Chapter Trigger Warnings: References to torture

Chapter 133:

Refresh

Arriving back at the Manor, they were greeted in the floo parlour by Mrs. Malfoy, who didn't let her son get through the fireplace before enveloping him in a tight embrace.

"It's good to see you too, Mother."

As they broke apart, she turned to where Ariella had entered and her eyebrows raised in surprise; the girl was in a far worse state than she was anticipating.

"Father happened," Draco said, spotting her reaction. "We're going to clean up. I'll see you for an early dinner, Mother."

"Draco. There have been some changes to the Manor while you were gone. Some – "

" – they told us a bit before releasing us. Everything else can wait until I've bathed and slept properly."

Narcissa nodded, understanding what her son was saying.

With a jerk of his head, gesturing that she follow him, Draco led Ariella back towards his room.

"You're home, Sir."

"We're home," he repeated, turning to her as the door to his bedroom closed, the smallest of smiles playing on his lips.

"I plan on doing exactly as I told Mother. I am going to take a long bath. Then, I plan on sleeping in an actual bed and relaxing before joining her for dinner. I'm sure you're just as tired and filthy as I am. Do you think you'll need help with washing?

"I don't know."

"Right then. I don't want to make you wait while I bathe, so you have my full permission to use the loo next door in one of the guest rooms. Whatever you need from inside the loo, you can use. Take as long as you want. I don't care. If you need help, call for me. Otherwise, once you're done, you can come back here. I want to let your wounds air and settle, so unless they severely hurt or have badly reopened, I'll leave them be until tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you."

"We don't expect you to serve tonight, though if you'd like to join us, you're welcome to. Otherwise, you can summon something up if you don't feel like going down. The choice is yours."

"Thank you, Sir."

Draco walked into the small dining room, sitting down next to Narcissa.

"You're looking better."

"I feel better. Though it will take a while for us to readjust."

"Of course. It is good to have you home."

"I'm glad to be home, Mother. I'm glad to see you're doing well. Has this year been hard on you?"

"My son and husband were both in prison. Of course, it hasn't been easy," she replied smoothly.

"Of course. My mistake."

"What did they tell you about the changes that have been made to the Manor?"

"We no longer have any house elves at our disposal – they've all been freed."

"That they have been. Were you told anything else?"

"Only that certain parts of the Manor would now be off-limits."

"That is correct. The Ministry did a full, in-depth sweep of the house. The dungeons have been as decontaminated of Dark Magic as they can be and sealed off. Other rooms – such as the parlour where meetings were held – have been locked off. Many Black and Malfoy heirlooms and artifacts were taken away."

"Were you harmed at all?"

"No, dear. They never touched me."

"Thank Merlin," Draco breathed out. That was the last thing he needed – to find out his mother had been hurt on purpose.

"Has father's study been blocked off?"

"No, though items were removed. Now…about Ariella."

He looked up sharply. "What about her?"

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you it will fall to you more than ever before to take care of a majority of the bond."

"You know, Mother, you are tied to it, too. You are her Mistress."

"I am. But we both know the bond is archaic in its formation. It will not take as well from me as from you. Besides…the bond was your father's idea. I wanted to forget what I had lost. She is a reminder."

Slowly, Draco nodded. He suspected there was more she wouldn't tell him, but at least he had a start to why she preferred not to get involved.

Draco was unsurprised to find Ariella seated at his desk, picking at a bowl of soup when he returned.

Then he realized what she was – or was not – wearing. His servant was wrapped in a fluffy towel and nothing else. Shite. He hadn't thought about that.

Crossing to the back of his closet, he pulled out an older pair of pyjamas. He then pulled out the small box that held some of her own clothing – his old clothing that he'd given her really – left in his room from during the war.

"I hadn't realized. I'm sorry. You can dress, Ariella, in whatever you're comfortable in."

"It's alright, Sir. I – "

" – Draco. No one's here anymore. You no longer have to treat me as formally in the Manor."

She bowed her head to him. "Draco – we've forgotten about parts of the bond like this. We haven't had to use them in a year."

He glanced about, before turning his back as she stood to change. "Speaking of: where is your wand?"

"I don't have it. I thought you did."

His father's order from years ago still stood – her wand still disappeared from her person upon entering the Manor. Which would probably mean it was in the study…

"I'll see if I can find it tomorrow. It's getting late…hang on, if you didn't summon the food, how'd you get it?"

"I went down myself. You said I could."

"That I did," he acknowledged.

