Trigger Warnings: Dubious Consent

Chapter 97:

Fully Bonded

Ariella rubbed her head again. She had an awful headache that had only been growing worse the more she tried to ignore it. She also felt dizzy and nauseous. The servant couldn't concentrate on her work, minimal as it was. And the worst part was she didn't even know why. She didn't think it had to do with being summoned in front of the Dark Lord last night.

"Ariella?"

The teen looked up to see her young master standing before her, looking worse for wear.

"Are you all right? – Sir," she added, bobbing her head quickly to him as she hastily added the title.

"Fine. May I see your arm?"

Puzzled though she was, Ariella obliged without question and Draco pressed his hand to her mark once more.

He immediately saw the problem. – The thing he had feared talking about and acting upon was now begging to be demanded from her – and him – more forcefully. He no longer had a choice. He sighed, pulling away.

"Come to my room later," he decided quickly. She nodded, a bit scared. His tone was rather forceful.

"Draco? Ha – "

"I'll see you tonight," he said, cutting her off sharply. "And you're pardoned for using my name."

She looked up, surprised as he turned sharply on his heal and left. She had no idea what this was about, but at least she wouldn't have to deal with anyone else tonight.

Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair. He wished he didn't have to do this to her, that there was another way – a way that wouldn't cause her pain or humiliation. He – he had never thought of her in that manner. And now her life and well–being practically depended on it. The weight of…his position as her master, the weight of the bond, felt particularly heavy tonight.

How – how was he ever going to explain this to her? That – that he was going to have to – to sleep with her, that the bond was commanding that he…force his power over her in yet another, very intimate way. How could he bring himself to do that? Draco wasn't sure how exactly she was going to react, but he knew it wouldn't be pretty.

A knock on the door to his room brought the young man from his thoughts. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Draco called out in a voice that portrayed a calm he did not feel, "Enter!"

The door opened, revealing the girl whom he had summoned. Ariella entered quietly, shutting the heavy door behind her.

"Sir? Is everything okay?"

"You tell me. the bond has been bothering you lately, hasn't it?"

She nodded, suddenly scared. Should she have told him?

"You're not in trouble with me. but we do need to remedy the situation. And I'm afraid you're not going to like the solution very much."

Ariella gulped, taking a step back from him. "What is it?"

"Sleeping with me."

Ariella sucked in her breath, feeling every ounce of energy suddenly leave her. "No, I – why? Why do I – no! no – I – I can't – I – please – "

"Ariella," Draco said simply, noting the bond reacting to her declarative negative.

Her head jerked up as her eyes shot to him, wide with shock and fear.

"This needs to be done. A master must bet the first one to take you, to claim you, and all sorts of permission are needed, for everything. I – I won't go into the details now. I – I've also overheard my father talking with some of the Death Eaters – he wants to do what Avery wanted to do."

"I know."

"You do?"

She nodded.

"Why wouldn't you have come to me?"

"I wasn't sure you would believe me. Not to mention what would you have done? What was I to ask for?

Draco just nodded once, regarding her carefully. "I – I looked up a spell that should prevent anyone from taking advantage of your position, in this way, at least. I – they would need both your permission and mine; I believe the only thing that would override it would be my father's connection with the bond, though I can't guarantee it, to be honest. It's hard to say if it will work, but I thought it worth a shot. I – I do need to be inside you to cast it though."

"Why is the bond demanding this in the first place? And why now all of a sudden?"

"I suppose to show who's truly in charge? I'm not sure. But it is. And it's been asking after it for a while. But now, we're both of age, so it's now not hinting so much as outright demanded that this part of the bond be…acted upon. I think it's a power thing."

"I – I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I know you don't want to do this. That the bond is forcing you, too."

He nodded. "Ariella, you should know that I've never before thought of you in this way. Like you said, I'm doing this because of the bond, just as you are."

"Thank you."

Her voice was even quieter now, more serious. She refused to meet his eye, almost like she wanted to run. Draco didn't blame her.

"Ariella? We have to do this now. I don't want to risk waiting any longer. I – I'm sorry," he said then. She simply nodded shakily, coming to stand in front of him.

"I'll be careful," he swore, his hands coming to her waist, untucking the tight shirt, pulling it over her head.

Instinctively, Ariella's arms crossed over her chest, and she bent forward a bit. Draco waited a moment.

"I'm sorry. I know you've seen me without a shirt before, but this feels different," she said, her voice small as she stood straight. Taking a deep breath, she let her arms fall to her sides.

"You're forgiven. Why don't you wear a bra?"

"Thank you. And I – I was never given one," she replied.

"I never fixed that, did I? Why didn't you remind me?"

"I thought those times you assisted me counted. I'm sorry I didn't do so more explicitly. It didn't seem important."

