Hello all! This is InfiniteInspirit. Welcome to my new story! This plot has been on my mind for a long while, and I finally decided to begin this story. Hopefully you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.
I want to mention several things…
The first is I am not a particularly fast updater. I am in my final year of university, and do not have a lot of free time. Writing is a fun hobby for me, but other things in my life do come first. I am definitely not one to give up on a story, however. Despite if it takes a year to update, rest assured it will happen eventually.
Secondly, if you see any mistakes in my story or have questions, please do not hesitate to leave a review or send me a message. As this story does not have a beta, I am the only one proofreading and of course I am bound to make mistakes.
In the summary, I have mentioned that this story will be eventual slash. I do mean eventual. Such a relationship probably won't happen until at least seventh year, because Draco is young now and has little interest in romance considering his myriad of other concerns.
Also, if you have any characters that you would like to see with a prominent role in this story, I will consider it, along with any voice colors you think would suit these people. One of the most interesting aspects of this storyline to me is how impressions of people are often much different than who they are on the inside, something Draco gets a unique glimpse into.
I am very excited about this story, and I hope you will leave a review and tell me what you think about it.
I would also like to thank Emi, who left me a wonderful review. Your comments concerning my story were lovely and very encouraging. I hope you continue to read this story and see new sides to characters. I have not decided on the pairing yet, so you are correct in that it could be just about anyone. ;)
One last thing…I am not writing Viktor Krum's voice as accented, because I am sure you all know he is not a native English speaker. I find it annoying to misspell words just because his pronunciation is slightly different, so I didn't bother to. ;)
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Several hours later, Draco returned to the Owlery to send his Father the letter he had drafted early that morning. It was a little before six A.M. now, still around an hour before most students would stir from their beds. The early hour gave Draco confidence in coming here alone. Most of the time he would make sure to have another Slytherin with him. In this instance, though, he doubted a person would sacrifice precious sleep just to hex him.
He encountered no trouble, so after sending off Arcanus he headed to the Great Hall to grab some breakfast. Slathering a piece of toast with jam, he greeted the few Slytherins who were awake at this time before considering again how twisted his situation was.
Really, it made no sense whatsoever. Two things in particular screamed wrongness at him: first, the burn on his arm. Speaking of the burn, he had best visit Pomfrey in the hospital wing and get the wound taken care of. Of course he was worried about the burn because he hadn't been able to control it, but it was also very strange. How could a dream affect the physical world, let alone injure him? He had never heard of something like this happening before, and it was extremely dangerous. If he dreamed about an earthquake, would an earthquake take place? It was not rational, but yet he had been burned. How far would the physical damage go? He had not been the person in the dream, so why were that person's wounds transferred to him?
The questions revolved in his head with no answers. Viciously biting into the toast, Draco tapped his fingers against the thick table impatiently. Another thing that bothered him, when he thought more deeply about his situation, was the lack of an authority figure being neutral in this war. There was the Dark Lord, and there was Dumbledore. All other people who had any sway were aligned firmly on either side. Had no one been intelligent enough to suggest a compromise between the two sides?
Draco had considered the points of each side before and come to the conclusion that neither side was wrong nor was either side was right. Assuredly, the Dark Lord was incorrect in his methods. Terrorizing people was bound to get you nowhere, and only increased the hate on both sides. By this point Voldemort was basically an insane madman anyways, the blonde Malfoy supposed, but still a very powerful insane madman. Despite the faults of the Dark Lord, many of the Purebloods and other wizards who aligned themselves with Voldemort had pure intentions. It was only fear of the Dark Lord that lead most to be as vicious as Voldemort himself. Then again, there were a handful of other insane Death Eaters, such as Draco's own aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange.
Those aligned with the Dark Lord wanted wizarding customs to remain alive, and continue to be a prominent part of society. They wanted heritage and traditions to be important and respectable to all wizards, but the muggleborn Wizards were not respecting the centuries of magical heritage, a real and tangible issue.
These wishes were not wrong. Neither were the wishes of muggleborns to join wizarding society and freely learn about the gifts they had inherited, without fear of persecution. Despite the propaganda floating around, muggleborns were in no way lesser wizards. Hermione Granger was enough proof of that, being the brightest witch in their year.
If Draco, in his young age, could see these things, then why was their no neutral peacemaker? It was as if the participants in the war were squabbling children instead of rational adults.
