Hello again, my faithful readers. This is InfiniteInspirit. I want to thank those of you who left reviews, as I greatly appreciated reading them.

I am currently doing a summer internship in a foreign country, so I have had a considerable amount of time to work on my plot points and plans for this fanfiction. It is likely that what you are reading now was written a while back.

I do want to briefly mention that this story has more reflective moments than dialogue. That is just my writing style, even though perhaps it is unusual. At times the story will seem slow, or perhaps gloomy. Draco is a considerably darker character than Harry in my opinion, and because this fanfic is focused on Draco, it will most likely be rather dark as well.

If you have any questions about this story, or would just like to share your thoughts, as always I would be happy to hear from you.

Anyways, on with the show. Please enjoy.

Charlie Weasley was surprised to see Draco Malfoy of all people wondering the busy Hogwarts grounds…busy Hogwarts grounds that were currently restricted for students. When he questioned the kid further, he didn't find what he expected at all. From Ron's reports and stories, the young Malfoy was evil personified, and his attitude was cruel and haughty to everyone. While Charlie did encounter a stiff pride and perhaps a bit of a condescending attitude, he had to admit that overall, Draco Malfoy had a strange charisma. Rather than the snobbish brat he expected, the young man had an aura of mystery, and an otherworldly air about him.

Even stranger, his eyes looked ancient. Iridescent and silver like pools of water that were too deep to see the bottom, the eyes did not belong to someone the same age as his youngest brother. They were too mature…too dark.

He fully expected the blonde Slytherin to depart from his unsavory company immediately, but instead he was able to chat a little more with the interesting Pureblood heir due to Snape's prowling. At one point, he was afraid he had scared the boy off. That was when the completely unexpected happened…

"Because I am a Seer…and you are the only person who can help me prevent a catastrophe."

The words fell like stones, heavy and disturbing the quiet. Neither person knew quite what to do or say next.

Draco decided to just keep talking, before he lost his nerve. "When I was young, my mother thought I was crazy at first. I would talk about seeing colors when people spoke. To me, every person's voice has a unique hue, one that only I can see. A few years after that, my abilities began to expand. I started to have Flashes when others touched me, seeing their happiest and worst moments flash before my eyes. No matter how much I tried to prevent them, the pictures only became stronger. They would disrupt my concentration, making me seem attention deficit or like I was constantly daydreaming. My mother decided it would be best to keep what I could do secret. Until yesterday, no one except my mother ever knew. Before this school year, I had three strange dreams. They were different than anything that had happened to me before. My mother believed them to be pieces of prophecies. I think she was mostly wrong, because a few days ago I began to see the future…and the past. Someone is going to die in the Triwizard Tournament, and I was shown that the only way to prevent that from happening was to ask for your help." Draco met Charlie's eyes, hating to say these things but knowing he had no choice.

Swallowing hard, Draco lifted his sleeve and bandages, allowing Charlie a glimpse of the burn on his forearm…a burn that happened to be identical to the one on Charlie's forearm. The detail didn't escape Charlie and the freckled Weasley paled slightly. Draco continued, "My first vision was when you received that burn. When I woke up, I was burned, too." He let the implications sink in. "I have researched everything to do with Seers that I could get my hands on, and there is no one recorded with abilities like mine. If I do not find a way to control this, my own magic may kill me by experiencing someone's death in a dream. The only reason I didn't die seeing the death in the Tournament is that it was from another's eyes." Pride shone in Draco's eyes as he paused for a moment. "If it were my choice, I wouldn't be telling you this. But I have been shown that this is the only way."

Charlie gaped at the younger Malfoy like a fish, unable to form a response. Just like a dragon, Draco had swooped in and done something so completely unexpected that Charlie was unsure how to respond. Slowly, his expression transformed into a grin. He loved the thrill of working with dragons. The danger was intoxicating, and every small victory was a great exhilaration like that of nothing else. The implied danger, the mystery, and the hint of darkness in Draco's eyes was exactly the kind of adventures Charlie lived for, intensely similar to Dragon Taming. How could he turn down the change to be a part of something he craved? "Tell me everything, and I will protect you the best I can from dangers."

Draco's eyes flashed in mild annoyance and anger. "While your offer remains within the grain of Gryffindor character, I do not want or need your protection." His voice held a hint of disdain for what he perceived as Charlie's patronizing response. "I came to you because it was my duty, but you seem to have misinterpreted my intentions." If he were honest with himself, Draco was honestly startled by the excited gleam in Charlie's eyes. Of all reactions he expected to provoke, excitement was not one of them. That this had flowed together so seamlessly and effortlessly was more worrying than reassuring to the Slytherin.

Charlie could tell Draco was trying to put distance between them because he hated asking for help, but he didn't comment on Draco's defensive move. "My apologies then. I will keep your abilities secret. At which task in the Tournament must we be cautious?"

Hearing Charlie say we was both relieving and terrifying. Draco dipped his head in gratitude. "The final task is when we must be vigilant. The Death Eaters will make their move against Potter then."

Charlie's eyebrows shot up at the mention of Harry Potter, a furrow of concern marring his brow. "I see…thank you for the information. I will inform Dumbledore and-"

Draco's hand shout out and captured Charlie's shirt collar, face twisting into a snarl as he yanked the Weasley down to meet blazing silver eyes. "Don't you dare! Did you not consider that I would have done that if I thought it would help? If you inform Dumbledore, people will still die, and my life will be in danger. Were you even listening? You will tell no one. Otherwise there is nothing I can do to prevent countless deaths. Do you think this is a game, Weasley?"

Taken aback by Draco's vehemence, Charlie simply stared into Draco's furious eyes. He was only trying to determine the truth, but what he saw there surprised him.

