Trigger Warnings: Dubious Consent, Torture/Punishment

"Beware the Ides of March"…they bring an update for you! Enjoy!

Chapter 103:

Semi-Public Affairs

Ariella knocked on her younger master's door. A moment later, she entered the room, having been given permission. Even though she had been staying there, it was still the right thing…both politely and bond–wise to knock first. To be given permission to enter if he was in the room. It also reduced suspicion from anyone keeping a close eye on their movements.

"Did you need anything else from me, Sir?"

Draco looked up from his desk, puzzled that she was simply staying by the door. She was quiet, standing stiffly. He had told her to make herself comfortable within his room if it was just them or she was by herself. She had become more at ease within his room and with him, even despite the tension in the Manor. So for her to just be standing there, especially now…something was off. He placed his quill down, sitting up straight, and turning to face her.

"I'm fine, but are you?"

"I – can you help me?"

"Of course," he said, standing, glad she was asking him. Especially with how things had been recently, he was grateful she was still choosing to trust him, to come to him for help. Regardless of the fact that he had ordered her to do so.

"I – I need to – are you sure?"

"Of course," he repeated. "Just tell me what you need," Draco implored of his servant.

"I – I think I need to – to please you. Sexually, I mean," she replied, embarrassed.

"May I?" he asked unnecessarily, taking her left arm in his hand as she nodded. He touched her mark and found that she was right. They needed to do more than last time – that is, not just simply sleeping with her. To play with levels to prove he was in charge. But worse – her submission had to be public.

Disgusted, he pulled back. "Can you wait a few moments?"

She nodded, puzzled as Draco went over to the hallway floo. Ariella watched, too far away to hear what he was saying.

"Nott."

"What is it, Malfoy?"

"Ariella."

"What's wrong?"

"She needs to submit to and serve me; sexually and through punishment, that is. And it needs to be public."

"What? Why would – "

"Would you be willing to be a witness? You won't like what I have to do."

"No, I – I can come now if you need me to," Theodore replied, grabbing his cloak.

"Thank you," Malfoy replied.

Ariella waited patiently for Draco to return. When he did, her master led her over to his bed.

"It – you're going to do more to prove your submissiveness. And it needs to be public."

"What?"

"I've called Nott over. I think that as long as there is a witness, we should be okay."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be. I don't blame you and neither does Nott," Draco repeated, his voice softer.

"He's right. I don't blame you at all," Theodore said, entering into the room. Draco made sure to lock and cast a silencing spell on the room as soon as Nott closed the door behind him. He wouldn't take any chances. Certainly not now.

She took a deep breath, looking to Draco. "What do I need to do?"

"Just follow my instructions. I'll guide you," he replied, before facing Nott. "I'm sorry."

"I understand."

"Stand against the wall, back to me," he instructed. She complied, and Draco grabbed a belt from his dresser, not knowing another way to punish her without truly torturing her. He would be as gentle as the bond would allow.

"Ready?"

"Yes, Sir," she replied, and Draco saw her tense.

"Relax. It'll help," he said, watching as his command took effect.

Grasping the buckle of the belt, he swung it low, watching the leather end wrap around her right ankle. He repeated this on her other ankle, before moving to her knees, then her thighs, watching all the while to her reactions. Despite the command, she was tense, scared even. As he reached her sides, he winced as he heard her gasp, as he heard the sound of the belt hit hard as she tried to swerve away. Clearly it had hit a past patch of scars. Draco made sure to swing more carefully as he reached her other side, before dropping the belt. That was enough of that, even if he was dreading the next portion of this…show, even more.

"Ariella, take a moment to yourself, then come stand in the centre of the room."

Draco took that same moment to recompose himself. With everything going on with the war and how it was affecting them, especially her, to add this on top of it; it wasn't fair. He didn't see how she hadn't broken yet, but he was glad she hadn't.

Still a bit shaky, Ariella joined her master in the centre of the room Draco gave another singular nod to his friend before focusing on the next task at hand.

"Begin undressing me," he directed then. She took another deep breath as they faced each other, their eyes meeting for a moment, before she quickly lowered them, beginning with his tie.

