Ring of fire
"Harry ... please... not like this" she begged. His emerald eyes flickering with red. A cruel smile distorting his handsome face.. Estella knew that smile...Panic coursing through her.. Years of occulmency training had locked up her childhood in the deepest corners of her mind..She thought she had almost forgotten it...the nightmares had been less frequent...Almost...But when Harry advanced towards her, something broke inside her... Her past came back to life.. as clear as ever...to haunt her...
This was not her Harry... Harry didn't have that cruel scarlet eyes...that sneer on his face...the ice cold voice...This was not Harry...He hissed... Parseltongue...Estella's eyes widened...She had never heard him use it...He pulled her towards him. She was too scared to resist.
She tried to close her mind... To make it blank ...To pretend this was not happening to her...not again...
"Crucio"
""Mommy!.." she screamed looking frantically around .Her parents were nowhere to be seen... The man in the navy blue robes was advancing towards her ...she tried to run but he caught her leg ...he was laughing...all of them were laughing
"Another death eater in the making...might have some fun as well... " another man leered.
She hated them...hated them all...wanted to kill them..
Her pain was unbearable now.. She was fighting him . Biting him..but they were all laughing...It was better to die...
Estella felt her magic react...
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The fiery black ring around her roared as she sat in the bed hugging her knees. She was in the Malfoy manor...There were men outside her protective sphere...they wanted her... But she wouldn't let them in...The magic radiating from her was draining her...sapping out all the energy...but she would not let them in...never...she will die fighting...Those bastards won't get her...
She didn't know what time it was...she was in the manor..right?...it didn't look like the manor. The black fire around her was like a tornado which was gaining speed with time...There were people fighting her magic...someone was trying to reach her... she will destroy them ...all of them...Even with the immense power radiating from her, someone had managed to break through her barriers...she was waiting for him to appear...a painful death was awaiting him...
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Harry Potter entered the inner ring with his wand raised. He had casted a slew of shield charms to enter the ring. But the black fire had managed to burn his feet. The stinging sensation was slowly spreading to his ankles but he didn't care. His eyes fell on Stella who was staring blankly at the black fire around her... her eyes were pure white with no iris resembling the ghosts he saw in muggle movies... He could see her rocking back and forth hugging her knees..Scars had appeared on her arms which were partially healed stopping the blood flow.
"Stella " Harry called out tentatively
No response.
"Stella" he tried again, louder this time.
Suddenly he saw a red snake like fireball emerging out of the black ring launching at him. Harry reacted instinctively
"Protego ! Reducto ! Incendio! "
He threw a bunch of spells at the fire but to no avail. The red snake was advancing towards him
" STELLA ! STOP!" Harry shouted as panic spread through him...hoping she could see him..hoping she would stop.
The snake had opened its mouth. He could feel the fire...the burning sensation...he threw another curse at it...knowing it was futile..knowing this was the end...This was it...
" STELLA"
Estella could hear someone...a faint voice...as though coming from a broken radio ...someone was calling her but she was in the manor... wasn't she?...The voice grew fainter as he kept calling her... she knew that voice... Harry!... Estella felt her heart stop... Harry was calling her...telling to stop...she tried to focus on his voice...squinting her eyes to clear the fog...to see him...The fog around her cleared momentarily. She saw the red snake-like-fire hissing at Harry ...The scene playing out in slow motion for her as the snake opened its mouth to engulf him in fire...its fiery tail wrapping around him as he screamed in pain... She wanted to stop..
"Stop it.." she tried to concentrate but her magic was not listening to her.
The fog deepened around her
"Oh the little death eater can already do magic...show me again" he hissed at her. She could see his MoM badge.
Estella didn't know how she had done it. The man who caught her leg was thrown off her by an invisible force. The man thought she did it. Did she?
"Do it again bitch" the young man with him taunted her.
"Do it"
She couldn't.
"Crucio"
"Stella..." Harry shouted.
