Chapter 144:

Expanding Anxiety

Stirring the pot, Ariella made sure the salve wasn't sticking to the sides as it formed.

"Can I help?"

She looked up as Draco came into the lab. Once again, she was grateful the Malfoys had their own laboratory, let alone that Draco was allowing her to use it for this purpose.

"If you'd like, sir. Though – what about your classes? Are you sure you have the time to be helping with their demands?"

"It will be a nice break from the studying and papers."

"Would you mind gently crushing those flowers?" she asked, pointing to a bowl of bright yellow flowers, soaking in water to keep them fresh.

He washed his hands before gathering a fresh mortar and pestle.

"How are your classes going?"

"Gruelling. They're more rigorous than what I'm used to at Hogwarts directly, but it's only for the year."

"Can I help?"

Draco glanced over, before shaking his head. "No. But your offer is noted," he said, making sure to add the last part – he was getting better at heading off things the bond otherwise might reprimand for.

"Business is going well. Word is starting to spread about the efficiency of the product."

"I'm glad."

"You know that means more work for you."

"It keeps me busy, it's helping others, and it's appeasing the bond as I'm working for you, serving you, in your directions to fulfil order requests…without demeaning me. I hardly mind," she pointed out.

He just nodded, bringing the crushed flowers over to her. She filtered out the crushed seeds from the petals and added them to the pot.

"Speaking of…do you need me to check on anything?"

"I'm not sure. This has been helping, believe it or not, but I am still required to…to serve you more directly. It isn't unhappy, though. Not at the moment, at least."

"I'll check it this evening or tomorrow then, to be sure."

"Thank you, Sir."

After a brief pause, Draco continued. "Has Potter said anything to you. Recently?"

"No. Did you expect him to?"

Draco closed his eyes briefly, knowing he now had to tell her what Potter had said or else lie. "I thought he might."

"Do I want to know?"

"It's probably best you don't for now," Draco settled on. She nodded. He could tell she was tenser than before, but to bring it up in the first place had been a mistake.

"Draco? Did I do something wrong?"

He looked over at her in time to see her put the pot on top of the cauldron.

"No. Certainly not. Though if you don't need me anymore right now, I am going to return to my essays."

She nodded, turning the temperature down on the cauldron before stepping away to wash her hands, wondering what in Merlin's name had happened between Harry and Draco.

Draco was surprised once again to find someone requesting access to the Manor via the floo. Merlin help him if it was Potter again. Allowing access, he was startled to see Longbottom coming through. Why was his house turning into the Gryffindor visitor centre?

"Thanks for letting me through."

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to ask about the balm, actually. And Ariella."

Bloody hell. He should have guessed.

"Right. Come on in, then."

He escorted Longbottom through the house towards the sitting room, only partially surprised to find Ariella tidying up; she looked up to greet him, but the words died in her mouth as she noted who was with her master.

"Neville. Is everything okay?"

He nodded. "Fine. It's good to see you. You can join us if you'd like."

Automatically, she looked over to Draco for permission, but he just nodded and gestured for her to take a seat.

"It's a good job you've done with the balm; it works well," Neville started.

"Thank you."

"I thought you might want to branch out; sell at other places."

"What did you have in mind?" Draco asked sceptically.

"A healer's shop or the Herbologist's Den, for starters. Hannah mentioned she'd be willing to sell it behind the counter of The Leaky Cauldron, too."

"Since when does The Leaky Cauldron sell retail products?"

"It was Hannah's idea," Neville explained proudly. "They receive so many visitors with differing needs, why not accommodate to some of the major ones – such as care packages and balm for minor injuries. They already rent out owls as needed."

Draco nodded slowly, still unable to fully believe Longbottom was sitting in his house. He noticed Ariella fidgeting with the corner of the large, borrowed shirt she wore. Thrumming his fingers against the armrest, he was able to get her attention.

"I'm fine with expanding, provided we continue to keep our names out of it," he began, looking between them. "But I'd like to hear your opinion," he continued, pointedly allowing her to voice her thoughts.