He nodded once, taking a step back and beginning on his own shirt. Ariella turned, a slight blush using to her cheeks.

Ignoring him, Ariella unbuttoned her too small jeans and slid them off of her, taking the skimpy knickers with them, doing her best at resisting the urge to cover herself once more.

"Ariella, you can…" Draco trailed off however, realizing what she had gone ahead and done.

"You may get into the bed if you wish," he said quickly, noting her discomfort…and his.

"Dra – Sir? Are – are you sure this is going to help?"

"This is necessary. Do you want the bond to overreact, for my father to – "

" – No! I – I'm sorry. I'm just scared."

Draco froze for a moment, his gaze shooting to her. "Of me?"

"No. Of not knowing what's going to come. Of not knowing of this will help is the end. This – I don't know much, only the bits and pieces I've picked up from the dorms. And I know that I belong to you – all of me – but I had hoped that I could at least keep this for myself or – or have waited and had a say and maybe with – and – I – I'm grateful truly, that you're doing this to me. I – I know you're giving something up too, but I – I don't know…"

Draco stayed silent, simply letting her ramble and form her thoughts. She sounded so desperate and resigned to what was happening. It wasn't fair.

"I'm sorry. I can't say I can relate to the position you're in. ButI do know that if we don't go through with this, the bond will punish you, not to mention there are more Death Eaters here than ever before and a few of them won't hesitate to take advantage of you. Probably with my Father's permission. I can't stop everything, but I can help. I – I can't tell how the bond will react, but I will try my best not to hurt you. And you may use my name if you want."

She nodded, ducking her head. "Thank you," she choked out.

"Go ahead and lie down," he repeated, gesturing to his bed.

As Ariella obeyed, Draco dropped his trousers, coming over to the bed himself, wand in hand. "I'm going to cast two spells now, and the third one later, obviously."

"What for?" she asked before she could stop herself. "I – "

" – have a right to know. It's fine. The first so that you don't become pregnant and the second to have you be – er – prepared for me. It should make things easier and less painful when I enter you."

Ariella sat up, bringing her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.

"You could always just order me not to become pregnant and to become prepared for you," she suggested.

Draco looked surprised for a moment – he kept forgetting how much power he had over her. And the matter–of–fact way she told him – he wasn't quite sure what to think.

"You are not to become pregnant unless you wish it and I have given my permission," he said, after placing a hand on her mark. His tone was harder now that he was giving an order.

Draco then waited as she stiffened, letting his first order settle. Only when she nodded to him did he continue. His hand still on her mark, he pointed his wand at her abdomen as she sat back a bit. "Become prepared for me," he demanded then.

Ariella gasped, wincing as her body responded to the order rather than her desires.

"I – I'm going to touch you to make sure the spell worked. Okay?"

"O – okay," she repeated. Draco moved his hand between her legs as she spread them a bit for him, flinching when she felt his cool fingers.

"Did it work?" He nodded once.

"Well enough," he answered, not wanting to cast it again – it looked like it had hurt.

Moving off the bed, Draco took a deep breath and shed his pants. Ariella quickly averted her gaze, looking towards the opposite wall as she slid down to lie flat on her back, wincing despite the softness of the sheets.

"Ready?"

Clenching her jaw, Ariella nodded once. Coming back over her, Draco put his hand on her inner thigh and pushed gently. She obliged, slowly widening the distance between her legs.

Suddenly, though, at his touch, she froze again, before moving to sit up, backing away from him.

"What is it?"

"No. I won't – I can't do this to you. I won't. It isn't right. I – I can take whatever – "

Draco reached forward, placing a hand on her shoulder to stop her from bolting. "Stop. Why would you risk the bond's wrath?"

"I don't want you doing this for me. It isn't right and it shouldn't be your problem, your burden – "

" – Stop! Let me do this."

"I know you don't want to. I can't…go through with this knowing this isn't something you want. That it's forced."

"It is. I won't lie. The bond is the only reason I'm doing this with you," he said, his tone level. He internally winced for a moment, realizing how that sounded, but pressed on anyway. "But if we don't go through with this, who knows what the bond will do to you? To us? I'm just as tied to this as you are."

He saw her processing his words and gave her a moment to do so. In truth, he was scared what the bond would do if they didn't take care of this. He was already pushing the bond's limits with this particular request as is, having put it off for so long. He certainly didn't want his father dealing with this part of the bond; which left him to do the job.

"You're sure?" she asked, her head coming up so that, for once, she could search to meet his gaze.

"Yes. Will you let me?"

Though her movements were stilted, she moved to lay back down. Though it wasn't necessary for him to say, he whispered, "Thank you," nonetheless.

Slowly, carefully, the master began to enter his servant. He noticed how her hands clenched the sheets beneath her. Pacing his movements, he slowly pushed in. Part of the way, he felt a bit of resistance. Pausing only briefly, he pushed all the way inside her.

