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 Kasseraandra, AnonymousMSQ, XxMiSs. IdPeNdEnTxX, Allen Pitt, The Emerald Doe, panneler-san, TheUlitimateGleek, soccergurl31294, lily lupin1, Sailor Girl3, lunathevamp, and The Last Gypsy Princess.

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 49:

A Malfoy's Orders and Support

The next time Ariella awoke, it was to her arm burning. It seemed as if someone had finally realized that she was missing. Groaning, she moved her hand to her lower left arm, only to remember that she had received the Dark Mark, and that her enslavement mark had moved to her upper left arm.

As the pain increased, she pressed it, and she was once more sucked into the night, before landing on a hard floor. Surprisingly, she was in Malfoy Manor.

"Get up," a cold voice ordered her. Eager to avoid being in any more pain that she already was in, she quickly obeyed.

"You have been given a great honor. And you will obey him. I am your master, and the Dark Lord is mine, therefore he is yours as well. Do you understand me girl?" Mr. Malfoy asked harshly.

"Ye – yes, sir," she answered, getting shakily to her feet.

"Good, the imposing man replied, before stalking away. Just as he reached the doorway however, he stopped.

"You are dismissed…but you are to stay in this Manor until school starts again in September, unless either myself, my wife, or my son give you permission to leave. For this summer, when leaving the manor, you will always be accompanied by a Malfoy. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y – yes, si – sir," she said, stuttering her reply. The head of the house smirked, before disappearing.

The minute he was out of sight, Ariella collapsed to the ground once more, her whole body shaking.

What was she becoming?

Slowly, she attempted to get up again. And she found that she was just strong enough to be able to walk across the room.

It was a painstaking process, but the young girl finally made it up to the top floor of the manor.

Entering the bathroom, she turned the water, and grabbed a cloth. Soaking the cloth in the now warm water, she gently pressed the warm cloth against her new mark.

The Dark Mark was still excruciatingly painful, but she was hoping that some water and a simple healing salve she had made would help it.

After five minutes under water, she patted it try and went into her small room to retrieve the salve. She had originally made it for the scars on her back, but soon realized that if she healed herself, Lucius Malfoy would not be pleased.

Using a clean cloth, she took just a bit out of the jar and dabbed it onto the Dark Mark, hissing in pain as she did so. Rubbing it in gently, she finally gave up after a minute.

Grabbing a pair of her old pants, she ripped a strip of it off and carefully bandaged her lower left arm.

Sighing, she crawled into bed, wondering what horrors lay in store for her.

When Ariella woke up again, she found that she had a massive headache to go along with everything else. Groggily, she lifted her head, wincing as she tried to sit up. Looking to her right, she saw the time…7:45 p.m.

She gulped…she was late for making dinner! Jumping from her bed, she quickly fled down the stairs to the kitchen.

But when she got there, the house elves were bustling around.

"What the…? Lucy, is there anything I can do?" she said, turning to the young house elf near her.

"Oh, yes miss! Just can you take the plate out to the table?" she responded, causing Ariella to frown. The teen bent down till she was eye level.

"Lucy, what have I said about any of you calling me miss? I am not your mistress, nor will I ever be," she said quietly.

"Oh – well then, Lucy will go burn –"

"NO!" she said loudly, causing some of the other elves to look at her.

"That's not necessary. Just – don't do it in the future," she continued, calmer this time. Lucy nodded and Ariella smiled ever so slightly, before grabbing the plate and bottle from the counter and starting towards the door.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open with her foot. Head down as she served the food, she began her apology, not daring to hope that it would get her out of trouble.

"I – I am sorry for the delay. It wo – won't happen again," she said softly as she started backing up into the shadows.

"Ariella," a soft voice called quietly, causing her to look up…and realize, much to her surprise, that only Narcissa Malfoy was seated at the table.

"You needn't worry, Ariella. Lucius is at a meeting; he will not be joining me for dinner tonight and as you know, Draco is still at Hogwarts," she explained upon seeing the bewildered look on the younger girl, who just nodded in response.

"Come here; why don't you join me tonight?" she suggested, and the Lyons girl just stared for a moment.

"I – I don't understand. Are you sure, Mrs. Malfoy?" she asked hesitantly.

"Quite," Narcissa replied. Ariella slowly moved forward, cautiously until she was standing in front of her mistress.

"You may take a seat," Narcissa said when Ariella didn't do so right away. Slowly, the girl before her took a seat, and Narcissa could clearly see that she was apprehensive…and in pain.

"Are you alright?" she questioned, causing her servant to look up at her, surprised.

"Yes, I – I'm fine, ma'am. Thank you," she replied quietly.

"Did you receive it last night?"

"Ho – How did you know?" Ariella inquire, shocked.

"I had a feeling…and Lucius told me. I don't think it is wise to tell Draco though," she said. Ariella nodded in return.

"You're in pain though, aren't you?"

"Mrs. Malfoy, not to be impolite, but why are you being so kind to me?" she asked, and for a moment, she was scared that she would be reprimanded for speaking so boldly. The Malfoy woman was silent for a moment, before taking a deep breath and, sitting up straighter, responding.

"This life that my husband brought you into…you don't deserve it. I've watched you grow up here while never fully realizing what you were missing. Unfortunately, there wasn't…there's not a lot I can do. Lucius is still the head of the house and what he says goes. This life of servitude that you've grown up knowing…for a human being, is unfair.

I had once hoped that Lucius might free you, but now I see that unfortunately, that most likely will not happen. And for all this, I am sorry."

Narcissa finished her speech. Ariella just gaped. Did a Malfoy actually care for her well-being?

"I – thank you," she said finally, her gratitude clear in her eyes, her wonderment clear in her expression. Mrs. Malfoy nodded, giving her a faint smile.

"Just tell me one thing. How does – "

"Narcissa!"

Lucius Malfoy's voice rang through the manor and Ariella cringed.

"Narcissa, whe – what are you doing in here? Sitting at the table with my wife…despicable. What exactly were you thinking, girl?" he inquired harshly.

"I – I wa – " she stuttered, rising quickly to her feet, head bowed.

"I invited her to sit with me tonight, Lucius," Narcissa said, interrupting her servant.

"You weren't home and neither was Draco," she continued.

"Yes, I am well aware of that. However, she should not be seated with you, being treated as an equal – "

"Mr. Malfoy, I will never be treated as an equal. You make sure of that," she said in a brief moment of defiance. Then, realizing what she had said, she started backing away.

"Lucius, she's right," his wife said quietly, but he quickly silenced her.

"Be still, Narcissa. I will speak with you later. At the moment, I have to deal with a little insolent wench who has yet to learn her place."

Narcissa gazed sadly at the girl, before leaving. She knew that she could not help the young girl.

But one thing she could hope was that Draco was not as much like his father as he aimed to be. Perhaps she would talk to him about it when he came home in a week. Because, after all, once he was of age, he would have the same control over Ariella as she did. And, once Lucius died, he would become the head ruler over her.

She had never wanted Draco to become like Lucius in the first place…but maybe there was time to change him yet.

The poor girl had grown up with a horrible lifestyle and though Narcissa didn't know what her husband did to the girl, she was certain that it wasn't pleasant. She wanted to make sure that Draco treated her better…that he "upheld the family honor"…in the way that she wanted, of course.

Narcissa sighed as she thought about the two children…so different…yet so alike.

Happy Hanukkah to all the Jews!

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