Draco did not personally oppose the Dark Lord's death, but he knew that the Dark Lord could useful in certain ways, such as reminding many about the importance of tradition. It seemed, however, that these methods were not working. Harry Potter was a half-blood, yet he knew nothing of wizarding tradition, nor had anyone attempted to educate him in these matters. That alone was evidence that Dumbledore wasn't taking the issue seriously either. Taking into consideration all the courses Dumbledore had removed from the Hogwarts curriculum, such as Rituals, Blood Magic, or Wizarding Laws, the problem was further amplified. Yes, these courses could be used for Dark purposes or to exploit others.
Couldn't pretty much every other class be used for the same purposes? Magic was a tool, and avoiding education in these matters would only leave students ignorant and more dangerous. Without knowing about the consequences of these spells, they were more likely to do something incredibly stupid. It was a school's purpose to educate the students, not decide what they were to do with that education. That's what the law was for.
Draco was all for being cautious with dangerous magic and not encouraging students to break the law. When all was said and done, though, people would make their own choices and they could pay the consequences for their own actions. If they made the wrong choices, they would suffer for it. That was not the responsibility of anyone except themselves. But no, it seemed Dumbledore was determined to coddle every student and treat them like children, controlling their choices and knowledge of situations. For their own good, of course.
While Draco would never agree with the Dark Lord's insane methods, he couldn't agree with Dumbledore's manipulations either. The fact that no one else seemed to feel the same way was very concerning to Draco. Could it be that such a neutral party was so dangerous to either side that anyone who showed hints of neutrality was eliminated? That was a frightening thought.
Mind whirling, Draco reached for a pastry and shoved it into his mouth. Any explanation he could think of was not a comforting one. One way or another, it was a sure thing that anyone who could have been neutral was eliminated. Why this happened, Draco couldn't be so sure. It was imperative that he figured out why it was happening, if he were to ever have a choice about his future.
He would prefer not to receive the Dark Mark and become a Death Eater like his father, but if Dumbledore was his only other option, it would be the same as having no choice in the matter. He didn't trust Dumbledore to act for his good. All he had to do was look at Harry Potter to see that rightness of his decision. The boy was the most powerful wizard the world has seen in generations, and he is wasting his talent away because no one is bothering to teach him correctly. No, Draco did not want to become a tool of Dumbledore. If he could not figure out the mystery behind having no neutral party, than he would have an extremely difficult choice in front of him: become a murderer or become a pawn, possibly sending himself to his death. Neither was desirable.
As he thought deeply, the Great Hall was slowly filling up with more students. Pansy and Blaise had both joined him, but noticed his pensive mood and chatted among themselves instead of bothering him like usual. Draco sighed and resisted the urge to drop his face into his hands. His gifts were sometimes an unbearable burden, and often he wished that he could fade into the normalcy that his peers were so fortunate to possess. For now he had the willpower and motivation to withstand the stress, but he feared one day he might lose those preventative measures and be unable to bear the pressure. This was even more of a worry if the type of dream he had experienced last night began to take place more frequently.
The serious thoughts had robbed him of his appetite, but the Malfoy heir continued to eat mechanically in order to keep himself healthy. Checking the time, he discovered that he had about one hour before his class began. Before he forgot, it was time to visit Madame Pomfrey. His mind worked quickly as he walked to the hospital wing in order to make up a plausible excuse for the burn. There really was not a satisfying explanation. He would just insist it happened in Potions and hope she didn't question him too much, or think something was odd.
He was greeted brusquely when he entered the room, perhaps because Madame Pomfrey remembered his gross exaggeration regarding the Hippogriff last year and didn't care enough to look past that.
Cutting to the chase, Draco rolled up his sleeve, baring the burn to the light. Pomfrey tutted her tongue and fetched a burn-healing paste. "And how did this happen, young man?" Her eyes sternly bore into Draco's own, not quite accusing but almost there.
He sighed inwardly. He was used to that look, the look that clearly said you have been doing some Dark Magic, no doubt. "I'm afraid I burned myself brewing a potion." He offered no further explanation and she did not ask, though her faced showed her disbelief.
Pomfrey opened a small jar of burn paste, smoothed the thick orange paste gently onto the burn, and bandaged the injured forearm. She handed Draco a fresh, unopened jar of paste and a roll of bandages. "This should help. Apply the paste every morning and every evening and try to wear loose clothing. I would only wear the bandages today and tomorrow, and then when you sleep the next few days. If you have any other issues or it gets infected somehow, please come back to the hospital wing and I will take care of it. It should heal in about three days, and remain a scab for a week or so."
Draco pulled his sleeves back down over the bandages, pocketed the healing supplies, and thanked the nurse dispassionately before exiting the wing. He didn't notice the other student, who looked very surprised to see him, heading to the hospital wing in his preoccupation. The student frowned and decided to ask Pomfrey what that had been all about.
