Trigger Warnings: Torture

Chapter 88:

Addressing 'Honourable' Retribution

Ariella sat reading quietly when she felt her mark burn. Yet, she grew puzzled and concerned as she slipped her hand through the slit in Draco's robe to the mark. It wasn't a Master summoning her…it was her Mistress.

She obeyed at once, preparing herself to be thrown onto the ground. She landed hard on her knees in front of Narcissa Malfoy. She slid back, keeping her head bowed.

"This is your solution, Cissy? To summon your filthy peasant girl?" she heard a cold voice say and she tensed. Bellatrix Lestrange was not someone she liked and she was often at the end of curses from the woman.

"Enough, Bella. Ariella, you can get up."

She listened, taking a seat next to her Mistress, while Bellatrix looked on condescendingly. "How is Draco doing?"

"He's struggling, Ma'am. We're trying hard to solve…the problem, but there's something we're missing."

"You're helping him? No wonder he isn't getting anything done. This is an honour. How do you not see that?"

Ariella's gaze snapped to her Mistress' sister. "An honour? What type of honour is designed with the intention to kill? If he fails, Draco will be killed, your sister will be killed! How – "

" – how dare you! You filthy little – "

" – Enough!" Narcissa's voice cut through both of them. Ariella immediately looked down. Wonderful. Now she was certainly going to be due for another punishment. Bellatrix glared at her sister before leaving the room.

"Ariella, how is he surviving?"

"He's struggling, like I said, Ma'am. This is taking a toll on him. I'm assisting as he'll allow me, but…he's changing quite a bit and its only February. I don't look forward to seeing how much more it will take from him," she admitted.

"I'll write to him soon."

"I can wait and deliver the letter if you wish to write it now?"

"I'll send it along soon, but thank you."

"Am I needed for anything else, Ma'am?"

"Before you leave, go up to Draco's room. Take him anything he might need. You may do the same from your room. Just be cautious."

"Yes, Ma'am; thank you. I do appreciate that."

"You may go, Ariella."

She gave a bow of her head before departing. She should've guessed though. She should've known she wasn't going to get off that easy. Standing just outside of Draco's room, ready to corner her, was Bellatrix.

"I don't serve you."

"Insolent little brat. You do indeed, as I am the Dark Lord's right hand and you are a disappointment; a slave. Shall I remind you what we do to disappointments?"

Without waiting for an answer, she found herself under the Cruciatus. Not surprisingly, it was one of the most powerful ones she had been under. She screamed, unable to stop from writhing under the strong spell.

"I can do plenty more if you continue to fail the Dark Lord, fail my nephew," she threatened as she released the curse. As the powerful witch left, she threw a stinging hex over her shoulder, catching Ariella squarely in the chest. She groaned, tears leaking from her eyes as she stood, stumbling into his room. She needed to get Draco's belongings.

First, she grabbed a spare bag he had. She then began filling it…more balm, more parchment and ink, a few books he had left behind that might help them, an extra cloak, given how chilling it had been in the Room lately.

She then made her way, not to her own room, but to the library, to see if there were any books that could possibly help. She set the bag down on a nearby table and began looking at the titles. As she skimmed them, she found one: Ancient Connections. Unsure of what it could mean, she pulled it out. However, as she did so, a thin box fell from behind it. Confused, she opened it and gasped. It was her wand, somehow still intact. So this was where it had been hidden. She swallowed hard and carefully placed the box in her bag.

"All alone my dear? And your young Master not here to whisk you away. I do believe our meeting was cut short last time," a cold voice said behind her.

Ariella spun to find Fenrir Greyback sliding into the room. "I'm just looking, then I must be going. I don't want trouble."

"So you do remember me then."

"Yes. Sir," she replied, knowing she shouldn't chance it. She crossed her arms, holding her bag tight as her hand slipped into her robe, touching Draco's name on her mark.

"Come then. You serve the Malfoys, though Merlin only knows why. Come here," he commanded. She didn't move. He strode forward, a vicious sneer on his face, trapping her.

"You don't listen well, do you? Lucky for us, I relish in the hunt."

"Let me go. Please."

"Why? I deserve a prize more than that pathetic boy does."

"That man is a better wizard than you will ever be," she spat back.

"You little bitch," he snarled, gripping her arm tightly as he shoved her up against the bookcase, rattling her, his nails cutting into her skin. He let her go, looking down at her like prey when suddenly, his eyes widened as she disappeared from in front of him, and he snarled.

