Trigger Warnings: Talk of Dubious Consent

Chapter 98:

The Days After

Ariella shifted, gasping as she felt pain shoot through her abdomen. Clenching her jaw, the witch began to get up when she paused, taking in her surroundings.

Beginning to feel panic rising, she began stumbling her way towards the door when she heard a familiar voice call her name softly. She turned to face Draco, who stood by his bed, hands raised to show he meant no harm. He looked as though he had just woken himself, if his dishevelled state were anything to go by.

"Ariella? Are you okay?"

"I – "

Draco recognized the panicked look and quickly changed pace. "Take a deep breath. Calm down. We're alone and relatively safe. I won't hurt you."

As the bond forced her to obey, Draco saw her visibly relax in response. "Now, how are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. It still stings, but I think the bond might be happy. For the moment at least."

He nodded. "Did you sleep well?"

She nodded in response. "Thank you."

"Ariella, if you need this again, I don't want you to be scared of me. I don't like it, but I will do what is required."

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

"May I see your arm? I want to check the bond."

"Of course," she replied, coming to stand by him, bowing her head briefly.

Draco looked around once inside the bond. For now, the bond was satisfied. But it wouldn't stay that way forever.

"You're okay for now. Let me know if you need anything."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

"Do you feel well enough to move on today?"

"I think so. I mean, it – it hurts a bit, but I'm alright."

"Why don't you spend the morning here? Cleaning, organizing, and the like, until we have to go back. We'll be leaving within the hour anyway," he suggested, moving about his room to gather up proper day clothing.

"I – alright. Thank you, Sir."

"Do you want a pain potion?"

"No. I – if it gets worse, I'll ask you for one. I promise."

He just nodded. "If you need anything from upstairs, have a house elf get it for you, or else ask me to summon it for you. I don't want you doing that journey right now if you don't have to."

"Thank you, Sir. I – I'll make sure we're ready to leave within the hour."

She paused for a moment as Draco began tugging on his trousers and collared shirt. He looked up at the moment of silence. "Ariella? You can ask or say whatever it is."

"Do you want these back?" she asked, tugging at the clothing she wore on her body…his clothing.

"No. You can have them as long as you want. And I – next time we're in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, I'll buy you proper clothing. Or let you go to do so."

"Oh. I – I wasn't asking for you to – "

" – I know you weren't. But you should have it nonetheless."

"Thank you, Sir. I do appreciate your…gifts. Do I…do I owe you anything?"

"For the clothing? No. Last night was more than sufficient."

She flushed, but nodded shakily. "This isn't the only time we're going to have to do this, is it?"

Draco sighed briefly, looking over at her. "No. I don't believe it is. But we'll get through it."

"Are you angry with me?"

"What? Why would I be?"

"Because I forced you to – to do something you didn't want to do. To have sex with me."

Draco rose, walking to stand directly in front of her. Gently, he tilted her head up, forcing her to look at him directly. "You didn't force me. The bond did. And I complied to keep it happy, to keep you safe...keep us safe. It may not have been what I…what we wanted, but I don't regret my decision."

Ariella swallowed hard. "Thank you," she replied, her voice hoarse.

Theodore bumped into his friends just as they approached the Common Room entrance.

"What happened?" Nott asked. He could see the haggard look on both of their faces. Draco just shook his head.

"Malfoy – "

" – not here. Come with me up to our room."

He looked between them and nodded. Something had happened, something bad. He watched as Draco turned towards Ariella, his voice not as cold as Theo was used to hearing.

"Ariella, use the rest of today however you wish. Just relax and…recover. If you need anything from me, just ask. Understood?"

"Y – yes, Sir," she replied, her voice soft…small. She bowed her head to him and both boys noticed she was shaking, however hard she was trying not to show it.

