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 AnonymousMSQ, Princess-Lazy-Chan, Allen Pitt, panneler-san, My Kind of Paradise, Spontaneous. Combustion99, Celeste Belle, xandromedax, Another Witty Ninja, narniagirl18, Heavy Metal Angel, Mi'era Az'ule, Sam-EvansBlue, Forest Grrl, Loonynamelass, Jokegirl, and SandraSmit19.

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

I am writing 5 other fan-fics at this time as well. If you could please check out my profile and check them out, I would greatly appreciate that. Thanks! :)

Chapter 32:

Summer Reprimands Begin

The morning after the two Hogwarts students arrived home, Lucius decided to seek out his servant. He wanted answers, and he wanted them immediately.

He finally found her in the sitting room with Draco. Both were silently working on school work. The older man cleared his throat to get their attention. Draco looked up, and responded,

"Hello, Father." From the corner of this eye, he was watching his servant closely. He noticed how she had stiffened upon his father's arrival, before rising to her feet, head down, and asking timidly,

"Yes, sir?" Draco just stared. This was the same girl that he went to school with? This was the same girl who constantly stood up to him?

"What do you know about the hippogriff's escape?" Lucius asked.

"What?" Ariella asked in disbelief. Lucius's eyes narrowed.

"Don't play dumb with me girl, I know for a fact that you had a hand in that wretched beast's escape."

"Sir, I honestly have no idea what you are talking about." Lucius was silent for a moment, fuming, before turning to his son, and, his voice cold, said,

"Draco, please leave us alone for a few moments. It seems as if our servant is not capable of answering a simple question."

"Yes, Father." Draco replied obediently, chancing a nervous glance at Ariella. He noticed that the girl was shaking slightly. Unfortunately, (though he didn't know it,) his father had seen the glance.

"Draco." Lucius said sharply, and the boy looked up at his father and nodded once before leaving the room, closing the door behind him. Lucius locked the door and silenced the room before turning once more to face Ariella.

"So, you thought you could get away from helping to commit a crime, did you? You think it's funny that my reputation is now tarnished, because the stupid beast wasn't there? Because of you, I now have a damaged reputation, the unsafe beast is free, and that oaf of a teacher is happy." He ranted.

Aquila stayed silent throughout all of this. She didn't want to get any worse of a punishment that she was already going to receive. And, at least time around, it wasn't really her fault. But that's the way Lucius Malfoy's mind worked. If he could blame her for something, then he would.

Luckily for her, the punishment she received wasn't as bad as the one she had received after the Chamber of Secrets incident. Lucius then took the silencing spell off of the room, and swept out. Ariella was slowly rising to her feet as Draco came back into the room. He closed the door, and, seeing her wince as she sat back down, walked over to her.

"How bad was it this time?" he asked her. She looked up, startled, her usually masked fear showing through. She hadn't realized that he had come back in the room.

"Well?" he prodded her, but Ariella simply looked down at her lap, and mumbled in a voice so quiet, Draco had to stain to understand and hear her,

"It wasn't as bad as last summer's."

"You know that doesn't tell me very much, considering I don't know what happened last summer to begin with." Draco replied. Ariella looked up, before standing in order to be eye level with him.

"It's nothing that I can't handle." She said, a bit harsher then she intended, looking him straight in the eye, all traces of fear gone. Draco took a small step back, surprised, before giving her one more long look, and going back to sit down at the table to resume working on his summer homework. Ariella followed suit.

Little did either child know that Lucius Malfoy had been outside the room the entire time, listening in on their conversation. And what he had heard, he didn't like one bit. He would defiantly be speaking with his son about what was proper behavior. As for that little servant girl…well, maybe she wasn't being as obedient as he thought.

Dinner that night was a fairly normal affair. As Ariella was setting out the dessert dishes however, Lucius spoke, his voice cold. (Which was unusual when he was speaking to his family.)

"Draco, after dinner, you are to come to my study. There are some things I need to discuss with you."