His eyes were strong and held anger, yes, but beneath it all Charlie could sense a strong undercurrent of terror. These were eyes that had glimpsed horrors Charlie could never dream of, aged eyes that knew of suffering and sacrifice. They were not, as many would assume, the eyes of a pampered Pureblood heir. Charlie could not remember ever seeing eyes that appeared more troubled. That alone was proof of the truth in Draco's words…and of Charlie's arduous task in protecting the young man. Because, despite the young man's protests, it was clear to Charlie that Draco required someone he could trust to take care of him.

The young Seer desperately needed that care…before he killed himself by stress and exhaustion, which were currently leaving their marks upon his face.

Charlie sighed. "I am sorry Draco. I should have realized. I was listening, and I don't think this is any sort of game. The fact that it is you telling me this should have clued me in to the magnitude of what I was dealing with. I can tell you for certain…I have no intention of putting your life in danger. Please trust me."

Draco saw the moment that Charlie understood the severity of what was happening. He released his grip on the redheaded man. As his anger deserted him, the exhaustion returned and his shoulders sagged.

Tilting his head back and releasing a long sigh, he turned to go. "I will try. Let's meet here tomorrow, and I will tell you more about what I have Seen. If you decide that you cannot be of assistance in the meantime, notify me by owl. If I do not hear from you, than I will take that as your consent to aid me."

Charlie reached to grab his arm before remembering the Flashes and stopping mid-movement. "It will be dangerous for you to sneak out. Let me meet you inside Hogwarts instead. I will just tell Headmaster Dumbledore that I would like to visit my siblings. I was planning to soon, anyways."

With the stark reminder of just who he was talking to, Draco drew his walls back up around himself and banished all traces of fatigue. "If that is what you prefer. Where and when would you like me to meet you? I need not remind you that absolute discretion is necessary."

Charlie sighed at the sudden distance Draco again attempted to place between them. This partnership would clearly require him to prove himself to the Seer in order to work properly. It would be a challenging task, based upon Draco's prickly attitude. However, Charlie had always appreciated challenges…the more difficult, the more rewarding they ultimately were. He felt drawn to Draco and the cloud of melancholy that hung around the blonde.

Not to mention that the Slytherin's current state awakened Charlie's protective, big brother instinct. "Tomorrow afternoon, after lunch. Meet me in the seventh floor corridor, on the left side." The Room of Requirement was a perfect place to meet in times like these. "I will not tell a soul of your abilities without your consent, Draco, but I will mention to my brother Bill that I am researching Seers. He is a curse breaker, and may have access to restricted information about Seers. He would have no reason to connect my sudden interest to you, so your secret will be safe. In case that doesn't turn up anything useful, I will also make inquiries to the Ministry of Magic through my father." Before Draco could protest, Charlie quickly added, "It is necessary to have control over your gifts if you truly wish to avoid detection. Sooner or later, people will start wondering why you hate being touched, or why you show up with severe injuries. A few years from now, your father may even start asking you to date. Until you gain control, your life will constantly be at risk in your dreams. All of those facts indicate that learning more of your abilities is of the utmost importance." He laid a compassionate hand on Draco's shoulder, careful to touch only cloth.

Draco didn't turn to face him. "Thank you." He said simply. "I will see you tomorrow." He strode away without a backwards glance. Charlie watched him go, a puzzled look on his handsome face. The young Seer's mask was so strong that the Dragon Tamer was having difficulty discerning Draco's thoughts. When they met again, he would have to ask Draco directly where his allegiances lie. Clearly, the Malfoy heir was not the devout Pureblood son he pretended to be. Otherwise, he would feel no obligation to oppose the Death Eater's plans during the tournament to save one person's life. How far that resolve extended, though, was the true mystery. Charlie wholeheartedly intended to learn much more about Draco Malfoy. The fate of the world now depended on it.

There was also one little fact that further motivated the elder Weasley…not once during their whole conversation had he seen even a hint of happiness in Draco's eyes. That alone was enough to merit Charlie's concern. An unhappy dragon was an unstable one, and anyone could tell you that an unstable dragon could and would cause a lot of damage. Charlie was an expert with dragons, but even for him it was extremely difficult to coax a dragon who didn't care for itself back into a healthy lifestyle. Draco may not be a dragon, but there were a lot of similarities between his situation and a dragon's. Charlie had a huge task in front of him…it was time to make a plan of action.

Shame coursed through Draco's veins as he quickly left Charlie Weasley behind. Inwardly, he berated himself for being so pathetic that even a Weasley felt sorry for him. How had things gotten so quickly out of hand? A few days ago his mask was firmly in place and he faced the world confidently, a barrier distancing him from his peers and teachers. Now, that defense was quickly crumbling in the wake of his disturbing dreams. He had to quickly compose himself and reconstruct that wall, or he would be discovered.

Focusing on his magic, he began to go through the calming exercises he used to expand his Sight. The ritual was familiar, and he felt himself beginning to relax and regain his equilibrium. If there was one thing he hated more than anything else, it was his own vulnerabilities and insecurities being revealed. The Slytherin inside him was screaming that telling Charlie had been incredibly suicidal, but what choice did he have? It was either expose himself or let an innocent boy die. While Draco knew that he was no saint, he didn't want the blood of others on his hands. Not to mention the ramifications that the Dark Lord increasing his power could have. If Draco ever wanted a choice in his life, he could not become a Death Eater, or allow Voldemort to gain any more power and status. To do so would rob him of his freedom and either result in his death or make him an outcast forever. Neither was acceptable, so he would have to throw away his pride instead. There were worse paths.

