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

Thank you to my wonderful beta, clovetf!

Just a quick thanks to translucent steeds, ShawdowOfMyLight, Allen Pitt, lilly of a hidden valley, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, Cereah, JuicyLucy921, jojia, Edwina B. Karch, ForeverWhitlockDarlin, artemisrocks124, an HausOfKim.

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

Chapter 60:

Proving Your Strength

"Harry! Harry, wait up!" Ariella cried, running to catch up with the Gryffindor Trio. Hermione gave her a polite smile, while Ron simply crossed his arms.

"He said yes," she told Harry as she gasped to regain a normal breathing pattern.

"And you're sure you want to go through with this?" he asked, searching her eyes for any sign of doubt in what she was agreeing to. Personally, Harry wasn't happy about this, but he knew Ariella wanted to contribute and prove herself.

"Positive. He's giving me my wand back temporarily and giving me permission, so we're all set. Just, one thing – you might want to let them know that – that's what's happening is perfectly legal. Not the details of why, just that it is," she suggested and, for the first time, she looked uncomfortable.

"If you're sure that you want to do this, then it will all be fine," Harry said, though whether he was trying to reassure her or himself, it wasn't clear.

Ariella nodded once, smiling back to Hermione with a little wave, before leaving the friends alone once more. Once she was gone, Hermione turned to Harry.

"What was that about?"

"You'll find out tomorrow night," he replied curtly, his tone holding a slice of ice to it; something that greatly worried Hermione.

The following night, Harry requested the room to become a one-way mirror to the passage-way outside, just as she had suggested.

"Harry, what's going on?" Neville asked, but Harry refused to meet his eye, his usually casual expression stony.

"You'll see in a few minutes. Just know that it's legal." He said, keeping his gaze straight forward. The rest of the group began to mutter and whisper to themselves, wondering what could possibly be happening.

Meanwhile, Draco and Ariella were making their way up to the seventh-floor corridor.

"Ariella, stop!" Draco ordered and immediately, Ariella obeyed, much to his surprise. Coming around to face her, he tried to look her in the eye, but her head was down.

"Are you positive you want to do this? We both know there will be questions asked if anyone sees us." He reminded her, unaware of how much his comment was really making her shake.

"I know. But I have to find out for myself. And I'd rather not try it out on your father, not to mention I'm not allowed to have my wand within the manor," she replied, but her voice was quiet.

"That reminds me; here. You have my permission as your master to use magic for your experiment." He said, handing her the long wand. Ariella felt a wave of calm and pure magic spread through her as she grasped her wand for the first time in months.

"Thank you," she whispered. He nodded curtly, before her eyes turned cold.

"And you have to mean it," she told him, her voice fierce. He nodded once more as she backed out into the adjacent corridor. The show was about to begin.

"C'mon, what are you afraid of?" she asked him, her voice loud.

"You're scared, aren't you? Just a cowardly little ferret!" she continued, and though Draco knew she was taunting him purposely, it was still making him angry.

"Shut up!" he growled, reaching for his wand, but she just smirked.

"You're just as much of a coward and a bully as your father is," she said, almost immediately regretting it when a look of shock passed over his eyes. She knew it was a low blow. But Ariella needed him to be angry enough to cast the spell properly…now she just hoped that Draco would forgive her when all was said and done.

Then fury overtook his face as he raised his wand, pointing it at his servant, yelled,

"Crucio!"

The members of the D.A. gasped, watching in horror and shock as Ariella went down to the ground, her body shaking.

"This – this can't be legal," Neville whispered, loudly enough so that only Harry could hear.

"I'm sorry, Neville. But in this case, it is," the dark-haired boy replied grimly.

But what no one saw was how Ariella's hand was slipping towards where her wand was hidden, slowly pulling it out. Pointing it at Draco, she suddenly countered with shouting,

"Expelliarmus!"

Draco looked at her in surprise as his wand flew unexpectedly from his hand, landing near Ariella's foot, where she picked it up, twirling it around between her fingers, before purposely-on-accident letting it drop and roll back to him.

"You know, Draco, your spell wasn't that strong. I don't think you could ever really hurt me." Not that that was a bad thing, she thought briefly as she continued speaking. "Go ahead, I dare you to try again. Because I know you won't." she finished, and it luckily had the desired effect.

"Is she crazy?" George Weasley muttered as he watched the scene unfold. But Harry held up his hand, interested to see where Ariella was going with this.

"Crucio!" Draco yelled again, but this time, when the spell hit, Ariella simply stumbled back a foot, before regaining her balance. Crossing her arms over her chest, she raised an eyebrow at him.

The D.A., Harry included, just stared, astounded. Was she defending herself against the Cruciatus Curse?

Ariella waited a moment longer before flicking her wand again, sending Draco's into her waiting hand. Then, freezing him in place, she walked over to her master, staring directly into his eyes.

"Your family might want to think of another curse, because it would appear as if this one no longer works," she advised, her voice low and firm, hinting at coldness, a smirk plastered on her face.

Draco continued to stare at her, trying to read into her words as Ariella released the spell. Backing away, he turned around the corridor and left, walking a good distance.

How did she manage to do that? No one's ever been able to defend the Cruciatus! He wondered, stopping in a secluded corridor to wait for her.

Meanwhile, the occupants of the Room of Requirement were wondering the same thing.

"Let's tell someone! Malfoy shouldn't be allowed to get away with that!" Ernie MacMillian shouted.

"And then what? They'll all find out about the D.A.?" Dean retorted.

"And besides. It's not like I'm hurt or anything. Not to mention that was entirely legal," Ariella said from behind the group. She had entered the room a minute prior, surprised to find that they wanted to defend her.

"But how can that – " Neville began to ask, but Ariella held up her hand to cut him off.

"Maybe another time, I'll tell you. But just know that it's only a very specific case." She said, her guard suddenly up again – something Harry noticed immediately.

"All right! Everyone pair up and practice disarming and producing Patronuses," he said, his voice loud. A few giving her sympathetic looks, they did as they were told. Harry, in the meantime, came over to her.

"That – you're positive you weren't hurt?" he asked.

"Harry, I'm fine. Draco can't cast a very powerful Cruciatus," she assured him. Slowly, Harry nodded.

"I'd better go," she said suddenly, for her arm had begun to burn.

"I'll see you later," he replied, bidding her to go quickly.

Once outside the room, she put her hand to her arm, only to realize as she touched the mark that the person summoning her was not the master she was expecting to do so…and that scared her more than anything else at the moment.

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