She landed on the hard stone floor of Hogwarts, breathing deeply, tear tracks still visible on her cheeks.

"Ariella?"

"Manor," she managed to get out.

Draco bent down, placing his hand to the mark. She needed punishment. Again. He sighed, wondering what she did to "deserve" it.

"Please – please don't curse me tonight," she begged quietly. Startled, he nodded.

Carefully, he pried the bag from her hand and helped her over to the couch. She was weakened.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"Your mother summoned me. She – "

" – my Mother?"

"She wanted to know how you were doing. She said she'll write you soon. Your Aunt was there, though."

Immediately, Draco saw where part of this punishment had come from, where the desire not to be cursed came from. "I disagreed with her and she…she cornered me, cursed me, hexed me. I'm not shocked."

"Where'd she hex you?"

Ariella sat up straight, gesturing to the small hole in the clock at the centre of her chest. He nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

"I went to gather things from your room. Your Mother suggested it. But then I went to the library to look for more books. I – I found my wand."

"You what?"

"Your father must have hidden it. I brought it with me, to give to you."

"I want you to - listen to me, Ariella," he said, cutting her off before she could protest. "I want you to carry it on you. You have my permission to use it as you need to."

Slowly, she nodded. "Yes, Sir. So…so after I found it, Fenrir Greyback found me. He was also insulting you and he threatened me…I refused him and he grew angry. That was when you responded to my…request."

"So you insulted Bellatrix and Greyback and now need to be punished for it?"

"It seems that way, Sir. And for requesting a favour; two I suppose, from you. The bond could also be punishing me since I took a book without asking."

"You'll be staying here tonight, in seclusion. You will not be eating breakfast tomorrow morning and I'll bring you dinner or else have Nott do it. I'll be keeping your wand. You'll be doing as I say – er, more than usual, I mean. Everything. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir. Thank you."

"Why do you do that?"

"Pardon?"

"Why do you purposely speak out?"

"I thought you wanted me to speak out. And today I was defending you."

"Ariella, you've got to stop. You're just getting yourself hurt."

"Is that an order?"

"What?"

"Is that an order?"

"I'm thinking about you."

"I know. But if you do make it one, it might nullify your previous…allowances, meaning every time I try to speak up, in any way, it'll demand punishment."

Slowly, he nodded. "Try. Promise me you'll try not to speak up against people who aim to hurt you."

"I'll try. I don't like being hurt. It just…sometimes it's hard not to. Especially when they're…threatening me or…threatening you. I know you don't need me to and I know you don't like it, but – "

" – I'm not angry that you're defending me, Ariella. But it does get you into trouble."

"I know. Just try."

"I will…thank you."

"I'll bring up some things you can work on for me. As a part of your punishment."

She nodded, not meeting his gaze. "Are you doing okay? Honestly?" she suddenly blurted out.

He stared at her. He knew that he was…showing as the task wore on him. "I'm working on it."

"I know. I'm trying to help you, to…ease your burden. But I don't know if I can do what you need from me."

He just nodded, not sure how to respond, so he rose, turning away from her and they both fell silent. "Oh! I – I did get a book, if you wish to see it. It was how I found my wand."

"On what?"

"Ancient Connections."

"Can I see it?"

"Of course. Here."

Draco gratefully took the book, beginning to flip through it. "I'll take a look through it. I'll be back soon with food. I have a study meeting to get to."

She nodded. "What should I be doing while I stay here?"

"You're more than welcome to explore the room, see if there's anything you can find that will help. Otherwise, just…wait for me to return.

She nodded. He left shortly after and Ariella looked after him worriedly; she hadn't lied when she told her Mistress how she feared for him.

A week later, Ariella nervously approached Draco while he sat completing his homework, relishing in one of the few times he was alone. As she came closer, he looked up, tensing as he noted her expression, how her brown eyes were darting about. "Can we talk privately? Please?"

Draco nodded, immediately rising and, quickly gathering his books, parchment, and quills, led the way to an empty room, which he then warded against eavesdroppers. He couldn't take any chances, especially now.

Once that was settled, Draco placed his school materials down and leaned against a desk, loosening his tie as he waited for Ariella to speak. It took her a moment before she began. "I know you aren't going to want to discuss this, but I – "

" – Ariella, just say whatever it is you want to discuss."

"Punishment," she replied simply, fearful of his reaction.

Draco hung his head, nodding knowingly, dreading the response to his next question. "What about it?"

"We need a more practical way of doing them; something other than coming up with an idea on the spot. We both know I'll break the rules again, despite my attempts not to. And we can't keep going like we've been; just making things up as we go."