Feeling a little more centered, Draco returned to the dungeons. Tomorrow he would have to return to dazzle Purebloods as his father would expect, but now was not the time. Perhaps after forming the alliance with Viktor, a little more stability would return to his life and he could do whatever was necessary. Now, though, his strength and energy were sapped…all because of that shockingly red Voice.

Draco was familiar with being alone. He had spent most of his childhood in solitary silence, cared for by house elves. He had always been convinced of his parents love for him, even if his father only loved the perfect Pureblood son that Draco was swiftly becoming less and less similar too. Despite this assurance, his childhood had been a rather lonely one. Because he was raised in such a distant way, it was difficult for him to be open with others. There were several practices he had come to adopt in his life that would most likely be viewed by others as unhealthy. For example, he did not allow himself to become attached to anything, or anyone. To Draco, attachments were only potential weaknesses that could be exploited by those who wished him harm, things that others could take away from him. He had taken many life lessons from the Flashes he had glimpsed throughout the years. If Draco were to list the ways his thoughts were structured, the first building block would be that even your own shadow leaves you when you're in darkness.

Another hard-earned lessons concerned emotions. Showing emotion gave your opponent information about how to best destroy you. Draco was not one to ignore his emotions, but he did wield them as a tool and was very careful to keep them under control and hidden from others. Using emotions made a person more believable, and understanding them gave you power. It was this lesson that Draco applied to Harry Potter. When the boy had initially rejected his offer of friendship, he had been hurt. Understanding the source of that injury allowed Draco to strengthen his walls, and it is truly for the best that his relationship with Potter remains antagonistic. After all, Lucius Malfoy would hardly be pleased if his son was on good terms with his Lord's worst enemy.

These two traits greatly contributed to Draco's white Voice, though he did not know it. To protect his secret Draco had denied himself, and hidden his heart away from others.

However, things were changing. Soon, Viktor would be someone he could trust unreservedly, and whether Draco liked it or not he was also being forced to open up to Charlie Weasley. What Draco did realize was that his life was changing very quickly, and he hated the loss of control.

Hearing footsteps, Draco glanced up and made eye contact with Goyle. With a soft smile, Draco gestured him over, reading from his facial expression that his year-mate wished to discuss something.

Goyle grinned back and plopped on the sofa next to Draco, careful not to touch him. "Hi, Draco. I had a few questions for you."

Upon closer examination, Draco blinked in surprise. He hadn't spoken to Goyle in a few days, and he was interested to note that the admittedly chubby boy seemed to be losing weight and gaining a bit of muscle. "Have you been working out?" he blurted.

Greg Goyle snickered. "Yes, I suppose you have had your head in the clouds lately. Still, I am surprise you didn't notice before. Anyways, I meant to discuss something a little more serious." Glancing around, Greg performed a quick muffling spell in order to obscure their words from unwanted listeners. "I know that we became acquaintances because of out father's…circumstances. Despite that situation, I want you to know that you have more than earned my loyalty. MY father has recently been instructing me, pushing me toward the path of a Death Eater. I spoke to Pansy about this, and she pushed me toward you, mate."

Draco worried his bottom lip between his teeth. Well, he had spilled a few times already. He did believe he could trust Goyle. "I am neutral, and I will remain so despite the pressure my father will surely put upon me. It has always been the Malfoy way, and my father has abandoned that caution in his grasp for more prestige. Due to the lack of neutrality, I have begun to gather like-minded individuals to my side. I would be pleased to have you join us, were you interested."

Goyle brightened. "I am the one who should be pleased. Of course I will stand by your side, you can expect nothing less from me. When the time comes, I will act as a general and follow your orders to the letter." His expression faltered somewhat and he sighed. "I am afraid the same cannot be said for Vincent. He has decided to follow his father."

Draco pressed his lips together, sad to hear that. "I hope he does not regret that choice later. No matter, this is about you, not him. I am grateful for your support. That brings me to a total of four…you, Pansy, Viktor Krum, and Charlie Weasley."

Greg's surprised face at the last name was priceless. Draco smirked. "I was just as surprised as you are. There are…circumstances. I will explain when I can. For now, I think it is safer that you remain in the dark. Nevertheless, you and Pansy have been by my side the longest. Hopefully I can sway Blaise, or even Theodore, to my side as well. Do you have any thoughts on who else may be interested?"

Goyle frowned, deep in thought. "If we could gather a few from other houses, that would be of great assistance. But it is difficult to know who to trust. I will think about it, do some investigating, and report my findings. Blaise will surely support you, and Theo…hard to say. It is worth approaching him, at least. Other than searching for potential allies, is there anything else you would have me do?"

Draco smiled fondly at his friend. "I am your friend, Greg, not your commander. I trust your judgment. If you notice anything that you feel is worth pursuing, you should go for it."

Greg smirked back. "To me, you are both. Thanks for believing in me, Draco. I won't let you down, and I hope that you will unburden yourself as more people stand beside you. Lately, we worry for you." He patted Draco's sleeve before standing and striding away.

Draco was unsure how to respond to that, ignoring the slight flutter of happiness. He had never expected Greg to disobey his father in order to follow his lead. He wondered absentmindedly what he had ever done to gain such loyalty from his friends. Those from Slytherin knew that family came first, and that is what he expected from his peers. With a small smile, Draco returned to his bed and began to draw up some plans for the ritual with Viktor tomorrow. If performed correctly, ritual bonds could increase the power of the parties involved, and that was one outcome Draco certainly wouldn't mind. Between classes this morning, he had retrieved a book on alliance rituals, and he scanned the book now looking for any interesting bits to incorporate.