What he was not prepared for was the gut–wrenching scream that ripped from the girl beneath him. He froze, not daring to move.

Ariella felt like she was on fire. It was worse than the Cruciatus. What – Merlin, why was this needed?

"What – Ariella? Ariella, please, tell me – "

"Pain. It – hurt. Ple – make it stop," she begged between gasps for air, tears streaming down her face as she writhed beneath her horrified master.

Quickly, he placed his hand on her mark, hoping to see the problem she couldn't speak, and almost fell onto her; the pain she was in was immeasurable and yet…he could sense it, but to him, it was sending waves of something akin to pleasure. This in turn caused himself…his body, to react favourably…never mind the fact that his mind wasn't in the same place. He shuddered and placing a hand on her abdomen, spoke. "Any pain coming from the bond should disappear and is not to be felt anymore."

Ariella felt her breath hitch as she arched away from the bed as the pain flared, before dropping back down, breathing heavily as a majority of the pain receded.

"Better?"

She looked up, finally meeting his eyes, and nodded shakily. "Thank you."

"Why would – "

"I think the more pain I feel, the more pleasure you're supposed to feel."

"That's – " Draco broke off, taking a breath before speaking again unable to believe what he was witnessing and participating in. "Can I continue?" He asked, doing his best not to move and cause her unnecessary pain.

She nodded again.

Closing his eyes briefly, Draco continued trying to imagine someone else beneath him – someone whom he wanted to be with and who wanted to be with him.

"I'm going to start the spell soon," he warned her, tightening his grip on his wand.

"Okay," she whispered back.

Making sure he was all the way inside her, Draco balanced himself and pointed his wand at her abdomen once more. Speaking quickly in a low voice, he muttered the ancient spell. Ariella flinched as the magic spread through her.

"You can move. I'm okay," she told him quietly a moment later, but to Draco it sounded forced.

"I'm almost done," he said, taking her hand in his for a moment, giving it a quick, tight squeeze.

Ariella glanced up at him, a bit surprised. He looked like he was in pain. Yet he was trying to help her. "Draco, I'm okay. Are you?" she asked, looking directly at him.

"I – I'll be fine."

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable or in pain."

"And I don't want to use you. I am not my father."

"I know you're not. I – I don't mind. That's what I'm supposed to be here for. Please – whatever needs to be done. We've already done this much. I don't mind."

Draco didn't say anything for a moment, making sure she was telling the truth. Slowly, he nodded and closed his eyes, once more imaging someone else beneath him.

This time it worked. A few minutes later, he came, and Ariella gasped as she felt the spell he had cast earlier spread through her again, solidifying.

Pulling out slowly, he cast a cleansing spell on the both of them. Pulling on his pants, he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Ariella?"

"Can I have a moment, please?"

"Of course."

She was breathing deeply and heavily, looking up at the ceiling, blinking rapidly. Standing up for a moment, Draco took the comforter that was bunched up at the end of the bed and pulled it up to cover the shaking girl. Her eyes snapped to him and she nodded once.

"You're welcome," he replied to her silent thanks, noting, but choosing not to comment on the single tear sliding down her cheek.

"I – I'll be fine. I don't blame you," she said, her voice thick.

He nodded, not meeting her gaze. It was like she could read his mind.

"Draco?"

He looked to her, nodding once, giving silent permission for her to continue.

"I – I know you don't need it and I'll probably be in trouble for saying this, but whatever you have to do – bond or otherwise, other orders, you have my permission. Whether it's this again, a punishment – I'll act scared of you, but I swear, I'm not. Of the situation, probably, but not of you. I – trust you."

"Thank you. I – I hope I never need it, but I'm grateful to know that you're…okay with whatever I may have to do."

"I trust you," she repeated.

He nodded once. "And I you."

Taking a deep breath, Draco let it out slowly. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore still," she admitted.

"Would you like to take a bath? The warm water might help."

"I – the bathroom upstairs is very small. There's not a tub there. Or hot water for that matter."

"I meant here. I'm not going to make you go back up there tonight."

"Am I allowed?"

"I've given my permission, haven't I?"

"O – okay. Thank you," she stammered, beginning to get up.

"I'll set you clean clothes for when you get out."

She nodded gratefully and he turned away, attempting to give her some privacy. "Draco, I – I'm sorry. I'll do laundry tomorrow. I never – "

He turned quickly confused, and immediately saw what she was pointing to. There was a blood stain on his sheets – her blood. "Ariella, don't worry about it. I knew this might happen."

"But – Draco, I – "

" – Ariella, it's fine. I'm not mad," he repeated, coming over to where she stood and putting his hands on her upper arms. She nodded shakily.

"Do you need help?"

"I – I don't know. I want to try on my own though…if that's okay."

