Chapter Trigger Warnings: torture, action and talk of dubious consent and rape

Chapter 110:

Winter Nightmare

Draco stormed through the door to his bedroom, slamming the door after Ariella followed through, only hearing as she dropped to the floor.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't mean to…I know I shouldn't have…"

"Ariella, what did you do?"

"I'm sorry," she pleaded, crumbling. "I spoke against Greyback, even though he had your father's permission."

"What were you thinking? You know better."

"Please, Sir. I need you to – "

" – I know he's a monster, but – "

" – Draco!" she shouted finally, immediately feeling the bond flare up.

He stopped, startled. Finally, he looked at her and noticed she was shaking, hunched over her own body. He noticed the tears.

"What did he want from you."

She looked down, shaking her head a bit. He squatted down in front of her. Something was wrong. He softened his tone. "Ariella…"

"I can't. It was just…I couldn't. I've been trying to be good. I swear, I've been trying to give in, just let them…torture me. But I – I couldn't do it this time. I – I'm sorry."

"What happened?"

"He wanted me to serve him."

"Serve him how?"

"Sexually. Or at least to help…satiate him as it grows closer to the full moon."

Draco paled, moving to fully sit on the floor.

"This isn't the first time he's tried. Him, Carrow, Lestrange. The only difference with him is that he's – "

" – a werewolf who loves the hunt. A man who lives to torture others."

She nodded. "I'm below them. They want to humiliate me."

"They like that," he agreed.

"I know. And normally, I try to just…just take whatever they give me, but I – I couldn't say yes to that. Not yet."

"You shouldn't have to."

"Draco, they have your father's permission to – to degrade me. To…use or punish me as they see fit."

"I know. It's why they can get away with so much at school. It's why I try to not to interfere too much."

"I understand. And I – I am grateful you're there for me in the aftermath." She paused, swallowing hard. "Will you punish me? I know your father probably will, but I – "

" – no. If he's going to, then I won't. Let me know when it's over and I'll help best I can."

"I'm sorry. I've been trying, I swear, but I – "

" – I know. I know you've been trying to stay out of trouble. I shouldn't have jumped down your throat like that."

"I know why you did."

"How far did Greyback get?"

"Touching; nosing at my neck. Lewd suggestions and comments. He's strong. And now he's even angrier; he's going to try harder to get me to – "

" – I won't let it come to that."

"You can't prevent him from hurting me, certainly not all the time. He doesn't like you; in fact he hates you. He's not going to listen to you. Or your father for that matter."

"I can try."

She shook her head softly, but muttered, "Thank you," at any rate.

He paused for a moment, before hesitantly asking, "Do you need to…to serve me sexually right now?"

"I was hoping you could tell me."

"Let me check the bond."

Ariella held out her arm for him; he took it and probed into the bond.

It was all but screaming at her; certainly demanding punishment. For now, however, it was not demanding that level of submission. Yet. Though why, considering how long it had been, he didn't know…nor did he really want to look into it.

Draco pulled away. "We can take care of it now if you want; or we can put off punishment until the weekend; until after we've seen what my father doles out. Your choice."

"Do we need to have sex now?"

"No. Though it won't be long until we do."

"What if…what if you delivered a punishment now, a smaller one, and then deal with the rest of the punishment and the sexual needs come the weekend?"

Slowly, Draco nodded. "I'll agree to that. Do you want food first, or the punishment?"

"The punishment," she replied immediately.

"Very well. Give me your wand. You are confined to this room for the next day and a half. You are not to eat dinner; water is fine. If you wish food tomorrow, either myself or a house-elf must bring it. You are permitted to leave the room if summoned or in an emergency situation. You're forgiven for using my name earlier."

"Yes, Sir. I understand. Though I – I don't have my wand on me. It still disappears from my possession if I have it on me anytime I enter the Manor."

He gave a curt nod in reply.

"Right. Now that that's settled, but what else do you need from me?" he inquired, rising to his feet and stretching.

"Nothing, Sir. Not that I can think of at any rate."

"Do you want to wash?"

Slowly she nodded again. Draco jerked his head in the direction of his lavatory. "Go ahead. Use whatever you need to feel clean. Call out if you need help."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir."

"Isss girly feeling okay?"

Ariella jumped as she heard the hissing voice behind her. Carefully, she turned to face the Dark Lord's own pet. Slowly, she nodded.

"I isss hearing thingsss. Isss girly needing help?"

"No, thank you."

"Very well."

