"Except me"

"You must be joking" said Ron incredulously. Almost six years of being Harry's best friend,he didn't need an explanation to know what Harry was suggesting. Ron turned to Hermione for support.

"Harry there is nothing we can do. The order members will surely save Malfoy. The obscurial magic is way too advanced for us to fight. Besides Dumbledore is here. If anyone can solve this mess its him" assured Hermione

" You heard Moody... Killing her seems to be the only solution for them" growled Harry feeling his temper rising. He looked at both his friends. They made sense

There is nothing they could do. But Harry couldn't sit there waiting. Not after what he did. Memories flashed in his mind

"Harry ..please..not like this" She had pleaded. He had seen her eyes widen in fear. But he hadn't stopped. The fear had triggered him to go further...what had he felt? Lust ? Revenge? Anger? Harry didnt know. It was almost like he didn't recognise himself at that moment.

Was he possessed by Voldemort? He hoped so. Because nothing else would justify his urge to hurt her. It was not a physical lust. He had lusted after her fear..the power over her..the power to make her scream...

"Harry !" called Hermione breaking him out of his reverie.

He focussed his attention back to his friends who were nervously sneaking glances at each other.

"I cannot let her die" said Harry determinately staring straight ahead avoiding their eyes.

"Why ? She is a Malfoy for heavens sake. She attacked you. Why do you want to poke your nose into this" asked Ron heatedly.

Harry fixed a death glare at Ron who looked surprised by his reaction

" what really happened Harry?" asked Hermione breaking the tension.

"I attacked her" confessed Harry with memories flooding his mind. She had cried..she was convulsing with scars appearing on her body..But more disturbingly, he remembered how that sight had turned him on..how the pain made him feel powerful..

"What?" asked Ron shaking his head " Did she attack you first?"

" No I attacked her. I was so jealous of seeing her with Zabini that I lost my mind. I dont know what made me do it. I lost it" said Harry looking down at his knees while he sat on the bed. He was too ashamed to tell what exactly he did or he had planned to do. He wondered whether he would have stopped if her magic hadn't burst out. Harry would have stopped. Wouldn't he?

He had stopped. Hadn't he? .But now he knew there was a monstor in him...A monstor that he couldn't control. Something that made him enjoy the pain and power. A greed to be in control..of everything and everyone..Something akin to. Volde-

"You were jealous? jealous of what" asked Ron darkily even though he knew the answer. He had known for a while, but waited for Harry to tell him.. Or even better, for Harry to figure out it was a bloody mistake and forget it...

" You attacked her out of jealousy? That is why her magic spiralled out of control?" gasped Hermione looking at him with wide eyes. She looked at him with accusing eyes.

"Dont be silly Hermione! " said Ron coming to his aide. "They might have got into an argument. Obscurials are pretty unstable . They get triggered over the slightest provocation. Its not like Harry wanted to kill her"

Even though Ron would give him a lecture and probably throw in some punches at Harry for fraternising with the enemy ,he didnt believe Harry would harm Malfoy. But he cannot love her either...

" She is slytherin, Harry. And engaged to Zabini and the daughter of Lucius Malfoy. Do you need more reasons to stay away from her? I could go on all day. You keep your eyes away from her" snarled Ron at him.

" I cant let her die Ron. Not after what I did" roared Harry not backing down.

" You have gone mad Harry. I know you kinda think she is hot but she is a Malfoy. Have you gone mental? or did she give you a love potion? I am telling you..this will end up in a disaster. For all we know, she could be a spy for You Know Who.." said Ron darkily

" Ron's right. We dont know what her intentions are. She might have been sent to kill you" supported Hermione.

" And still I ended up trying to murder her" retorted Harry wearily glaring at his friends. They wouldnt understand..No one would..

"I will not let her die" said Harry slowly emphasising each word to let them know that he was dead serious about this.

" I just cant" Said Harry as his voice broke.

Ronald Weasley looked at his best friend's face and sighed.

" why is it always you three?" Professor Mcgonagal had asked them once. He felt himself echohing her question. He walked and sat besides Hermione, no longer able to carry the weight of his body. Ofcourse Harry had to fancy a slytherin..an obscurial no less..then attack the girl and now plan to rescue her... But he knew Harry could not let her die. He had seen how Sirius death had affected Harry. Malfoy dying because of Harry will crush him. They couldnt afford that..