A traditional Pureblood alliance ritual bound two families together, magically compelling each to look out for the other family's interests as they would their own. Neither family could tell a lie to the other, whether verbal, written, or even just attempting to conceal. The compulsion in both of these guidelines was similar to what the Veritaserum potions induced. When in danger or in good times, the families were contracted to stand beside the other and give support. The magical obligation was strongest upon the two individuals who completed the rituals, and the rest of the family was only bound to not lie and not hurt their allied family. The rules upon Viktor and Draco went further: they were obligated to protect their allies at the expense of themselves, whether the danger be physical, mental, or social.

Draco had in mind a few additions as well. To go along with the necessity of assisting the other, he intended to build a charm into the ritual that summoned Viktor to the scene when he was in danger, or vice versa. The charm was rather like a mix between a Portkey and an alarm spell. He was also prepared to discuss the possibility of a communication spell with the Bulgarian seeker. If not a spell, at least the purchase of two items that allowed them to communicate directly rather than by owl. Because Viktor would be returning to Durmstrang following the Tournament, such a method of open communication would become very useful and needed.

He would take the book with him in the morning and see if Viktor had any additional ideas. They couldn't build too many things into the ritual at the risk of it needing more magical power than the two boys were capable of producing, so they would simply have to stick to the most important few.

Checking the time and realizing that he had about an hour before students were expected to be in their dormitories, Draco stood and wondered out again, lost in thought. As he meandered around the corridors (careful to keep away from those who might wish him harm), a strange sight caught his eye.

Some distance down the hallway a younger student was crouched down on the floor and seemed to be intensely observing the wall. Draco recognized the dirty blonde, scraggly hair as belonging to Luna Lovegood, called Looney Lovegood by many. Draco had never spoken to her personally, but he knew her by reputation. In fact, she was probably the only Ravenclaw he actually knew anything about. The rest of her house mostly kept to themselves.

Although he kept it completely to himself and would never admit it out loud, Draco had a bit of sympathy for Luna. This was due to his doubt that Dumbledore would allow a truly crazy person into Hogwarts. That meant that Luna was not crazy. The fact that she was a Ravenclaw should have further emphasized her sound mind and intelligence. Draco knew what it was like to be called crazy just because one's level of understanding was beyond other people's level. It was hurtful and made you feel as if you were an outcast just because you had a special gift. He suspected that was the case for Luna.

For once he let his curiosity overwhelm his caution, and he moved to the girl's side. Crouching, he tried to get a glimpse of what she was looking at. Luna didn't look at him, but she did smile and acknowledge him. "Hello, Draco Malfoy." Her voice sounded whimsical and young.

Draco could see nothing, but that didn't mean that there was nothing there. "Hello, Luna. What do you see?"

His question seemed to have surprised her, because she met his eyes and tilted her head. "Not as much as you see, Draco Malfoy. But I still see some things, things that you cannot see. Like Wrackspurts." She smiled fondly and patted his knee.

Draco blinked. What an odd girl. "What are Wrackspurts?"

Luna nodded sagely. "They are invisible. They float around your head and make your brain go fuzzy."

Draco considered that, sinking back onto his heels a little more. "Are they harmful, helpful, or neither?"

Luna giggled, seeming to find his question entertaining. "Well, that depends on if you are good or evil, silly. Or, like you, a bit of both." Her misty eyes sparkled.

Draco couldn't help the smile that slipped across his face. It was tiny, but genuine. Somehow, he felt a strong connection to this slip of a girl. "Perhaps you see more than you think."

"It is a possibility. We are always more capable than what we expect of ourselves." Luna sat on the floor, cross-legged, and stared intently into Draco's stone-colored eyes. "As are you. Remember that when the time comes."

"Are you a Seer?" Draco asked the question nonchalantly, but on the inside he was anxious.

She only laughed. "No, I am a lesser Seer, what is known as a psychic. I told you before, you see more than I do."

So she knew…"What is the difference between a psychic and a Seer?" Draco asked, sincerely curious.

"A Seer sees beyond the physical world, glimpsing images that cannot be seen by the human eye alone. A psychic feels, sees, or hears a message within a reality that others cannot notice. I sense things about people, looking into their auras, and receive a message or feeling from this sixth sense of mine. You go out of the physical reality to see things about important people, outside time. You see their pasts…and their futures. Never the present, for that is what I do." Luna's eyes seemed to glow, coming alive as she offered an explanation.

Seemingly out of the blue, Draco again questioned her. "What do you think of Dumbledore?"

She narrowed her eyes at him a little. "Not an innocent question, but an important one. I see…" Seeming to notice something by looking him over, she again patted his knee. "Dumbledore is a great wizard and a kind man, but his sight is narrow and he misses much. I support his cause, but perhaps not only his cause. What is important to him I that Voldemort is defeated. He has given little thought to what comes afterward."

Getting to the heart of his question, Draco stoically continued to meet Luna's eyes. His expression was very serious. "And what do you think about the lack of a strong neutral party, the lack of a bridge between the two viewpoints?"

She hissed like an offended cat. Draco jumped at the unexpected sound. "Dangerous…your thoughts are very dangerous Draco Malfoy. There are a small handful of people who could effectively be that bridge, and many are not of this world any longer. Being a bridge between two warring sides means being a target. The danger is why no one does it openly. Dangerous, very dangerous. But perhaps for some…the right path." Unpredictably, she pulled him into a strong sitting hug, miraculously not touching his skin. Her soft, melodious voice whispered in his ear and reverberated through his whole body.

