Deal

" You look beautiful.." said Blaise as he placed his hands on her waist. Estella cringed but didn't object. She had sold her soul. There was no point regretting it .

" I don't know why you want to wait till next year for engagement..after all 16 is the age of consent" said Blaise suggestively

Estella untangled herself from Blaise and walked towards the peacocks in the Malfoy Manor garden. Ever since her mother had offered her as bait to Zabtini , Blaise had been dropping hints to take the relationship to the next level. They hardly had any relationship but still he wanted to get in her knickers as soon as possible.

"Blaise.. we both know this is a business deal..Your father eyes the gold in my name and my mother wants your family support"

" We could still make the most of it" continued Blaise eyeing her lustily

Estella shuddered. This was a bloody mistake. She should never have agreed to it. But what option she had?

" Not interested Zabtini" shot back Estella

"Fiery ...I like that" said Blaise winking at her. Estella glared at him.

"It's getting late Blaise...maybe you should heed home"

" Already trying to get rid of me?"

"I wish"

With much difficulty ,Estella managed to sent Blaise back home. As she entered the Manor, Narcissa Malfoy appeared before her

" I hope everything went well" Narcissa asked anxiously

Estella felt a wave of anger towards her mother.

"Yes. Your son will still be wizardhead. That's all you care.. isn't it? " Narcissa stiffened

."You are a Malfoy ,Estella. Don't forget that. Your family needs you"

" Needs..not loves.." argued Estella..she remembered the Years of ignorance and injustice shown towards her..It's always been Draco darling and Squib Estella...Her father thought she was a disgrace..but she thought at least her mother loved her..she was wrong...

"Of course not. We love you" said Draco who was watching the argument. "If you don't want to marry Blaise,we will cancel the deal. I won't let anyone ruin your life" added Draco vehemently

Estella looked at her brother. Even though he felt ashamed of her lack of magical abilities,Draco loved her and protected her. Which was one of the reasons why Estella agreed to the engagement. Even though Estella didn't know the details ,her mother had hinted that Draco was in grave danger. Voldemort was still angry with their father and had planned something for Draco. Her mother had begged her to agree for the marriage since that will get them the support of Zabtinis, who were prominent death eaters. Narcissa was convinced that with Zabtinis and Lestranges on their side, Draco could achieve the secret task

"Draco...Blaise is a good boy for our Estella. He is pure blooded and rich like us...Now go have dinner. I'd like to speak to your sister alone" said Narcissa with a tone of finalty

Draco looked at Estella who gave a faint nod and he left.

"Estella..this is not just about Draco. We need the Zabtini Malfoy name has been tainted and we are under investigation"

"But Mother.."

"Listen to me Estella" said Narcissa with her voice rising.

" Your father is in Azkaban and Matt Zabtini has good connections in the ministry. He is the only one who can keep aurors out of the Malfoy Manor. Understand?

" Flashes of the past came into Estella's mind. She went cold . The ministry will never enter the Manor again..Never again...

"Yes mother"

Estella left to her room without bothering for dinner. She sat in the room looking at the emerald necklace . She hadn't taken it off. It reminded her of the blazing green eyes that she longed to see. Harry..she was angry with him...After all she had done for him, he broke up with her.

"We are over Malfoy"

The words were etched in her memory forever. But deep down both of them knew they had no future together. She was a Slytherin a Malfoy...survival was her instinct..she would do anything to survive... anything for her family to survive ..if being with Blaise was the way to ensure that..then so be it

XXX XXX XXX

Harry and his friends settled in the compartment as the Hogwarts Express gathered speed

. "Puddlemere united will win" argued Harry

" No Harpies are the best" said Ginny fiercely

. Hermione looked at her friends..Ginny had casually place a hand on Harry's knee. It looked an innocent gesture to anyone but her. Hermione had advised Ginny to get over Harry by dating other men. She thought Ginny had moved on to Dean but the last fortnight had been an eye opener. Ginny had got over the fear of talking to Harry but not her crush. Hermione was sure that Harry had no clue about it. Her best friend had surprised her by the level of maturity he had showed this year. He was not the angry man anymore. He seemed normal but Ron had told her that he still had trouble sleeping...sometimes shouting Sirius name..

But Harry was coping well. He didn't brood but there was something else that was bothering him. Hermione didn't know the reason. Ron had pointed out Harry's growing obsession with the Malfoys. He had followed Draco in the diagon alley and was chanting Draco is a death eater theory almost every hour..And then there was the little Malfoy….

Harry looked outside watching the forests turn greener. Ron and Ginny were still talking quidditch while Hermione appeared deep in thought. Harry's thoughts drifted to a certain Slytherin. He had tried hard not to think about her during the summer. Obviously she had moved on. But He couldn't help it. He had no control over his heart. He was hurt that she had moved on so though he was nothing more than a summer fling. That had hurt him...more than he'd ever admit..He wanted to see her. NOW...