Even though he wasnt as smart as Hermione ,even he had noticed the look Harry gave Estella Malfoy when he thought no one was looking. Harry certainly looked murderous every time Zabini walked with Malfoy. At first, he had thought that it was a general loathing for slytherins. But Hermione pointed it out that Harry never cared for any other slytherin . Ron could feel his head aching indicating his emotional range of a teaspoon...

Hermione put her hand around Ron as she felt him tense up beside her struggling with an internal debate on how to deal witn Harry's obsession. Yes that's what she called it. Harry was obsessed with Malfoy. She knew that for some time now. But knowing her best friend, she did not nag him on the subject. She had hoped that he would get over Estella especially after her engagement. But for once, she wad wrong. She was thinking hard on how to disuade Harry from going after Estella. But knowing Harry,it was better if she started to research on How to tame an obscurial..

Harry looked at his friends sitting on the chairs beside him. Ron looked as though Harry had suggested him to kiss Aragog while Hermione was looking at Harry with a death glare. He knew the meaning of the glare -How dare you date a Malfoy glare

Hermione spoke first

"Even if we somehow get near to Malfoy, how will we calm her down?"

"We?" Asked Harry looking aghast not even comprehending the rest of her sentence.

"We. " emphasised Ron raising an eyebrow. " Its always been we. You should know that by now"

Harry released a breath that he didn't know he was holding. To know that his friends would back him no matter what, certainly felt good. He hoped that wouldn't change after what he was about to tell them.

" I attacked her. I dont know what made me do it. It was almost like last year when I wanted to kill Dumbledore" said Harry weakly unable to look at his friends.

He needed them to know that he was a danger to them. He was a murderer..or atleast felt like one. If he could attack Estella ,he could attack anyone. His confession was met with an uncomfortable silence. Ron looked stunned while Hermione looked fearful.

" Harry! were you possesed by You Know Who?" whispered Hermione

" I dont think so"

" Then how?"

" I have no idea" replied Harry.

The trio sat in silence.

Harry jealous on seeing Estella with Zabini...Harry attacking Estella... Estella being an obscurial and her magic out of control... Too many things happened in a span of few hours

"You should forget her mate" said Ron looking at him more serious than ever with an edge to his voice.

" I know" replied Harry heavily. Yes he should forget her. He cannot trust himself again not to hurt her. He couldnt let this happen again. His temper..his connection to voldemort..her family being death eaters...this cannot happen again..ever..

" Her obscurial magic is not allowing anyone near her. Even if we somehow get near to her, we need to give the squibsical potion to her to calm her down" said Ron acknowledging the need to save malfoy. He knew Harry wouldnt be able to forgive himself if something were to happen to Malfoy

" But a normal squibsical potion won't be enough to calm her down. We need an extra potent one" joined in Hermione as they began to plot 'Rescue Malfoy mission'

Harry felt relieved that his friends finally accepted that they needed to save estella.

" But how will we get near her Hermione?"asked Ron. Hermione arched her eyebrows at Harry daring him to speak.

" well i read that obscurials don't usually harm the ones they like"mumbled Harry not looking at her. It was not entirely truthfull since he had replaced the word love with like. Love was a strong word to describe his relationship with Estella. He liked her but love?.. But her magic hadn't harmed him while he ran to save her. Yes he was burned but even those burns were not everlasting. He had fainted by the time he reached the hospital. But other than that, there was no injury to him.

so maybe he had a chance to get near her...

Harry was awakened from his train of thoughts when Dumbledore opened the hospital room closely followed by Lupin

" Good evening Harry. How are you? " greeted Dumbledore though this eyes didn't have the usual warmth in them. Lupin closed the door behind them.

"I am fine Professor" replied Harry

" How is Ste..Miss malfoy? " asked Harry earnestly.

Dumbledore surveyed Harry looking at him as though he was trying to gauge Harry's innermost thoughts. Harry held his stare.

But at the moment Dumbledore looked old and defeated making Harry anxious

" Not good Harry. The situation doesnt look promising at all" said Dumbledore gravely.

Harry felt his heart stop. What had he done?