"It will seem dark, so dark. You will wonder in the dark so long it will leave its mark on you, and you will feel as if you will never escape the darkness. But when you do…the light will be more glorious than anything in this world and you will realize that all that time spent lost in the darkness was worth it. Despite your troubles, never will you deal with anything more difficult than fighting against your own soul."

With those ominous words, her grip tightened on him for a few moments before she released him and stood. Her frame must have disguised a hidden strength, because she pulled him to his feet along with her, grasping his sleeve. He was still frozen, and he stared into her eyes, seeking answers. He found nothing there but compassion and sorrow. When she started to speak again, he had to jolt himself out of his daze.

"I hope you count me as an ally and friend, Draco Malfoy. You face a difficult path, and my help is offered freely, as is my silence." She extended her hand, waiting for his response.

Despite his aversion to touch, after a few moments of deliberation he reached out and grasped the tiny fingers firmly. "I accept, and I extend the same to you." Flashes, intense in color and vibrancy, assaulted his vision. Luna learning about her psychic abilities from her father, reading the Quibbler together, her shoes being taken by students who taunted her, Looney, she's just Looney Lovegood…he pushed his way through the images and released her hand, somehow soothed by her presence almost like a Calming Draught.

As an afterthought, Draco added solemnly, "If the ridicule ever gets to be too much, come to me. I understand, and I will silence them. Or, if that is not what you want…I will just be there for you."

Luna's eyes twinkled, and her lips quirked into a charming crooked smile. "Thank you, Draco. I must go now, before the Nargles find me. Farewell." Again pulling him into a hug without touching his skin, she squeezed tightly before turning and scurrying away.

Running a hand through his hair, Draco realized with amusement that he couldn't remember the last time he received a hug, yet tonight he had been hugged twice. Yes, Luna was a positive force in his life already. He would have to keep her around. Returning to the dorms, he prepared himself to sleep, and for the ritual early in the morning.

Draco rose around five in the morning, attending to his hygiene before quickly gathering his things and darting out of the grounds, somewhat near the Forbidden Forest. He felt the slight shift and he left the wards, and was happy to see that Viktor had not yet arrived. Beginning preparations, Draco drew a few runes and began readying the steps, checking the methodology for accuracy as he went.

A few minutes later, Viktor arrived at smiled at Draco being a busybody. "Is there anything I should do?" He questioned the young blonde. Breaking from his trance, Draco looked up. "Check over my notes there about what I thought of adding in, and give me your thoughts."

Viktor did as requested. "It looks good. The only thing I would add on top of that would be the ability to draw upon each other's magic in an emergency, especially for healing. Such an addition would also allow for a powerful combination when we fight together."

Draco nodded in agreement. "That sounds excellent. We can tie it in with the magic boosting rune." Viktor had always been better at practice than theory, so he let Draco take care of all the initial preparations with gladness. He instead turned his focus to Draco, watching as the Slytherin worked.

Maybe ten minutes later, Draco stood up and fetched his notes, scribbling down a few runes to see how he would add in Viktor's idea. His face brightened when he figured it out, and he added the final touches to the array on the ground before them. With a wave of his wand, the small bowl and knife Viktor had brought glided into the center of the circle. Draco muttered a quick incindio spell, catching the magical ingredients in the bowl ablaze. He turned to Viktor with a cocky smirk, pleased at his work. "Ready to begin?"

Viktor stepped into the circle, and he and Draco both added their blood into the burning bowl. Together, the chanted the ritual and pressed their bleeding hands together in a move similar to a handshake.

The intricate runes around them glowed with magic, and the air was heavy with it. Abruptly, the fire in the bowl died and cooled. Stooping down, Viktor and Draco collected a handful of the warm coals and pressed them to the wounds in each other's palms. The wounds sizzled close, and a silvery mark swirled into their skin: Viktor's hand bore a snake, and Draco's palm glittered with a crescent moon.

The bond had been formed, and they had officially entered into a Pureblood alliance. The runes around them vanished into smoke, drifting into the sky. Even the blood on the knife disappeared without a trace, wiped clean by the magic they had just initiated.

Viktor grinned broadly at his friend. "You did well. Everything went perfectly; that was very smooth and painless."

Draco preened, just a little. "It worked brilliantly." He agreed. "Now we need to test it all." Narrowing his eyes in concentration, he touched the silver moon and carefully sent a mental sentence to Viktor. Can you hear me?

Loud and clear! Viktor replied promptly.

Draco's grin was wide. "Most excellent. I suppose we won't be able to test the rest until we are in danger, unfortunately."

Viktor nodded. "There is one more thing…" he tried to say 'I am a Hogwarts student,' but it was a lie, so the words wouldn't leave his lips. "That seems to be in order as well. It appears I cannot lie to you."

Draco nodded absentmindedly and glanced at the position of the sun. "Sorry to cut things short, but I need to return to the castle before I am missed. Let me know if you need anything." He looked pointedly at Viktor's palm before muttering, "Accio broom." Catching the broom, he smiled at Viktor and added, "Good luck in the First Task!" before flying away.

As Draco flew, his mind had already moved on to the next hurdle: the meeting with Charlie Weasley. Based on the hints Luna had given him, he knew what it was that the visions were pushing for: a strong and central neutral figure. Perhaps Charlie was the one…as he entered the wards, he was surprised to see Potter wandering around alone. He tried to move out of sight, but the sound the broom made cutting through the air caught the Boy-Who-Lived's attention. A triumphant look crossed the Gryffindor's face before Draco zoomed out of sight. Rolling his eyes and hoping Potter wouldn't cause trouble for him later, Draco returned to his dormitory.

It was just now around seven in the morning, and his year-mates looked relieved when he entered the room. "Where were you, Draco? We were beginning to think something bad had happened. You know it's not safe to wander around alone." Blaise and Goyle were the only ones in the room.

