I unfortunately do not own the world of Harry Potter.

I would just like to say a quick thanks to Allen Pitt, (who gave me the idea for this chapter), everylieitold, Taman Guard, Volcanic Monsoon, x-Skylar . Malfoy-x, AnonymousMSQ, LadyGrimR., jadekate, SouthernBelle90, Celeste Belle, doulike14, CinnamonMintiMoon, IcamaneHatake, and Herince Bane Brice.

This is my first fan-fic. Hope you like it! (And if you haven't guessed by now, reviews are greatly appreciated!) I've gotten 100+ so far, so thanks! (But that doesn't mean that I want you to stop. LOL) :)

Just so you all know - I am also writing another fan-fic - Mysterious Last Name. I would really appreciate it if you would check it out. Thanks!

Chapter 19:

Consequences and A Reality Check

The minute that the foursome reached Malfoy Manor, Lucius grabbed Ariella, and he apparated them straight to her room. She fell to the floor while he shut and locked the door behind them, and then cast a silencing charm on the room. He then turned to face her, drawing his wand. Ariella noticed a bulk in his robes, but didn't dwell on it since she was afraid of what he was going to do to her. He advanced toward her, and she backed away from him. Suddenly, Lucius seemed to "fly" forward, pinning her against the wall, wand at her throat. His anger was just starting to show.

"How dare you?" he hissed. "How dare you, after I specifically told you not to have anything to do with the chamber. I warned you what would happen, and yet you still dared to disobey me? " his voice rising as he spoke, his anger growing. "And you dared point out that the diary was mine? You ungrateful little girl," and with these last words, he stepped back, at the same time, yelling

"Crucio!" Ariella crumpled to the ground, screaming in pain. After two minutes under the curse, the longest Lucius had ever held it, Ariella was relived of the pain. Out of the corner of her eye as she tried to catch her breath, she noticed that there was no longer a bulk in his robes. She was just about to wonder what it had been when she felt a searing pain across her back. Five more times, she felt this, but she managed to keep from crying out, knowing that this would just fuel Mr. Malfoy more. When he finished, he pulled her to her feet, once again pinning her to the wall, and said in a deathly cold, and quiet voice,

"Maybe this will finally teach you that I don't permit disobedience from anyone. Especially, my servants." Releasing her, and swept out of the room, removing the silencing charm as he went. Ariella, immediatly fell to the ground, (she had been supporting her self on the nightstand until he left.) Crying, she slowly stood up, and made her way to the bathroom, where she washed herself of the blood now scabbing on her back. She took a deep breath to calm herself, looked at the time, and then made a decision.

She needed to learn more about the life that she led, that she was apart of. There had to be something about this practice in the famous Malfoy library…(especially considering a) how large the library b) they were practicing this "ancient practice" and c) the Malfoys would have something like this, considering it isn't exactly considered a "light" material.) So she made her way cautiously to the library, and searched through it. Twenty minutes later, was sitting at a table, a small pile of books. She reached for the first one, sucked in her breath, and opened the book.

"Of all the ancient practices of pureblood families, one that is so rarely recognized is that of having g a human servant…"

It then went on to explain the background of how this "tradition" was started, so Ariella's eyes skimmed the page, stopping at the bottom where a brief table of contents was.

"Classification………………………..Pg. 10

Qualifications……………………….Pg. 15

Rules, Regulations, and Treatment….Pg. 22

Bondment and Freedom………………....Pg. 40"

Ariella decided to start on pg. 22.

"Illegal to Legal Curses –

While usually illegal, the Imperious and the Cruciatus Curses are indeed legal when used from Master/Mistress to servant, or when another person (non-owner) is given such permission to do so by the Master/Mistress."

Ariella stopped reading, and just stared at the page, horrified. Legal?! Are they out of their minds?! She took a deep, shaky breath, and continued to read.

"They cannot be punished by law for use of these curses on their servants because of this rule.

Permits –

To whomever the servant is bonded to serve, his/her Masters and Mistresses are allowed to do whatever they want to their servant. Most times, the servants are treated as inferior, (because most times they are, whether by station, blood, or both.) The particular treatment, work load, etc. is up to the family.

The education is also left up to the family. Most times, if the family in charge has a child, the servant (if able to), will go with them to school to continue work there.

Well, no new news there, thought Ariella bitterly.

Bondment and Freedom-

The servant in question is bound to the family until they are freed. Most times, they take a servant at a young age, so as to raise them properly.

Yeah, like that worked out so well, the girl thought.

One symbol of bondment is a design on the left arm. Some examples are as follows:

The follwing few pages showed some different intricate designs, and Ariella found hers and read below it.

Two snakes intertwined together - a proper pure-blood, Slytherin house. Each diamond formed by the snakes is connected to one of the Masters/Mistresses of the house, and will burn accordingly when summoned. the order, from top to bottom, is as follows: The main Master, the main Mistress, elder (son), younger son, elder daughter, younger daughter, and so forth, and so on.

If another mark is placed on the left arm, then the servant's mark will move to coordinate the new mark.

The mark as a whole will burn if the servant directly disobeys a command from the owner. There are also restraints in certain spells that were placed when introduced into servitude that will force her not to disobey.

Then why haven't I felt it yet? She had disobeyed him from time to time.

However, these only work on more severe commands, and there will be more burning for more serious disobedience.

Oh, that makes sense.

The servant can only be freed if the head Master chooses so. They will remove the mark, as well as lift some spells that go along with the servitude.

Ariella had been so involved in what she was reading that she hadn't heard someone come into the library. Which is why she started so much when a hand closed the book that she had in front of her. Startled, she looked up, a bit fearful, into the cold face of Draco Malfoy.

"What do you think you're doing?" he questioned.

"Reading. Why, is that a problem?" she retorted back.

"Why were you reading these?" he clarified, gesturing to the pile of books on the table.

"If I'm going to continue being your servant, then I think that I at least have the right to know what I'm allowed and not allowed to do, and what you're allowed and not allowed to do. Or are you going to deny that from me like everything else?" she answered.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that! I..." but was cut off by Ariella.

"You know what, tell your father if you want, but I'd prefer not to be punished again. I had more than enough earlier this morning, thank you very much." Draco blanked for a moment. His father had punished her already? They weren't home for that long. It must have been about the Chamber of Secrets.

"I won't tell my father this time, but if I catch you reading up of your servitude again, I will, do you understand?" He asked, his voice ever so slightly less cold voice then before.

"I - yes." Ariella stuttered, looking surprised. She gathered up the books and Draco started to walk out of the library. As he was almost at the doors, Ariella spoke, her voice barely above a whisper,

"Thank you". Draco stopped, surprised, but just nodded once and left.

Ariella sat down on the chair again after putting away the books, unable to comprehend Draco's behavior and what she had read.

What was with him? This was the first show of kindness she had ever recieved from him, and yet...he had stopped his father from torturing her again. Did he know? No, he couldn't.

And as for what she had read, maybe she wasn't as surprised as she thought she was.

All she knew was that life wasn't about ot get easier from there on out. But whatever help she could get, she was grateful for it.

I didn't really like writing this chapter, but some of the details are important later on.

Sorry for the long wait! Hope this chapter makes up for it! :)

Thanks to all who are reading, and liking it. If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please feel free to review/private message me. Also, if you have any ideas at all, or would like to see something happen, let me know, and I'll consider putting them into a chapter. Thanks! ~ Leanora