Chapter Trigger Warnings: references to torture

Chapter 119:

Lack of Summons

"How long should it be before she begins to respond to me…normally again?"

Draco raised an eyebrow across the dining table. "She should have already returned to treating you…normally. It's been two weeks."

"Then why hasn't she?"

"You'll have to ask her."

"I'm asking you. You have more experience with her and in dealing with the bond."

"I may, but you're her friend. Just ask her. If you're really against it, I can remove the adjustment – your official tie to it – after the war. I won't do it before."

"Malfoy, I get it. I just don't know how much of her recent behaviour is bond-triggered and how much is emotion-triggered."

"It's not that easy. I'll address it with her next time, but you should, too," Draco compromised. "Can we please table this discussion now? I can feel the Carrows' eyes on us. Wouldn't shock me if they've cast an eavesdropping spell on us at some point."

Grateful he was far enough along at Hogwarts to have a "free period", Draco entered "Ariella's" room, words of frustration dying on his lips as he found her bent over the bed. Her back was to him, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly and she was heaving, trying to catch her breath back.

What in Merlin's name had happened? Slowly, he walked over to her, placing a hand as gently as he could on her shoulder. Funny – he doubted without situations like this, he ever would have thought to gentle like this with someone.

Despite his intentions, she still jerked away sharply from him. Her brown eyes were glassy and the hand he had laid on her shoulder was damp, with what he could only hope was simply sweat.

"Sorry, Sir."

"You should wash up. Here," he offered his arm to her, "let's get you into the lavatory."

She shook her head, somewhat frantically, wincing as she didn't take her Master's suggestion.

"What is it?"

"I don't want to go there right now. Please."

"Are you steady enough to tell me what happened at least?"

She nodded and allowed him to move her so she sat at the foot of the bed. Summoning a wet cloth, Draco handed it to her. He watched carefully as she removed the old robe and began to wipe the cloth across her skin.

"It was two-fold. Your father isn't happy that the bond's been adjusted."

"I'm surprised it took this long for him to summon you over it," he admitted, taking a seat next to her. Though that didn't explain her reluctance to move into the loo.

"I know. I am, too, to be honest. I – I expect you'll be hearing from him yourself soon."

"I expect so. What was the second thing?"

"The Dark Lord."

Draco stiffened. "What about him?"

"Have you ever noticed how I don't feel the Dark Mark's burn when you're summoned?"

Draco thought about it, realizing it was true; almost every time he had been summoned by the Dark Lord, she hadn't had the same reaction; hadn't felt the same summons.

"I thought that was on purpose?"

"It was…but I – that doesn't mean he's happy with me. Either of them. I don't understand it."

"You were brought before Him, weren't you?"

She nodded.

"Is that why you're shaking so much?"

She just nodded again. Explaining what had occurred wasn't easy when she didn't understand it herself.

"But that wasn't what you came to find me for, was it?"

"We don't have to talk about that now," he replied easily, if stiffly.

"I need something to take my mind off what just came back from. Please, Sir."

"First, tell me what the Dark Lord wanted."

"For me to respond better to you. For me to do better at infiltrating the…student rebellion and reporting back. He said to…be aware that he'll be checking in more frequently, to ensure I am obeying him."

"Was that it?"

"After that, it was just punishment, Sir. Punishment and using me as an example."

"Very well. Why haven't you been addressing Nott normally? Especially, if my father hasn't addressed it until today."

"It just doesn't feel right." He noticed how she'd begun to fidget with the edge of the blanket again.

"Doesn't feel right to the bond? Or to you?"

"I hardly tell the difference anymore. What's happening?"

Draco sighed, letting more show than he would have liked. "I don't know. I do know he hates it. I can't blame him. I hardly like it when you act like that, but I understand."

"Imagine if we were living in a different time period."

"We aren't, thank Merlin. Focus, Ariella. There has to be some signal you can read."

She shifted as his words grew sharper. Draco's brow furrowed just a bit. "Are you scared of Nott?"

"Not of him. Of what the bond may force him to do now, of how it may force him to act. I suppose I thought, especially given how new it is, if I acted more subservient, perhaps the bond wouldn't force him as much. And it – it can't hurt for the Carrows to see me showing another Slytherin deference."

"Is it compelling you to act in such a manner?"

The fidgeting grew worse.

"Not to the degree that I've been showing."

"Did my father say anything about it?"

"Not about how I should act towards Theo, Sir."

"Then stop. It's unnecessary and unwanted."

She didn't respond; for some reason, that made him even more nervous. But he wouldn't push it; not now.

"Do you need me to treat you?"

Her body made an odd jerking motion in response.

"Ariella?"

"I – there isn't much you can do this time, Sir."

"The Cruciatus?"

"Among others, Sir. But most in the same…theme."

"My aunt helped, didn't she?"

"Many of the Death Eaters in attendance did."

Draco paled. Shite. It was worse than he thought.

"I don't think it was enough, either. I think – I think you may have to do…something."

"No. Absolutely not. You're still shaking." He summoned a glass of water, something he meant to do earlier. She took it gratefully; he watched carefully in case it slipped.

"I honestly don't think it was enough. Especially since others were involved."

"But my father, he punished you, too, did he not?"

"He did," she confirmed. "But he reprimanded me prior to my audience with the Dark Lord. And I don't think your father actually gave me the correct permissions before the meeting."

"Tomorrow then. I'll take care of it tomorrow. I'm going to ask again: do you need me to treat you?"

She hesitated, before shaking her head again. "No, thank you, Sir."

He didn't believe her. But he wouldn't push; not tonight at any rate.

"Have things been any…better with the detentions?"

Draco moved to lean back, before realizing he was still on the bed. Shaking his head, he readjusted his body.

"Would it help if I were there? If you…offered me up, so to speak?"

"You're joking. Tell me that's a bloody joke."

"Why would it be? They may despise you, but they love getting to torture me, especially given my position to you, even more."

"You can't be serious. Ariella, putting yourself in even more danger. Isn't this what I've asked you time and again not to do?"

"Isn't it worth it if it keeps you safe? Safer."

"No. Not at the cost of – "

" – then order me not to die," she interrupted.

Draco froze. "It works like that?"

"You've done it before. I mean – I don't know to what extent it would work, but to stop me from dying from wounds or an – an overuse of the Cruciatus? It should hold."

Shite. She was right.

"Please," she pleaded. "I feel…useless. I appreciate your care, your attentiveness, but I feel useless not being able to do anything. I'm so used to following you, obeying you, receiving a summons…it's disconcerting to just be…waiting to be used at this point. And I – I can feel the bond's irritation at the lack of direction, Dr – Sir. I just want to support you."

Swallowing hard, he slowly nodded. Unfortunately, he both felt with her and was forced to acknowledge that she may in fact be right.

"Not until you're mostly recovered from…this," he said, waving a hand generically at her body. She winced, but shakily nodded in agreement.

"I'll let Nott know, so he's aware. Probably Longbottom, too, if I can. See if someone who knows the basics can be there with you."

"Thank you. I know you don't like him. Or letting me help like this."

"It's what needs to be done."

Glancing up at the clock, he sighed again. "Right. I've got class and you have a date with that bed. I expect Nott will be stopping by later today. Try to remember – I asked him to take on responsibility because of your friendship? He's not going to hurt you and he certainly doesn't want to be reminded of your inferior status."

"Yes, Sir. I understand. Thank you. Good luck in class," she replied, head down as she handed him his bag.

He adjusted his robes and gave a final curt nod before leaving, ensuring the door was firmly shut and hidden behind him. It was only once he was in class that he realized he still didn't have a reason for her refusal to enter the lavatory.