TW: References to torture/punishment

Chapter 141:

Clueing Page In

Two weeks later found Ariella once again at Theo's house, laughing as he did an impression of a rather disagreeable customer.

"Oh! I know who you're talking about. She came in once asking about quidditch supplies for her niece, and then proceeded to tell me how to do my job!" Grant chimed in, finishing off his pastry.

"Can I take those?" she asked after a moment, gesturing to the now-empty plates.

"You don't have to. It's not your job, here," Theo reminded her, his tone gentle but firm.

"I want to. It's the least I can do for being your guest. Please? I want to help."

Slowly, he nodded. He should have known better, but with how convoluted things could get because of that stupid bond, he had to be certain.

Ariella brought the first round of empty dishes to the kitchen. She then removed her new sweatshirt, not wishing to get it damp.

"What is that?" Grant asked, coming up behind her. Before she could stop him, he was raising the hem of her shirt just slightly to get a better look. Immediately, the bond began to burn, causing her gasp at the sudden sensation.

"It isn't – I can't – please don't – "

Grant backed away, calling for his boyfriend, who came in and paled at seeing his friend bent over her arm. He went over to her and pressed his hand to his name, just as he'd seen her formal Master do dozens of times before.

"I'm sorry," she whimpered.

"You're forgiven," he all but spat. "If you want him to, Grant can see; he can know. He's to be considered in our 'private' circle," Theo said, hoping that his status would soothe the bond enough.

Theo felt the bond pulse beneath his fingers. She was leaning against him now, shuddering. "Th – thank you, Sir."

He winced, even knowing it was coming.

As she calmed down, Grant came forward with a fresh glass of water. "I'm sorry."

She took it gratefully, slipping onto one of the kitchen stools. "I – I'm okay. I just – I should have been more careful."

"This isn't on you," Theo said immediately.

"Can I ask what happened?"

Theo shot Ariella a questioning look that immediately turned to further concern as the water dropped, glass shattering as she doubled over, clutching at her arm again.

"Ariella?"

She just shrunk to the floor, landing on her knees with a thud. Grant startled as Draco Malfoy appeared suddenly in the kitchen, seemingly out of nowhere.

"What happened?"

"It was my fault, I think," Grant said, causing Malfoy to look at him sharply. "I caught sight of her back when she removed her sweatshirt and asked her about it; she didn't say anything," Grant explained. Draco gave a curt nod, but didn't verbally reply, simply squatted down next to Ariella, helping her to sit against the cabinets, careful of the broken glass.

"You're forgiven. Whatever directions or permissions Nott gave you are still to have effect." She nodded.

"Thank you, Sir."

"How'd you know I'd given instructions?" Theo asked as he watched Draco rise, moving to sit on the stool.

"I came because I felt the bond flare up worse than it has in a while. Before I could fully respond, though, it calmed. Knowing she was with you, I gathered you had dealt with it."

Nott nodded. He suspected as much. But to hear it confirmed that this particular situation was causing worse repercussions than she had dealt with in a while – Lucius Malfoy not withstanding – gave him pause.

"I'm sorry, Sir."

"No harm done. You're forgiven," he repeated, more even-keeled than Grant would have expected. Then he realized – this was their normal.

For the third time, he tried asking, "What happened? With your back, I mean?"

Even though Draco was now present, she looked up at Theo, whose directions were the ones she was following at the moment.

"It's your choice," he reiterated, both for her benefit and Malfoy's.

After a moment, Ariella shakily replied. "I don't feel ready to show you yet. I – I'm sorry. But I – er – with permission, we can – er – we can explain."

"You have it," Draco said, taking the lead again. "You can tell him what you want him to know."

With a jerk of his head, he then motioned to his friend to step into the other room before casting a one-way anti-listening spell. They would be able to hear Ariella and Grant, but not be overheard themselves.

"He didn't know at all about her back?"

Theo shook his head. "Not that I know of. While we can't avoid the bond, especially when she's with us, we try not to focus on it or its demands. I know he wants to know more, ask more questions, but I try, especially when it's just us, to let her forget – as much as she can – about it."

"I…appreciate that, and I'm sure she does, too, but I – maybe you should just let him ask. Today probably could have been avoided."

Nott nodded. "I know. I should have warned him. But I want her to feel like she has some say in who knows what about her life, even if the law is against it."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Was it really that bad of a flare up?"

Solemnly, Draco nodded. "I came because it was harsher than I've felt it recently. Which meant this wasn't a minor problem to just be brushed off or handled later. I…I don't want you to think I don't trust you with her, nor think you capable of handling it yourself. I wouldn't have tied you, given you such a status if I had my doubts. But – "

" – Draco, I get it. I'm hardly going to be offended by you wanting to make certain she's okay, that I handled the bond correctly, especially in a situation like this. But I…well, thank you. For both trusting me with it and for letting me include Grant."

"You seem to be getting closer."

"We're thinking of moving in together soon. Obviously, you would both be welcome wherever we end up."

Draco inclined his head gratefully.

Theo led them back into the kitchen, unsurprised to find a horrified look on his boyfriend's face.

"She's your slave?"

"Yes."

"I hadn't – I mean I didn't realize – or want to believe – the rumours at school…they were true. More truthful than most of the stuff she wrote."

"Yes. There was a reason she was by my side most times."

Grant just nodded, somewhat shell-shocked, before looking again at Ariella, who still sat against the cabinets.

"You said you can't magically heal your injuries. Can you do anything for them?"

"We put a balm on them. I – I make it. It helps with the pain and healing."

"Would I – at some point, not now – be able to see it?"

Ariella looked towards Draco, who nodded. "What for?"

"As you're well aware, Malfoy, injuries go hand-in-hand with playing quidditch. I was thinking it could be useful to have some, especially when working with the younger ones. If it works well, we could even sell it. On her – your? – behalf, of course," he said, stumbling as he glanced between them, not sure of the wording to use.

No wonder Theo had warned him he had to be careful.

"We can certainly arrange something. Ariella, what do you think," Draco replied after careful consideration.

She looked up at him, slightly startled, before giving a weak smile. "If it can help others, then yes, Sir, I think it's a great idea."