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 freerice, TheUlitimateGleek, AnonymousMSQ, meandthedoctor, Allen Pitt, Whispering-Lestrange, soccergurl31294, panneler-san, destinysings, everlistless, JeannaMaria7, AshleyDiLorentis, HeartlessVampireGirl, AngelofNightandDarkness, angelvan105, Maddie Black, and iluvparker.

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 46:

Jealous Much?

Over the next few days, Ariella watched Pansy carefully. And sure enough, whenever Parkinson was present, there was always some mishap, or accident, always with Ariella being the victim. One of the days, it was simply her bag splitting, causing her books to fall out everywhere. But another, the Slytherin slipped a wrong ingredient into her potion, causing it to blow up in her face when the next correct ingredient was added. This resulted in her getting a detention with Snape, and spending the rest of the night in the hospital wing. And so the 'accidents' went on.

Finally, on the fifth day, Ariella finally cracked. She was sick and tired of dealing with the girl and her not-so-accidental inccidents all week.

"What's your problem, Parkinson?"she yelled, whirling around to face the other girl.

"What?" Pansy asked, acting surprised.

"All week, ever since the Second Task, you've been tormenting me. What's your problem?" she asked.

"You," Pansy replied simply, stepping closer to her classmate, a disgusted sneer on her face.

"Stay away from my boyfriend," she said, and Ariella just stared at her, before laughing.

"You think – you think that I like Draco that way? That I'm trying to steal away from you?" she said, still laughing, only provoking Pansy more. By now, more people were watching the two girls, though Draco wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"You couldn't be more wrong!"

"Just stay away from Draco. Or you will pay!" Pansy threatened, but Ariella just shrugged and left the common room. But as soon as she exited, she ran for her room, and for some reason unknown to her, tears were coming to her eyes as she sprinted.

But just before she turned to go down the corridor to her room, she ran into Draco, who grabbed her by the arms, and was forced to turn in a half-circle in order to slow her down.

"Watch where you're going, alright? I – what happened now?" he asked, groaning as he saw the tears on her cheeks. Quickly, he released her as she spoke.

"Your girlfriend, that's what!" Ariella spat at him.

"She's the one who pushed me into the lake after the Second Task. She's the one who's been tormenting me all week."

"But why?"

"Because she thinks that I'm out to steal you from her and into my evil clutches." Ariella replied.

"What?" Draco just asked blankly. Ariella sighed.

"She thinks that I want you to be my boyfriend, and that I'm trying to steal you away from her," she explained.

"But – but that's crazy! You don't want to be with me like that…do you?" he asked, but Ariella was already shaking her head fervently in an emphatic no.

"Not at all. No offense. But Draco, the only reason I even talk to you is because you're my – my – is because I'm your servant," she said, and Draco looked at her questioningly as she stumbled over her words. But for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to say master.

"Draco, I know I'm not really in a position to be asking you favors, but if you – if you could just talk to her – maybe assure her that we're not, you know, going behind her back or anything – I mean don't tell her what I am to you, just – "

" – just tell her to back off and leave you alone because you're not looking to be my friend, let alone my girlfriend?" Draco asked, cutting her off.

Ariella nodded, though for some reason, she felt something plummet in her as he said because you're not looking to be my friend. She shook her head to clear her mind. She didn't want a friendship with Draco, did she? No…because that could only lead to disaster, right?

"Thank you, Draco," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. An expression of surprise flashed across Malfoy's pale face.

"You don't have to help me, you know." She finished.

"Ariella, look at me. Look at me, and listen to what I have to say. Just once," he said, and, for once, she did as she was told the first time around.

"I know that our – relationship, if that's what you want to call it – is different from most. But I am trying to make this work between us. Nott told me when I spoke to him after the Yule Ball that someone was hurting you. Even though you haven't told him, he somehow knows. I'm trying not to do that. Because I don't want you to fear me – not in the sense that you wince every time you lay sight on me at least." He said, and Ariella was very surprised to find all this out – to find out that he was less like his father then she thought. But at the moment, she was also very conscious of the fact that his hands were back on her arms.

"Wow. I – I didn't realize you felt that way." She said, confused.

"And don't worry, I won't tell anyone that Draco Malfoy has a soft side," she said, and despite himself, Draco chuckled, and she gave a tentative small smile in return.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him!" Pansy screeched, startling the two. She was storming down the hallway right towards them. And when she reached them, she stepped in front of Draco, and so close to her roommate, Ariella was forced to take a step back.

"I thought I told you to leave him alone," Pansy said, trying to sound menacing. Behind her, Draco's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

"You did. But I don't take orders from you," Ariella responded.

"Oh really? Because last time I checked, I'm superior to you, and therefore, you do take orders from me, you vile little Mudblood-lover," Pansy said, smirking.

"You're not a threat to me, Parkinson. You never were, and you never will be," Ariella replied, also smirking. The real Slytherin girl grew furious.

"How dare you ignore me!" she said. And that's when she did something stupid. She pushed Ariella forward, causing the other girl to fall.

"C'mon, Drakey, let's go," she said smugly. But Draco's expression was stony. For some identifiable reason, he suddenly couldn't stand to see his servant bullied like that…especially by someone who didn't have any control over her.

"No. Now listen, and listen well Parkinson. You will stop making fun of Ariella. There is nothing going on between us. And besides, you're my girlfriend. Though if you continue this behavior, you won't be for long." He said, his voice low. Ariella just stared at him from her position on the ground. Had he really just defended her? She knew she had asked him for help – she just hadn't expected that.

Pansy gulped, before leaving the two alone, but not before shooting her 'enemy' one last scathing glare.

"Thank you. Again," she said in a quiet voice as she rose to her feet. Draco gave her a curt nod, his expression still stony as he stared at the place where his girlfriend had disappeared.

"I only hope you won't come to regret your decision," she whispered, before leaving him alone, and proceeding to enter her room – her original destination.

She sat on her bed, wondering why she had broken down at Parkinson's words. It wasn't as if the other girl could actually do anything to her.

She sighed, and subconsciously rubbed her arm. And that's when it came to her – why she had broken down at Pansy's suggestion of she wanting Draco for a boyfriend – it was because she would never be able to actually have a boyfriend. Not if Lucius had anything to do with it anyway.

She sighed sadly again. And then she wondered…how different would her life have been if she had never been taken to be a servant in the first place?

And how different would it be if Draco were the head master, instead of Lucius?

I AM SOOOOOOO SORRY I DIDN'T UPDATE SOONER! (But my computer had a major problem with it, so therefore I couldn't get to the documents where I have some of these chapters saved on.) THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING!

Hey all! I've joined the group Fanfictioners Against World Hunger. If you could all please go to freerice dot com, and earn some rice for my stories, (and then tell me how much you earned) that would be fantastic! Also, if you're interested in joining the group, or want more information, feel free to contact me or the founder of the group, Gryffindor777. Thanks again everyone!

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