Hello All,

I'm trying to make these chapters longer so that's why it's taken a while.

I hope you enjoy the chapter. Please Read and Review.

I own nothing.

Chapter Nine

Jack landed on a street in a Muggle neighborhood in London and began to stroll down the sidewalk. The sun was setting and the wind had begun to pick up as leaves flew carelessly around the neighborhood. The clicking of his boots could be heard all around as he walked to the end of the street and waited for his house to appear. After his parents' death, he had placed his house under the fidelius charm and erased his address from every possible source. He and Abraxas were the only ones who knew the location and he was determined to keep it that way.

The medium sized red bricked house eventually appeared and Jack walked up the steps to the black wooden door. He waved his hand to unlock it and stepped inside. When he entered the house he closed the door behind him and took off his outer robes leaving him in his black jeans and t-shirt. Jack then went in search of his friend and found him in the living room watching a fire. Somewhere in the room a record player was turning, producing the low sounds of Elvis Presley.

There were two bottles of firewhiskey on the coffee table and Abraxas was spread out on one end of his burgundy leather couch.

"I see you've started without me." Jack said while walking over to grab the bottle that was meant for him and plopped down on the opposite side of the couch.

"Of course I have, you took ages to get here." Abraxas said watching his friend settle himself on the couch.

"I didn't intend to but I ran into someone and we got to talking." Jack replied suppressing a smirk and took a swig of his drink.

"Who did you run into? Slughorn? I'm surprised you're back now, that man can ramble on for hours." Abraxas asked.

"No it wasn't Slughorn. Thank Merlin for that." Jack said while trying to settle himself on the couch.

"Well than who was it?" Abraxas asked. Why is he making me wait for an answer?

"Guess." Jack said no longer containing his smirk.

"Really? How old are we?" Abraxas asked while rolling his eyes at him. He's going to make me guess, and then the person he ran into isn't even going to be worth all of the guessing.

"Don't spoil this for me, just guess."

"Well you'll have to give me some hints. Do we both know this person?"

"Yes."

"Male of Female?"

"Female." He said with his eyes dancing with mirth.

"Parkinson?"

"No." Jack replied with a face of mock disgust.

"McGonagall?"

"No."

"My Mother?"

"No." Jack said with a sigh. He really does suck at this.

"Okay well then I give up. Just tell me who it was you git." Abraxas said getting frustrated with all of his wrong answers and folded his hands over his chest.

"I literally ran into Hermione Green on the way here from the Hospital Wing." Jack said finishing off his firewhiskey and set the empty bottle on the coffee table next to Abraxas empty one.

"Jack that's not funny." Abraxas said glaring at him.

"Do you see me laughing?" Jack said with a deadpanned expression, showing just how serious he was.

"She was at Hogwarts?" Abraxas asked with wide eyes at his friends' serious expression. Fuck, she was right there and I missed her.

"Yes, she was just coming from Dumbledore's office when I ran into her." Jack said with a smirk and ran a hand through his windblown hair.

"So that's why she didn't answer the door. She was at Hogwarts!" He said, putting together the pieces in his mind of why she didn't answer the door.

"Yes, so you were rambling like crazy person for nothing." Jack said with a sneer.

"Oh shut up. So how did she look?" Abraxas asked.

"She looked fine, she is quite a beauty." Jack said appreciatively.

"Yes she is, so what did you two talk about." Abraxas pressed, he needed more details.

"Oh this and that." Jack said with a toothy grin.

"Jack…" Abraxas warned.

Jack rolled his eyes. "We talked about you and the Houses of Hogwarts. If you must know."

"Me?" He asked while an unknown feeling welled up in his chest.

"Yes, she asked me about our friendship and I told her about our first meeting on the train." He said examining his brother's expression.

"Okay… so how did the Houses come about?" Abraxas asked confused.

"I told her we were sorted into Slytherin and she told me she already knew what the houses meant. So I asked her if Dumbledore had ever let her try on the hat." He replied while placing his arms across his chest and sinking further into the corner of the couch.