"I know. I don't like it, but I know it's true. You're right; we can't continue without some type of a plan to work off of in place."

"Are there any…methods you're more comfortable with, that you'd prefer to use?"

"If it can be helped, I don't want to use the Cruciatus. I would prefer not to have you miss meals; we don't need to have you further hurt yourself, your health. However, do you have any preferences? You're the one being subjugated to these punishments."

"I – I agree with what you've said, though I am willing to miss a meal every now and then. I'd prefer that to other methods."

"What has my father done exactly? Be specific. Perhaps we can modify those methods."

"He – he's used the Cruciatus, he's had me missed meals. He's used two types, I think, of whips. One is regular as far as I can tell; the other is made from something tighter and it burns, like fiery rips. He's hit me a few times, but he prefers the whips. He – he's made suggestive remarks, but never followed through, thank Merlin."

Draco nodded, taking in what she was saying. Then he realized she wasn't being punished. Probably because he already knew, she was just elaborating…and to her Master, no less. Regardless, it was awful. And now he would have to…plan to hurt her. He just couldn't truly think of a way to…hurt her without fully harming her. And he had to mean it to, at least to some extent, or the bond wouldn't accept the punishment.

Grimacing, he probed further. "How do you feel about being whipped; besides pain, I mean."

"It's degrading and it is painful, especially the…fire–whip; you've seen some of the consequences. But – I – I'm okay with it, or at least, I think I could be if it's you administering it. It – it happens and then it's over, without – without too much damage, if you don't break the skin, at least."

Draco nodded, seeing her point, disgusted with himself further that he was considering whipping her. Then again, he did technically own her. "What if we found a whip that didn't do as much damage and I told you how many you were to receive?"

Slowly, she nodded. "I – I'd be okay with that."

"Ariella, do you have a better idea?"

"More chores? More submission? I know I need to be sometimes anyway, I just don't know how. It's just…different depending on the way the bond requires it; punishment for being wrong compared to the bond just asking for it."

He nodded, knowing what she meant, noting how she distinguished between punishment for disobedience and punishment simply for the bond. The two teens stayed silent for a few moments before speaking again.

"Draco? I – the bond's been telling me I need to do something more, but I can't decipher it. What – "

"– I know. But what it's asking is…I won't force you until the bond forces me to. Unless you need to, do not ask of it again," he countered, cutting her off, his voice hard. He knew exactly what she was talking about, and he was dreading the day he would have to complete the task, when the bond no longer gave him a choice.

Ariella heard the sudden hardness in his voice and dipped her head. "Yes, sir. Thank you."

"Of course."

"I – I am sorry for putting this on you, for asking you to be the one to…deal with the consequences of the bond. Especially with…everything else."

"Don't be. I know why you're doing it. I know my father's methods are horrid. It's my job as your master to have control, to take command of these things. And I – I'm sure the fact that we're close in age helps as well, am I right?"

Ariella nodded, not meeting his gaze as he continued. "I don't like it, but I will do my part to help make it more bearable, to take over as much of the bond as I can, especially given my father is imprisoned and the bond will take better from myself than my Mother."

"Thank you, Draco. I do appreciate it."

"I know."

She paused before speaking again, nervous still. "May I ask you something? About the bond?"

Slowly, Draco nodded, not knowing what to expect.

"Why does it demand regular punishment? Even if I haven't recently disobeyed."

"Perhaps for extremely minor disobediences that you don't even realize. Or, more likely, as a reminder of your position."

"I know I'm beneath you. That hasn't changed."

"It's an archaic bond. I don't have an answer. I just know it has to be obeyed."

"Of course. I never meant to imply I wouldn't…"

" – I know. I know you try."

She looked down. "How can I help you? Become…more comfortable with this, with furthering your task?"

"You can't. I know you want to help, but you can't. These are things I just have to figure out. And yes, I'll let you know if there is something you can do. For now, just try to stay out of trouble."

"Yes, Sir."

She truly would try. She didn't mean to get into so much trouble, but she hated when others were taunting her about Draco…she could see the toll this was all taking on him.

"Ariella?"

"Pardon?"

"I asked if you were planning on going to Hogsmeade this weekend?"

"Am I allowed?"

"If you come with me, then yes. They can't deny you…or me rather."

She nodded, then paused. "Am I going to have to do something for you?"

"Maybe. But I also just want you to get out…under supervision."

At this she cracked a small smile. "Thank you, Sir."