wand. Next to them, Chloe was screaming and Isla was telling Edward to get out of the way so she could aim at Draco.

"Edward no" Chloe pleaded as his fist came down hard on Draco's face.

His fist Draco and smacked his head hard down on the floor. Draco's ears were ringing and stars were dancing in front of him. He tried to sit up but everything was spinning so he fell back down. Chloe's face was soon hovering over him.

"Draco?" She asked, her voice cracking "Are you alright?"

He groaned in response.

"I have had enough" Isla said, nostrils flaring "It is time for you both to be dealt with. Avad…."

"Expelliarmus" Potter's voice said.

Turning his face left, Draco saw Harry make his way towards them followed by a group of Aurors bursting through what was left of the doors. Relief flooded him as the five wizards came in, quickly joining the fight and helping overpower the remaining resistance.

"Liam, take care of her" Potter said, referring to Isla.

"Chloe" Draco said, fighting the pain to sit up "What's wrong?"

She was sitting down, still shaking and breathing heavily. Big tears were coming down and she was biting on her lips, hard.

"Your head" She said "Are you…?"

She was interrupted by Harry, who flopped down in front of her and wrapped her in his arms. Her entire body welcomed his touch and the knot that had been on my throat ever since she had been kidnapped finally seemed to dissolve. She let herself fall into his arms as she began to sob.

"It's alright love, I'm here now" Harry said soothingly "It's over, and no one else is going to hurt you"

Chloe tried to speak, but nothing came out. Tightening his hold on her, he rocked them back and forth.

"I've missed you" She finally managed to say.

"I've missed you too" He replied, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"My father…"

"He's okay, he is waiting for you at the Ministry"

From behind them they could hear Isla and her son's trying to resist capture, Isla screaming the loudest.

"I thought I was going to lose you" Harry whispered.

Chloe looked up and their eyes met; his full of concern.

"But you didn't, we are going to be okay"

Just then they were joined by Hermione, Liam, Landon, and Ron, whom Chloe was pleased to see what doing just fine. Hermione and Ron sat down next to Harry and Chloe, while the other two were checking on Malfoy.

"The protective enchantments in the property have been broken" Hermione said "and our fliers are looking for Alastair's body"

Chloe shuddered and inched closer to Harry, who still had her in his arms.

"Harry" Liam interrupted. Behind him, Landon was helping Draco to his feet "We are going to take Mr. Malfoy back to the Ministry; he has been asking to see his mother. Chloe" he added "it is truly good to see you"

She nodded in response; her eyes now focused on Draco. As soon as he stood up, he looked her way and waved.

"Harry… can I… can I have a minute?" She asked, making to stand.

He followed her gaze, swallowing hard, but helped her stand up.

"You and I have a lot to talk about" He began.

"I know… are you mad at me?"

"Not anymore" He admitted "but now is not the time. Go on"

Draco seemed to sense her because he stopped walking and turned towards her before she had reached him. He glanced past her at Harry, and then looked down at her face.

"What are you doing?" He asked, not unkindly.

"I… you were leaving without saying goodbye" She said, awkwardly.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Chloe, what is it?"

She was fidgeting, looking from his face to the floor ever so often.

"I'm scared" She faintly said, voice so slow he wasn't sure she had spoken at all.

"Why is that?"

"We have been here" And she gestured to the State behind them "for so long…. The three of us… in a dungeon cell. Being out here in the open it…"

"Unnerves you?" And she nodded "It does me too" he admitted.

She looked up in surprise.

"I get it Chloe; we went through a lot. You went through a lot, with Ava and everything. It's normal to feel like this, I think"

"So, you….?"

"Yeah, I feel like that too"

"I hate it" She said "I should be happy, right? We are free, Harry is here, and I'll see dad soon… why am I so afraid and lost?"

"Because you are human. It doesn't mean you love those people any less, but you are tired and in shock Chloe, it will take some time for you to heal. For both of us to"

She nodded and they fell silent for a bit. Draco glanced over at Harry, he looked like he wanted to come over and Draco was about to tell him to when Chloe spoke again.

"I'm going to miss you" She whispered.

He looked down at her, and a true smile spread across his face.

"C'mon Chloe, it's not like we won't see each other again" He said, trying to sound cheerful.

"You won't be a stranger, will you?"

'Of course not, I promise…. I'll er, I'll miss you too" He admitted "it won't be the same going to bed without you right next to me" He joked.

"WHAT?"

Chloe and Draco both jumped. They had not noticed Harry was now standing right next to them and he had clearly heard Draco's last words.

"Long story" Chloe said quickly "And it's not like that"

"Right" Harry said, sounding only halfway convinced.

"Really Potter, I didn't do anything I shouldn't have" Draco said, with a hint of anger. "Now is not the time or place for the conversations we will have to have, but nothing happened between me and Chloe"

Harry stared into Draco's eyes for a long time, and Draco quickly began to feel uncomfortable.

"You really care about her" he finally said "Don't you?"

"Yeah" Draco admitted, feeling even more uncomfortable "She's my… she's my friend Potter"

"Best friend" Chloe said "Plus, he wanted to repay you for saving his life during the Battle. He took very good care of me, Harry"

"Consider us even" Harry said as Draco frowned at Chloe "Actually, consider me in your debt"

"What?" Both Chloe and Draco said.

"You saved her life. If it weren't for you, she would have fallen with Alastair. I owe you one… Draco" He said, offering his hand.

Draco took it, and they shook hands briefly. Chloe, who had been looking from Draco to Harry suddenly, began to cry again. Thinking it was best to leave before things got even more uncomfortable, Draco addressed her.

"I'll see you soon" He promised glancing at Harry, who nodded, though rigidly.

"I'm holding you to it" She said.

And before Draco knew it, she had her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He stood still for a few seconds, looking at Harry who seemed to be getting angrier by the minute, before returning the hug.

"Tell your mother I said hello" She asked, letting go of him and stepping next to Harry.

"Of course. She will want to see you, I expect"

"I would like that" Chloe said, smiling.

"And Potter" Draco added "I know you have lots of questions and all that…"

"We will be meeting soon to discuss things" Harry said.

"Right… just don't… don't go too hard on her. Everything she did, she did for you"

And with one last look at the both of them, Draco followed the two aurors back inside.