"Take your time. You can do this," Draco assured her. She nodded her thanks as he helped her divest himself of his shirt.

Draco then brought his hands to her waist, taking her shirt off as well.

"Kneel," he ordered stiffly. He hated what he was about to force her to do. But it needed to be done. He didn't know of another way.

While she obeyed, Draco shed everything but his boxers.

"Ariella, I'm sorry," he said, stepping up to stand directly in front of her, before hardening his voice.

"Use your mouth," he ordered. She looked confused until he slipped off his remaining article of clothing. She scrambled back a bit, refusing to look at his body.

"N – no! I – I don't even know how. And why – "

" – Ariella, calm down," Theo said, and her gaze snapped to his.

"It'll be okay," he assured her. "Take it slowly," he said, exchanging a glance with his roommate who nodded once.

Nodding shakily, Ariella obeyed. Draco lightly placed a hand on her head, gently but firmly guiding her, hoping this was what the bond wanted. He felt sick forcing her like this.

Closing his eyes, Draco tried to let his body react without his mind in the way. It didn't work.

Ariella began to choke, unable to breath, and Draco guided her off of him, letting the kneeling girl catch her breath.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded shakily. "Dra – Sir? I don't need to do anything with Theo, do I? He just needs to watch, right?"

"Is the bond telling you as such?"

"I don't know. What else needs to be done?"

"Go ahead and strip down, everything but the bra, then lie on my bed," he replied. He would rather use his bed than transfigure the cot right now. It would be more comfortable and steady beneath them.

Ariella complied and as she did so, Draco walked over to Theo, wrapping a towel around his waist momentarily, though there wasn't really need.

"If the bond compels her to serve someone else in my presence, to prove her complete submission, now or another time, would you be…comfortable with it?"

"Not comfortable. I can't imagine you feel right doing this either. But I would be willing. You know I would never force her beyond whatever you and that stupid bond tell me to. If you need me, I would do it. Besides – she's freaking out enough as is. It's better if it's someone she knows and trusts."

Draco nodded his thanks as mutual understanding passed between the young men. He then returned to the bed, where Ariella lay almost naked on his sheets once more, comforter pushed aside neatly. She looked in pain, but from the bond or the position, Draco couldn't tell.

"You're doing well," he said quietly as he took his position.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice small, sounding choked. Draco realized she was trying not to cry; she was certainly embarrassed and in pain and probably didn't want the bond to react, thinking her ungrateful or resistant.

Feeling the urge to make sure it worked this time, he carefully and gently took her wrists, guiding them above her head, keeping his eyes on her at all times to gauge her reactions. He hoped that the more in control he appeared to be, and submissive she appeared, the less the bond would react negatively.

"Ready?"

She nodded, taking a deep breath.

"Relax," he whispered purposely, watching as her body obeyed.

Ariella spread her legs as Draco placed a hand in between them. She flinched, but didn't move away from him. She wasn't scared of him. Now she needed to prove it.

"You're not ready."

"I – I'm okay. I don't really understand what you mean, but I'm fine. I promise," she replied.

He nodded, not entirely convinced, but trying to just get them through this.

Slowly but seemingly forcefully, Draco entered his servant.

Theo hated this. He couldn't believe he was even here, acting as a witness. This was wrong, all of it: the bond, her forced submission – the only part he was partially consoled with was that Malfoy didn't seem to like it any more than he did, and Ariella seemed to trust him.

"You're fine. Just – please tell me what I need to do to make this – better for you," she asked of him uncomfortably. Both boys grimaced, but nothing more was said. They both knew why she was asking.

"I'll let you know if I do require anything else from you of that nature," he replied, choosing his words carefully so as not to upset the bond.

She nodded, only somewhat comforted. Draco continued, and Ariella closed her eyes, waiting for it to be over.

A sharp pain in her arm caused the servant to hiss only a second later, curling upward, and Draco immediately stilled his motions.

"I – I don't think I can just let you – "

" – but that first time, it did," he interrupted.

"I don't know."

Draco frantically thought. He really didn't want to involve Nott if he didn't have to and he wasn't sure what to have her do.

