I unfortunately do not own the world of Harry Potter.

I would just like to say a quick thanks to panneler-san, SplodeyYourFridge, Allen Pitt, madie8, AGRIMLIKEDOG, Loonynamelass, HopeHealer,XzMizukizX, Twilightluver919-TonksandLupin, jadekate, FlameingFire, ravenclawfever, LadyGrimR., KayeStar, and Hamich.

This is my first fan-fic. Hope you like it! (And if you haven't guessed by now, reviews are greatly appreciated!)

Just so you all know - I am also writing two other fan-fics - Mysterious Last Name (my second), and Caught Between Worlds (my third). I would really appreciate it if you would check them out. Thanks!

Sorry for the long wait! Hope this makes up for it! Enjoy!

Chapter 23:

Confrontation

Later that day, Draco cornered Ariella, forcing her up against the wall.

"What was that?" he asked harshly.

"What was what?"" she asked back, her voice steady. Inside, however, she was frightened of Draco – a first in a long time. Because she never fully realized how much he looked like his father, especially when he was angry. She was scared of what he was going to do to her, for at this moment, he looked almost identical to how Lucius had looked right before…right before what had happened at the beginning of the summer. She was still in pain from that incident. (And Draco pushing her up against the wall defiantly wasn't helping.)

"Your boggart. What was that thing?" he asked again, impatient. Looking down, she started to respond,

"I – I won't…I – I can't," trying very hard to keep herself from crying, from letting him see how scared she actually was. Draco's face hardened even more, if that was possible. In a low, deathly quiet voice, he hissed,

"You will tell me."

"I – It was a dementor," she said quickly. He looked doubtful before replying, obviously not believing her,

"Really…it didn't look like one."

"Well," Ariella started, then stopped, before taking a quick, deep breath, and blurting out in a rush,

"That was only one of my fears. The boggart tried to combine two of my fears at once, and that's how it turned out." Realizing what she had just said, Ariella gasped, and clapped her hand over her mouth. Draco just stared at the girl, speechless, his mind reeling. His voice lightening a bit, he asked,

"And that other fear would be…?" She looked down, afraid of what his response would be when she told him what, (or in this case who it was…no, actually what is a much more appropriate word for that…that…monster).

"You – You're father." Draco, if possible, was even more speechless than before. Then he remembered what she had said in the library that day they got back from school over the summer. He wondered what had possibly happened to make this girl so scared of her father…and suddenly, of him.

"What do you mean? What has my father done?"

"I – I can't tell you." And before he could demand otherwise, she continued with,

"I was forbidden to, so please don't make me tell you. I'll just get in more trouble." Draco stopped, startled.

"You were forbidden to speak of…" he finally dropped his arms, unpinning her from the wall. She collapsed at his feet. Ariella tried to stand…only to find that she couldn't. She groaned. She absolutely hated showing how scared…how weak she was, especially to him of all people.

Meanwhile, the boy next to her was trying to figure out what exactly had happened. He did the only thing he could think of. If it really was that bad, she would have to tell him if he asked, right? So, kneeling down in order to be eye level with the girl, he voiced this question.

"Was it really that bad?" Ariella looked up, surprised. Why should he care? She then decided that lying would be better, not only because it would most likely keep her out of further trouble with his father (for now), but that he didn't care. Not really. So what did it matter if she lied. So, she did, by saying,

"No, it wasn't that bad." But Draco wasn't fooled. He could see that it was bad. There wasn't' any other explanation that he could think of to why she was so weak, so scared, even of him. She wasn't being her usual, defiant self.

"Why are you so scared then?" he asked her. The girl shook her head, before replying.

"I – No – I," her voice broke, but with one steadying breath, her body stopped shaking, and, eyes cold, face determined, her head lifted, and master and servant's eyes met as she spoke again,

"I will not tell you. Not now, not ever." She then turned, breaking free, and ran…or started to. A cold, pale hand grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully, before pushing the girl once more against the wall. Ariella could feel scars opening, blood starting to trickle down her back. She held back tears as they sprung to her eyes as she winced in pain. The wince didn't go unnoticed by Draco. He slightly loosened his grip on his servant before speaking.

"You must tell me if I demand it. You are my servant, and are bound to me." He reminded her.

"Both my father and myself have been extremely light on you for being disobedient, and for talking back to us." Ariella snorted at this, but Draco continued nevertheless.

"I will be telling my father about this incident," at this comment, Ariella's eyes widened, and for a moment, her eyes clouded over with fear, before once more turning hard, and cold, full of determination. Draco saw this, and once again wondered what could have possibly happened. His father would never harm her…would he? Lucius was his hero, his role model…would he really do something so terrible to a girl, (one who he had grown up with practically his whole life, no less) to make her scared even at the thought of him?

"Unless," he continued, "you can tell me what my father has done to make you so scared." Ariella simply glared at him as she replied,

"Like I said before, in case you didn't catch it, I'm for-bid-den to tell you." Draco smirked, but inside, was glad to see a bit of his "old servant" starting to show again.

"I'm not stupid, Lyons, I did hear what you said."

"Well that's news to me!" she spat back, not thinking clearly anymore, just a) saying the first thing that comes to mind, and b) saying anything that will get him to drop her. The pain in her back was starting to become worse, rising to the point of unbearable.

"Why you vile little thing! I gave you a chance to avoid punishment, and you insult me?! My father will defiantly be hearing about this now, you can be certain of that." With these words, he dropped her to the ground, and was about to continue when his eyes widened, and he stopped in his tracks. Blood, (the blood that Ariella had felt earlier) had gone from a small trickle here and there, to now spreading across her back, slowly dampening her robes. All that Draco saw was the blood dripping from the robes, (though he couldn't yet see where it was coming from,) and forming a small puddle where she had fallen.

"What? – How?" he stuttered. Meanwhile, Ariella had realized what was happening, and had gotten up, and started to run away again, (stumbling as she went). This time, Draco let her, still shocked by what he had seen. As he watched her go, he sank back against the wall, he asked another question. Where had that blood come from? In his mind, he had an answer to both of his questions, and neither was an answer he liked. Yes, his father could be that mean. Because Draco was sure that his father was the cause, even if not directly, for the blood. Draco was in disbelief and denial as he walked back to the common room. He expected to find Ariella there, but as he looked around, she was nowhere to be found. Draco went up to his own dormitory, and sat down at the desk, and wrote the following letter to Lucius:

Father –

Hope you are well.

Is there anything about Ariella that I should know about? (Like punishments that you have been giving her – I don't want to hurt her beyond the point that she can't work anymore.) She seemed to be in pain today when I went to speak to her about respect. I saw some blood. Do you know anything about that?

Also, what is going to happen about the stupid hippogriff that injured my arm?

Sincerely,

Your son,

Draco Malfoy

Draco then sent the letter, anxious for an answer.

Meanwhile, Ariella had rushed to "her room", and, closing the door, sunk to her knees, finally allowing the tears she had been so keen to hide to come forth. After a few minutes, she walked into the bathroom to inspect her back. After casting a few healing spells that she had looked up over the summer, she tried her face, and took a deep breath. She then went over to the bed at sat down. She took a picture off of her night table. It was the one of her and her sister, side by side. It was the one and only time she had ever seen her, and if not for the picture, she would have been sure she had imagined the whole thing. Then, leaning back on the bed, she fell into a light sleep, the picture over her heart, and her hand clutched around her locket…the locket that held a picture of her parents.

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