A/N:Hi all, I'm in a giving mood so I'm putting up two chapters...hope you lot like my methods of motivation snicker Now you all get out there and write more D/G/B goodness...pretty please! I just realized my dividers aren't showing up..arg...I'll find a better way to do them next update!

Disclaimer: see prologue.

Visions

Chapter One

Draco glared at the youngest Weasley, figuring she would be the easiest to get information from. He wasn't about to have Umbridge reporting to his father that he'd been uncooperative. That would mean at least a week of painful punishments, something he was well used to, but loath to ever repeat. So he stalked across the office and gripped her chin firmly, tipping her head up to look him in the eyes.

He nearly fell over at what he saw.

Being forced to kneel before the Dark Lord and branded…being told he was to kill Albus Dumbledore or his parents would be murdered in the most painful ways possible…fear and helplessness…knowing his father was locked in Azkaban…talking to that ghost…feeling weak and wane as he knew that he would fail and his family would be murdered…Potter hitting him with a Dark spell that nearly killed him…Dumbledore offering him protection…Snape killing Dumbledore before he could verbalize his agreement to Order protection…running through the battle…time slowing as he met Ginny Weasley's eyes and seeing the regret, acceptance, and defeat in her eyes…time speeding up again…the Dark Lord's disgust with him and the painful curses that followed…his mother being murdered before his eyes…being murdered.

He stepped back, struggling to keep from being ill right then and there. Glaring at her, he stepped back across the room even as he realized that she looked as horrified as he felt. Merlin, what the bloody hell was that?

---------

Blaise watched from the corner of Umbridge's office and spotted Draco's murderous glare when he stepped back across the room. Wondering just what that was all about, he followed Draco's line of sight and blanching as his eyes met Ginny's.

Watching Draco spout off about having something important to do and not certain he'd be back for his last year…making some sort of haughty, nasty reply…Spotting Draco wane and broken…Snape and Draco's flight and Dumbledore's death being explained to him and his house mates…realizing that time had run out, that straddling the fence wasn't an option any longer…being unwillingly Marked and given his first task…stepping into the Weasley twins shop and wishing he was anywhere else…meeting Ginny's eyes…her calm voice asking if he was there to kill her or recruit her…being unable to answer…her telling him to get on with it as she'd take death over a Dark Mark and reminding him that if he didn't then someone else would be sent to kill them both…seeing the defeat, regret, and oddly enough acceptance in her big brown eyes…raising his wand even as his mind screamed not to do it…the cell door slamming behind him…the Dementor leaning down to Kiss him…

Horrified, he backed into the wall. He glared at her just as Draco did; now fully understanding why he'd done so. Merlin, what the hell do I do? Was that real? It had to be; otherwise she wouldn't look ready to pass out. He ducked just in time as the hexes started to fly.

------

Draco slipped back into the Hospital Wing after Pomfrey healed most of the Inquisitorial Squad. He knew that sooner or later the students that had fled would be brought here. He had to demand some sort of answers from Ginny Weasley, she was the only one who could possibly explain what kind of game she was playing. He'd pretty much left her alone over the years and that horrid little show earlier was his thanks. He was beyond livid. He saw Blaise slipping through the shadows towards him and sighed.

"What and how did she do that?" Blaise whispered.

He smirked half-heartedly. "I take it she got you too?"

Blaise shuddered. "I don't think you want to know. You aren't going to confront her are you?"

"Isn't that why you're here?"

"No," Blaise admitted softly. "I was more concerned with figuring out what to do about what I saw actually." He shook his head. "If that was real," he trailed off shaking his head again. "Well, I can't trust Snape and I'll have to talk to Dumbledore no matter how odd even I think it sounds. You do understand, don't you?"

Draco stiffened, realizing that whatever Blaise saw must have overlapped what he had seen. He wasn't certain he could actually go to Dumbledore, but he had to know if this was a game or if it was the truth. There was no way he was going to die before his seventeenth birthday because Lucius messed up one too many times. If it was the truth, he'd have to do something…that much was perfectly clear.

Moments later, they shifted further into the shadows as chaos ensued. People were portkeying in, Lovegood and Longbottom, then the male Weasley and Granger; even Professor Lupin arrived in the confusion. Draco scanned the room, wondering where in the bloody hell she was. Potter was the only other one missing and that didn't bode well.

Blaise leaned over and whispered, "She'll be here, trust me, this isn't her night to die."

Intrigued even knowing he probably wouldn't like the answer, he asked, "How do you know that?"

Blaise turned to fully face him, looking miserable. "Because, if what I saw was real then she dies at my hand."

Draco knew his jaw dropped.

Blaise could only sigh, looking even more miserable than he had only moments ago. "You heard me right." He looked up and sighed with relief. "See, I told you."

Draco looked up to see her stepping from the fireplace, leaning heavily on a wizard in Auror robes. The pair slipped through the crowd, seemingly unnoticed. They crossed to the nearest open bed, not too far from where he and Blaise were hiding.