Draco returned to his rooms and tucked the supplies safely into his trunk, recasting the warding and locking spells. Some of the Slytherins were just beginning to stir and, realizing that they barely had enough time before class to wake up and grab some breakfast, scrambled around hastily. Draco calmly gathered his Charms and Ancient Runes materials and sank back to sit on his bed, waiting patiently until it was time to head to class.
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Charms and Ancient Runes passed by uneventfully. Even if Draco had not been allowed to do magic, technically, before he arrived at Hogwarts, the Malfoys were never one for following the law strictly. Draco hadn't learned a lot of complicated Charms and wand work before attending Hogwarts, but he definitely knew most of the theory behind all his subjects until about halfway through sixth year. This familiarity allowed him to grasp concepts quickly, spend less time on homework, and more time studying concepts outside of the Hogwarts curriculum.
One of the topics he was currently engrossed in was mind healing. It was a unique field that would be extremely complimentary to his Seer gifts. Regretfully, Draco doubted he could pursue it as a career simply because of the Malfoy name. His Father was beginning to turn the once proud and noble name into a curse. Draco doubted many would trust a Malfoy with their mind…although they were doing that every day because of his gifts anyways. No matter, what they didn't know couldn't hurt them. As for now, he would pursue it as a topic of interest alone, despite his reluctance to let such a fascinating field be denied to him.
Draco headed to the Great Hall for the announcements concerning the Triwizard Tournament, happy to see and chat with Viktor and the other visiting foreign students. Theodore Nott and a younger third year student accompanied him. When he entered the Hall, he glanced around to make sure Viktor wasn't waiting somewhere before he sad near the Beauxbatons students, greeting them cordially. As they returned the greetings, he carefully observed the color of their Voices. None were of interest…but, oh, there was an interesting one. A gorgeous blonde who introduced herself as Fleur had a deep purple voice, almost burgundy. Red was an extremely rare color in Voices, so to see a blend of red and purple was surprising. Not once had he happened on a person with a pure red Voice. He imagined red would be connected in some way to passion, as red was known for being affiliated with.
In a way, searching for a red Voice was something akin to a treasure hunt for Draco. He knew a red Voice would be so different than his own dreaded white Voice…almost complete opposites.
Purple implied a similarity to Pansy, but the red he could only speculate about. Likely it also implied a vibrant spirit and charisma…perhaps a blend of all three.
Draco glanced up as Viktor joined the table, settling across from him. "Viktor, how nice to see you again." The blonde Malfoy inclined his head regally.
Viktor smiled in return. "Likewise, Draco." He started to say more but it was lost in the fanfare of the Champions beginning to be announced.
Fleur, Viktor, and Cedric Diggory…very interesting. The first two he would have guessed by their unique Voices, but Cedric's was a normal pale green shade with hints of yellow. As they began to exit the Hall, something shocking happened…the Goblet of Fire released another name: Harry Potter.
Draco was not shocked by who it was, but rather by what it implied. Death Eaters were somehow involved in this Tournament. Glancing at the Gryffindor table, Draco sneered. Clearly Potter's precious friends, especially Weasley, did not believe Potter's protests. But Draco had observed Harry frequently, and he knew there was no way in hell Potter would willingly participate in such a Tournament.
Which left one possibility…someone wanted Potter dead. It didn´t take a genius to figure out who. Even more surprising, the precautions Dumbledore had undertaken were insufficient, although perhaps that shouldn't surprise Draco. Nonetheless, even with his minuscule amount of faith he had expected more from the old coot.
Fleur and Diggory looked shocked at Harry's announcement, but Viktor's expression was unreadable. Draco doubted Krum was directly involved, but he suspected the Bulgarian seeker was at least aware of the happenings. Durmstrang did have a reputation as a Dark Arts school, so Draco assumed they had a hand in this.
As the Champions left the room, Draco sent Fleur and Viktor a smile of congratulations and mouthed, "good luck." They returned the smile, seeming pleased with their own choosing but perhaps a little ruffled by the selection of Potter as well. Viktor discreetly waved his wand and a little note flew to Draco's hand. He nodded and smirked at Viktor.
He was interrupted from his friendly posturing by Theo jostling into his side accidentally, resulting in a myriad of Flashes for Draco. The blonde Malfoy scowled at Theo, who apologized profusely. All of Draco's year-mates knew about his aversion to touch, but sometimes they forgot or bumped him accidentally, as in Theo's case. Either way, they received a death glare from the Slytherin Ice Prince.
Returning his attention to the small piece of paper his hands were hiding, Draco carefully unfolded the note, hiding it from prying eyes. In eight minutes please stop by. I have some important matters to discuss.
