Chapter Trigger Warnings: implied/references to torture

Chapter 120:

Into Hiding

Ariella bent over the toilet bowl, feeling ill. Again. She had only been feeling worse and worse. Her back was reopening more frequently. The Death Eater meeting a week ago had left her in quite the state.

She wiped her mouth and slowly stood up. Re-entering her room, she stopped short upon seeing Neville Longbottom standing just inside the doorway.

He looked different. Gaunter, more weighed down, but also stronger. Hardened.

"Neville? What are you doing here?"

"Malfoy let me in. Are you okay?"

"I don't understand."

"We all know you've been tortured badly this year."

"And how is that different from what the Carrows have been doing to you?"

"You can't say no. Literally. When this is over, you will still be in the same position. Why do you think Malfoy, of all people, even bothered coming to ask for my help in the first place? My help, Ariella! He – he cares for you."

Ariella all but sagged in defeat and acknowledgement. She walked over to the bed and gingerly sat down on the edge. Neville followed suit.

"I don't have an answer. I don't know what you want me to say."

"Say you'll come hide out with the rest of us. Be safe."

She shook her head. "I can't. I'd just put the rest of you in danger."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I don't think so. I appreciate you checking in though."

"Of course," Neville replied easily, placing a hand on her shoulder.

What he wasn't prepared for was her hiss of pain; for the fabric to feel damp beneath his hand. Pulling away, there was a light stain of red.

"Are you bleeding?"

"Probably. It's nothing."

"Nothing? Ariella, I can help you. We have medical supplies; we've gotten good at healing spells."

"It can't be healed with a spell. They're cursed."

"Can I see?"

"It's bad. I don't think it's a good idea."

"Please? I won't hurt you."

She hesitated, before shaking her head again. "I don't have permission to show you. I'm sorry. I appreciate you asking, but I can't."

"Then let me know when we can help. We can treat you."

"Neville, I appreciate it. I do, especially considering who's...side I'm on."

"That's not your choice."

"Still...I - I can't. I can't leave him to deal with this on his own. Not when I can do something about it. I won't stand in your way - I wouldn't. But I can't join you. I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you tell me you were bleeding?" Draco demanded to know as he stormed into her room. She looked up, still where Neville had left her not even five minutes prior. She suspected he'd been waiting outside.

"You can't stop it. What exactly am I supposed to ask for? It's not like it's going to get any better."

"We can stop it from getting worse though. Let me see."

"Draco, I really don't think – "

" – Let. Me. See."

Swallowing hard, she nodded, standing to slip off the borrowed robe. Already he could see what Longbottom had been talking about. Then he realized something and strode into the lavatory as she finished stripping.

Draco stopped short in the doorway, hand coming up to cover his nose. It smelled awful – despite the obvious attempts at otherwise. There were bloody rags in the bin, and bloody smudges on the shower's walls and floor. As if, no matter what she did, his servant couldn't get rid of all the…evidence.

"Ariella? Explain."

She could hear the hardness, the coldness, of his tone. "They won't close properly. I don't know why. They just won't. I'm weaker, I'm getting sick a lot. I don't know what you want from me. But please don't lock me up again. It'll just infuriate them more."

"And what about me?"

"Sorry?"

"What about infuriating me?"

She gasped out, backing away a bit. "Please. No, I – ," she begged. "Of course, I'd never want to make you angry. I – I want to please you, serve you properly. But I – "

" – you what?"

" – I'm more scared of them than I am of you. I know that while I can't trust them, I can trust you. I don't want that to change."

Still facing away from her, Draco closed his eyes.

"Who did this?"

"Who didn't?" she retorted, before clapping a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, Sir. I – it's just…some of them may only be doing it under orders, but others…some of the others like it…a lot. They revel in it. I…please, Sir. I never meant to upset you. But it's out of your hands."

"Why would you hide this from me?"

"What can you possibly do against something like this? Against them?"

He could hear the desperation in her voice. He turned around, finally, and met her gaze stoically.

"I can have you hide out until the Easter hols."

"They'll never go for it. You know that."

"That's why you won't be allowed to tell them anything. And why you won't be hiding out here."

"What are you talking about?"

"I want you to go with Longbottom."

"No. Absolutely not."

"I'm not giving you an option, Ariella. He's waiting outside the door for me to invite him back in."

She gaped at him. "You're serious about this."

"Finally caught on, have you?"

"No, I mean…you're working with Neville Longbottom of all people. Because of me?"

"Yes."

Her mouth snapped shut.

"What more is it going to take, Ariella? You're already bleeding heavily."

Slowly, she nodded, moving to take a seat again as he moved to open the door again.

"Malfoy. So what's the plan?" Longbottom asked as he stepped in, wand in hand. Then his gaze slid over to where Ariella sat and his jaw all but dropped, even given what he had seen this year. He couldn't stop himself from tensing as he caught sight of the Dark Mark on her arm, even knowing it had been forced on her. He was more concerned about how the others would react.

He met Malfoy's gaze again, who seemed to be almost waiting for him. "Can you help?"

"We can try. But I'll need you to swear you won't have her – "

" – I'm not looking to find out your hideout, Longbottom." He paused. "I'm not looking to get you or the others in any more trouble."

Slowly, he nodded. They had (finally) reached a mutual understanding of sorts. Despite being rivals for six and a half years, despite being on opposite sides of the war, Neville realized Malfoy had no intention of hurting him, or the others, if possible. This was bigger than all of them.

"Will you lot help her?" he repeated.

"Of course. Anything I need to know?"

"They're cursed. I wouldn't try healing them with too much magic, if any. You have permission to treat her. Whatever you need to do, you have permission for it."

"Do I get a say in this?"

"No," both boys immediately said turning towards her.

"You can put the robes back on. You'll be going with him. You have permission to show them your scars and accept their help. You are not to respond to any summons except for mine. I'll summon you prior to the hols."

"Yes, Sir."

"Go. Now. Request from me if you need anything. Promise me, that, Ariella."

"Yes, Sir. I promise."

"Go with Longbottom. Now. Be safe."

She swallowed hard and rose. Draco watched as Longbottom cast a disillusionment charm on them, so to help get through the hallways with the least amount of problems.

"Good luck."

P.S. - after much protesting, rethinking, and deliberation, I am reworking my "Girl Who Lived" Story. If you could, please check out chapter 1.