His voice brought her back to reality clearing the fog...Harry... Harry needed help... She tried to run towards him... But she was paralyzed ...the magic had drained every bit of her energy... she could hear the man laugh...she was hurting...those hands on her...she felt dirty...she hated him...she closed her eyes trying to forget those memories...trying to remember the green eyes...those eyes she loved so much...She tried to withdraw her magic ...Do not attack Harry ..She muttered repeatedly to herself...praying that it works.. her magic was trying to fight her now...telling her it was not Harry..it was the man in blue robes...She could hear his screams of pain...calling out her name...asking to stop...something snapped inside her as his screams went louder... She focussed on her magic more than ever...make it stop.. Don't hurt Harry ...Just don't.. she was pleading with herself now... The fog was clearing ... she was in the hospital... Don't hurt him ...that's all she could think of ..His shouting subsided... the fire started to crumble into smoke. But the fiery tornado around them had started to burn with more power and speed...breaking through all the containment spells...Estella felt her body shutting down..she had spend so much energy on trying to control her magic that it had sapped out everything from her... she didn't have much time left .
Harry was lying on the floor crumbled into a ball ,his entire body burned..the smell of raw flesh filling the air suffocating him..the pain reminded him of the cruciatus curse...he could barely breathe...the stinging sensation spread across his entire body..
Harry didn't know for how long he stayed that way..But the pain was lessening now..He was able to breathe..the stinging sensation slowly subsiding...He sat up slowly and inspected his burns. To his suprise, his burns were healing. He still had severe burns on his right arm and back. But the pain was bearable now. He felt a rush of adrenaline course through him when he turned around to look at Estella. She was looking at him anxiously , her tear stained face paler than ever. He limped over to her side,his legs still hurting
"Stella... I am so sorry"
Estella watched as Harry limped towards her. It was like watching a memory in a pensieve...he was there but yet he was not ...she could feel her pulse weakening ...her head was about to explode...the power radiating from her...But she was safe in her ring...her black fire would keep her safe.
"Stella" Harry called again but she had lost focus... she was staring back into the black fire not looking at him... he could feel the tornado around them gaining speed... he had to be quick
He placed the cauldron of squibsical potion on the bed and conjured up a goblet. So far so good ..thought Harry sarcastically .
" Stella can you hear me ?" he tried again. No response.
Plucking up all his gryffindor courage,he placed his hands on her shoulders turning her towards him. She responded to his touch by crawling back away from him
"I will not hurt you " said Harry in what he hoped to be a pacifying tone.
" I am so sorry Stella ...I don't know what came over me... so sorry ...you need to drink this "he said pointing to the glass in his hand.
No response.
Harry mentally cursed himself . That was the worst apology he could offer. He would have liked to offer a better one... but he was never good at emotional stuff .It was Hermione's forte. Maybe he should have let her come instead of him...He had been so intent on getting to Estella that he didn't consider what happens after that ...what did Dumbledore tell him ?...His mind was buzzing
Estella was still staring at him , not blinking as though she was not really seeing him.
"Drink" said Harry uneasily. He placed the glass close to her lips gently tilting it, trying to make her drink. To his immense surprise, she obliged. When she drowned the contents of the glass, silver grey orbs replaced the fully white iris making Harry heave a sigh of relief.
Harry quickly poured the potion again to the glass but then-
" No...No"
He looked up to see Estella crying...pleading with him..her face distorted in pain...her breathing heavy
"Its alright ...just a dream ..it's alright" Harry mollified her , grabbing her hand.
"Drink"
Estella looked at him fearfully...Just like she looked at her boggart years ago.. Harry realised that she was hallucinating...His heart clenched..She was scared of him.
"Drink Stella " he commanded, hating himself for doing this. Estella drank obidiently. Her face was twitching now as though she was asleep but having a nightmare.
"I don't want it ...don't make me drink it ...please" moaned Estella, her hands shaking vigorously.
"Please...its hurting...please... let me go please " she whispered, her voice trembling. She was crying now.