The Malfoy heir burned the note in his fist and returned to his dinner, counting the minutes in his head. Blaise and Pansy engaged him in conversation about Potter's unexpected Champion status, but Draco remained tight-lipped and didn't offer any additional information.
After the appropriate time had passed, Draco stood and excused himself from the table. He passed a fuming Ronald Weasley and made sure to accidentally elbow him in the back, resulting in an eruption of cursing which earned chastisement from the professors at the staff table. Draco escaped in the chaos.
He quickly moved to where the muffled sounds of arguments originated from. A quick glance told him that this was the room where the Headmasters and involved professors argued about Potter's situation. The other three Champions were conspicuously absent. Draco checked three rooms nearby before finding them.
Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor all glanced up as he entered. Viktor smiled brightly and gestured Draco to the side, muffling their voices to prevent Fleur and Diggory from eavesdropping.
As he moved to where Viktor indicated, the Bulgarian seeker began to speak. "I have been asking students about you. I was trying to figure out if you supported the Dark Lord, but the evidence was inconclusive. Before I tell you why I want to know, I need to know your allegiance." Draco was about to protest, but to his shock Krum then proceeded to swear upon his magic not to share Draco's reply without permission and nto to use the information to hurt Draco in any way.
Taken aback, Draco hesitated to speak. "I consider myself neutral." He met Viktor's eyes seriously, trying to convince the Durmstrang student of his sincerity. Apparently it worked, because Krum kept going. "I do not approve of what has happened here tonight. I am unsure whether my Headmaster initiated this or not, but I do not wish to be forced into something because of my loyalty to him. I am afraid I need your help, Draco Malfoy."
Unknowingly, Viktor casually touched Draco's shoulder. The blonde boy flinched away, but not before something completely distressing happened. Draco expected strong Flashes, as was apt to happen when he hadn't touched the person often. What happened was completely different than anything Draco was prepared for.
It was as if he was no longer in control of his own body. Suddenly, he started to shake and his eyes glowed silver. Viktor shouted in alarm, and even the muffling spell was not enough to disguise the volume of the noise. Fleur and Cedric turned towards the sound, noticed something was wrong, and hurried over to Draco's side. The young Malfoy slumped into Viktor's arms.
"What is wrong with him?" Cedric's voice was panicked and he stared at Draco in morbid fascination, taking in the unhealthy pallor of his skin.
Fleur's eyes were wide in shock and she quickly helped Viktor lower their friend to the floor gently. "It reminds me of a Seer's trance. Is he a Seer, Diggory?"
Cedric blinked, "I…I don't know. Not that I've heard of? But he is a Slytherin…they like to keep their secrets."
Viktor spoke up. "I have never seen a Seer's trance, but it seems like a good explanation. Will he be okay?"
Unbeknownst to the three Champions, Draco heard them in a disconnected sort of way. He was simultaneously there in Hogwarts and at a place he guessed was the end of the Triwizard Tournament. He watched as Cedric and Harry reached together for the Triwizard Cup…which was portkey. The battled played before his eyes, resulting in Cedric Diggory's death. The vision cut off abruptly after that and switched to a new scene.
This time it seemed to be many years in the future. Draco spotted his older self alongside…was that a Weasley? He drew in a shocked breath before confirming it definitely wasn't a Weasley he had met before. However, the distinctive family traits were unmistakable. Vision-Draco and the unknown Weasley had their wands drawn, lasting off hexes and curses rapidly. Draco was unable to see their opponents, but he could tell by their movements that the two were very familiar with each other, to the point of taking hits for one another and watching each other's backs.
Once more, the scene changed. This time he was unable to see who's eyes he was seeing from, only that the person had delicate, feminine hands. The scene in front of this person was horrifying: a damp, dirty dungeon filled with what seemed to be illegal research victims. Draco's only hint regarding the location was a strange symbol etched into the walls, resembling a hexagon with a star inside. The feminine hands picked up a bloodstained scalpel and fumbled it, accidentally nicking the left pointer finger.
Draco came back to himself abruptly, and sat up from his position on the floor. Three sets of worried eyes watched his movement. Only then did Draco remember the conversation between the three and began to panic: they suspected he was a Seer.
"Draco." Viktor voice tentatively. "Are you well?"
Draco's face crumbled. He didn't know what to do, and he was more afraid now than he had ever been. A terrible headache pounded in the back of his skull and his eyes felt gritty and tired, as if he hadn't slept in two days. "Hopefully."
It was then that Fleur noticed his bleeding hand. "How did this happen, Draco? This injury wasn't here before." She reached for his hand to inspect it, only to have him pull back adamantly. "Please don't touch me." He requested politely.
