Chapter 100:

Liability Preparation

Draco took a deep breath and sighed, attaching a scroll to his owl's leg, sending him into the night air. It was nerve–wracking, sending that letter to his aunt, telling her it was ready. Just to be sure, he had sent Ariella and himself through the passage way a few more times each. He had to be certain. Watching the owl become a speck in the sky, he knew the night would happen before the week was up.

He had to finalize the plans before then. How he was going to get the Headmaster alone, let alone disarm the man. He was one of the most revered and powerful wizards alive. Regardless of how he personally felt about his headmaster, he didn't want to kill the man.

Even more importantly, he had to figure out what to do with Ariella. He didn't want her anywhere near the events that would be happening. But he also knew that she would have to be.

He was exhausted and tired of all of this, of playing this…cruel, life–threating game. He knew it wasn't over, not by a long shot. It was nerve–wracking and tedious and making him paranoid.

"Draco?"

He turned sharply, wand drawn.

He lowered it only when he realized who stood before him. He breathed what he hoped was not a visible sigh of relief.

"Theodore."

"I know you've been hiding things from me. I know you've been keeping secrets all year. I respect that, and I've tried not to pry too much. I know you want to protect yourself, your family. But I need to know what's going on."

Slowly, Draco nodded, knowing his friend was right; if there were anyone who…deserved to know, it was Theodore Nott. "Fine. Come with me."

Body tense, he led his sole friend to the Room of Requirement. Only once inside did he begin talking, gesturing for the other student to take a seat.

"You already know I took the Dark Mark over the summer. I was assigned a task by the Dark Lord. If I don't complete it, he'll kill me. He'll kill my mother."

"What is this task?"

"Get Death Eaters into Hogwarts and kill the headmaster."

"Kill Dumbledore? Are you mad?"

"He's already been more than…patient. I should be…grateful that he's given me this long."

"Grateful?"

"It'll most likely happen within the week."

Nott's eyes widened. "You figured it out then?"

"Only just. Ariella's helped. I was sending out the letter to my aunt when you found me."

"I fear asking this, but can I help?"

He slowly nodded. "Keep Ariella away as much as you can. Protect her. Keep her safe. I don't want her near this. Unless she feels the compulsions to do so, I can't have her near that night."

"It'll happen, then? Death Eaters in Hogwarts?"

Draco nodded. "I don't like it. I – I don't want to. But I have to."

"I know."

"You'll help me then?"

Nott nodded solemnly. "Of course. I don't like it, but I know you don't have a choice. Your life is at risk."

"Thank you."

Harry was growing worried, restless, and…well, according to Ron and Hermione, paranoid. He needed to find out what Malfoy was up to. He needed to see if Ariella could tell him anything. She was…distant recently.

He stood under the invisibility cloak, trying to gain access to the room Ariella had previously shown him. He couldn't get in, though why was unknown. He kept quiet though. Not wanting to draw attention to himself.

That was when Malfoy came around the corner. He placed a hand over the keyhole, muttering something he couldn't hear. As quickly and quietly as he could, Harry slipped in behind him, praying he wouldn't be detected.

Draco glanced around. He didn't relax. He breathed once deeply to calm himself, before quietly summoning his servant.

Harry startled as Ariella suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. She was on the floor, breathing hard. He watched as she slipped back onto her knees. As, without even looking at her, Malfoy held out his hand, palm up. He didn't know how he felt about this. All of it, especially how…automatic is seemed to be.

She took his hand, standing silently, crossing her arms loosely as she looked at him.

"Are you ready?"

"I'll do whatever you need me to. Sir."

"It's Draco when at school and alone," he reminded her. His voice was hard. But it wasn't at her. He was distracted.

Harry stiffened beneath the cloak.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine, Sir," she replied without even thinking about it. Draco didn't quite believe her.

"Let me see."

"Sorry?"

"Let me see. I'm not going to debate this with you."

The servant swallowed hard. She turned and lifted off her shirt.

Harry's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. How…wrecked her back was. He didn't want to look but he also couldn't tear his eyes away.