"Yes, Father." Lucius's son replied. Ariella caught Draco's eye momentarily, and tried to convey what she was feeling, both for herself and for him – nervousness and dread – before casting her eyes downward again and receding into the shadows.

An hour later Draco was seated in his father's study, waiting for him to start, wondering what this could possibly be about.

"It has come to my attention that Ariella is not being as obedient, quiet, and submissive as she is expected to, and should be." Lucius said, choosing his words carefully.

"Today when you came in, she certainly seemed to be acting her rightful part." Draco replied, still unsure of where his father would be taking this, but knowing he had to be cautious of his responses and of his reactions to his father's words.

"Yes, well. She seems to have improved while in front of me at least. But in front of you, she seems to not care."

"That's because she's frightened of you. Whatever method or methods of punishment you are using are hurting and scaring her greatly."

"Good. Then I am doing my job. You would do well to starting accurately performing yours." Lucius responded coolly, reprimanding his son.

"And how would I go about doing that, Father. Especially while at school. Most are not aware of this practice." Draco retorted back, just as coldly.

"That is not your concern. As for playing your part, you must remember that though you are the same age, she is your servant, not your equal. You must make sure she understands that. Punish her or send her to me. That is the only way to keep her in line, it seems. Put more work on her. That is why she is at Hogwarts. To serve you."

"Father, might I remind you the amount of work we have per class? Surely you remember that from your time at school?"

"Yes, I do. And you should be the best in your class. However, Ariella Lyons is a different case. She should not be getting good grades, let alone beating you in some classes. She is there first as your servant, and then as a student. If her obligations as a common girl get in the way from doing her school work, then so be it. It'll prove just how weak she really is, at any rate."

"But Father…"

"No buts, Draco. Do I have your word that you will do your job as her master properly from now on? That you will keep her in place, or send her to me? You must remember, if you treat her equally, then she will never learn obedience. Do I have your word, Draco?" Lucius said severely.

The blond boy was silent for a moment, before looking his father straight in the eye, and said, quietly but fiercely,

"Yes, sir. You have my word. I am sorry that I disappointed you, Father." Lucius nodded once.

"You are forgiven and excused." He said. Draco gave a curt nod to his father, and left the room.

The minute he was out of his father's sight and detection, he quickened his place till he got to his room, where he hurriedly went inside, closed the door, and sat down on the edge of his bed, putting his head in his hands elbows resting on his legs.

He couldn't believe it…his father had found out about his…lenience?...to Ariella. And now, because of it, he was being reprimanded, and watched with an eagle eye until he could prove himself. And yet…his father had a point. He had been showing her something…compassion, maybe? But that compassion had gotten in the way of letting her live how she should be. His father was right…she didn't deserve his compassion. She was their servant, and he, Draco, he was….he was her master. It was time he starting showing her who was in charge. And so he would… Draco resolved. And with these new thoughts, and this new revelation in mind, he stood up, head held high…before getting right back into bed, ready for a good night's sleep.

Meanwhile, while all this was occurring, Ariella was in the kitchens doing the dinner dishes. She hoped that Lucius wasn't talking to his son about her…as mean and annoying as Draco could be…she still didn't want him to be in trouble because of her. And yet, she had a feeling that she was indeed the reasoning behind Lucius calling his son to his study.

"Ariella." Came an authoritative voice from a nearby room. The young girl sighed, dried her hands, and went back into the dining room, to find Narcissa Malfoy sitting at the dining room table, a slightly worried expression upon her face.

"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy?"

"Do you know why Lucius wanted to see Draco?" Narcissa asked.

"No, ma'am. But I have my suspicions." She replied.

"And they are…?" Mrs. Malfoy replied.

"Me. Mr. Malfoy probably wants to see your son about me." Ariella said quietly.

"And why would he want to see Draco about you?" the older witch asked, puzzled.