It was then that Cedric Diggory spoke to Draco for the first time. "Malfoy, what is going on here? I think you owe us an explanation."
It was the Ice Prince of Slytherin who replied, not Draco Malfoy. "I don't owe you anything, Cedric Diggory." He hissed, eyes narrowing and shooting Cedric a very impressive glare. His eyes were the color of steel.
Fleur immediately intervened. "Whatever just happened, Draco, you're bleeding, you look exhausted, and you went into a Seer's trance. I know you're afraid but we are, too. Please tell us what happened, maybe we can help."
Draco's frightened eyes darted between the three Champions. He let out a deep sigh. "If I tell you, you have to swear not to tell another soul. This secret has been kept from everyone my whole life, and I will not be killed or locked away into a laboratory somewhere if you are stupid enough to blab." His acidic tone and cold glare caused Cedric to wince. Draco's white skin greyed further as he realized what he had just said and seen. The research lab from the vision…would he end up there some day?
To Draco's surprise, the Champions did as he asked and swore upon their magic to keep his secret. Relieved, Draco confirmed that he was a Seer. "My abilities have always been unique, and despite extensive research of have never heard of anything like what I can do. A lot of it is triggered by touch." He glanced apologetically at Fleur. He decided to keep the rest to himself and stood up. "Now you know. Viktor, you were saying?"
Cedric tried to protest, clearly wanting more information, but Draco ignored him. He was unwilling to look into the face of someone he had just seen dying before his eyes. Fleur gently tugged on the Hogwarts Champion's arm, leading him away from the other two.
Viktor recast the spell, and Draco spoke first. "I am willing to help you. It makes things easier that you know my secret now, as much as I would have preferred for that not to happen. Now is not the time to discuss our plans, though. They will reach a consensus regarding Potter soon. Seek me out tomorrow when you can." With a wave of farewell to the three, Draco hurriedly left the room.
He was reeling by the time he mad eit to the Slytherin common room, and extremely lightheaded. Mumbling the password to the portrait and leaning against the wall for support, he sidled into the shared space. He barely made it to the couch before collapsing in a heap. The combination of the vision, one like he'd never experienced before, and having someone discover his secret for the first time was too much.
Mentally congratulating himself for not fainting after waking up from the vision in front of the three Champions, he allowed himself to slip into unconsciousness. He would freak out about and analyze what he had just seen later. As of now he lacked the mental capacity.
….
When he awoke, the queasy feeling had not disappeared. Pansy hovered over him suddenly, almost causing Draco to jolt off the couch. "Everything okay, Drake?" she questioned, smiling at his jump.
Draco sat up and smiled back. He could count on Pansy to keep the other Slytherins away. That it served her own interests was enough motivation. "Sure…and don't call me that. I think I ate something bad at dinner."
Pansy chuckled. Uncharacteristically, she glanced around before leaning in close. "Draco, refusing to speak about Potter's situation has left me confused. Are you a part of this mess or not? Because you have been acting strangely as of late."
Draco stiffened. "I have nothing to do with this. Even if I was inclined to, I wouldn´t go about it in such a monumentally stupid and public way." He didn't answer her implied question directly, but she would understand his answer. No, he was not a Death Eater supporter now…even if he may be forced into it some day. He wouldn't do things this inelegantly.
Pansy let out a breath of relief. "Oh. Good then, because I was expecting the worst. My parents have not decided their allegiances yet, but…I would hate to be on opposite sides. Now it seems we won't, at least not yet."
Draco rubbed his temples tiredly. So the Parkinsons planned to be neutral or side with Dumbledore. Likely the later, as being neural really meant being against both sides if there was not a central leader. He was not in the mood to deal with Slytherin politics at the moment. "Good to know. However, there are some things that I need to take care of now. Thanks for watching my back." He stood and walked to his own room, dropping into the bed after grabbing his dream journal.
The blonde Slytherin scribbled down the three snippets of the vision. He was especially concerned about the final scene of the twisted laboratory. After finishing that, he dropped the journal and leaned back against the headboard, swallowing hard.
Oh, where even to begin? Draco pushed the third vision aside for now, best not to dwell on what could potentially kill him until he figured out a way to prevent injury during a vision. Best to focus on Fleur and Viktor's solidified friendship. Diggory, he was not sure how much to trust. He seemed firmly under Dumbledore's thumb, and likely his rigid morality and judgmental attitude would only get in Draco's way. Perhaps with the right persuasion, he could be swayed. Difficult to guess, so Draco would just observe for now. It did seem that his vision revolved around the Triwizard Tournament for now, so he expected the next visions to show him a way to prevent Cedric's death. He really hoped it didn't involve personal intervention, but he would do what he could.