She winced. The mark burned. Why, she couldn't say.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"It didn't…it wasn't bothering me more than usual. Sir."

Draco's brow furrowed a bit as he stiffened, freezing for a bit. The way she added the honorific…it was an afterthought. As if the bond prompted her. He could tell the bond was flaring. It didn't make sense. Unless…

"Homenum Revelio."

The spell swept across the small room. Harry tried grabbing onto the cloak. Though it didn't even try to move off, he watched as his peer stalked towards him and grabbed at the air. Malfoy pulled the cloak from his adversary.

"Harry?"

"Did you let him in?" Draco asked, turning his head towards his servant, wand still raised, pointed at Potter.

"No! I swear."

"She didn't! I snuck in behind you. She had no part of me being here."

"Why are you here?"

"I don't have to justify to you."

Draco was furious and just a bit embarrassed; not that he would ever admit to the latter emotion. He hated what had happened. The position they were now in. He would have to make sure to adjust and reinforce the security on this room.

They were both looking towards him. He could see Potter's hand clenched around his own wand; Ariella was trying to prevent covering up, from slipping to her knees…in short, from acting more submissive.

"Ariella, what do you need right now?" he asked, controlling his tone as he spoke, inquiring more for Potter's sake than theirs.

"Punishment, Sir."

"Why?"

Harry wanted to intervene. But he didn't know what he could do. Ariella wasn't even looking at him, though Malfoy still had his wand pointed directly towards him.

"I spoke…openly in front of another. I showed my back to another. Both without permission."

"Malfoy, she didn't know I was here. You're not seriously going to punish her for my mistake."

"I am. And you're going to watch. I don't trust you to administer it properly yourself." He stalked forward, closer to his peer. "You claim to be her friend, to want to help her. But all you do is hurt those around you. Your actions, your decisions, have consequences. You can't to play the hero this time, Potter."

With that last statement, Draco sharply turned, a cold sneer on his face. He came to stand in the middle of the room. Making eye contact with his servant, back to Potter, he mouthed,

'Brace yourself. Make it hurt.'

She shakily nodded. He returned it with one curt nod; she lowered her gaze and placed her hands on the wall, turning her scarred back to the boys behind her.

He would keep it relatively light. Not that Potter would know that. "The Cruciatus. You will not attempt to fight it off."

"Yes, Sir."

Harry winced as he watched his friend crumple to the ground as the curse hit her. She writhed under it, screaming. He wanted to stop it. But this was happening because of him; because he hadn't stopped to think of what may happen to her.

And then it was over. Her screams were still ringing in his ears though.

Ariella gasped for breath, her whole body heaving as she tried to refocus.

"Get out," Malfoy snarled towards him. Harry took one last fleeing look at his tortured friend and fled.

"Stick with Nott. Unless you absolutely feel the need to, or in an emergency, do not leave this room."

"But – but shouldn't I be with you? Helping you?"

Draco avoided looking at her. "Not tonight. It's going to be dangerous. I don't want you in the line of fire."

"I…Draco, I do appreciate your concern for my safety. But it's my job to help you, to keep you safe as well."

Slowly, Draco nodded. "I understand that. I still don't want you near this. You'll stay away."

"Are – "

" – yes, I'm sure. You'll obey me, Ariella," he cut across harshly.

She flinched. "Yes, Sir."

"Right. You have my permission to use your wand as you need to."

"Thank you, Sir."

A knock on the door sounded. Draco opened it, gratefully letting in their friend with a hard handshake. "Nott."

"Malfoy. Ariella."

"Hello, Theo."

"Thank you for staying with her," expressed Draco, glad, if disconcerted a bit, that he trusted the other so.

"Good luck. I'll see you after."

"One more thing. If I summon her, and she'll know if it's me, you may want to consider either coming with her or else finding somewhere to lay low immediately."

"Understood. Be cautious."

With a curt nod, Draco left the two alone. He was nervous, scared. He had to stop his hands from shaking as he entered the Room of Requirement to meet the Death Eaters. Regardless of whether or not he could actually complete the task, tonight would mark a change for all of them.