He prayed to Merlin this wasn't how it would have to be going forward. That a witness wouldn't always have to be here, that she wouldn't need to be this…involved. But he didn't know what to expect anymore, especially from the bond. Every time he thought he had figured out a part of it, something else changed or was added; it was infuriating.

Placing his hands gently on her hips, he moved her body as carefully as he could with his motions as he entered her again and again, searching her eyes and face for some sign that this was working.

Draco continued to thrust in and out of her, leaning on one arm as he lightly ran a hand over her chest. She was trembling beneath his touch.

"Relax," he ordered purposely, watching as the bond calmed her body once again. "Better?"

She nodded, still nervous.

"Ariella, it's just the two of us here. Neither of us is aiming to harm you."

"I know. I'm just nervous and scared. Not of either of you, just – "

"You're okay."

"Thank you…Sir," she said, quickly added the title.

"May I continue?"

She nodded, lowering her gaze and whispering, "I'm sorry."

"We understand," Theo said quietly. Taking a steadying breath, Draco continued. He was shaking himself. It wasn't fair. To any of them. But he didn't know enough about the bond to know if he could fight this part of it and that scared him.

He swallowed hard and closed his eyes again, willing his body to cooperate. He simply focused on the movements and wished this were over.

She whimpered when he finally pulled out. "Easy," he whispered, though to her or himself, he couldn't say. Disappearing into the washroom, he returned with a wet cloth, beginning to wipe her body down. He pretended not to notice her shut eyes, the tear tracks on her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," he heard her whimper, though to whom she was apologizing, it was unclear.

"Don't be. This isn't your fault. I'm glad I can help make it easier," Nott responded, his voice soft but firm. Gentler than Draco had ever heard it before; then again, they were hardly at school, nor in a "normal" situation. "I'll be around to help. Promise."

"Thank you," Draco said quietly in response, moving to firmly grasp his friend's hand. Their eyes met and understanding passed between them.

"I'll be in touch," Nott said in farewell, before heading for the floo in the hall once more.

"What do you need or want?"

She just shook her head at the question.

"Ariella, answer me please."

"I don't know." Her voice was choked and raw. Draco swallowed hard as he came and sat at the edge of his bed.

"Bath, pain potion, or sleep," he said simply. He had a feeling in her state, giving the simple options was the best way to move forward.

"Could I just have that cloth again? To wipe my body down a bit more? Then sleep please…Sir," she requested in reply.

Draco immediately summoned a new damp cloth and handed it over, helping her to sit up next to him.

"Thank you. I know you don't want this. I'm sorry."

"Nott had it right. This isn't your fault."

She was trembling and still looked in pain.

"Go ahead and lie down when you're ready. Sleep. I'm going to wash up myself and then I have work to do."

"Yes, Sir. Though…where's the cot?" she asked, seeing he had yet to transfigure it for her.

Her master simply shook his head. "I meant in my bed. I won't be sleeping in it right now, so you won't be breaking any rules."

"You're sure? Sir?" she questioned, staring at him for a moment, flinching as the bond stung her for…questioning him, on an order no less. But there was something else there, too, Draco realized. Though what, he couldn't say quite yet, even if he had his suspicions.

"Yes. I don't mind." It may be hours until I need it yet, he thought privately.

"Thank you, Sir." He watched as she rose and continued to wipe furiously at her body, before giving up and fetching her pants and trousers from "her" corner of his room and dressing enough to be comfortable, before returning to his bed.

Draco stood, adjusting the blankets and nodding his consent once more.

"Are you sure you don't need anything from me? Sir?"

He shook his head gently. "Sleep," he said simply, his voice softer than it had been in a long time.

"Thank you, Sir," she repeated as she curled into his bed.

Draco sighed, running a hand down his face as he returned to his lavatory, turning the water on to scalding. He hated this. All of this. The bond, the Death Eaters, the…weakness that seemed to be filling him.

He gave up and turned the water off. As he dried off, Draco felt his Dark Mark burn. A summons. He dressed quickly and with a last glance at his now–sleeping servant, left to meet the others now destroying his home. Looked like he was in for a raid that night. Bloody fantastic.