Chapter Trigger Warnings: References to torture

Just a note – especially since it was pointed out to me. I know canonically the Malfoys as a whole were pardoned by the Ministry due to Narcissa's last minute change of sides. While I still intend to be as close to cannon as possible, this story is obviously not. I personally have a hard time believing that they would especially let Lucius out w/o some form of time served. So, as I have been with creating my story in the world of Harry Potter, I am making some minor changes.

On a related note – I am not counting Cursed Child as cannon.

Thank you for sticking with me. We've come a long way – and I have much more planned. (And sorry if I'm disappointing you with this chapter. But hey – it's an update!)

Chapter 132:

Releasing Snag

As expected, being imprisoned in Azkaban was monotonous. Both days and nights dragged on. They were fed enough to keep them alive and barely healthy, but not more than that. Still, at least it was regular. Ariella continued to fetch the tray from the door and 'serve' it to her Master. It was the least she could do – or rather, the most she could do right now to appease the bond while stuck inside a cell. Worse, the bond still demanded punishment at points. It was never nearly as severe a request as it was outside of Azkaban, but it was still something.

There wasn't much to do while cooped up. Then again, that rather was the point. This was, after all, punishment. They talked, they helped each other as injuries acted, but mostly, much was spent in silence, resting. Just sitting there, waiting and passing the time best they could. Or rather, surviving the best they could. The temperature outside effected inside as well, and while the guards could have easily cast spells to regulate temperatures, unless it reached "extremes", they often chose not to, which made for a miserable experience.

Yet, while it may have seemed to the contrary, time was ticking forward. Trials continued to take place. The world outside very slowly was starting to heal and rebuild. People worked together to move on. Relationships continued to strengthen.

And then, one day, guards were appearing at their cell door at an unscheduled time.

"Up you get," one of them said roughly.

Unsteadily, they both obeyed. Upon reaching the door, handcuffs were placed back on their wrists and shackled together. The two prisoners were led through the halls of the dark fortress and finally, shoved into a dimly lit room with nothing in it but a single table and three chairs.

Draco and Ariella sat in the two next to one another, and their handcuffs were moved to attach to the table.

"Behave," they were warned, causing them to look at one another. What was going on? Why were they suddenly here? What had changed?

The door opened, and a tall bald, black man in colourful robes entered, gracefully taking the seat across from them. Ariella felt as though she'd seen him at some point before, but she couldn't identify him.

"Mr. Shacklebolt," Draco said from next to her, his tone formal and level, if a bit raw due to his Azkaban stay.

"Do you know why I'm here?"

They shook their heads.

"I don't know if word has reached you, but I'm now the Minister for Magic."

"And what brings you here, Minister?" Draco inquired, making sure to keep his well-trained mask in place and his tone civil. They – himself specifically – couldn't afford to alienate anyone else.

"Your case."

"You mean me, Sir," said Ariella.

"I do. I read the transcripts and verdicts of your files – your father's included. What were you told about his trial and verdict?"

"We weren't told much about either, Minister," Draco began. "The only thing we were told was that my father is using the bond to his advantage. That Ariella would serve one year of his sentence."

"Were you told anything else?"

They both just shook their heads again.

"Lucius Malfoy is within his right, unfortunately, to request that you serve some of his time," Shacklebolt said, nodding towards Ariella. "He is also within his right, as he asserted, that once you are released, he be allowed to still have access to you while imprisoned."

Draco paled, glancing at Ariella. He could see her fists clenching and unclenching, as if tugging and rubbing at an invisible blanket. A sure tell she was nervous and scared. This did not bode well.

"We cannot refuse him this. Your father was given a total of a five-year sentence. After this past year, yours included, he has three left. We appreciate that both you and your mother – and you, Ms. Lyons – did try to do the right thing, but your father has a long history of evading the law and being a Death Eater. We couldn't let him out without some time being served."

"I'm not going to argue with you, Sir, on the time he has to serve. I'm sure he's grateful that it isn't a longer sentence. Given even what you've just said, it certainly could have been."

"It could have. But we are trying not to leave families apart for longer than necessary."

"How would that work then? He can't summon me from his cell."

"No, he cannot," Kingsley agreed. "Which is why, once a month, he'll be granted access to a room similar to this one. That will satisfy the law that does allow him to access you even when imprisoned while still not allowing him more leeway than we need to."

"Minister, you're sure the ancient laws insist you grant him these visitation rights? Allowing his servant to serve some of his sentence is one thing. Allowing him access to said servant while imprisoned for wrongdoing is another."

"As I'm sure you're aware, Mr. Malfoy, the texts around bonds like this, particularly the intricacies of these bonds, are few and far between. You are welcome to see if we are misreading or overlooking anything – particularly since you have been tied to this bond almost since birth and are certainly more used to it than we are. But I'm afraid, as of today, we are going to have to insist. I won't ignore the ancient customs – the still-active ones, at any rate – while I am Minister. I may not like some of them, but they are a part of the Wizarding World, nevertheless.

"Today we are going to allow him the first session. Mr. Malfoy, you will be escorted to a holding cell. Once your father is done, you two will be escorted to the Ministry for final processing. I expect you'll spend the night, to be honest. But then you'll be released."

"What will he have access to?"

"Pardon?"

"What will my father have access to?" Draco repeated.

"Nothing. He won't be allowed his wand nor weapons. He will be allowed to…make use of Ms. Lyons," he continued with an apologetic nod towards her, "only in the designated area. Nowhere else. The door will be guarded, and no one will be allowed to enter or exit. For future sessions, he will be allowed to summon you from the room, so that you do not have to deal with the commute."

Draco saw her swallow hard. Her body was shaking.

"May we have a moment before things proceed?"

"Certainly. I have a meeting to attend to anyway. If you come across anything that could be useful, you can forward it to me directly. Otherwise, I wish you both the best. And I am sorry about this."

"Thank you, Minister."

Once he left, they turned to each other best they could while still shackled to the table. "It'll be fine. He can't use his wand."

"You and I both know he doesn't need his wand to inflict damage."

"It's once a month. That's it. I'll do my best to be around on those days – Ariella, don't start," he cut her off, sharper than he perhaps intended to as she went to argue with him – most likely that he didn't "have" to.

"Yes, Sir."

"Just get through this one time. Then, once we're settled back at the Manor, I'll take a look at any texts I can. See if we can get you out of this, see what the bond will allow with your Head Master in prison and your other now of-age. Just as we talked about. It will probably take some time, but I promise, we'll look. You will not spend the next three years making monthly trips here if I can help it. Until then…well, you know better than anyone: it's better to just give the bond what it wants."

She just nodded. He could see her fear.

"You'll be fine," he tried to mollify. "Perhaps it will be better for the bond this way. Perhaps it won't demand as much once we're back if you're punished now."

"Maybe." He could hear her doubt.

"I'll take care of it. The first couple of weeks will be an adjustment period to be sure – and making up for lost time, especially with the bond, unfortunately – but I'll take care of it."

"Yes, Sir. I – "

" – don't apologize for the bond. It's not your fault and you know it."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you."

Someone wrapped on the door. "Time's up. Let's go."

Then, for the first time in a year, Draco and Ariella were separated.