"Of course," he replied, moving out of the way.

Ariella closed the door behind her, breathing deeply. She got through it. She had – it hadn't been as bad as she had feared it would be…well, once Draco commanded the bond to stop harming her, that is. Slowly, the girl moved, filling up the tub as she had done so many times before, but this time she actually got in.

It felt wonderful. She still felt horrible, but Draco was right – the water made her feel a bit better.

Meanwhile, Draco picked out a loose tee–shirt, one he wore under his Quidditch uniform, two socks, and a pair of old sweatpants. Grabbing his wand, he transfigured the socks, one into knickers, the other into a bra. Both would adjust to fit her once put on. "Evanesco," he whispered then, pointing his want towards his sheets.

Draco then sat on his bed, putting his face in his hands. He desperately hoped that this would help. Further, he hoped this wouldn't change things between them too much. She had been doing so well, particularly in light of recent events. He didn't want to set her back. Draco sighed in frustration. This whole bond was a mess – if he could free her now, he would.

Suddenly, he felt the bond flair up. Immediately, he stood and strode over to the lavatory door. "Ariella?"

"I'm sorry. I – I didn't realize the bond would react like this," she called back.

He opened the door and was not surprised to see her bent over her arm. A towel was crumpled on the ground around her feet. Immediately, he understood. She had tried to use his towel, his property, without permission. And she had tried to cover up directly before seeing him. It was no wonder the bond reacted the way it did.

Picking up the towel from the ground, Draco wrapped it around her shoulders. Replacing her hand with his on the mark, her hand immediately went to clutch the towel.

"You're forgiven," he spat, his voice harder for a moment.

"'m sorry you keep having to do…this. I – I know I'm a burden to you and – "

" – Ariella. Look at me," he said, stopping her, very serious. Only when she obeyed did he continue.

"You are not a burden to me. The bond may be, but you are not. I've told you before and I'll say it again. If you need anything, anything at all, just let me know. The worst I can say is "no." I'll usually take care of whatever it is you need. I promise."

"Thank you. I – I just hate that I always have to rely on you for everything."

"I can only imagine. I hate it too, from my end at least. I – I'm trying my best to allow you as much freedom as I can."

"I know and I'm incredibly grateful for that."

He nodded, acknowledging her comment.

"Ca – can I get dressed now?" she asked, shivering.

"Of course. Would you like me to bring the clothes here, or – "

" – No. Thanks though. I – I can go into your room."

Draco put his hand in hers, leading the way, making sure she was balanced.

Once in his room, Draco tried turning his back to her when he heard Ariella gasp. "You – I need permission. And help, maybe. Please," she explained. He stiffened, jaw clenching briefly, and nodded curtly.

Grabbing the pair of knickers and sweats, he went over to his servant and handed them to her, taking the towel and holding it up in front of her, attempting to give her some amount of privacy.

When she nodded to him, he next handed her the bra. She took it, just staring at him for a moment. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"You're welcome," he replied stiffly, meeting her eye before handing her the loose tee– shirt.

Slipping both pieces of clothing on, she nodded to him, and Draco balled up the towel, tossing it in the corner.

"How are you feeling now?"

"A bit better. Thank you."

"I'm sorry – "

" – I don't blame you, Draco," she repeated, giving him a small smile, attempting to reassure him.

"Why don't you get some rest? You'll probably feel better afterwards."

She nodded, heading towards the door. "I meant here," he said, stopping her.

"I – I can't sleep alone in your bed. I swore that to your father after I was sick and – "

" – I'm aware. I didn't mean alone."

"I – "

"Ariella, I won't ever force you, certainly not that way, and especially if we're alone. I just thought you might not want to go back to your room right now. Not after – "

"Thank you. I – I know you would never…I know you wouldn't. I – I'm just not used to it, I suppose."

"Understandable," he replied tersely. "Get some rest."

Getting into his bed, Ariella revelled in the softness and comfort. Draco pulled the covers over her, watching with interest and guilt as she curled into them, the bandage around the dark mark stark against the dark sheets.

Perhaps he would have to get her a blanket for her room. He couldn't change the bed, for his father would certainly notice that. But a blanket she could hide, if he ordered it. The only way it would be discovered was if she wasn't careful or if his father gave her different orders directly concerning it.

Shaking his head, Draco sat back in his desk chair. This was a mess. He could only hope things wouldn't get worse from here on out. He didn't know how much more either of them could handle, especially of these harsher demands. Yet something in his gut told him they would have to.

Sighing, Draco got into his bed, but only after casting an enlargement spell. Ariella shifted a bit, but didn't wake. He hoped she wouldn't react as badly if there was space between them. After all, the bond couldn't do anything since it technically was the same bed.

Turning out his lamp, Draco breathed in deeply, desperately trying to relax and fall asleep himself.