Lifting his palm, Draco flashed the silver mark at them. "I was securing an ally. Sorry to have worried you, shall we go to breakfast?"

Goyle snorted at his nonchalant manner. "I guess we shouldn't have worried." Blaise met Draco's eyes. "Greg told me a bit of what is going on. I want you to know that you have my full support. Like Pansy, I will not be in danger from it. My mother has chosen no side, so feel free to utilize me when it comes to dealing with sensitive matters."

Draco smiled warmly, catching his two friends by surprise. "Thank you. I must say I am relieved." The smile melted into a smirk. "Things are progressing faster than I expected. Greg, keep talking to Theo. I think he will come around as well. Oh, and Blaise…could you see about the Greengrass girls?" He paused, turning back to Goyle. "I think you are right about allying with people in the other houses, but don't worry about Ravenclaw. Focus on finding one person in Hufflepuff. Gryffindor may not be as easy…since they all love Potter so much." He sneered. "When either of you see Pansy, will you ask her to keep an eye on Potter for me, by the way? He has been following me around and it is starting to become irritating."

Blaise chuckled. "I will let her know." Grin growing more devilish, he added teasingly, "Potter always has been rather obsessed with you. I am not surprised he turned into a stalker."

Draco snarled, rolling his eyes at Blaise. "Everyone in this damn school is bloody obsessed with me. As for Potter, apparently he thinks I am some sort of Death Eater in training. He confronted me already and I told him to get lost and focus on staying alive. Clearly he is too stupid to listen."

They reached the Great Hall and strode in dramatically, Blaise and Goyle flanking Draco on either side. Moving to the Slytherin table, those occupying the center of the table scooted down to make room for the three newly arrived Fourth Year students.

Blaise slid in next to Pansy and quickly whispered Draco's instructions into her ear. She nodded resolutely and grinned wickedly at Draco, who sighed in annoyance. Obviously her thoughts were along the same line as Blaise's.

Goyle quietly made conversation. "So an alliance ritual with Krum, hmm? He seems a good choice of ally, what with his fame and international connections."

Draco nodded, not paying much attention to the conversation. His eyes were scanning the Hufflepuff table. "He was the one to seek me out, actually. But I was happy to accept, of course." Draco was too preoccupied to notice Potter's entrance into the Great Hall and how his eyes were locked on Draco, boiling with anger and suspicion. Blaise and Pansy, however, noticed right away and frowned at each other. That level of anger was dangerous, and there was a distinct possibility that the messy-haired Gryffindor would go after Draco, something they would not allow. Pansy resolved them to figure out how Potter was watching Draco. Most of the time even his own house didn't know of his whereabouts, so there had to be something there.

Pansy, Blaise, Greg, and Draco finished their breakfasts and headed to class. Today was Friday: History of Magic, Charms, and Double Potions. The First Task would take place tomorrow, so today Draco had two things to complete. He needed to develop a plan with Charlie and also woo some Pureblood contacts to appease his father and abate his suspicion.

He settled into a desk and began to plot during History of Magic. In all seriousness, he didn't trust Charlie nearly as much as he trusted his Slytherins, and even to them he would not bring up his secret. Charlie was in a unique position of knowing too much about what Draco could do, yet he had done nothing to earn that secret. To Draco, it was quite infuriating. Under normal circumstances, a Weasley would be the last person he would trust because of Ron's poor impression upon him.

While Charlie had yet to do anything Draco could hold against him, it was really only a matter of time. Like Potter, despite his heritage Draco sincerely doubted that Charlie Weasley knew anything about Wizarding tradition.

It was truly baffling to Draco. Light did not mean good and dark did not mean evil, so why did the Wizarding world insist on categorizing magic as such? It had so many consequences, the least of which was complete ignorance of deeper aspects of magic. There was so much understanding and richness lost because the Ministry of Magic labeled some magic as "dark" and therefore evil. Truthfully, there were many dark spells that did more good than light spells. Dark healing, in particular, was a beneficial art that was lost when the Ministry began to tell wizards what types of magic they could and could not do. People had died because of these laws, many more people than those who had died using dark magic before it was illegal. After all, such laws did not deter those who wished to use dark magic for nefarious purposes, only those who used it for good.

All these laws resulted in was unnecessary prejudice against dark magic, seeing how the only examples wizards now had of dark magic were criminals, willing to defy the law in order to get what they wanted. It was maddening and made Draco want to shake the Minister of Magic until he could actually see clearly again.

Leaving behind those thoughts, Draco refocused his mind of Charlie Weasley. These kind of topics needed to be discussed between them before Draco could put any trust into the Dragon Tamer's decisions. If the elder Weasley refused to listen and remained deeply rooted in his prejudices, then there was absolutely nothing Draco could do and he would just give up now. It was his hope that Charlie would listen patiently and see the reasoning behind his words.

Stopping his thoughts for a moment, Draco became aware of Blaise and Theo passing notes. He hoped Blaise was convincing. From the look on Theodore's face it was working. Perhaps his acceptance of Blaise's words also had something to do with Pansy, who Draco happened to know he was very much enamored with.

Concerning Charlie, though…Draco wasn't as hopeful that he would see things in the same light. Most of Charlie's deepest thoughts were firmly anchored to his family, who were completely adamant in siding with Dumbledore. While Draco did not plan to go directly against the old Headmaster, he did envision using some methods that Dumbledore and his following would definitely not approve of. Whether Charlie would accept that…Draco had no way of knowing, but he did doubt it.