Harry stood up and took his invisibility cloak with him and made his way through the train searching for Estella. He saw Draco Malfoy with Crabbe and Goyle. Hoping to see Estella he slid into the compartment with them. Estella was not there with them but Draco was boasting about a secret task to Zabtini. Harry listened. Once the train was nearing the destination , they went out of the compartment. Draco stayed behind.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Without warning, Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry, who was instantly paralyzed. As though in slow motion, he toppled out of the luggage rack and fell, with an agonizing, floor-shaking crash, at Malfoy's feet, the Invisibility Cloak trapped beneath him, his whole body revealed with his legs still curled absurdly into the cramped kneeling position. He couldn't move a muscle; he could only gaze up at Malfoy, who smiled broadly.

"I thought so," he said jubilantly. "I heard Goyle's trunk hit you. And I thought I saw something white flash through the air after Zabini came back. . . ."

Draco broke Harry's nose and threw the cloak over him.

"I don't reckon they'll find you till the train's back in London," he said quietly.

"See you around, Potter . . . or not."

And taking care to tread on Harry's fingers, Malfoy left the compartment. As he lay immobilised in the compartment panic rushed through him. Blood began to ooze out of his nose as he lay there with growing helplessness.

"Potter"

His eyes shot up as he saw her... Suddenly Harry felt that the last few months had never happened. She was as beautiful as he had remembered. Estella had came for him..She was searching the compartment like a blind girl. Finally she pulled off his cloak. She tried to immobilise him but as usual her spells were not working. After several attempts she managed to unparalyse his upper body and Harry got hold of his wand. He muttered the spell and stood up after wiping the blood of his face. Harry looked at Estella. He felt nervous and a maddening urge to kiss her. But her face was blank

"Trust you to keep poking your ugly nose on to other's business Potter.. " she spat

Harry felt his temper raising..

" I don't remember asking for your help Malfoy"

" Who said I am helping you? I don't want my brother to get in trouble because of you... Dumbledore favours gits over my brother"

Harry snorted " your brother is the biggest git"

"You should thank me on your knees Potter. I have lost count on how many times I have saved your neck. But scarhead doesn't know the meaning of gratitude"

"But you sure know the meaning of rebound" said Harry bitterly.

Estella smirked at him. She turned and walked away and Harry followed her out of the train. everyone had left .They began to walk towards the castle in silence. Harry glanced at Estella who was walking without giving him a second look. She looked haughty with her blonde hair dancing behind silence became unbearable for Harry.

"What's going on between you and Zabtini?" He blurted out before he could stop himself. Harry mentally cursed himself. He sounded like a jealous madman which he was.

" None of your business Potter" said Estella coldly ,still not looking at him

"He is a death eater"

"Again none of your business"

." It is bloody well my business if you decide to marry someone who wants to kill me" spat Harry.

"He is not interested in killing you. You are not that important" said Estella quietly. Her lack of emotions were driving Harry mad. She spoke as though he was an annoying insect that she wanted to get rid off.

Harry picked up the pace not talking to her. He had wanted to apologise to her. For being a git to her..but his insides were now filled with venom. She had moved on so quickly that Harry had started to doubt whether she had been acting the entire time. How dare she? That too Zabtini…pathetic slytherin..

" Well congratulations on your engagement " said Harry with his jaw clenched

. Estella didn't reply. They walked in silence. As soon as the castle gate opened, Harry saw a shadow of something..a man was running towards them.. Instinctively Harry pulled out his wand and launched himself in front of Estella sheilding her. As the shadow emerged from the darkness Harry relaxed. It was Lupin

Lupin looked at teenagers in front of him. Harry's face was covered in blood and he had blocked Estella out of view. He vaguely remembered the last time he had seen them together... A Slytherin hugging a Gryffindor... A rare sight..

"Pretty impressive response time, Harry" said Lupin proudly.

"Learned from the best" said Harry grinning at him.

"Where were you? We were beginning to get what happened to your nose?"

"Malfoy.." said Harry bitterly. Lupin narrowed his eyes on Estella

" Not her..Draco" added Harry quickly.

"Why are you late Miss Malfoy?"

Harry's eyes widened. He was thinking fast. But before he could speak, Estella started " I had forgotten my purse in the went back to find it but stepped on to our resident celebrity. Someone had broken his nose because he was too nosy. Serves him right. He decided to follow me to the castle. Pervert" said Estella nastily

"Now if you will excuse me, I don't want to be late for dinner" she walked past them with her head held high

Harry glared at her as Lupin watched the exchange in amusement. It was certainly going to be an interesting year