"I think…I think we should start with one and see how it goes before doing more. We know it's doing okay with quidditch players, but I think trying to add multiple places at once might be a bit much."

Both boys nodded in agreement. "I can see that," Neville said finally. "It was only a suggestion of places you could go into. I hadn't meant them all at once. There's no rush."

She just shakily nodded. The fidgeting grew worse.

Eyeing his former rival for a moment, Draco stood, coming over to where she sat. Turning his back to Longbottom, successfully shielding them both from Longbottom's gaze in one move, he slipped his hand to the mark and spoke quietly.

"You don't have to agree to any of this. You can say no."

"I don't want to say 'no'," she replied immediately. "I just want to be safe."

"You're following my instructions to make the balm. I won't allow this to become unmanageable nor will I put either of us at risk. Do you want to continue?"

Swallowing hard, she nodded. "Please. Just…slowly."

Turning to stand directly next to her, Draco opened his mouth to speak, but Longbottom interrupted.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No," Draco replied. This time, he added in his mind, but refused to allow the words out – he didn't want to ruin what few alliances they had. "This is uncharted territory; I'm being cautious."

He waited a moment for Longbottom to process what he said before continuing, turning back to Ariella. "Thoughts?"

She finally looked up at her friend. "You mentioned using it yourself, yeah?"

"Yeah. Even with safety measures in place, the advanced herbology courses aren't without their injuries. I took your balm to class – I didn't say anything beyond where I'd purchased it and that a friend had recommended it – ," he quickly interjected, and was relieved to see her relax, if marginally, at his assurance.

" – anyway. It's been working well. I've had several classmates and even a professor ask about purchasing it."

Glancing up at her master for just a moment, she spoke, her tone still somewhat shaky. "Why don't we start at the herbology store, then?"

Neville smiled at her. "I'd be happy to arrange something, if you'd like. Or just be the middleman if you need me to be."

"We might take you up on that. We want our association limited."

"I understand. I don't want to put you in more danger or risk. With others or with the – with your bond," he said, only stumbling slightly over mentioning the bond.

"We appreciate that. Thank you," she replied quietly, glancing down again.

"I'll let you know when they're ready to move forward then, yeah? Malfoy, would it be better to contact you directly for this?"

Begrudgingly, he nodded. He didn't particularly like it, but it wasn't like it was the first time they were working together for her sake.

"Right. Er – thanks, Malfoy," Neville continued, rising, and awkwardly holding out his hand.

"Ariella, walk him back to the floo. Return here when you're done."

She also stood. "Yes, sir."

Neville minutely flinched at the honorific.

As they exited, Neville asked again, away from Malfoy's ears. "Did I upset the bond? Did I hurt you?"

"No. You know enough I can tell you. Draco's was right in what he said. We're just being cautious."

"Thank you. For hearing me out and for telling us the truth."

"Of course. I – we – appreciate your support in this," she said.

"May I?" he asked as they arrived at the fireplace, holding open his arms. After a moment, she nodded, allowing him to embrace her loosely.

"I'm proud of you."

"Thank you," she repeated, smiling at him as he left the Manor, before returning to the sitting room as instructed.

Draco looked up as she entered.

"Draco, what's going on? Why are Harry and Neville visiting?"

"They're you're friends still; they're concerned about you. And they've apparently become smart enough to know to go through me first."

Gently, she rolled his eyes at the comment as she came to join him.

"Sure you're alright with this? With moving forward?"

"Are you, Sir?"

"I am," he replied immediately, leaning forward.

"Then yes. So long as we're safe about it, I want to continue."

"For what it's worth, you're producing excellent work while making the balm doses for me. Well done," he said, allowing a bit of his true emotions to seep into his tone as he phrased the statement as closely as he could to what he wanted to say while keeping the bond appeased. He hoped, after all this time, she would hear it…and that the bond wouldn't punish his intention.

"Thank you, sir."

The smile she gave up at him, the way she reached up and gripped his hand, squeezing it gently, told him all he needed to know.