"I'll send Madame Pomfrey to you, Miss Weasley."

"No, you go on back. They'll need you and she'll get to me when she actually notices I'm here. I'll be fine. It's only a broken ankle, Kingsley, I've had worse."

Draco shared an incredulous look with Blaise as the Auror Flooed away even as Ginny propped her broken ankle up with the blankets stacked at the end of the bed before laying back and closing her eyes.

"Is she just going to lay there?" Blaise whispered sounding as perplexed as he felt.

"I assume so."

Blaise rolled his eyes and slipped across the room and sat at the end of her bed and healed the broken bone unasked. Certain Blaise was in for it, Draco quickly joined him. Ginny opened her eyes, studying Blaise before her eyes flicked to him. It didn't escape his notice that even after all that had happened, she was careful not to actually make eye contact with either of them.

"What was that you did earlier?" Blaise asked.

She sighed. "The better question would be what you two are going to do with the knowledge."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Draco tried to glare at her but somehow couldn't bring himself to do it. Much to his chagrin, all he could do was ask, "Why?"

She shrugged. "I'm not certain. All I know is what you saw is important."

All three of them jumped at Snape's incredulous, "What is going on here?"

She grinned, the little chit grinned at Snape.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, sir," she quipped wryly.

"Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini," Snape turned and glared at them. "Were you harassing Miss Weasley for a second time this evening?"

She snickered. "No, actually Zabini healed my injury, sir."

Snape's eyes widened slightly before he shook his head. "You were correct, Miss Weasley. I don't believe you."

Her eyes went blank. "I'm not certain I understand it myself, sir."

Draco understood immediately that she didn't trust Snape. Before he registered what he was doing, he brought up his own mental defenses and spotted Blaise doing the same out of the corner of his eye. We can't trust him, not even her.

Snape cleared his throat pointedly. "You two would find it in your best interests to return to Slytherin before you're discovered here."

"Sir, no one will notice, I assure you."

Thankful for his control, Draco lifted his eyes to meet hers and seeing nothing but resignation and honesty. How can she be so calm about being completely ignored? Why is she being ignored?

"Have it your way, Miss Weasley. Don't say I didn't warn you." Snape glared at each of them in turn before stalking away.

"I do believe we've confused him," Blaise said with a light snicker. "Now will you tell us how you did that?"

She ducked her head. "I would if I could. I'm not certain myself and the headmaster hasn't said a word since I went to him the start of my third year."

"It's happened before," Draco stated, understanding at least part of her hesitance. They were both Slytherins, and likely she'd faced his father earlier in the evening. He'd harassed her brother, Potter, and Granger at every turn. Now she'd revealed this odd…talent…and she had to be terrified that he or Blaise would go spouting off about it. I believe her now, for some reason, which means I'll not be telling anyone.

She nodded, studying her hands with her hair falling forward and effectively hiding her face.

"It's the future, isn't it?"

Blaise's hesitant, nearly despondent tone, so out of character, nearly had Draco falling over. He'd never, even first year, heard anything but conceit from Blaise.

"Yes, you can't change the past but the future is always changing, always shifting. One choice, one act can alter fate's path immeasurably."

Draco, for once in his life, didn't know what to do or say. Her soft, ageless voice hit him hard and solidified his earlier assessment that she was in no way joking about this.

"I can't tell you what you should do. I can't reassure you in any way. What I can do is already done. The rest is up to you."

Draco sank to the end of the bed, opposite of where Blaise was sitting. They sat there silently for quite some time. Briefly he wondered if Blaise was running the vision, or what the hell ever it had been, though his mind over and over. Draco was shaky as the scene of his mother dying and then his own murder kept popping up almost as if it was taunting him. He was only fifteen and yet his current life path would lead to his death before he reached his majority. But, the tiny redhead reclined half-asleep had fought Death Eaters twice her age and size because she believed in her cause whereas he had never been wholly certain that the Dark Lord's vision was the right one.

I don't know what to do!

--------

Blaise wasn't certain why he'd healed Ginny's ankle. That was how he thought of her now, simply Ginny, not the littlest Weasley or any of the other derogatory names his house mates had come up with over the years. By giving him the choice that she had, she'd shown him something he never would have thought he would see in a fourteen year old girl. The acceptance not only in Umbridge's office but in the vision when he'd murdered her had cut him to the core.

Her voice, ethereal, yet compelling as she spoke of fate and choices had convinced him to rethink his life, his path, his half-formed convictions. There was something extraordinary about the evening's events. He'd never even heard of the gift, talent…whatever it was that Ginny Weasley possessed.

He'd meant to speak to Dumbledore, no matter how much he'd shocked himself by even considering it. But, now, now he was fully prepared to do whatever necessary to keep the vision from unfolding.

"Well, this certainly is a surprise."

Draco nearly rolled his eyes. Of course Dumbledore would show up.

"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore chided lightly.

Draco watched closely as Ginny raised her head only to have Dumbledore pointedly look away even though he still looked quite vexed. Her shoulders dropped instantly.

