I unfortunately don't own the world of Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does.

Just a quick thanks to soccergurl31294, panneler-san, AnonymousMSQ, Loonynamelass, TheTudorRoseQueen, translucent steeds, emcee31, Luxord's Xigbar, ColtFan165, RinRin-Chama, trini bear, Alex274, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, ThatGirlWhoLikesBooks, deideitk, zucc, Allen Pitt, chickenchick, Murphy Annen Thiamine, and xForgetMeNot95.

Just so you know, I'm writing 6 other stories as well. Thanks! :)

Chapter 56:

The Wrath of Lucius Malfoy

Landing on the floor, her breath was momentarily taken away from her. Trying to regain her senses, she heard footsteps coming towards her.

"So…you've actually come," Lucius Malfoy sneered.

"I'm surprised…you haven't been very obedient lately, have you?" he continued, stopping right in front of her.

"Get up!" he demanded, and Ariella immediately struggled to her feet, swaying slightly, but trying her best to keep herself steady.

"Now…I've been told that your wand has been confiscated…so why did I detect you using magic with a wand just moments ago? You don't have your wand, do you?"

"N – no sir. I – I borrowed someone's to practice." She replied nervously, her heart racing as Lucius' gaze bore down on her.

"What spell were you practicing? And don't lie to me," he ordered.

"I was practicing casting a patronus," she said, willing herself not to move as he circled her, as if she were his prey.

"Really? Interesting…" Lucius pondered.

"So if you don't have your wand, who does?" he asked then, still circling.

"Draco does, sir," she said, starting to fear him more as the interrogation continued.

"Very well…I shall have to have a word with him. From now on, no magic unless directed to by myself, Draco, Narcissa, or a professor," he instructed, and she nodded, unable to believe that he would actually allow her to perform magic.

"Now…are you obeying Draco like a good little servant?" he taunted.

"Ye – yes sir," she stuttered. Because while it was true that she did what her younger master asked, she also often spoke her mind while around him – and while Draco might tolerate it from time to time, she knew for certain that his father would not.

"Oh, nervous are we? Haven't you learned your lesson by now girl? You are a servant. It's your job to serve your masters, not talk back to them. It matters not that you and my son are the same age, he is your superior. It's time you started acting like it," he declared, stopping and staring at her. She gulped.

"Sir…ho – how did you find this all out?" at this, he looked both furious and arrogant.

"Dolores, of course. And don't speak unless spoken to!"

Internally, Ariella cursed – of course Umbridge would have been a part of her getting in trouble with Mr. Malfoy - considering they were such good friends and all.

"It would seem as if my previous methods are not working as efficiently as I had hoped. But it would do you well to remember who is in charge here, girl!" he stated, beginning to circle her again. Lucius stopped when behind her, coming up close and leaning down, so that his next words rang right in her ear, his hot breath on her neck.

"Just remember, girl, there's rather a lot I can do to you," he sneered suggestively, his eyes tracing her body, and this time, Ariella couldn't help it – a shudder ran through her body.

And then came the part she had been dreading…the punishment.

Wearily, Ariella made her way down to the dungeons. It was the following afternoon, and she had only just returned to school. She was aching all over, but she managed to stand. She was about to enter "her room" when she heard the swish of a cloak and turned quickly, causing her head to spin, as she took in the image of Harry Potter. Sighing in relief, gave him a quick nod.

Harry, however, couldn't help but notice the state she was in. She looked as if she was going to collapse any second.

"Can we talk…in there?" he asked, gesturing towards the place where he now knew was a hidden door. She nodded again, and he stepped forward, grabbing Ariella's arm to help steady her, and muttering the password.

Once inside, he helped her to sit down, before dragging the chair over.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned at how worn she looked. She nodded.

"Mr. Malfoy found out that I used magic," she explained. "Quite obviously, he wasn't very happy," she said, her voice darkening, and Harry paled, realizing that she had probably gotten hurt because of him.

