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, AnonymousMSQ, BadassAlec, Artemis1922, GaaraJessesarah, The Emerald Doe, soccergurl31294, AshleyDiLorentis, Kaaay .xD, Sarah Jackson - The Other, mrspendragon, panneler-san, Loonynamelass, Luxord's Xigbar, XxMiSs. IdPeNdEnTxX, ANBUpanda, singersk8rgirl426, The never ending drums, and TheOceanWaves.

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 50:

Draco's Confusing Feelings

When Draco got home, the first thing he did was head for the staircase. He hadn't seen Ariella since the night of the third task a week and a half a go and that worried him. He knew that it shouldn't, that he really mustn't…but he did. And Draco also knew that he had to be careful – he was home now, and therefore, his father was always watching.

In all the years that he had lived here with her, the boy had never once been to his servant's room. He wasn't even exactly sure where it was, but he knew it was on one of the upper floors.

However, as he passed the living room, his mother called to him.

"Draco, please come here."

Sighing, he obeyed.

"Hello Mother," he said simply, going over to embrace his mum.

"Draco, it's good to see you," she said.

"How was school?" she then asked.

"Fine," was her son's reply, and she could see that he was anxious for some reason. Lowering her voice, she asked her question.

"Draco, I need to you to tell me how you treat Ariella. What you think of her, all of that," she said softly, looking her son in the eye. He immediately looked away, stiffening as he started his prepared answer – true, the response was originally for his father, but it would work here too…or so he thought.

"Mother, please. She's a servant. Why would I – " but the boy faltered under his mother's gaze.

"Draco, tell me you don't really think that," she pleaded, and the boy bowed his head, taking a seat across from Narcissa.

"I – no, I don't know what to think anymore, actually," he admitted. Narcissa put a hand on her son's shoulder.

"And that's okay. Draco, she is so much like you and yet so different. Just, please, tell me you're treating her fairly," she asked, almost begging.

He nodded slightly.

"Some of the time. It's been…hard to distinguish my duty and my responsibility," he said softly.

"Draco, she will need a friend, a supporter, especially now. I cannot do any good. But you…you can. Promise me, at least at school, that you'll try to help her." Narcissa asked quietly. And slowly, to her delight, Draco nodded.

"Thank you," she said, just as softly. Draco just nodded again and got up, heading for the doorway…however, he stopped at it and turned.

"Where is her room, Mother?" he asked.

"The top most floor. Get a house elf to take you to the floor, but not directly to her room," his mother replied, and he did what he was told.

When he reached the corridor, he was surprised by how narrow it was. There was just barely enough room for him to stand there with the house elf at his side. As he walked towards the door at the end, he noticed a small bathroom on his right. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door in front of him.

"Ye – yes?" a quavering voice came from inside. Slowly, he turned the knob, before stopping in shock.

The room was extremely tiny…certainly not fit for someone to be living in.

There was a small cot pushed up against the far wall. Next to it stood a petite nightstand with an old, worn out lamp upon it. There was also a rickety wooden chair, pushed into the corner next to the nightstand.

Draco stared in wonder. He could walk the width of the room in three steps and the length in four. How had she lived here for ten years? And survived for that matter?

"Did you need something, Draco?" a soft, familiar voice asked. The blond boy turned his head to see his servant to the left of him, practically hidden by the door.

"Yes. Can I come in?" he asked, the words sounding strange considering whom he was addressing.

Though surprised, she nodded. Draco entered and immediately closed the door and silence the room. But when he turned back to speak, Ariella was no longer next to him. His eyes found her backing away from him, eyes wide and fearful. Her body was tense, as if she was preparing herself for something.

Confused, Draco stepped forward towards her, but she moved sideways, avoiding him. The two "danced" in a circle for a moment around the room barely big enough for both of them when suddenly the young girl stopped, head bowed, shrunk in a corner.

"Please Draco, just – just get it over with," she whispered and her master's eyes grew wide in comprehension.

"Ariella, I'm not going to hurt you. I just don't want my father to overhear," he said softly, stepping cautiously towards her.

"Oh," she said, blushing. "Sorry," she continued, stepping out of the shadows. And that was when he noticed the bandage on her lower left arm.

"Are you alright?" he asked, unable to keep the concern from his voice as he pointed to his sighing.

"What? Yes, I – I'm fine. I'm just not allowed to talk about it," she said hurriedly, hiding the offending arm.

"My father?" the boy asked wearily.

"Your mother, actually," she corrected, much to his surprise.

"Now why did you really come up here?" she asked boldly.

"I hadn't seen you since the third task. You didn't return to school and I – well, I wanted to make sure nothing had happened," he said quickly, looking away. The response made him seem so weak! A Malfoy was not supposed to show concern or weakness!

A hand on his shoulder, however, brought him from his thoughts.

"Thank you," the girl behind him whispered. He just nodded, trying to get back his "father's son" persona.

"Did you ever get your school things back?" he asked, not turning around.

"No. I'll probably see them again in September…when I leave the house again," she said sadly, and this time, Draco turned back to her.

"What do you mean? Aren't you allowed to leave?" he asked, puzzled. She shook her head.

"No…not without permission am I to leave the house. And I can't go anywhere outside without a Malfoy either," she said not meeting Draco's eyes.

Meanwhile, the blonde's mind was working overtime. She wasn't allowed to leave without permission and an escort? This was new…and completely unexpected. But…

"So if I were to take you somewhere, you would be okay?"

"Theoretically, yes, since last time I checked, you were a Malfoy," she said and he grinned slightly at her response.

"But that would jeopardize the both of us. You would get a lecture about responsibility and I would be punished. It's – it's not worth it," she said.

"Ariella, I'm sure there's – "

"No, there's not! It's too risky! I'm not letting you do that to yourself!" she said harshly, a fire suddenly in her eyes as she looked at him. But as quickly as the courage came, it also left.

"Have a good summer Draco. I'll see you the next time you need something. And please…don't call me just to talk," she said faintly, but her voice was full of pleading and sadness.

The Malfoy boy just stared at her for a moment, nodding slowly.

"Try to get through the best you can. And let me know if you want to leave for a bit, even just to go on the grounds. I'm sure I can come up with something," he said quietly, but even in that sentence, his normal arrogance was present. She responded with a nod.

Glancing once more around the small room, he left, his "father's son" persona in place once more.

Ariella sighed, sitting down on the edge of her bed, head in her hands. This was crazy! Impossible! There was no way this could work! Especially if Lucius thought one way, and Narcissa another. Draco emulated his father so much…but would he listen if Narcissa talked to him? She wanted to believe that he would…or that he had at least inherited some of her kind but protective nature…he had come to see her, hadn't he?

She sighed again, leaning back. What a mess this all was! And there was no way out of it.

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

I'm a member of Fanfictioners Against World Hunger.

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