The doubt cut into him, pulling out his insecurities. Always, he had looked at the world through the lens of logic, and people criticized him for his coldness. Draco had never understood it: what he sad and believed were all based on facts. He was not emotionless, but his head did rule his heart and he had never seen it as a bad thing until he began to be hated for his aloof nature. He didn't understand the hotheaded impulsiveness of those like Ron Weasley, who followed their hearts seemingly without care for the facts.

So what if he didn't feel the same way that everyone else seemed to? In his opinion, following emotions could result in extremely stupid decisions. Despite the logic of it all, sometimes it still hurt to be called cold and uncaring, or even worse, ruthless. To hear the same words from Charlie Weasley would be another blow to one of Draco's weak points, even if it was what he expected.

Scowling at his weakness, Draco quickly moved on to think about something else. He tried to outline his main points to get across to Charlie in his head.

First, dark magic was not evil and making it illegal actually killed more people than it saved. There were many accounts of illnesses previously able to be easily healed by dark healers now taking the lives of many. There were some things that light healing could not heal, and other things that were just made infinitely more difficult. Some relational rituals, such as the Pureblood alliance Draco had performed earlier, were perfectly harmless but still illegal. Fear of dark magic being used was poisoning the minds of wizards and weakening their understanding of magic.

Secondly, since dark magic had been banned, Muggles were beginning to pass wizards in their scientific discoveries and detection devices, leaving wizards in danger of being discovered. So much focus was being directed towards apprehending dark wizards that magic research had pretty much come to a standstill. No significant discoveries were being made, and magical power was beginning to decrease because of the educational system. Hogwarts had turned into a school that just taught the basics and practical spells, not the theory behind how spells and magic worked. Students were taught to follow the teacher, not think for themselves and create new things with magic. Wizards were becoming less creative and simply performing the same spells as all the other students, no longer branching out into their own specializations and adding understanding to their field. There were exceptions to the rule, of course, but the majority of wizards who graduated from Hogwarts were mediocre at best.

Next, Wizarding customs and culture were being lost. There was a certain beauty and intrigue in Pureblood customs, the customs that were now looked down upon as old-fashioned. Okay, maybe some of the customs were ridiculous, but for the most part the rules and structure were enriching rather than burdensome. Only wealthy Pureblooded families such as the Malfoys and Parkinsons bothered to instruct their offspring in the traditions during this modern age. Out of his close friends, Draco and Pansy were the only two deeply familiar with the customs. Greg only had a surface understanding, and Mrs. Zabini had not bothered to teach Blaise about the traditional ways. It was disheartening to Draco that such an important part of Wizarding heritage was being lost. Personally, he found the customs charming and, dare he say it, in some cases such as traditional Pureblood courtship, downright romantic. Perhaps they were conservative and a little rustic, but that was part of their charm.

Though there were other points, Draco decided to focus mainly on these three pillars. They were the most worrying and the most convincing to him. He only hoped that Charlie would at least consider what he had to say.

He emerged from his racing thoughts as his classmates started to stand, indicating that the class was over. Charms was next, then a lunch break during which he would meet Charlie. He really hoped things went well during the meeting. If they went poorly he still had to face Potter in Double Potions and he was quite angry with the git. It would only be worse if the meeting with Charlie put him in a foul mood before the class even began.

He let out a deep sighed as they walked to Charms and Pansy frowned at him. "Draco, what's wrong? You've been brooding all morning." She touched the shoulder of his robe, squeezing comfortingly. "You know you have our help now. What are you worrying about?"

Draco's heart warmed at the kind gesture but outwardly he didn't acknowledge it. "I didn't mean to worry you, Pans. I just have to meet someone I really don't trust, and I am predicting that they won't listen to what I have to say because of their prejudice toward me."

Pansy's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You aren't meeting Potter, are you?"

Draco shook his head. "No, you know I have no interest in Potter. He has been full of Dumbledore's propaganda for too long for even me to salvage. Potter is the last person on earth I would want on my side. Well, besides the Weasel." He grimaced. His "ally" might as well be Ron Weasley, he thought uncharitably. He was really coming to resent these visions of his…

Pansy looked relieved. "Good, because I am afraid he is going to do something to hurt you. You be careful, Draco. Don't go anywhere alone that he can get to you. If you end up fighting, you know that you will always be the one to take the blame. He will get out of any punishment just because he is the Golden Boy."

Draco nodded, though in all honesty Potter was very low on his list of concerns right now. They entered the Charms classroom and took their seats, focusing on the lesson.

…..

After Charms, Draco hurried to the seventh floor. His stomach was in knots in his nervousness.

Charlie leaned against the wall. He smiled when he caught sight of the Slytherin. "Draco! It is good to see you. I just came from the Gryffindor Tower. Ginny in particular was very curious and nosy about my 'mysterious meeting.' I think they all assumed I was here to help Dumbledore with something."

The mention of the old wizard's name made Draco's lip curl slightly. Charlie noticed it but didn't comment. "You're just on time, Draco. Let me show you something." Draco watched as Charlie paced the hall three times, looking deep in thought. Suddenly, a door appeared and Charlie grasped the handle and pulled, beckoning Draco inside. "This is the Room of Requirement. Just think of what you need, and it will appear. Nifty, right?"

Draco stepped inside and looked around, wide-eyed. It was very impressive, for sure. "I had no idea a place like this even existed."

Charlie chuckled. "Most students don't. That's why we are meeting here."

The room they found themselves in looked like what Draco imagined the Weasley house looked like. None of the furniture matched and the colors clashed horribly, but somehow the room was cozy and welcoming. Sun streamed in from a window that obviously wasn't real, but the light put Draco more at ease somehow. "Have you come to any decisions regarding me?" Draco asked regally.