Draco took a step closer to her and lowered his voice, conscious of the eyes on them as students passed by the hallway, but he chose to ignore them. Let them talk; he had bigger problems. "If you want to go to your room, just ask some house elves to bring you food, a bath…whatever you feel you want or need. I'll join you if I need you or if you need me. If you do need me, just ask through the bond."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you."

She was nervous, that much he could tell. Draco watched her leave, making sure she was steady enough to be walking on her own, before leading the way up to their dorm room.

"Malfoy?"

Draco didn't respond as he heard his classmate close the door. He checked to make sure they were alone, before casting an anti–eavesdropping spell on the room. He then dropped onto his bed, yanking at his constricting tie.

"Malfoy, what happened?"

"I turned of–age this weekend. I was summoned back to the Manor, to meet with the Dark Lord. Ariella was summoned, too. But while we were there, a part of the bond began to flare up. The bond's been…requesting an action from me for a while now, especially since she became of–age. But now that we're both, it doesn't care anymore. It demanded the act be completed."

"And what was this act?" Nott asked fearfully.

"Having sex with a Master."

Theodore paled. "You can't be serious. You didn't…tell me you didn't."

"I didn't have a choice. Neither of us wanted it. But I – I had to force her to sleep with me."

"The bond forced you…it forced you both. It – Merlin, why?"

"I don't have a solid reason."

"But…"

"But I believe it was to show my…dominance, my power over her. To…claim her. Properly."

"That's revolting."

"It is. And I have no doubts that is the only time we'll have to sleep together. The bond wants this and, for once, doesn't particularly seem to care about my wants. Normally I can override the bond, to some extent at least, but not this time."

They were silent. "There's more, isn't there?" Nott prodded.

Malfoy nodded, his face drawn. He hated showing such emotion, but he trusted the other boy…certainly more so than any other of his classmates. "The bond likes giving pain. When I – while we were – it caused her so much pain. I did what I could to lessen it, but…she didn't want that in the first place and now, to continually have to ask her to…"

"This isn't your fault, Draco. Whatever else happens, this, the bond's demands, aren't your doing. Even I can see that."

"That doesn't make this better. But I – I have to be the one to do this. The only other option is my father…and there's no bloody way I'm letting her go to him for this. Not if I can do something instead."

"It wants her to go to your father?"

"He is her other master…her head Master, technically."

"Merlin, that's even worse. Why won't it let you refuse, though? I thought the bond had to obey you."

"I don't know. It's different. I can't explain it."

"Is there…is there anything I can do?"

"Not yet. I dread telling you not at all, because I have a bad feeling that at some point, I may have to ask that favour of you."

"I told you, I'll do it. I may not like or agree with it, but I'll do what I have to do to make sure she's safe…to make sure you're both safe."

"Thank you," Draco replied, his voice hoarse, but sincere as he finally looked back up at his classmate…his friend.

"I am sorry, Malfoy."

"So am I. I didn't want to…I didn't want to…I – " he began uncharacteristically muttering.

" – Draco. You didn't have a choice. Not really. You were forced into having sex just as she was. Please stop beating yourself up about this. The bond, this act, they are not your doing."

He didn't respond.

"Ariella, can we talk?"

Her head jolted up to find Theodore standing in the doorway. Slowly, she nodded.

"Malfoy told me what the bond forced you to do," he began, noting how she paled.

"Oh."

"Are you okay?"

"I suppose. I feel guilty."

"Why?"

"Because he didn't want that. He was forced into having sex to help me. I feel dirty that he had to. I…I didn't want him to."

"I think you need to talk to him. Neither of you are at fault. The bond is."

"But – "

" – but nothing. This isn't your doing. You didn't force him and he didn't force you. The bond forced both of you."

Ariella stayed silent; she was shaking a bit.

"Can I ask? Was this – "

" – my first time? Yes. And I…I'm scared for next time," she admitted.

"I really think you should talk to him. Malfoy – Draco – isn't cruel. He doesn't want you in pain."

"I know that. I know he isn't his father. It's…why I feel so bad."