"Are you upset that I went to the Ministry or that these two are here, sir?"

"I know a lost cause when I see one. My concern is why Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini are here."

Her voice was soft, apologetic and meek. "I didn't mean to, sir. I never mean to."

"Leave her alone," Draco found himself snapping even as Blaise's voice mingled with his.

Dumbledore looked quite shocked. "Gentlemen, do you need to speak to me?"

"Yes," they responded simultaneously.

"Exactly what transpired?"

Draco knew that the headmaster understood completely what had happened, but apparently wanted another chance to chide Ginny while interrogating all three of them.

"It seems," Blaise drawled mockingly, "that both of us will need you assistance rather than boarding the train."

"If you both truly wish for my assistance then come to my office tomorrow morning. Miss Weasley, I must stress again the need for secrecy regarding your gift. I must demand that you not do this again."

"Yes, sir," she responded flatly.

"Good, now off to your Houses, all three of you."

"Yes, sir," they chorused.

Blaise turned back to Ginny after the headmaster left. "What was that?"

Ginny just shook her head as she tried to stand. She was swaying on her feet even as he and Blaise both reached out to steady her.

"Thanks."

Draco sighed. "Whatever that was, you did us both a favor. So don't worry about thanking us."

"He's got it right. You're exhausted you'll never make it to the tower alone. Will you let us help you?"

Ginny giggled, staring at Blaise as if he'd grown a second head. "No one would believe me if I told them about it, so why the hell not. I just need to check on Ron before I go."

Something about this odd situation had himself and Blaise chuckling lightly as they helped her across to her brother's bed and then out of the hospital wing, through the castle, and to the portrait outside Gryffindor tower.

"Get some rest…Ginny," Blaise suggested as she turned to open the portrait.

She laughed lightly. "That goes for you two as well."

Draco snickered, not knowing why he did it even as he said it. "Yes, mum, anything else, mum?"

She turned and scowled at him. "Now, now, there's no need for that."

He smirked and Blaise chuckled.

"Will you hex me again, Ginny?"

"I might, I just might…Draco," she replied dryly, before whispering the password.

"Thanks again, Blaise," she whispered before crawling through.

"What the bloody hell just happened?" he asked Blaise softly, sounding as confused as he felt.

Blaise snickered, playfully shoving him down the corridor. "I don't honestly know. What I do know is that's one unique witch-"

Draco cut him off. "I know that our lives have just taken one of those shifts she talked about."

"Too true, Draco, too true."

--------

Ron gaped, certain his baby sister had been hit with one too many hexes the night before. Because, if not, than she'd truly just said that Zabini and Malfoy had been the newest recipients of her gift and as a result she was okay with both of them. It's just not possible. Sure she's been one surprise after another since we got back to being good friends but this I never expected. Malfoy and Zabini? I think my own personal hell just got hotter.

Ginny giggled as she leaned over as not to be overheard. "You heard me right. They stopped me on the seventh floor when they were going to Dumbledore's office, checking to see if I was alright after last night's events. I think we'll be seeing them at Headquarters. You should try and get along with them as they've proven to me that they're not Death Eater material."

Ron sighed heavily. "Are you certain?"

She sighed, stretching out next to him. "Yes, after what they saw and I saw they'll not be joining that side."

"What was it?" he asked, though he was fairly certain he truly didn't want to know.

"Not telling, it's for them to tell not me."

He sighed, knowing the futility of getting Ginny to go back on anything once she'd decided on it. That had been one of the biggest shocks last year, the fact that he'd completely disregarded her intelligence and loyalty. It had shocked him to see Harry chatting away earlier with Luna and Neville while completely ignoring that Ginny was even there. He'd even had the stones to thank them, in front of Ginny, but not even taken a moment to thank her as well. Without her hexes, the others wouldn't have joined them and they would have been slaughtered. Ginny looked resigned, as if she'd expected nothing less. It only reaffirmed his resolve to move away from Harry and Hermione. Neither of them had been quite normal after the battle and he was grateful when he'd been released. Ginny was there to walk back to the tower with him.

He probably shouldn't have been as shocked as he was when Malfoy and Zabini met them on the stairs.

"We want to call some sort of truce," Zabini said.

"We're all going to be stuck at the same place during the summer," Malfoy pointed out.

Ron sighed at the imploring look Ginny shot him. "How do I know you're telling the truth? You've gone out of your way to insult our family for five years, Malfoy."

Malfoy sighed heavily. "Wouldn't you if Lucius Malfoy was your father and told you to?"

Ron noted that Ginny and Zabini winced the same time he did as that particular implication sank in. "Fair point, though if I hear one insult the truce is off."

"Ron," Ginny hissed. "You'll be pleasant, all three of you. I'll not be breaking up rows all summer long. It'll be bad enough once Harry and Hermione realize what's going on."

"Fine," the three of them replied sullenly.

Apparently she has the ability to make them feel all of five years old, at least I'm not the only one.