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"It's so lovely here," Hermione said with a sigh, her scarf dancing about her in the gentle wind.

"It is, isn't it," Harry said, looking up at the sky.

"Oh, you should visit in the winter- the weather isn't quite so amiable, but it is such a sight to see in the snow," Abraxas said.

"I don't doubt it for a second," Hermione responded, turning to him.

"Table for three?"

"Oh, that's us," Hermione called. They were brought to a table on the patio, as Hermione had requested. Despite the irritation of the previous day, she was enjoying herself immensely and things were looking well for the mission. They were stopping for dinner before returning to the apartment to write the daily report, and Abraxas, of course, knew a place in Wizarding downtown.

"I don't know about you two, but I am having some wine," Abraxas said with a dramatic sigh.

"After all of that firewhiskey last night?" Hermione asked lightly.

He smiled. "Of course."

Last night had been fun. She'd let go of all of her anxiety about Draco, the trip, everything, and she had just let herself have fun, something she hadn't done in a little bit. Abraxas and Harry told her that she'd passed out at around ten, which she was slightly embarrassed about. They'd both promised that they wouldn't tell, though, and she'd laughed it off as they'd set out.

"Tomorrow's just more watching," Harry said sadly at the end of the meal, taking a bite of his cheesecake. Hermione shrugged. "More exciting than what I usually do every day."

Abraxas grinned. "Tomorrow will be more exciting than you know."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You always say that."

"Perhaps I mean it more than usual tonight," Abraxas murmured to himself, something odd and bright in his eyes. Harry didn't catch it, but Hermione tilted her head at him. She wondered if he was alright.

Then he looked up at her, and all trace of anything off was gone. "Merlin, have I just zoned out? That is incredibly embarrassing, please forgive me."

Hermione laughed. "Don't worry about it."

-

"This is boring," Harry groaned.

Next day, same thing. Hermione rolled her eyes inwardly at him. "Tomorrow is fun stuff, just try to hang in there."

"Only an hour," Abraxas added.

"I'll try my best," Harry said unenthusiastically. Hermione giggled at him and returned her gaze to the street below.

-

Back to Wizarding downtown. Hermione looked apprehensive at the amount of people there as they kept stealing glances at her. In London, they were mostly used to Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, but in Scotland, it was different. They were followed by whispers and stares. "Abraxas, isn't there somewhere more... private?"

Abraxas laughed her off. "Don't worry about it, Hermione."

She followed him through the restaurant uneasily. Her phone buzzed and she glanced at it. Ginny. No word from Draco, at all. She tried not to let it bother her, but she hadn't heard from him since they'd left, and they hadn't left on the best terms. She missed him, but she wasn't just going to ignore his behavior.

Dinner seemed to take ages, what with all of the stares from every direction. Hermione shifted uncomfortably when someone pulled out their phone to take an indiscreet photo. Harry noticed this as well and said, "Nosy buggers."

At the conclusion of the meal, Harry said, "I'm feeling incredibly peaky, mind if I just go straight back?"

"No, go ahead," Hermione said, instantly concerned. "Tell me if it gets worse, okay?"

"I will," Harry promised, then Disapparated.

"I hope he's alright," Hermione said to herself as they walked out of the restaurant into the still-busy street. She dodged a couple who almost ran directly into her.

"Hm." Abraxas stopped, stock-still.

"Are you alright?" she asked him. Merlin, if they had both come down with something than they were in trouble. Abraxas stared at her, his gaze unnerving. His hands shot out to grab her wrists, his grip iron-tight. Too startled to jerk away, she said, "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

"I'm quite alright," he said, voice low. Something manic and unrestrained shone in his silver eyes, and Hermione couldn't resist the uneasy shiver that ran through her body. At the slight tremor of fear, Abraxas's mouth stretched into a horrible grin, so unlike anything that she had seen on him before.

Stares, stares on all sides. She tried to pull away but he held her there with no effort at all.

"Don't want to make a scene, do you?" he muttered, before kissing her squarely on the mouth.