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 bellastrange51, Allen Pitt, BadassAlec, panneler-san, soccergurl31294, CCCookiexC3, Loonynamelass, AnonymousMSQ, bookworm182, Kiyoshi Kozue, Volturi Princess, Twilightluver919-Fight4Britney, TheUlitimateGleek, HaileyHavoc, destinysings and meandthedoctor.

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 44:

Draco's Thoughts and Talks

Draco Malfoy had been raised in a certain way, with certain views, and had been taught never to give in. Lucius Malfoy constantly reminded him that he was better than everyone else, and that in order to get what he wanted he would have to be forceful about it.

Having been raised in a house with many servants, including a human one, he had been told that he was their 'boss', and that he needn't worry about their feelings, or their lives. And while he had always agreed with this logic, particularly with the house elves, in recent years, this view had been changing.

True, he had grown up with Ariella for almost all his life. But lately, she seemed to want more. Or maybe he was just noticing her more. But all being nice had brought to him was a whole lot of trouble. It was as if she was now expecting it, while his father expected him to be harsher as they grew older.

Ever since Nott had become her friend, she seemed happier. Of course, he could order her to end their friendship, but that would be a mute order, seeing as she would just fight it.

So the real question was, since his talk with his father over the summer, had he really been that hard on her? He thought over what she had said to him the night prior.

"…but you'll change who you are at the simple request of your uncaring Father?"

And Draco realized that she was, unfortunately, right. He had changed his attitude because his Father had told him too. Because he wanted his father's approval. Bud did he want it that much that he was going to hurt someone he had grown up with to get it?

"What happened to the Draco I knew? You went from not caring at all, to caring, to suddenly being totally against me!"

Well, he would start caring again, even if it was just a little bit. And so long as his father didn't find out about it, they would both stay out of trouble. He would just have to make sure that Lucius Malfoy didn't find out about what was about to happen. Because if he did, there would be hell to pay for both children.

Sighing, and running a hand through his sleek, blond-white hair, he stood up, and went in search of his servant's only friend. Before he talked to Ariella, he wanted to get the perspective, (albeit, perhaps a bit biased) of someone outside of the situation.

He found them walking together in a corridor, obviously on there way back to the Slytherin Common Room. The two fell silent, however, as he approached them, and Draco noticed that Ariella had stiffened on sight of him.

"Nott, a word," he said coolly, while staring calculatingly at the girl across from him. Eyes narrowing suspiciously, Nott nodded once, and followed Draco away.

As Ariella watched them go, she wondered what Draco could possibly want to talk to Theo about, but knew she would probably find out later, through one or both of them.

Sighing, she turned and headed to "her" room. Ever since she had become friends with Theodore Nott, she had used the room less, but never completely abandoned it. She liked having her own place, and had yet to show it to him. (And she didn't think she was going to either).

Meanwhile, the two boys had reached a secluded corner of the common room, and were sitting opposite each other, one glaring, one thinking hard about how to word what he wanted to say.

"Well, Malfoy? What did you want?" a very annoyed Nott asked.

"What do you think of my treatment of Ariella?" Draco asked after a moment, much to the surprise of his fellow Slytherin.

"I think it's wrong that you own a human to begin with. A house elf, sure, that's what they're for, but another human? Even Mudbloods shouldn't be servants…just dead. Why doyou own her, Malfoy?" he asked, proving that while he certainly was a Slytherin, he was on a higher level of thinking them most of them. Draco shrugged.

"My father never told me. Now are you going to answer my question or not? What do you think of my treatment of Ariella, Nott?" he asked again, growing impatient. His classmate was silent for a moment, before saying,

"I think that you need to lighten up on her. Do you know what she did last night because you forbade her from going to the Yule Ball?" he questioned accusingly. When Draco merely shook his head, he continued in the same tone of voice.

"She went to the library to try and catch up on her schoolwork. She's falling behind because of all the work she has to do for you. She's tired, and feels helpless, because she knows that there's nothing she can do or say to you without getting into trouble. I don't know what goes on at your house, Malfoy, but maybe you should stop listening onto every word your father says. Because someone's hurting her. I know it, even though she hasn't told me. If it's not your mother, and it's not you, then it has to be your father. Think about, Malfoy." Nott finished, staring hard at the boy across from him, before going upstairs to the fourth-year boys' dormitory.