Fleur, he was beginning to trust more. She had sensible head on her shoulders and was too kind to betray him. He wondered briefly how she would do in the Tournament. She was the only woman competing, it must be daunting for her. Witches typically had less overall magical power, but more control over the power they possessed.
Also, Viktor's plea for help had sounded suspiciously like an alliance offer. Tomorrow, Draco would bring up his thoughts about the lack of a strong, unified neutral voice. Perhaps the Bulgarian seeker would have some thoughts about the mystery. If his offer of an alliance was genuine, Draco could imagine a lot of benefits. The Krum family did not wield the influence that the Malfoys did, but they were an old line nonetheless. Viktor also was a famous figure because of his Quidditch skills, which brought a considerable amount of clout. More than anything else, though, he was a strong wizard with a lot of experience in dueling and the Dark Arts. There was a lot Draco could learn from the older boy.
He was unsure whether it would be wise to alert Viktor to the nature of his visions, though. Especially the only about the end of the Tournament. It was probably a good idea to conceal the details, especially Cedric's possible death. Pureblood alliances were serious things, so Draco knew Viktor would not betray him. Even his father and mother wouldn't be able to feud with or go against the Krums, and vice versa. It was a binding agreement, so he would have to lay out the details meticulously. However, Viktor's use of magically binding oaths showcased his sincerity and commitment.
Draco also contemplated whether to tell his mother of the recent developments, and decided against it. No need to worry her unles things became more serious, as there was nothing she could do to assist him.
Returning his journal to the trunk and locking it up, Draco changed into clothes more appropriate for sleeping and checked the time. 2 A.M., no wonder only Pansy had been awake. He definitely owed her for checking up on him. Perhaps he would arrange her a date with Viktor Krum…
Smiling to himself, Draco crawled back into his bed, hoping that his dreams would either shed some light on the path ahead of him or stay away.
When sleep finally came, it was not peaceful as he would have hoped, but filled once again with visions. First, Draco saw himself telling Dumbledore about his vision and Seer abilities. That future played out with a similar result: Cedric Diggory dead. While Draco honestly didn't much care what happened to Cedric, if he was receiving warnings as a Seer, he had better heed them to avoid disaster. Therefore, telling Dumbledore was not going to be helpful (although truly Draco would have never considered telling the Headmaster anyways).
Similar dreams continued along the same vein: sharing his secret with Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Severus, and Cedric himself. Though the cause of death varied, the end result was ultimately and always the same. His conclusions were correct then…no one that he told would be able to effectively help or change anything his gifts prompted him to change.
Or so he thought. However, one glimpse of the future was different. Draco saw himself speaking to the unknown Weasley from his previous vision, the one with the longer hair and a very muscled torso. Vision-Draco's face was frustrated as he spoke. The Weasley was listening closely and seemed to be intrigued, nodding his head every so often and looking thoughtful. They appeared to be speaking on Hogwarts grounds. To Draco's befuddlement, this time the Tournament did not end with Cedric's death.
Then there was the old vision again..Draco and the Weasley fighting skillfully together, throwing magic round like seasoned Aurors. This time, though, when the fight was over the Weasley pulled Draco into his arms and gave him a giant bear hug, murmuring something about being so worried and how much of an idiot the blonde Slytherin was. Rather like his mother, this Weasley was.
So he was supposed to befriend this Weasley character, it seemed. That was the only way to prevent Diggory's death and satisfy his obligation to "fix" the future. It would have to be done discreetly, or Lucius Malfoy may have something to punish his son for again.
Though, perhaps…no. It could not be done yet, it would be too dangerous to go against his father now. He did not have enough powerful allies yet. Again, Draco stood and recorded the new dreams into the journal. As for the older Weasley, perhaps with a few taunts Ronald would reveal more about his brothers that could be of use to Draco.
The flurry of visions had once again taken its toll on Draco, and his whole body felt heavy and stiff. He expected that his morning appearance would resemble a zombie. Rolling over, he let himself drift into sleep for the third time that night.
…
As expected, Draco looked absolutely dreadful in the morning and his mirror told him so with a gasp of horror. After quick shower, the Malfoy heir pulled on his school clothes and put his hair in order. He could do nothing about the dark circles under his eyes or the pallor of his skin. His appearance was impeccable as always, but his face looked ill.
When questioned about his health, Draco simply shrugged and told them he was just tired and would see Pomfrey after classes. A lie, as he knew she would be unable to help him without him revealing his secret, which he was unwilling to do.
