Chapter 85:

Lack of Progress

Ariella was growing worried. It had been a few weeks since they returned and Draco wasn't making any further progress. She could see the effects it was having on him. Circles were growing underneath his eyes, proving he wasn't sleeping well. He was tensed most of the time and she could see how the weight of this was weighing heavily on him.

She knew she needed to step up her part; after all, she did promise and it wasn't like she had classes or homework to attend to. Yet she was running out of ideas. She didn't know what else she could do to help him. She would continue to look within the library and if there were things hidden in books she wouldn't think to look within otherwise. She wouldn't give up on him.

Draco entered the Common Room, stumbling a bit on the stairs. Groggily, he began to make his way towards the door when he stopped cold.

Asleep across one of the tables was Ariella, her hands curled around the edges of a large book. Draco tensed, before forcing himself to take a single deep breath and crossed to her. Lightly, he placed a hand on her shoulder. Instantly, she jerked away and upright, her eyes wide and full of fear.

"Ariella? What are you doing?"

But she doesn't move. He noticed how she just stared at him for a moment. Softening his voice, he repeats, "Ariella?"

"S – Sir?"

"What are you doing?"

"I – I was trying t – to find out more."

"More?" Draco sat down slowly across from her, careful not to startle his clearly scared and nervous servant.

"About the – about vanishing spells, about pathways."

"Did you stay up all night?"

"I – I didn't mean to. Some – " she cut off, glancing down.

"Ariella? Some what?"

"Some of the girls aren't treating me quite right. They're…not quite…welcoming anymore. Not that they were before, but…"

"Why wouldn't you tell me? I thought we discussed this."

"I don't want you involved. It shouldn't be your fight. And you have enough on your plate. Besides, it's not that big of a deal."

"I beg to differ; if they're hurting you – "

" – they're not. They're just…they know you have favour with the Dark Lord and like your girlfriend, they aren't pleased that I have the…closeness to you. Not that they know the truth, but…and they don't….as much as I didn't mean for it to happen, it was rather bound to – "

"You need to tell me these things. They shouldn't be after you because of me."

To his surprise, she snorted. "People have always blamed me for being close to you, to your family; this isn't anything knew. But they…they've seen that I have the Dark Mark."

"What? Ariella, wh – "

" – I tried to hide it, but I'm showering and changing with them. I couldn't always keep it bandaged. One of them…"

" – have they seen your scars?" Draco questioned, his tone urgent and concerned as he cut across her.

"No. Perhaps glimpses of them, but I – I've been careful. They're easier to hide than my arm, surprisingly. I just have to make sure my back is turned to them and that I have curtains pulled around me. But my arm…I had to reach out of the curtains sometimes and I couldn't…I can't keep it bandaged all the time. Especially since I don't have my wand. I was casting a – a glamour charm on my back in the past. I know I'm probably not allowed, but the bond never scolded me simply for that – or if it did, I didn't notice…"

She was rambling. It was a habit of hers, especially when she was nervous or didn't know what to say, Draco had noticed. "Ariella," he said softly. "I simply wanted to know. I'll cast the glamour so that only those who know the truth will be able to see them."

"Co – could you cast it so that only those involved with the bond or with permission can see them?"

"Why?" Draco asked, his voice lowering as his eyes narrowed.

"I don't want to chance it. Besides, you confirmed it for Pansy, but I – I'd rather she not see."

He didn't like her answer, but he didn't blame her. Though it sounded like she had told others.

"Who knows?"

"Draco, I – "

"Ariella, a list of who knows the truth. Now."

"All of the professors and school staff, past and present, Theo Nott, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, the Dark Lord, Fenrir Greyback, and perhaps Avery."

"Why such a long list?"

Some didn't surprise him; certainly the staff all knew, they had to. Of course, the Dark Lord knew – it was how she had gotten the Dark Mark in the first place. And of course, he knew Nott and Parkinson knew the truth; Greyback and even Avery didn't surprise him, given all that had happened. No, what he was unhappy about was the amount of peers who knew the truth. He wasn't surprised, but he certainly hasn't happy with it.

"I – they asked and I…I was…they kept…I'm sorry," she whispered, not meeting his eye. "Am I to be punished?"

"Not right now. But I might have to if my…yes. Next time you need it, I'll add it on. You aren't to feel it's demand through the bond, however," he said. He didn't want her to suffer. Seeing her look, he continued. "It won't be harsh.

"Yes Sir. I'm – I'm sorry I didn't ask for permission."

"In the future, ask or send them to me or my family."

"Yes, Sir. And…well, if it makes you feel any better, I – I can't outright tell anyone without permission from a Malfoy. I can confirm it, but I – I can't tell someone directly."

"My father?"

"Yes, Sir."

Draco nodded once, before continuing to speak. "Now, back to the original problem. I'll glamour your back so that only those actively involved with the bond can see your scars unless otherwise given permission. I'll have to reapply it, though I'm not sure how often; it'll be your job to ask for it."