"Because Draco hasn't been as…" she paused here, took a breath, and continued nervously,

"most likely because according to your husband, Draco hasn't been doing his job as my master." she said. Narcissa nodded in understanding, and dismissed the young girl.

Ariella backed out of the room, and started to make her way upstairs to her room, but stopped a few floors up, in front of one particular door. She knocked, before opening the door, and saying quietly,

"Draco?"

"Go away!" he said frostily. Instead of obeying, she opened the door wider, and stepped into the room. This action caused her arm to begin to burn, but she ignored it.

"Draco, please. I – I'm sorry if you got in trouble because of me." She said, distress and concern in her voice. Draco whirled around to face her, his expression cold and cruel, his superior grey eyes holding rage.

"Get out of my sight. I want nothing more to do with you. You are my servant, nothing else. Understand?" He growled, his voice severe, and heartless. Ariella backed up a few steps, shaking her head in disbelief, tears springing to her eyes.

"Well? What are you waiting for. Get OUT!" Draco roared when she didn't leave. It was at these words that Ariella spun around and raced out of the young boy's room, and she didn't stop until she reached her room, where she collapsed to her knees, and rested her arms on the edge of her small bed, her head in her arms.

What had just happened? Lucius had most defiantly talked to Draco…was this all an act until they went back to school? So that his father would stop questioning him. Hopefully that's all this was. And yet…she had never seen Draco so mad or upset. She just hoped this would all be resolved soon. Now the next question was…when was Mr. Malfoy coming to 'reprimand' her?

Ariella had her answer soon enough. Two nights later, Lucius Malfoy paid her a visit. As she stood before him, head down, she wondered just how bad it was going to get. Lucius stared down at the girl, before walking around her in large circles, observing her.

"I thought you had learned you lesson, girl. But I guess I was wrong. It has come to my attention that you have not been as compliant to Draco as you are towards me. Am I correct?"

"Yes, sir. That is true."

"At least you are admitting to your mistakes. However, as I'm sure Draco will remind you if he has not already, you are not equals, in society, in intelligence, in any department. We are superior to you, and your only job is to serve us. School and yourself come second. You would do well to remember this." He said coldly, his voice penetrating Ariella's mind and body, making her shudder slightly internally.

"I think it best to remind you now of the conditions and agreements we set aside in order to allow you to attend Hogwarts. Do you remember them?"

"Yes, sir. I am to serve and obey Draco without any question, just as I would here. If you summon me, I am to come straight to you. I am to stay in Slytherin, and not cause trouble."

"Correct. And have you been following those? I don't quite think so. You have indeed caused trouble. And from what I've been hearing, you've been giving my son a hard time. This will not be tolerated, and you can expect more work in the future year. And once again, I must remind you that it is humiliating for you to be outdoing my son in grades. If this does not improve immediately in the coming year, then I will be speaking to the teachers about your performance. Are we clear?" Lucius asked.

"Crystal, sir."

"Good." The man said, and starting walking towards the door, when he suddenly stopped.

"And hopefully another reminder will set you on the right track." He said, and then came the part Ariella was waiting for, the part she was dreading…the punishment. And this time, Lucius was more ruthless and liberal then he had been just three days earlier.

When it was over, he walked over to the weakened girl, and cupped her chin in his cold hand, forcing it upward, forcing her to look at him.

"You will play your part correctly from now on. Or there will be consequences. And I will not be lenient next time." He said, his voice chilling Ariella's body, before roughly thrusting her chin sideways, and sweeping out of the room.

And again, Ariella found herself wondering how she was going to get through the summer, when, in less than a week, she had been reprimanded twice. And again she found herself wondering how she had survived all these years living with the Malfoys. But she had done it, and she would survive, if it was the last thing she did. (And it most likely would be too.) Now the next question was…was Draco acting, or did he really feel that way? She guessed she would find out when she got back to school. And then she groaned. It was going to be a long summer…oh, yes, a long summer indeed.

I updated quickly for once! Hope you enjoy!

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