"Wait how did she respond to us being Slytherins?" Abraxas asked trying to hide his concern in his voice.

"She didn't even bat an eyelash. It was interesting to say the least." Jack said chuckling at his friend's expression of surprise.

"Has she tried on the hat?" Abraxas asked still shocked that she didn't care he and his brother were Slytherin. The mystery of this woman deepens.

"Oh yes." Jack said with a crooked smile.

"What house?" Abraxas voice was grim.

"What house do you think?" Jack said cocking his head and raising a questioning eyebrow at his tone.

"I don't know she's a mystery to me. She never behaves in the way I assume she will. So I want to say Ravenclaw, but really as long as she isn't a damn Hufflepuff I won't care. Please tell me she isn't a Hufflepuff." Abraxas said in a pleading manner, while wiping his hands over his face. Jack will never let me forget it if she is.

"No she isn't." He replied and laughed at Abraxas expression.

"Damn it Jack, then what is she?" Abraxas said not at all amused at this situation.

"She my dear brother is a Gryffindor." He replied with a grin.

"Are you serious?" Abraxas was stunned. On principle Gryffindor's and Slytherins never got along. He began to worry that even though she hadn't gone to school with him, maybe she'd begin to feel the same way.

"Of course I am. If I wanted to take the mickey out of you, I would have told you she was a Hufflepuff." Jack said, his green eyes dancing with mirth at his despair.

"But we're Slytherin."

"I know she didn't seem to care. I made a joke about her being the only redeemable Gryffindor I know, and she just laughed. No arguing or hostility, she just laughed. Do you know what would of happened if I had insulted any other Gryffindor like that?" Jack asked.

"Yes, they would have hexed you into next week." He answered still in thought. She knows our reputation and doesn't care? Why?

"But she didn't. I think I'm beginning to understand why you like her so much. She's just so unusual." Jack said looking into Abraxas' grey eyes.

"Yes, unusual and enticing." He agreed thinking about her beautiful blush on her cheeks.

"I don't know about enticing but yes she is odd but in a good way. It was refreshing to talk to someone who felt the same way as we do." Jack said remembering her words on stereotypes.

"What do you mean not enticing?" Abraxas questioned, not knowing how to feel about his best friend not finding his witch enticing. My witch? I'm losing my mind.

"Like I said she's quite a beauty, but she isn't my type 'Brax." Jack said frowning.

"Well, good. I'd hate to have to fight you for her. You know that Malfoy's always get what they want." He said with a cheeky grin.

"So are you going to see her tomorrow or send an owl?" Jack asked, changing the subject.

"I'm going to go see her tomorrow." Abraxas said in a determined manner as his heartbeat sped up at the thought of seeing her.

"What are you going to say to her?"

"I'm going to apologize and tell her how I feel about her. She wanted forward so that's what I'm going to give her." Abraxas replied.

"Good. Now when are the three of us going to get together?" Jack wanted to get to know the woman who was on her way to stealing his brother's heart.

"Why?" He asked with a bemused expression.

"Because if she is going to be with you, I'm going to have to be seeing a lot of her. I'd like to get to know her better." Jack said with honesty. He wanted to see Abraxas happy and if this girl was the one, he needed to get to know her.

"Is that the real reason?" Abraxas asked warily.

"Yes, I'm not going to steal her away from you 'Brax. I just want you to be happy." Jack said forcefully.

"I know."

"Well then we should all do dinner sometime." He said while thinking of all the good stories he could tell her about Abraxas. The stories he had in mind were all embarrassing and he had to stop a smile that threatened to surface. What are brothers for if I can't tell the girl a good story at his expense?

"I'll ask her if she'd be interested, but if she agrees there will be no embarrassing stories." Abraxas said as if reading Jack's thoughts. He knew Jack, and if the opportunity presented itself then he would take it.

"Embarrassing stories? I'm wounded you think so less of me." Jack said with mock horror and grabbed his chest in a dramatic manner.

"Oh bollocks, you're worse than my mother. Plus you know more than my mother. I'm serious Jack. No. Embarrassing. Stories." Abraxas emphasized the last words with a growl. He didn't want Hermione hearing anything that would cause him embarrassment.

