Chapter Trigger Warnings: References to Torture
Chapter 135:
Findings
"Sir?" a voice came quietly from across the room. Draco bit back a sigh.
"Yes?"
"I'm to report tomorrow for the first…allowance session."
"I know. I haven't found anything yet. I'm sorry."
"It's fine, Sir. I hadn't expected information to be so readily available."
"I'll be around tomorrow afternoon. The minute you are allowed to, request a summons. I'll answer, bring you back here safely."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you."
Draco blinked, before rereading the passage again.
In instances where the Head Master has been imprisoned* and there is another of–age Master within the direct line of ascension (or, in some particular and unusual cases, a capable Mistress), the requirements for whom the bound primarily reports to can temporarily shift or divided.
Finally. Although the beginning of a new section, it was at the bottom of the page. Rubbing his eyes, he found the footnote pertaining to the word imprisoned.
The shift only applies when the accused Master is to be imprisoned for longer than a year, for crimes not befitting a proper member of society and not to do with Bonded Servitude.
Flipping the page, he anxiously, eagerly, continued reading. He hadn't been in time for this month. But hopefully, this would prevent future sessions from follow through.
Ariella let out a low moan as she shifted. She could feel the weight of something on her back, although if she were being honest, if wasn't entirely uncomfortable. Blinking, she shifted, noticing the comfort of where she lay.
"How are you feeling?"
Despite the quiet tone, she still jerked upon hearing her Master's voice, causing her to wince before readjusting. She found him sitting in a chair pulled close to the bedside, his back towards the open room…but something was wrong. It wasn't his room.
"Sore, Sir. Even with limited use of tools, he can still make quite the impact."
Draco snorted. "So I see. And how did he seem?"
"Weaker than normal, but that's to be expected considering his stay, I suppose. Not that I'm calling him weak, Sir, but – "
Draco held up a hand to stop her. " – I understand what you meant. No offense was taken. Continue."
"He was harsh. Almost…ragged or wild, neither of which is a term I would think to associate with him. But he was. He was still in control of himself, there's no question of that, but being locked away, alone, for so long is taking its toll, I believe, Sir."
Slowly, he nodded. "It took it's toll on us, too. It's supposed to. Azkaban is a punishment after all. I appreciate your honesty."
"Of course, Sir. Not that I have a choice, but I wouldn't lie to you about this."
"Appreciated. Now, I've wrapped the wounds I could see. How do they feel, and do I need to address anything else?"
"Is that what I feel on my back?"
"Yes. The bandages and a light blanket."
"Everything else should be fine, Sir. You can't…he didn't have access to as many tools and even if he did, many forms of punishment can't be so easily healed."
"Because your back is so easy to heal," he replied under his breath, sarcasm lacing his bitter tone. But he understood her statement nevertheless and he could see what she was saying.
"Dr – Sir? Where are we? I don't recognize the room."
"Your new room."
She startled, wincing as the movement pulled at the bandages.
"I have a room. I know I've been staying with you and I'm sorry if I overstepped, but – "
" – you haven't overstepped. I invited you, allowed you to stay with me," he reassured quickly, both for her sake and the bond's. "In all honesty though, I'd like some time – a place – to myself again. And you don't have a room, you have a storage space…and you, Ariella, are not storage. You can still use that space if you wish, but I don't want you staying there any longer."
"I understand why you want me out of your room, but not…not this switch. And when your father finds out – "
" – I will handle my father when the time comes. You deserve better. It's closer to the main part of the Manor and to my room. There is also a smaller room connected to this one that can be where we go when the bond acts up. Also connected to this room is your own loo. I've already stocked it with soaps and towels. If you need anything, you ask me."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you."
"You have permission to use this room and call it your own. To use whatever is in it without asking first. Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to lock the door when you're inside the room. But I don't want that to deter you; this is your space, Ariella."
"Thank you. Sir." She paused. "Do I owe you for this?"
Immediately, Draco shook his head. "No. This is part of me providing for you and this is long overdue and deserved."
"Thank you," she repeated. "You didn't have to – "
" – I did. And I don't want you to take this as I'm kicking you out of my room. You are still welcome in there. But – as limited as it may be – we both deserve some alone time and privacy."
The bond stung ever so slightly, but otherwise didn't react.
"I have some further news for you."
"You found something?"
He nodded. "It isn't perfect, but it's a far better solution than we have now. My father may not agree, but I'm not giving him the choice. I'll be sending the information off to the Minister directly after we talk. I am going to give you the choice once you hear the options available."
She nodded against the pillow. It still felt disrespectful that she was laying down while talking to her Master, but she knew he preferred it this way while she was healing – something she was grateful for.
"We can reduce the amount of visits per year to three: once every four months. You would, as you have been, shift a majority of your questions and your requirements – whom you report to, I mean – to me. This doesn't remove my father from the equation and once he's released, I don't know how things will go. But considering the time he is to spend in prison, for charges unrelated to the bond and due to now having me available and of-age, the bond is willing to have that shift."
"And you're willing to do that? To handle that extra responsibility?"
"Ariella, most of what it wants, we're already doing. It isn't much more. We've already been putting these steps into place due to your – entirely reasonable – fear of my father and that you tend to spend more time with me than him. No. I don't mind anything except that this is necessary at all."
She just nodded against the pillow again. "Thank you," she repeated softly.
"It is your decision though. We both know limiting his access to you further is going to anger him."
He watched her take a shuddering breath. "I know. But the less times I actually have to see him, the better, Sir. If you're sure."
"I'm sure. I'll write to the Minister once I leave. Do you need me to look at anything else while I'm here?"
"Not right now, Sir. I don't think so, at least."
"Rest up. You have my full permission to rearrange or decorate however you'd like. If you need help, ask."
"I appreciate your help. And the room. It's…thank you, Sir."
"Draco. And you're welcome. One more thing. Once you're feeling better, I'd like to take you to Diagon Alley."
"Why?"
He could hear the scepticism in her voice.
"Because it's time you had some actual clothing of your own. I'm not going to argue with you on this. You deserve it."