Harry didn't want to continue when he watched the effects of the potion. Feeling repulsed with himself, he forced the goblet back towards her mouth and tipped it. She started to gag but Harry successfully managed to make her drink it .
"No...no ...don't want to ...leave me alone ...mother ...help me... help me ...help " Esella was shrieking like a banshee now. She clutched the collar of his shirt with both hands.
" Last cup... last one ...it is over "said Harry soothingly lifting the cup to her mouth . But Estella was not having it. She dug her nails into his chest shaking her head vigorously.
"No no ...leave me" she groaned. Harry watched in fear as new scars appeared on her body...bitemarks, scratches...he felt his insides turn glacial. Her eyes rolled back out of focus. He shook her shoulders vigorously.
"STELLA ...ITS ME HARRY"
He shouted... The Silver eyes met green ones momentarily looking confused. Taking advantage of the distraction, Harry slipped the glass of potion to her mouth. She started choking and vomited blood.
"What the..." Harry was shocked as he held her head while she vomited more blood. Was the potion working ? Her condition was getting more worse with each glass she took ...Casting aside his doubts, Harry refilled the glass for the fifth time and gave it to her.
"It's alright Stella...it is your dream
.. I swear look at me ...drink it... it's alright" his hands were trembling now as he held her. She drank the potion without protest this time.
"Its my fault... I won't use magic ...never again ...make it stop... mother ...make them stop "she sobbed, her pain evident on her face.
"Here drink this ...drink this ...you will be fine ...they will stop "replied Harry ,his voice cracking.
" I want to die... don't want this pain...don't want...let me die ...KILL ME " she yelled in anguish.
" This..this one will" gasped Harry
" Last one I promise...Stella...no...drink this..drink"
Estella collapsed onto Harry after drinking the last cup. Harry could feel her tears and blood staining his shirt
" Kill me" she murmured against his chest. Her fingers began to slacken against him. Her breathing was slowing down, her body turning ice cold.
" Stella.." Harry called her desperately. He pullled her back, looking at her face. Her eyes had rolled back, her pulse barely there..her breathing shallow. His eyes widened in horror as he noticed her scars more closely.. bitemarks all over her beautiful skin...she was bleeding profusely. Harry fought his urge to vomit. Her magic was waning now. The tornado around them had lost its pace
" Rennervate" Harry cried pointing his wand at her. There was a flash of red light but nothing happened.
"Rennervate...rennervate" he tried again..
" Don't give up.. don't you give up on me.."growled Harry. He hugged her tightly wrapping his arms around her.
"You were hallucinating...it was not real...you are safe... c'mon...Stella..open your eyes..please"
Harry was panicking now. He had lost her. His brain seemed to be in freeze mode.
" You can't be dead..not dead..wake up.. WAKE UP"
Harry looked at her face..She looked peaceful..her eyes closed..all pain gone
" I am so sorry furball...so bloody sorry..." his eyes welled up, blurring his vision. She was gone. He felt empty. His tears tricked down from his face falling on her. She was gone...leaving him..his world torn apart.
He didn't know how long he sat there cradling her in his arms when he felt her move. His heart leapt.
Estella's eyes flickered.
"Harry..." she whispered looking at him.
Estella looked at Harry Potter who was looking like he had lost everything...His tears falling on her face.. She tried to raise her hand to wipe them off...Her move caught his attention. He looked at her, his eyes reflecting a range of emotions..grief...confusion..relief...happiness as he broke into a smile.
And then without warning, he kissed her. He was tender yet possessive as he placed soft kisses on her . He didn't care about her blood nor the tears as he kissed both her cheeks gently, as though afraid he might hurt her.
"so ...damn..sorry...mine...furball" she could figure out only these words as Harry proceeded to punctuate each word with a gentle kiss. Her heart soared as he pulled her into a fierce hug.
The fiery black ring around them was slowly crumbling into smoke. She hugged him back.
"I love you"