Pansy and Blaise accompanied him to breakfast, but on the way he was surprisingly pulled aside by Potter…without his sidekicks. Draco pursed his lips and gestured for his friends to go ahead, which seemed to relieve Potter. "What is it, Potter? My time is valuable, you know." He scowled at the messy-haired Gryffindor.
Potter seemed extremely nervous. "I saw…that is, yesterday you were leaving the infirmary. What happened? You are involved with whatever it is that is happening. I know it! That's how you were injured."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking me or telling me? Because that sounded like an accusation with no proof to me. What they say about Gryffindors must be true: you are foolishly reckless. Otherwise, why would you confront a potential Death Eater on your own?" Draco raised his wand and tapped it against his thigh tauntingly. "You never know what might befall you."
Potter's hackles rose, and he snapped back, "I don't need proof to know that you are a slimy git! This is just the kind of thing you would do: cowardly and sneaky. I will not let you get away with this. You've always wanted me dead!"
Draco's fury rose, but he contained it in ice. Despite hjs control, he was sure that the hurt crossed his face for a few seconds. "If I wanted you dead, Potter, you would be already. I have no interest in you any longer. Once, we could have been friends, but you were too stupid to understand what I was offering. Now that you see what kind of friend Ronald Weasley makes, I hope you regret it. Focus on the Tournament, Potter, and leave me alone. You may be the Boy-Who-Lived, but the other Champions completely outclass you." He left in a flurry of robes, regretting being civil and wishing he had just hexed the stupid boy on sight like he normally did.
When he entered the Great Hall, he walked immediately to the Slytherin table. Pansy and Blaise seemed to sense his worsened mood and didn't ask questions about his conversation. The owls began to fly in, delivering mail and small packages from the Hogwarts student's families. Arcanus flew in with a letter for Draco. Catching the letter, Draco decided to open it later in private. He rewarded the owl with a small bite of food before the eagle owl returned to the Owlery.
Quickly finishing his breakfast, Draco couldn't help but wonder why his magic was changing so rapidly and drastically. Logically, he understood that magic was all about balance. Therefore, his abilities must be triggering in response to some external threat, something Harry Potter couldn't defeat alone. Why him, of all people? Surely it would have been better for the Seer to be someone close to Potter, in order to steer him out of Dumbledore's manipulations and onto a more informed path. Draco, however, only had influence in Pureblood circles, most of whom stood against Harry Potter. Could it be…did the balance the magic sought not exist? Were both sides too unstable, and that was why the magic came to someone neutral? The possibility made much more sense than anything else Draco could imagine. It was also a huge burden.
Glancing around and determining he was alone, Draco unfolded the perfectly scripted note from his father. It read simply: It seems you at last deem my advice worthy of consideration. Because of your foresight, I have taken the liberty to acquire this pass. You will be able to wander freely, but it would serve you well to be discreet, my son. Do not bring shame upon the Malfoy name, for I will not extend such favors twice. LM
Draco smiled contentedly and tucked the note and pass deep into his pockets. This would be most helpful. With a pang, he wondered if it had been a mistake on his part to keep his father unaware of the Seer abilities Draco possessed. There were times he caught glimpses of a good man, someone he could be proud of. Despite his rough childhood and the extreme weight of expectations placed upon him, Draco still loved his father. Many people would scoff at the thought of Lucius Malfoy being a good man, but Draco would disagree. Perhaps he was not a good man because of his poor choices in following the Dark Lord, but he did make that decision with the thought of preserving his family's prestigious name in mind. He only wished his father had not made a choice that might destroy his family instead of aiding the Malfoy name.
It was then that footsteps caught his attention, and Draco turned to see Viktor Krum approaching him. The two young men greeted each other warmly. Despite the age difference, both boys had kindled a strong friendship considering the short time they had known each other.
"I was under the impression that you extended to me an offer of a formal Pureblood alliance. Is that assumption correct?" Draco twirled his wand lightly through his fingers, meeting Viktor's gaze solemnly.
"You are most perceptive. Yes, that was my intention. It will allow us to trust each other implicitly and also binds our families to the same standard. I do believe it is necessary, and that it will benefit both of us greatly." The Bulgarian seeker spoke confidently.
Draco agreed. "I trust that you have prepared the necessary materials and instructions. I know the gist of the ritual but not each step. May I look over the methodology?" Viktor indicated his agreement, and Draco scanned the text. "It seems straightforward enough. We will probably have to perform it off Hogwarts grounds because it requires blood magic. It will not be easy for me to sneak out…in the early morning tomorrow, perhaps?"
