Trigger Warnings: Talks of Torture

Chapter 108:

Concealing Conversations

Draco could feel himself sinking lower. It was getting even harder to keep his head above water. To keep himself from drowning. It was like he was in a void.

"Malfoy. Malfoy! Hold up."

He slowed, mind still not focused, as he waited for his friend to catch up.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Malfoy. Don't pull that crap with me."

"Not here."

"Then when?"

Draco stopped suddenly, facing his roommate. "In between classes and dinner. Meet me after last class in the dormitory."

"You've been avoiding me. Why?" Theo said in place of a greeting as he entered that evening.

"Not here. Follow me. Make sure no one ever sees you," Draco replied, sparing a glance at the door.

Suspicious, Nott followed Draco to behind his bed, eyes widening in surprise as the wall opened. The two were quiet as they walked, not wanting to risk being overheard.

Only once they were safely in the private room did he talk.

"Why have you been avoiding me?"

"I'm trying to stay alive. You, of all others, should at least know some of what I've been dealing with."

"That doesn't explain why you're avoiding me."

"I'm just trying not to get myself…or anyone else…killed."

Nott eyed him for a moment. "How is she doing?"

I never should have agreed to let the Carrows take her, have her."

"We knew she would be hurt. It's not like there are many options right now."

"I should have done – "

" – done what, Malfoy? What could you possible do without making things worse?"

"Don't know. I don't know," he said, sinking into a seat.

Theo just watched, stunned. Even last year, Malfoy had mostly kept his composure. He had never seen his friend so…dishevelled, so wrought. But he also knew why. They all had so much on the line, but Malfoy didn't just have himself or his family to worry about. There was Ariella – whose life was literally at his fingertips.

"How is she?" he finally dared to ask again.

"Recovering. I don't visit often. I can't chance it. I just know it's going to be…awful when she returns."

"What if she didn't?"

"What are you talking about? Pomphrey isn't going to just let her stay all year."

"No," Nott replied slowly, carefully. "But she could hide out here. Or the kitchens. Hell, she could probably hide out in her room at the Manor. It's not like anyone would suspect her of being there." He paused for a moment. "She could even hide out at my place if needed. That certainly wouldn't be thought of."

Draco stayed silent, thinking. Part of him strangely wanted her close. Part of him wanted to get her as far away as possible. He hated himself for thinking of how much easier it might be without her…because of how much easier other things were with her. Not to mention this was hardly her fault; she hadn't asked to be enslaved to his family.

Ariella blinked against the harsh light of the secretive hospital wing room.

"Good to see you awake. How are you feeling?"

Her head whipped towards the wall, causing a wave of dizziness to roll over her. "F – fine, ma'am. How long have I been here?"

"Thus far, two weeks."

Her eyes widened slightly. What was happening to Draco because of her? How – how had she even gotten here? True, she had begun to have more and more lucid moments, but she was still unable to piece together what had occurred.

"I'll alert Mr. Malfoy you're awake. Try to drink the potion next to you."

"Yes, ma'am," she replied, her voice still hoarse.

The potion tasted vile, but she knew it was better than not taking it at all. Hopefully, it would help her, not hurt her.

"Malfoy. Stay after," the cruel voice ordered. Draco was unsurprised. He had been expecting this. Stoically, he walked to the front of the room, stiffly leaning against a desk.

"Yes?"

"You don't get to take that tone with us, boy," Amycus Carrow sneered. "Now, where have you been keeping your servant? It's no where and I want my toy back."

"She is not your toy. She's mine," he threw back, voice harsh. "And where she is, where she's been, is none of your business."

"Except that your father gave us unlimited permission to use it as we wish. For…demonstration, of course."

"Of course," repeated Draco mockingly. Carrow knew he had won though. Carrow knew Draco couldn't supersede his father's commands.

"Summon it. I know you can."

Draco felt trapped, but he obeyed. He didn't hold out his hand as Ariella arrived, hunched over and breathing hard, at his feet. He saw how she froze when she realized where they were.

"How can I serve you, Sir?"

"So it does know some manners," Carrow sneered, before promptly sending a cutting hex at her prone body. She screamed. Draco contained his wince.

"How does it feel to be lower than the mudbloods?"

Ariella didn't answer. What should she have answered with?

"Malfoy, leave us. It's time for some fun. Unless you're finally man enough to join in."

Draco stiffened and quickly weighed his options. Did he leave her alone or join in on the torture? He didn't know which would be worse.

He risked looking down, unsurprised to find her looking up at him. 'go'. She mouthed at him. She looked desperate, though he could hardly blame her.

Lip curling up, he left, questioning his decision.

Turning another corner in the library, Draco suddenly stopped short. In the row across from him, Longbottom was talking to some Ravenclaw. But the Gryffindor knew of Ariella's position. Though Longbottom was not the ideal person to ask for help…worse than Potter…it was necessary at this point.

Draco hid, ripping a piece of parchment from his bag. Hastily, he scrawled a vague note, and set it flying onto the open page of Longbottom's book. He then quickly snuck to the back corner directly before the restricted section.

He was unsurprised when Longbottom appeared with wand drawn.

"What the bloody hell do you want, Malfoy?"

Unable to believe he was doing this, Draco replied, "Help. For Ariella's sake."

Neville lowered his wand slightly.

"You know of her position with my family."

"If you mean I know she's your slave, then yes; I know that," Longbottom bit out, interrupting, voice harsher, stronger, than Draco was used to hearing from his classmate. However, he didn't react; simply continued as if he hadn't heard.

"She isn't safe. Moreso than usual. Moreso than the rest of us. I know you're hiding out somewhere, that's how you're getting away with the graffiti and pranks. I won't ask where – but can you get her in?" he asked tersely.

"You won't make her show you, will you?" Neville asked in reply.

"No; not unless she's in danger, and I'll forbid her from revealing it to the Carrows and the others. They'll only find out if you're more careless or if my father gets involved."

"Yes," Neville said simply in response.

From somewhere relatively close, a scream pierced the quiet of the library. Yet the boys barely flinched. Instead, for the first time ever to this classmate, Draco said, "Thank you".

Neville's eyes widened for a moment. His wand lowered just a bit more. "You care for her."

Knowing now wasn't a time to lie, Draco stiffly nodded. "We've grown up together. I'd be a fool if I didn't. Whether she'll listen is another matter."

"Can't you just order her to stay put?"

"I could. But that doesn't necessarily mean she'll listen."

"I don't understand. I thought she couldn't disobey."

"It's complicated."

Another scream sounded; cruelty the unfortunate norm now.

"Take her. I'll – where do I meet you?"

"Have her follow me after dinner."

Draco nodded curtly. "One more thing. She may be summoned out. In that case, I need you to get her back in. It might be wise to blindfold her going into the room. That way, even if questioned, she can't lie about knowing your lot's location."

"Noted." Neville paused awkwardly. "Thanks for the tip," he said stiffly.

"See you at dinner," ended Draco simply, sternly, as he left to go retrieve his tortured servant. Thank Merlin for stupid Gryffindor heroics.

Happy Halloween!