"I'm sorry – if I hadn't told you to – "

"Harry, its fine. I should have known. So what did you want?" she asked, eager to change the subject.

"Why'd you run yesterday? You didn't do anything wrong," he inquired.

"I – I'm not sure myself. But I guess I'm trying so hard not to be noticed, to stand out, and last night I did just the opposite. But considering that Mr. Malfoy called me almost directly after, I guess it wasn't so bad that I ran after all," she told him with a shrug.

"I want you to come back to the D.A.," he said suddenly. And before she could protest, he quickly continued, "we were all just kind of shocked that you could perform the spell, let alone that a lion came from you…though, considering your last name, I guess it makes sense." Both students chuckled at this.

"Fine. I – I'll come back. Just let me know when," she said, standing up, and wincing as she did so, but gave Harry a pointed look that told him not to argue with her.

"Thanks," she said simply, and smiled slightly as she opened the door. Harry returned it, but it quickly turned into a frown the minute her back was to him. True, he didn't know exactly what had happened, but he could guess…either way, it certainly wasn't pretty. Sighing, the two parted ways.

Luckily for Ariella, "her room" and the Slytherin common room weren't very far from each other, so it only took her a painful five minutes to reach the latter location.

Ariella had intended to go straight to bed, hoping desperately not to get stopped by Draco…unfortunately, things did not go as she wanted them to, for almost the minute after she entered, Theo was walking towards her, Draco hot on his classmate's heals.

"What in Merlin's name happened to you?" he asked as he looked at her, but she just shook her head.

"I – I'm fine," she insisted, but Draco caught on that she probably just couldn't talk about it.

"Where were you?" he demanded to know.

"At the Manor," she replied, and Draco took this to mean that she had had an encounter with his father…especially since he caught the shudder than ran through her body as she answered him.

"What was it this time?" he asked tiredly, as the three sat down.

"He – he found out that I had borrowed someone's wand to cast a spell," she explained.

"Your father said that from now on, unless a Malfoy or a professor gives me permission, I'm not allowed to use magic," she continued, pausing for a glance at Draco.

"And he's going to talk with you soon, just so you know," she said, and Draco groaned, but nodded, grateful for the heads up.

"I'll see you later Draco – I should probably leave you to your work,.." she said, turning as she made to make her way to her dormitory room.

"Ariella!" Draco's voice came, causing her to stop. He quickly strode over to her.

"What did my father do to you? I want to know as much as you can tell me," he ordered, his voice firm, but almost gentle at the same time.

"He - your father had me explain why I was using magic when my wand had already been confiscated; Umbridge had told him. I also told him that you had it and then he gave me the orders about using magic. He – he reprimanded me for not obeying like I should be, and reminded me that you…that you're my superior, not my equal, and therefore I should start acting more subservient to you," she told him, confirming some of Draco's suspicions.

He noticed that by the end of her explanation, she was no longer looking at him, but down at her feet.

"Did my father order you to start acting like that?"

"N – no, he just said that I should be," she replied, confused.

"Good – then we're going to keep the arrangement we have," Draco declared, his voice holding a note of finality and (of course) arrogance to it, before softening again.

"Go get some rest – you look more beat up then I've ever seen," he ordered, and she nodded, all too happy to comply.

"Thanks," she said quickly, before continuing her journey to the dormitory room. Draco sighed as Theodore Nott came up beside him.

"You need to end this," Nott said. "I don't think she can handle much more," he admitted.

"I'll see what I can do – but this might just be beyond my reach of power," Draco said, responding with a curt nod to Nott. Both boys were worried – because if today was any indication, things were only getting worse for the young servant girl. And the fact that his father wanted to talk to him…well, that couldn't be much better.

Anything you recognize is from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Thanks to all who are reading and enjoying this story. If you have any suggestions, (i.e. would like to see something happen, etc.) questions, or comments, please feel free to private message me. Thanks! ~ Leanora