Draco stared after him for a minute, letting his classmate's words sink in. sighing, he got up, and was about to leave the common room when his "girlfriend" as she called herself, called to him. Groaning, he turned.

"What do you want Pansy?"

"Why won't you spend time with me anymore? All you do nowadays is order that filthy little Mudblood-lover around." She whined, but her voice and words clearly showed her dislike for Ariella. And I'll bet I haven't helped with people liking her, thought Draco, now realizing that how Pansy viewed his servant was how most people viewed her.

"Pansy, I've got other stuff to do. Just leave me alone, will you?" he said, annoyed, pushing her off of him.

Walking the halls, he finally found a hallway off to the side, away from everyone else. Taking a deep breath, he summoned his servant. Moments later, she was on the floor in front of him. As she caught her breath, he extended a hand to help her up.

Ariella just looked at the hand, surprised, before putting her hand in his, and being pulled to her feet, only to find herself looking directly into Draco's cold, gray eyes…except, they weren't all that cold for once. Puzzled, she mumbled a quick,

"Thanks," before getting straight to the point.

"And you called me here why exactly?"

He couldn't believe he was going to say this, but he knew that she deserved to hear it.

"To apologize," he said.

"What?" she asked, incredulous. After living with the Malfoys for almost ten years , she knew first hand that Malfoys simply didn't apologize. So for Draco to, well, something must be up.

"But, why?" she asked, still stunned.

"I realize now that I've been a bit hard on you over the past few months." He said, still trying to sound superior.

"But – Draco, what brought this on?" she asked, still shocked, trying to process what was happening.

"Your words to me last night. They made me realize just how seriously I had taken my father's words to me at the beginning of the summer." Draco explained.

He had always been taught never to apologize, or to be weak, but considering exactly to whom he was apologizing, he figured it was worth it. That, and the fact that they had grown up together in the same house, and therefore had seen him in far worse states, (like first thing in the morning for instance, not to mention all the embarrassing tricks his mother had pulled). He figured that to make her trust him again, he would have to let his guard down.

"I – I didn't realize my words had affected you. I actually thought you were going to reprimand me for them, to be honest." She said, but Draco simply shook his head.

"They affected me alright. So I went and talked to Nott, to gain his opinion on the matter. And he told me what you did instead of attending the Yule Ball last night, and of how tired you've been. And yet you always stuck it out, and you never complained to me. Why?" he said.

"I – I guess I knew that complaining would only bring on more work, and as I could barely handle what I was being given, I didn't want to ask for more. I just – I can't believe he told you that." She said, shaking head.

"So can I take this to mean that you're going to lighten up on me, and start being nicer?" she asked hesitantly. Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair yet again. Slowly, he nodded.

"With one exception." He said, and Ariella looked at him warily.

"Once we're home, I'll have to act as I have been this year. If my father were to find out, well, we both know it would not be a good thing." He said, and he saw her shudder, a movement which puzzled him, but he knew enough by now to know not to question her.

"No more Cruciatus Curse though, right?" she asked, and Draco looked away, head bowed.

"No. I – I never meant to perform it on you. I – I was just angry, and my Father's words were still so clear in my mind. I – "

"I understand." She said, tentatively putting a hand of his shoulder.

"I know you didn't really want to hurt me like that. Your curse wasn't all that strong, and so I wasn't in that much pain." She said softly.

"But I also asked Moody to – "

"But as I'm sure you've guessed I've – " but she suddenly cut off, much to the confusion of Draco, as she felt her arm burn, and realized that she couldn't say anymore.

"Thank you Draco," she said, just as softly, and the burn started to fade. He turned back to her, and nodded.

"Just to clarify, I will still be giving you orders – "

"I know. I wouldn't truly be your servant without work to do, now would I?" she asked. Draco chuckled, before nodding, letting her know she was free to go. She smiled slightly at him, before going back to where she came from, stunned tat the turn of events.

Meanwhile, as Draco stared after her, he just hoped that he had made the right decision. But as he replayed their conversation in his head, he knew he had. He had just gained to more people back onto his side. And, as his father would say, you want as many people on your side as possible. Especially when they're beneath you.

Anything you recognize is from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

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