The Dragon Tamer beamed at him. "Of course I am going to help! Now tell me what I can do."

Drago sighed. He was afraid Charlie didn't quite understand what he was getting himself into. "Even if helping me goes against what Dumbledore, or even your family, believes is the right course of action? I may not support the Dark Lord, but I am sure that you will still find many of my choices morally repulsive. Are you able to accept that, and not question what I ask you to do? Because if you are just trying to do this as some sort of 'redeem the Malfoy' plan, give up now. I know what I believe and I cannot support Dumbledore. If you truly want to help me, neither can you."

Charlie was taken aback at Draco's blunt and harsh words. "If I may ask, what issues do you have with Dumbledore? It seems to me that you have similar goals."

Draco knew Charlie wasn't taking him seriously. It had been evident since the beginning, and here was further proof. "My issues with Dumbledore and with the Ministry revolve around the same issue…dark magic, and their hatred of it. They go too far, and if they win the war it will only be a matter of time before another one starts because of their treatment of Purebloods." The Dragon Tamer looked confused, so Draco elaborated. "The Ministry of Magic basically made the Pureblood lifestyle illegal. To people like me, joining up with Voldemort is the only way to preserve magic. You might think it is overly dramatic, but in truth it is very sensible."

Charlie was frowning now. "Go on. Why are they concerned about preserving magic?"

Draco took a deep breath. Well, at least he seemed to be listening. "Look at the records for the past hundred years. Magical research is decreasing significantly since dark magic was banned. More people are dying each year since dark magic was banned, and not at a constant rate because of population increases. Diseases that were once healed easily by dark magic healers are now taking hundreds of lives. Each year more and more Pureblood lines are dying out, and the number of wizards is also rapidly declining. Some of that can be attributed to the war, but most of it seems to correlate with the Ministry forbidding dark magic. There are too many coincidences in the numbers to dismiss what is going on: magic is slowly dying out." He paused and met Charlie's eyes. "Muggles are getting more advanced and closer to finding out about the Wizarding world every day because we have not advanced at the same pace. Dark magic is not evil any more than light magic is good. They are both tools, and an evil person can hurt someone with light and dark magic alike. Making dark magic illegal is only preventing wizards from using it for good, and it is taking its toll on the population. Those who want to use it for evil will do it regardless of what the law says. All that Dumbledore cares about is wiping out dark magic, and he doesn't seem to care that he might be hastening the destruction of all magic."

Again, he stopped to let Charlie catch up and really hear what he was saying. "You cannot deny that the Wizarding world is only changing once prejudice for another. If Dumbledore wins the war, Purebloods will practically be annihilated for doing what they thought was saving their entire world. The Purebloods that do remain will be shunned and hated, and will have no place in Wizarding society any longer. Pureblood customs may seem like a load of bullshit to Muggleborns and families like yours, who have turned their backs on the old ways, but they are important to us. The customs are based upon respect for other wizards and they give our social lives structure. Isn't it enough that they make us happy? I don't mind at all if some wizards choose not to live by the customs. However, leaving wizards completely unaware of history and tradition is unacceptable. Dumbledore never should have cut it out of the Hogwarts curriculum. Wizards like Harry Potter have no idea of how offensive their behavior can be to Purebloods, nor has anyone attempted to educate them in order to avoid such slights. Purebloods may have started some feuds by degrading Muggleborns, but now the tables are turning and Purebloods are the ones being disregarded and hated without justification. Neither option is acceptable to me: these prejudices are exactly what Dumbledore and Voldemort are squabbling over. Don't you see that there are deeper issues at stake here?" The longer Draco's speech went on, the louder he began to speak until he was practically yelling. Fists clenched, he moved toward Charlie, eyes filled with sparks. "This childish pointing the finger at everyone but ourselves has to stop before it destroys us all."

Charlie was speechless as he stared into Draco's flint-colored eyes, shocked to see the icy Malfoy blow his top. "If this is really an issue, then why isn't anyone talking about it?" he managed finally.

Draco tried to calm himself down, but it was difficult. "Both sides are too caught up in how much they've been wronged to look at the real cause of this dispute, and what needs to be done in order to actually improve things. They are so focused on regaining what they have lost to understand that two wrongs doesn't make a right. The only research being done now is for suppressing and detecting dark magic, as well as offensive spells and such for dueling. No one cares anymore about healing, or about deeply understand what it is that allows magic to exist and thrive, or about becoming stronger and more powerful. All people want is to be good enough to make a living and get by. People are only concerned about making their own lives easy. A century ago, wandless magic was common and easily performed. Because dark magic was disallowed, wizard's power levels have begun to decrease dramatically. What few scholars remain are constantly publishing warnings and raving about how much of a danger this is…but no one is listening."

Draco continued, "Nothing about this is mentioned in our educational system, and the Ministry does not require its employees to keep up on current research or even further their knowledge of magic. They are content to remain at the same level they are at after graduating from Hogwarts. Muggleborns are not even taught about wizarding researches, past or present, or given any indication that such research exists and can add value to their understanding of magic. Even the Hogwarts library has not been updated for years and bans many new titles because they are 'controversial.'" He stepped into Charlie's personal space and spoke quietly, voice low and solemn. "Since when did education become about telling us what we must believe? From what I understand, the goal of education is to guide students into discovering for themselves what to believe, through proof and facts." With a vicious swipe through the air with his palm, Draco declared hotly, "Hogwarts has become a place for the Ministry to brainwash students rather than a school for students to learn about magic. That is the reason no one knows about this issue…and the reason that I refuse to follow Dumbledore, the instigator behind all of this hiding of truth."