I unfortunately do not own the world of Harry Potter. That honor belongs to J. K. Rowling.

I would just like to say a quick thanks to Allen Pitt, Gifted, Sam-EvansBlue, Princess-Lazy-Chan, Celeste Belle, narniagirl18, PrimiGrl, Loonynamelass, and LadyGrimR..

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!

Chapter 28:

Winter Festivities

Things started out normally enough once they got back to the Manor. Ariella went back to doing her chores, and Draco went to fill his parents in on what had happened since he had last seen them. Narcissa was planning a big Christmas party with all of her "closest friends". This meant that on Christmas Eve, (two nights from now) the house would be filled with your typical Pureblood, Slytherin - idealed families, just like the Malfoys. Ariella was not looking forward to that night one bit. Until then, the young witch was kept busy with decorating the Manor, cooking, her usual chores, and of course, homework. She was currently in the parlor, setting out candles on the tables, and putting silver tinsel over the quiet fireplace when she felt the presence of someone behind her. Dreading the worst, she slowly turned around, only to find that, standing before her, was Narcissa Malfoy. She breathed a short sigh of relief, glad it was not the woman's husband, and asked,

"Did you need something, Mrs. Malfoy?"

"Just making sure everything is running smoothly in here. And I've put a list of the foods we will be serving on the table, so that you can look it over. The house elves will help you cook." Ariella nodded.

"Yes, ma'am."

"And one more thing. Stop by my room later. We need to discuss what you will be wearing." Narcissa said. Ariella stopped, startled and speechless for a moment, before she found her voice.

"Mrs. Malfoy, I, ... thank you, but I'm not allowed to attend the party." she said, looking down at her feet. The older women turned to face her servant before speaking gently,

"That may be, but that doesn't mean you can't looked presentable when being around us that night." Ariella looked up, her expression changed from glum to happy and nervous in that minute after Narcissa finished speaking. The young girl nodded, and replied,

"Yes, ma'am. I'll be there."

"Good. I shall see you then." Narcissa said, turning and leaving the parlor room to attend to other business. As Ariella turned back to the fireplace, she smiled. Maybe this holiday break wouldn't be so bad after all.

Later that evening, Ariella slowly made her way to the master bedroom. She knocked tentatively, and the door opened to reveal that only Narcissa was in the room.

"Come in. I've already set out some options." Ariella looked over to the bed to see three, very pretty dresses laid out on the bed. She felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew she wouldn't be able to accept any one of these, let alone be allowed to actually wear them. It didn't matter what Narcissa said. If Lucius gave other instructions, then he overruled her orders.

Ariella slowly walked over to the bed, and took a closer look at the dresses. She took note that not all of them had backs. The girl gulped. That could be a problem. One was periwinkle in color, and looked to be about ankle-length. It had dark purple embroidery on the sides, and across the front, in a flower design. It had a high neck, and a full back, but on both the front, and the back of the dress, there was a little cut out circle, revealing a patch of skin. The second dress was Slytherin-colored, but beautiful all the same. Dark green, the floor-length dress came in at the waist, and was tied with a silver bow. It was a spaghetti-strapped dress, but had a silver shawl with green tresses to go over her shoulders. The final dress was a deep maroon, and the back was held together by straps that criss-crossed. All over it, it had spots that showed white, golden-yellow, orange, blue, and silver threads, making the dress look like a blazing fire.

Narcissa watched the girl examine each dress closely, and Ariella had a part of the final dress in her hands, feeling the material when the door burst open. Lucius Malfoy came into the room, and on the site of Ariella he froze, and looked first at what was on the bed, then what she held in her hands.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked fiercely. Ariella, quickly dropping the edge of the dress she held in her hands, looked down at her feet, and said just three words.

"Just looking, sir."

"Then why were you examing them so closely?" he asked, suspicious of her motivations.

"Because she will be wearing one of them to the party," Narcissa said, speaking up. Lucius turned to face his wife.

"She will? Because I don't remember saying that she could go."

"Well, I..." But whatever Narcissa was going to say, no one ever found out, because Ariella spoke up, and interrupted the older witch, making both adults look at her.

"You're right, sir, you didn't. This was a just in case situation, so that we would be prepared." she said, speaking quickly, hoping that this would work. Lucius was still suspicious of her, but didn't see Narcissa look at the girl, just for a moment, with a bit of sympathy, nor did he hear his wife breath a quite sigh of relief. Ariella quickly swept past both adults, and out of the room, where she hurriedly ran to her room, and closed the door behind her.

This didn't help at all though, because not ten minutes later, Ariella was face to face yet again with Lucius Malfoy. She stood still, head down, but her body stiffened at being simply in his presence.

"So,...you thought that you would be able to go to the party, did you?" he said, taunting her, expecting a retort back. But the girl had learned her lesson, and didn't reply.

"Answer me when I speak to you, girl!" Lucius said when she didn't respond.

"No, sir." Ariella replied quietly. Lucius smirked. He had noticed the change as well. He stepped forward, and circled her once slowly, saying,

"So...you've finally learned your lesson, have you? Better late than never, I suppose." By this time, he had come in a complete circle, and stood directly in front of her, towering over the young girl. He lifted his pale hand, and cupped her chin, rather roughly, forcing it upward, forcing her to look at him. Ariella winced, but otherwise made no other motion.