"And you're sure it'll have to happen again?"

"Almost positive. And it seems like he was putting off…initiating this part of the bond as long as possible."

"Bloody hell…"

Ariella snorted.

"I'm sorry. If I can help, if you need someone…"

"I know. Thank you."

Meanwhile, Pansy approached her boyfriend. "Happy Birthday. Did you like my present? I left it on your bed when you went home."

"I got it. Thank you." He did like the item. It had been a leather-bound, personalized journal with multiple charms to keep out prying eyes. It came with a matching quill-and-ink set.

"I've got another gift if you want," she continued, tracing her nails lightly up his arm. Draco couldn't contain the shudder than ran through him. Right now, the thought of sex, with anyone, didn't sit well with him.

"Perhaps later. I'm busy. I have a lot of catching up to do, since I was away."

"Ariella?"

Her head jolted upwards to see her master standing in the doorway. She immediately lowered her head again.

"How can I help you, Sir?"

"We need to talk. About the bond's changes and about what happened over the weekend."

She stiffened, but nodded. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Whatever are you sorry for?" he asked, puzzled as he came to sit in the desk chair.

"For forcing you to have sex with me. I…I wish you hadn't," she answered quietly, trailing off at the end.

He leaned forward. "I told you the day after and I'll tell you now: I don't regret it. It was what needed to be done."

"Draco – Sir, please. I – "

" – what is it?"

"I don't know what I'm doing. How to…comply with the bond's new demands and requests."

"Alright," he said slowly. "That I can work with. We'll help each other through it."

"I know. I know you'll help me."

"What are you so scared of?"

"Disobeying the bond. Of…of having sex again."

"Are you scared of me?"

She hesitated only a brief moment before shaking her head. He stayed silent, letting them both think in the quiet room.

"Nott suggested we talk."

"I know. He came to see me; he told me you told him what happened."

"Does that anger you?"

"Anger, no. Embarrass, yes."

"Why?"

"Do you have to ask?"

He didn't have a reply to that.

"Did it hurt when the bond reacted…?'"

"Me?"

She nodded. "It looked like I hurt you at some points."

"I'm fine. Though…I am tentative to put you through that again."

"I can take it. I have to."

"That wasn't what I meant."

"Why would you agree? You don't want me as your servant, and I know you don't want me sexually. Why would you agree to meet the bond's demands? Especially this one?"

"Why are you fighting me so hard on this?" Draco asked in response. Something wasn't right here.

"Because I hate this. I feel so guilty. I don't want you to have to – "

" – stop. Ariella, it's fine. It's my job to make the bond happy."

"You don't have to, though."

"If it means you going to my father, then I certainly do. I am not a monster."

"I never said you were."

"Ariella, please. I'm not…," Draco took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. It wouldn't do for this much emotion to be shown, for him to be out of control. He collected his thoughts before speaking again.

"With the way the bond ties us, I do have certain responsibilities and requirements to fulfil, just differently than you do. Will you let me do this?"

Slowly, she nodded.

"Alright then. You'll let me know then, the next time you feel off?"

"Yes, Sir."

"About the bond's changes. Have you felt anything else new yet?"

The servant paused for a moment. "Not really, Sir. There's a pull to do more, ask for how I can be of more service or more subservient, but it's not truly a change, not yet at least."

"It wants more obedience and submission from you?"

"As far as I can tell."

Draco sat back. He didn't know how much else to give her, or what else to give her, at least while they were at school.

"I don't seem to need it yet, though."

Draco nodded once. He understood what she was saying. "Alright. Let me know if and when it becomes worse. Otherwise, what you are doing as of now is serving my needs sufficiently," he replied slowly, making sure to word it so that not only she, but hopefully the bond, would understand where he stood, that he wasn't asking for more right now.

However, he had a feeling they hadn't fully resolved the matter of the bond's changes, not by a long shot, but right now, it was too soon. They both needed time and space to come to terms with what had happened.