"Yes Sir."

"And if those girls give you more trouble, I want to know about it. It's my job to – "

" – I don't want you involved. Please, sir! Not yet, at least."

Draco raised his gaze at this. He knew she didn't like asking for help, but they both needed to work with the bond – which demanded he take charge. Still…he had no desire to take away her freewill…well, more than the bond did at any rate.

Slowly, he nodded. "Alright. Tell me if it gets worse, yeah?"

"Okay," she whispered, then paused. "What are you doing up right now anyway?"

"I was going to work in the Room."

"Can I come with you?"

Slowly, he nodded and she rose with him, grabbing her things from around her chair. From the corner of his eye, Draco noticed her wince with her movements.

He didn't approve of how she was handling things with the other girls; nor how she was handling this term so far. He appreciated she was taking his task seriously, but he didn't mean for her to be hurting herself, making herself ill, because of him.

Draco froze suddenly on his way back to meet curfew as his mark began to burn. He quickly made his way through the Slytherin Common Room to his dormitory room, donning the uniform black robe, thankful the room was empty. It was already burning more; Merlin, was this what Ariella felt when he summoned her? He'd have to ask her.

Taking tight hold of his wand, Draco allowed himself to be whisked away from Hogwarts and towards where the Dark Lord was calling him.

He entered the room and bowed his head briefly.

"How goes your mission?"

The cold voice sent icy shivers down his back. Carefully, he schooled his features. "Slow but steady, m' lord."

"Look at me."

Draco obeyed. Immediately, he could tell the Dark Lord was rifling through his thoughts. He released the student. "Well, young Malfoy; I suggest you move faster. I am not a patient man."

"Of course, m'Lord. I'll put more attention and focus into the matter."

"Excellent," the Dark Lord hissed.

"But first, a reminder of what will happen if you continue down this slow path. Bellatrix."

Draco braced himself as his aunt cursed him with her speciality.

"Dismissed," the cold voice rang out the minute the curse ended.

It wasn't a long meeting, but Draco was more than grateful for that fact. He could hear Bellatrix hot on his heels. Draco left the room, feeling suffocated and unsteady, and immediately sought out Ariella through the bond, so he would be brought back to Hogwarts through her, and away before Bellatrix could reach him.

He stumbled as he landed, though he didn't fall. He did, however, immediately take a seat, closing his eyes against the migraine and lingering pain he was experiencing.

"Draco? What happened?"

"I was just summoned to a meeting with the Dark Lord."

"I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"I know it couldn't have been good."

"He certainly wasn't happy that I've made so little progress."

"We've," she said quietly.

Draco's eyes shot open, and for the first time, he noticed she was kneeling beside the chair. "What?"

"We've not made much progress."

"Ariella, no. While I appreciate your help, this is my task."

"Why let yourself take the blame when – "

" – when, what? I can use you to be a scapegoat for my failure so far? So that you'll be punished instead of myself?"

"I don't want to see you hurt."

"And I don't want to see you hurt further."

"I'm used to this; the punishment, I mean. You aren't."

Draco closed his eyes. He couldn't believe he was fighting her on this.

"Pl – please, Draco. I can't see you tortured."

"I can take it. I'm not weak."

"I never said you were. I said I'm used to being punished."

"Ariella, enough. I won't hear of it."

"Yes, Sir."

Silence fell between the Master and servant. "What were you doing when I called you?"

"Just resting, Sir."

"Good; I don't want you pushing yourself because of me."

"I'll try not to, Sir."

"Draco. We're alone, at school no less, and I'm not administering punishment."

"Sorry S – Draco."

"I'm going to head back. I want you to meet me tomorrow afternoon in the Room. I have work to do in the morning that I don't need you for. Use tonight and tomorrow to rest up. Things are only going to get more hectic now that he's displeased."

"I understand. I'll do my best to help."

"I know. I appreciate that," he admitted. She needed to know, even if he didn't like how it made him sound.

"Thank you."

Draco nodded once. However, as he moved to get up, he had to grip the armrests firmly. Ariella quickly jumped to her feet. "Draco? Why don't you stay here?"

"It'll be…"

"…please. This is how I can help. Forgive me, but you're in no state to go back. I won't judge you for this, you know that. I know what it's like."

Slowly, he conceded. He moved to the bed. Then a thought occurred to him, and he wished for the room to have another bed. He was shocked when it worked. It wasn't the Room of Requirement, but it acted similarly. At the pop of the item, Ariella jumped.

"Thank you for sharing your room."

"No problem. What's mine is yours, after all," she responded wryly. "Thank you for not forcing me to leave."

Draco just stared at her for a moment. He then removed his cloak, tie, and shirt, and shucked off his shoes, watching as Ariella did the same.

"Feel better," he heard her murmur, before shutting the light.