"Draco? Are you sure you want me here? We've been cooped up together for the past year straight, without a break. I would have thought you'd – "

" – want to be rid of you?" he interrupted, finishing the thought. "Unlike in the cell, there's more than enough room here. As you said, we've been together almost nonstop for the past year; it's what we're used to now, at any rate. What's one more night?"

Draco and Ariella looked up as the floo flared to life, producing their mutual friend. Theodore Nott immediately crossed to where they stood, gripping Draco's hand tightly in a firm handshake, before moving to stand in front of Ariella, gently embracing her. The three friends then sat down.

"How are you doing?"

"We're okay. Not much to tell."

"Doesn't look that way," he replied before he could stop himself, causing a wince from Ariella.

"My father," Draco answered, by way of explanation. "But we'll get to that – and the bond – later. How has your year been?"

Theo nodded. "Alright. The whole of the Wizarding World has been struggling to rebuild and it's going to take time. Shacklebolt's Minister now and he's really cracking down on making things right and not so corrupt.

"Kira was injured about a month after the end of the war. She's getting better, but it's been a long road of recovery for her personally. She's since moved back to her own house with my uncle and aunt, but she's keeping in touch via floo and letters."

"I'm sorry to hear she was injured, but I'm glad she's recovering," Draco said simply, remembering how fondly Nott spoke of his cousin, how close they were.

"I've gotten a job in Diagon Alley, working to help rebuild Ollivander's."

Draco flinched unwillingly as the memory of finding Mr. Ollivander in the dungeons surfaced.

"Sorry," Theo said, but Draco just waved him off. "I'm helping restore the shop, build wands. It's quite fascinating, actually."

"Good for you," Ariella said. "I'm happy for you."

"Thank you. I – I've also…I've also begun seeing someone."

"Oh?"

"Grant Page. I don't know if you remember him. He was a Ravenclaw a year above us. Played Keeper on the Quidditch team for a few years."

"I remember him. He once asked me about you," Ariella chimed in, leaning forward a bit, only to wince and readjust, causing two sets of eyes to sharply shoot to her.

"We started talking – just talking – shortly after that. Of course, I was casually seeing someone else at the time, and then with the war, it wasn't exactly an ideal time to begin a relationship."

Draco just snorted. That was certainly an understatement.

"We've been officially seeing each other for about seven months now."

"Congratulations. I'm happy it's working out for you," she said with a smile.

"With your permission, I want to tell him about the bond. Explain some of the…particulars to him. Nothing too specific but let him know about my involvement. Especially if I'm to continue being a part of it…?"

Theo and Ariella both looked to Draco, who nodded, sitting back in his seat. "I wondered how long before that was brought up."

"Is it still going to be beneficial for me to be tied to it?"

"It is," Draco replied promptly. "As is your continued involvement, especially coming up. We don't have to like it to acknowledge the…pros of having you adjacently tied to it. Give us some time to readjust to being back from Azkaban, and then we can have a true conversation about releasing you."

"That sounds reasonable enough," Theo replied, ever practical. "And Grant?"

"Yes, you can tell him. We can all have a meal if you'd like. Get to know one another, considering none of us have plans on going anywhere," said Draco, with a pointed look at Ariella on that last bit.

"That sounds like a plan. Once you're somewhat recovered, of course. Speaking of, is there anything I can do to help with your readjustment back to…normal life."

"There might be. Due to lack of ability to serve in Azkaban, the bond is being rather…insistent that we make up for some of the lost time."

"You're going to need me to witness."

"We're going to need you to participate," Draco corrected. Theo sucked in a breath and Ariella seemed to flinch away from them.

"When?"

"Some point over the next week, most likely."

"I'll make sure I'm available."

"Thank you. There is one more thing you should know. A condition of sorts about her release."

Theo stiffened. "Let me guess. Your father?"

"His father," Ariella agreed, finally speaking. "Once a month, he's going to be brought to a separate chamber where he'll be able to summon me. We won't be allowed to go anywhere, and he won't be allowed access to his wand, but during that day, he'll be able to otherwise do what he wants."

"Seriously? Even in prison, he's allowed access to her?" Theo looked straight at Draco, who nodded solemnly.

"As far as we know. I'm going to check what texts we do have access to, see if there's a loophole – any loophole – for when the Head Master is in prison, if there's something I can do."

"Bloody hell."

"Regardless…getting out of the Manor – even if it's just to your place or a local eatery…being seen again, however bad the reactions may be…I look forward to that part again. And getting to know your boyfriend."