Chapter 80:

The Task

Another couple of weeks passed without much going on. More Death Eaters were hanging around then they had been prior and that was making her nervous. She suspected Mr. Malfoy had given them all permission to…take use of her. However, most of them paid her very little heed aside from asking small favours of her, such as fetching tea or taking their coats; for this she was very grateful.

She hadn't personally received another task from the Dark Lord, nor had she been required to attend recent meetings. This made her even more nervous, as she didn't know what they were planning or what it would mean for her. By the same token, she was grateful that she didn't have to have more interaction them.

However, things had been…more suspicious during the past few weeks, ever since Draco received the Dark Mark. It wasn't a night she would soon to forget.

She was currently resetting the tea room, hoping to finish before others entered the room. She had made a goal to stay out of sight as much as possible.

"Ariella," a voice said, causing her to turn around suddenly, her fear and anxiety spiking momentarily.

"Mrs. Malfoy, how can I help you?"

"Would you check on Draco? I'm concerned for him and he won't talk to me."

"Mrs. Malfoy, I'll do that, but I doubt he'll talk to me. He hasn't been very open with me lately. He's father angry, to tell you the truth."

"Thank you for trying."

"Of course, Mrs. Malfoy. Do – do you need anything else from me?"

"Not at the moment; I'll send for you if need be."

"Of course, Mrs. Malfoy," Ariella replied, bowing her head slightly as she ducked out of the room, feeling her Mistress' eyes on her back the entire way out.

…

Ariella knocked on Draco's door, readily obeying her sole Mistress. However, she was hesitant; she had no idea how he would react to her presence or how he would treat her.

A moment later, Draco opened the door, his shirt only half tucked into his trousers, his hair a bit dishevelled. "Can I help you?"

"I came to see how you were doing and if I can help you in any way," she replied, keeping her gaze down. She purposely left out that his mother had sent her; she didn't think Draco would appreciate that too much.

"Come in then, I could have some cleaning you can do and my bandages could use another treating."

"Yes, sir."

"Set up and let me know when you're ready."

She nodded before obeying, getting the new bandages and medicine from where she had left them in his room last time. Five minutes later, she called over to her younger master. "I'm ready."

Draco looked up from his work at her words and nodded, sitting back in his seat. She knelt at his feet, taking his arm in her hand. As she began to methodically work, a brief moment of silence fell between them.

"Ariella, how much do you know about when I took this?" he asked, suddenly breaking the silence.

"I don't, no one's told me anything. Why do you ask?"

"As you'll be with me during the year, you should know what's going on."

"What are you talking about?"

"It was given to me as punishment, for my father's failure last spring. He – the Dark Lord – gave me a mission to complete."

"What do you have to do?" she asked, looking up from her kneeling position on the floor.

"Help Death Eaters infiltrate Hogwarts and k – kill the headmaster."

"What? Draco, you can't – "

" – don't, Ariella," he cautioned. "You will assist me if I need it and you are not to discuss the task with anyone who doesn't already know about it. You are certainly not to tell anyone about it, nor of Death Eater plans. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Draco nodded once in reply, satisfied she now wouldn't be able to talk to others, Potter specifically, about Death Eater plans or his involvement in them."

"Draco, why would you want – ?"

"You don't disobey the Dark Lord, you should know that."

She nodded, lowering her gaze back to his arm, preferring to keep silent then; she didn't want to anger him further.

"Do I have your word, Ariella?"

"Yes, sir. If you ask, I will obey."

Draco stiffened, but took it. He knew she didn't agree with the Dark Lord, why should he have expected anything else?

Seeing his dark look, she elaborated, "I – I will help you; but because I don't want you to be hurt, not because I believe in what they're doing."

"Er – thanks, I suppose."

She simply nodded again as she meticulously tied his new bandage. Draco flexed his arm beneath it, before nodding once in tense gratitude.

"Draco, how do you plan to – ?"

" – leave that to me."

"What will I be required to do this year?"

"Serve me as usual. I'll let you know what I require from you specifically."

"Will I – will I be able to attend class this year? Is it – is it even worth it?"

Draco looked down at her, noting she wasn't meeting his gaze. "I don't know. We'll discuss it once we return to school."

"Yes, sir."

In the silence that followed, Ariella rose to her feet, gathering the cleaning supplies and putting them in their rightful places. Only then did she think of something else.

"You said I wasn't allowed to speak to anyone about what you're doing, Harry included. Are you forbidding me from seeing him at all?"

Draco looked up, his expression unreadable. "No; besides the fact that you will be in the same building, I won't forbid you from seeing him separately. I may not like it, but I won't stop it, provided you don't give away Death Eater or Malfoy secrets. Similarly, you may still see Nott; I don't have a problem with that," he replied, knowing that pushing her further away right now was definitely not the smart thing to do.

"Thank you."

Stiffly, he nodded once.

"What else do you need me to do today? You mentioned you have some chores to complete tonight."

"Yes; I need you to simply clean up around the room. You could also organize my notes for that matter, so that they're in order for the new year."

"Of course. Do you need me to do that now or later in the week?"

"Now is fine. I have a lesson in a bit, so I'll be out shortly."

Ariella's brow furrowed. "A lesson?"

His expression darkened, but he nodded. "With my aunt."

"With…oh. I – for what?" she asked, hoping belatedly he wouldn't be angry at her for such a question.

"Occlumency."

Her eyes widened. "Would you – be willing to teach me?"

Draco's gaze shot to her, and she immediately began to explain. "I – I know I can't against a Malfoy or the Dark Lord, but against others? It – it could be useful."

Slowly, Draco nodded. "Let me get further into the lessons, then I'll consider it."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

Draco nodded curtly, before grabbing his wand and heading out the door, leaving Ariella alone inside his room.

I know it's short, but I hope to have the next chapter up soon. In the meantime, if you'd like a preview, just let me know.

I'd like to hear your thoughts: why do you think Ariella was enslaved?

Thank you so much for your time and opinions.

Until next time,

~Leanora