"That is acceptable. Best to finish it before the First Task begins." Viktor looked a little apprehensive. "Tonight, preparations will begin. I hear it involves dragons."
The first vision flashed before Draco's eyes, at the mention of dragons. "I see. For the ritual, please think what you would like our contract to entail and I will do the same. As for the Tournament, please do not hesitate to ask me if you need any assistance." A wry smile crossed the blonde's face. "Though your skills surely exceed mine. Thank you for meeting me. Farewell, I will see you tomorrow." Realizing that he was nearly late for class, Draco jogged away composedly.
….
That evening, people began swarming Hogwarts in preparation for the First Task just like Viktor had told him. Draco decided to wander the grounds, keeping the pass from his father handy just in case someone were to call him out. However, it seemed everyone was too busy and absorbed in their own work to take notice of one slight, blonde-haired Malfoy.
He had observed so many people without being noticed that he was surprised when someone spoke to him. "What are you doing here? Aren't you a student?" Turning, Draco came face to face with the Weasley from his visions and his eyes widened. Actually, he could now say with certainty that the muscled and scarred torso from his frist vision was the same as this man's. Without responding verbally, Draco simply lifted the pass soullessly.
The Weasley relaxed. "Oh, sorry. I guess I just assumed. What's your name? Malfoy, right?" As the Weasley spoke, a brilliant red cloud drifted from his lips. Red. His Voice is red. Draco suddenly realized he was staring and quickly averted his gaze. "My name is Draco, not Malfoy." His reply was terse. The red was so completely unexpected that his brain was working more slowly than usual.
The Weasley smiled, taking Draco by surprise. "Sorry about that. I have heard a bit from Ron, but I know how he exaggerates. I should have known. Anyone named after dragons can't be all that bad." He winked at the younger blonde. "I am Charlie Weasley. It's nice to meet you, Draco. What are you doing here, if you don't mind me asking?" Charlie knew that his family was not on good terms with the Malfoys, especially after what had happened to Ginny in the Chamber and Lucius's involvement in her peril. However, what he was sensing from Draco was completely different from his father, not to mention his response to being called by his family name. Charlie was a curious person by nature, and the young Malfoy had a shroud of mystery wrapped around him that was intriguing. Not to mention, the surly blonde had a withdrawn temperament that reminded Charlie of Draco's namesake: dragons.
Draco frowned. He knew from his visions that the future depended on him befriending and trusting this person, but the Weasley's unflappable cheeriness was off-putting to him. "I don't quite see how that is any of your business. Goodbye, Weasley." He turned to leave, unable to face his duty and that shockingly red Voice any longer.
To his annoyance, he was prevented from his easy escape by a large hand closing around his wrist. "Call me Charlie, please. It is my name. Are you okay? You look a little gray." As he spoke, Flashes assaulted Draco's vision with an intensity he was unprepared for. The Weasleys at Christmas, merry and warm and full of laughter, Charlie's intense joy and passion for working with dragons, catching the snitch to win the game amidst roars of approval, and a wrenching sadness as the first dragon died in his care…Draco snatched his hand back with a growl. "Don't touch me." He was trying to be civil, truly, but this man was testing his patience with his frightening openness and casual nature. "I am fine. Thank you for your concern." He turned to leave again, but caught a glimpse of Severus monitoring the grounds and ducked back behind Charlie.
Following his gaze, the elder Weasley chuckled. "Hiding from Snape? I don't blame you. Feel free to come with me, I need to get back to work." He pushed his long red hair back from his face, pulled on a set of thick gloves, and began to walk.
Seeing little other choice, Draco followed. He wouldn't be in trouble if Severus noticed him here, but he would be in deep shit if word got back to his father that he had been chatting with a Weasley instead of dazzling some Pureblood scholar. It was a risk he wasn't willing to take.
Charlie continued chattering, despite Draco's reluctance to be in his company. "So you are in your fourth year, just like Ron. Not a terribly exciting year, you are lucky to have the Tournament taking place now. Which Champion do you think will win?"
Draco's mind raced. Well, that was an opening that he probably wouldn't get again. Might as well get it over with. "None of them. There will be no winner." He said with complete certainty. His heart was pounding, and he wondered if he was truly doing the right thing.
Charlie blinked in surprise. Honestly, he hadn't expected a response. What a strange kid, but he would swear Draco wasn't lying. "You sound quite sure of that. Why do you think no one will win?"
Draco turned to face him, his eyes piercing and almost seeming to glow silver. There, in that moment, he didn't look like a young Hogwarts student. "Because I am a Seer." He admitted softly, his voice deep and serious. "And you are the only person who can help me prevent a catastrophe."