"Let's make sure you don't relapse into your past self, shall we?" Lucius said, and he could see, though she tried hiding it, that she was scared of him. He dropped her chin, and pulled his wand from his sleeve. Ariella braced herself for what she knew was coming. And she was right. For the next twenty seconds, she was under the Cruciatus Curse. Lucius then turned on his heal and left the room, leaving her alone.

The rest of the night, and most of the following day was fairly uneventful with the exception of her running around the house, trying to prepare any last minute details for the party. The only thing strange that was happening was that her "imprisonment mark" had been burning on and off, and she couldn't figure out why, which was very annoying. She was on her way back to her room again when she ran into Draco, (who was on his way back to his own room, coincidentally). As she looked up to see that it was him, she gasped, and grabbed her arm. Seeing him had jogged her memory of that night almost four months ago in the common room...Draco had made her promise that if she was hurt again, she would tell him. That was why her arm kept burning. Draco looked confused at her actions, but hadn't realized that she hadn't gasped in pain, but in that "a light bulb just went off" way.

"Are you alright?" he questioned. It felt weird out coming out of his mouth. He wasn't used to caring about someone other than his parents. And with his father around, he couldn't act exactly pleasant to her, now could he? She nodded,

"I'm fine. I, - I just have to tell you something." she said, and he led her into the closest room, which happened to be his.

"What?" he asked her as he closed the door.

"Do you remember when you made me promise to tell you the next time I was hurt?" Draco nodded once, suddenly seeing where this was going.

"Yes, I do. So you've been hurt again recently?" He asked, guessing her next sentence.

"Yes, I - I have." A few moments of uncomfortable silence met her answer, before Ariella broke the silence.

"Draco, why do you want to know? In the past you've never cared, and then all of the sudden, this year...Draco, what's going on?" she asked, nervous and confused. Draco in turn ran a hand through his hair before answering her.

"Before this year, you were never visibly scared. And if you were, I never noticed. But since your boggart, and your...obedience since this summer...I've noticed a lot more. You've changed. And I wanted answers...."

"Enough," Ariella said, interrupting him. She had never heard him speechless before, and now he seemed to be struggling to find the right words.

"Thank you. I, - I didn't realize the...change, as you put it, was so prominent. But like you said,...I just wanted answers." She finished, shrugging slightly, and started to make her way past Draco when he stopped her with one word.

"When?"

"Yesterday evening," she replied, still facing the door. He nodded once, (though she didn't see it,) continued,

"Have a good holiday," he said softly, and in a very uncomfortable manner. Ariella stopped, stunned, before turning to look over her shoulder and responding,

"You too, Draco. You too." and she left the room. Draco stood silent for a moment, before going after and calling down the hall.

"Ariella!" she turned, and took a few steps toward where he stood.

"Just as a warning...I believe my father's noticed the change as well." Then, looking into his eyes, in a voice so quiet Draco wasn't even sure if he heard correctly, Ariella said,

"Thank you," and left. The young boy who had stood opposite her not a moment before she fled went back into his room and closed the door, mind and heart racing.

Draco went over and sat down on his bed, putting his head in his hands. What was he becoming? He disliked this "new self" of his. He wanted things back the way they were supposed to be...and yet, did he? Ariella actually showed him something other than hatred. But she should be, she's bound to them, for Merlin's sake! And yet,... he had warned her. Draco didn't know what to do. All he knew was that his father wasn't going to be happy one bit if he found out what kind of 'conversations' were taking place between his son and servant.

Meanwhile, Ariella stayed outside in the hallway a moment longer before heading up to her own bedroom. And (though she didn't know it) practically mimicked what Draco Malfoy was doing a few floors below. She sat on her bed, and stared out the small window, legs drawn up. Draco had been civil to her...nice even. He seemed to care...but nothing would ever come of it, nor did she want anything to. She didn't mind, but it felt strange. Narcissa had almost always been pleasant to her, though yesterday was a bit much. Maybe Draco was finally showing the side he 'inherited' from his mother. It was weird. He's usually so cold, and distant, but then they'll be times when, when it's as if he actually decides to show emotion...when he actually decides to care. And he warned her about his father. She certainly didn't expect him to do that. Or to wish her a happy holiday either for that matter. All she knew was that if Lucius Malfoy ever found out, she would be in more trouble than she could bear.

FYI - Draco and Ariella will be taking a good amount of steps backward between before they go forward, (maybe not right away, but it will happen) but it most likely won't become romantic. It will most likely just stay a friendship, if that.

JUST A NOTE - I'M SORRY IF THIS STORY IS AFFECTING ANYONE NEGATIVELY. THAT IS NOT MY INTENTION!

HEY! SO I HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED ONE OF THE STORIES FROM THE POLL. IT'S CALLED ANOTHER PROFESSOR SNAPE. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! THANKS!!! :)

OK, SO NOW I'VE PUT UP A DIFFERENT POLL! PLEASE VOTE ON IT! I WANT YOUR OPINIONS!

The dresses are simply from my imagination. I don't have pictures of them. Sorry!

Sorry for the long wait. I had mid-terms! This better make up for it! It's extra long, just for you!!

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