Much to her surprise, the snake didn't leave, instead coiling up across from her. Watching her, watching those who would enter and exit. And strangely, even more to her surprise, she felt safe, even when being watched by the Dark Lord's right hand.

Ariella looked up as Draco entered his bedroom. She gave him a brief bow of her head in acknowledgement, before returning to the task before her.

When he didn't speak, she looked up again. He was holding himself stiffly, even for recent events. Something was wrong.

"Sir? Can I help you with something?"

His head whipped around to face her. "Come here."

Puzzled, she obliged, startled when he pushed her back onto the bed. Alarm grew when he climbed over her.

"Draco?"

She gasped as a stinging slap was delivered across her cheek.

"What have I told you about using my name?"

His voice was harsh, foreign.

Suddenly, clothes were gone and she was partially bound.

"Please don't," she whispered.

"Shut it. You don't have a say in this. You are here to serve. No more, no less. Or have you forgotten?"

Tears sprung at her eyes, both from words uttered and pain. What had happened?

"Draco?"

"Ah, Nott; come to join in the fun?"

Theodore took in the scene before him, unable to quite believe what he was seeing. "What's gotten into you?"

"Bloody hell, you've gone soft."

Theo took another look between his friends. Something was clearly wrong.

"Hardly. I just didn't think you'd want to share," he sneered, mask slipping easily into place.

"Sir?"

"I said 'shut it'! you should be grateful it's just Nott. I don't feel like sharing you further, though I certainly could. Not yet, anyway."

Fearfully, she nodded as her friend stepped up besides the bed. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. Now she had two men in her; but at that moment, she only felt guilty about one.

Theodore looked down as he pulled away, careful to hide his lack of arousal from Malfoy. Ariella coughed a bit, and kept her eyes shut.

"She's not very good, but do you want her?"

Cautiously, Nott nodded.

"Theo, please. You don't – "

A ringing slap interrupted her. "It's Sir. Nott is far above you in status and rank."

Now something was certainly wrong. But neither Ariella nor Theodore could prove it.

So he just nodded and moved positions, Draco watching with a cold gleam in his eye as his friend took his slave.

Theo kept his motions as gentle as he dared, unable to believe what he was now taking part in. Ariella suddenly tensed up, her mouth open in a silent scream, body arching towards his. Nott glanced over to see Malfoy with his wand pointed at Ariella, a twisted expression upon his pointed face. What had gotten into him?

A loud banging on the door interrupted them. "Malfoy, you're needed downstairs."

"Feel free to keep playing with her while I'm gone," he commented off–handedly as he left them alone.

Both waited as the door closed and footsteps faded. Theo leaned forward. "I am so sorry."

She shook her head. "No. I am. I never wanted you to have to do this."

"Don't worry about it. I'm glad to be able to help you."

"Still. I – I'm so sorry. I never wanted to force you."

"You didn't. I promise. This isn't on you."

She nodded slowly, not meeting his searching gaze.

"Can I move?"

"Of course. Why – "

" – I wouldn't – don't – want to hurt you further."

"I'm okay."

Even so, she winced as he pulled out and the bond's burning tore through her arm.

"How can I help?"

"I don't know."

"I'm going to wash off a bit. I'll be right back."

"Do I disgust you?"

Theo turned sharply. "No!"

"Please don't placate me."

"I'm not," he said, coming to sit next to her. "You do not disgust me, Ariella. You never have."

"But – "

" – nothing. I am disgusted by the situation. Not by you."

"Please. I know I'm not – "

" – you are pretty, Ariella. It doesn't matter – "

" – of course it does! No one wants me, Th – Sir! Not actually."

His expression hardened at the honorific – the forced honorific – before softening again. "You are a wonderful person, Ariella. You are strong and pretty and selfless. Anyone would be lucky to be with you; I'm lucky to be friends with you."

She smiled sadly at him. "Thank you. But I'm also a slave, Th – Sir. Please. I know I'm not desirable. But it still…I don't really even want that, but it still stings every now and then."

It was then Theodore realized just how open, how vulnerable, she was being with him. "I'm sorry. I don't know how to help."

"I'm not…it's fine. Thank you. I'm sorry for interrupting you…for putting this on you."

"You aren't putting anything on me. I'm your friend. It's what friends do. We support each other."

She just nodded gratefully and he turned to finally go into the lavatory. Moments later, she heard water running.

She was scared and saddened by what had just happened. She had never wanted her friend to become this involved, never wanted him to feel compelled to help, certainly not in this way. Yet here they were.