"Oh alright." Jack said begrudgingly, and looked off into the fire.

"Thank you Jack." Abraxas said while reaching over and placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Your not welcome. Am I allowed no joy?" Jack asked with a smirk as Abraxas chuckled at his question.

The two friends then fell into a comfortable silence, while watching the fire. Each of them pondering the role Hermione Green could play in their lives.

"No please no!"

"NO PLEASE!"

"HARRY!"

Hermione woke with scream as she bolted off of the bed. Her hair was sticking to her sweat covered body and she was panting heavily. She was shaking and tried to calm herself down. She pulled her hair back off of her body and took deep breaths. She looked around the room to make sure she was truly awake and found that she was indeed alone in the bedroom that was lit by the faint rays of sunlight.

She had started having nightmares after her torture at Malfoy Manor. After the Final Battle, the nightmares only got worse. Instead of Bellatrix, it was the bloody bodies of Remus, Tonks, Snape, Fred, and Harry. She watched in horror as their deaths replayed in front of subconscious mind. She cried and screamed to help them, but she was powerless.

Hermione had to silence her room at her parent's home to avoid terrifying them with her screams and had to do the same when she was at Hogwarts and when she moved into Grimmauld Place with Harry. However, when Harry had discovered what she was doing, he made her stop. She began taking a Dreamless Sleep Draught, but had to stop for fear of becoming dependent on it.

Harry would hear her screams at night and come into her room to hold her. He would cradle her to his chest and let her cry herself out. He would soothe her until she fell asleep, and would creep out of her room before she woke up. However, he wasn't the only one who knew about her nightmares.

Draco had also discovered that she had nightmares when he stayed the night at Grimmauld Place when Harry was away one weekend after they graduated. Hermione's nightmares had gotten better, so she hadn't thought about silencing the room to keep Draco from hearing her cries. When she woke up screaming, Draco was instantly in her room with his wand at the ready. He looked at her disheveled appearance and asked her why she had screamed bloody murder. She apologized for waking him and told him that she suffered from nightmares.

His face immediately softened and he climbed into her bed to hold her. She wrapped herself into his embrace while he whispered soothing things to her and held her close. They fell asleep in a comforting embrace.

Over the years her nightmares had decreased, only occurring at least once a month. When the nightmares did happen she always had support whether it be Harry or Draco. She had never woken up without either of their support.

Now, she had no one. She was in the past without the two people who could comfort her and it hurt her deeply. She slowly started to calm down from her nightmare, and got up off of the bed to wet her face. Hermione walked across the room to the bathroom and ran her hands under the cold water to splash on her face. She caught her reflection in the mirror and studied the sight of her hair disarray and her large eyes haunted.

She shook her head and made her way back to the bedroom where orange morning light was peeking through the large windows. She sighed and looked at the clock on the wall. It read six forty five in the morning, and she groaned.

Well there's no way I'm going back to sleep now. She thought silently, and began to get ready for the day. She did her usual bathroom routine, dressed in shorts with a sports bra and loose fitting white t-shirt, and began to journey down to the kitchen to make breakfast.

She cooked in a daze, still pondering her nightmare, and finished her breakfast in silence. She cleaned the kitchen, and walked to the living room to read one of the books she purchased a few weeks ago. Hermione grabbed the book, folded her legs under her in a big green armchair, and began to read.

As Hermione read, she found herself often stopping to stare at the page, her mind going blank. I need to shake this mood off, but reading isn't going to help.

She decided to go for a run, and then once she came back maybe her mood would be better. She set her book down and began to make her way to her room. She found her found her beaded bag and grabbed the two things she couldn't run without. Her CD player and wand holster. She placed her wand holster on her waist and slid her wand in place. The CD player was going to be tricky.

Usually she would apply a sticking charm and that would be the end of it, but she was back in time. This device didn't exist yet, so she had to think of a way to make it so no one saw it, because she couldn't run without music. It was just unnatural to her. So she applied the sticking charm, and an invisibility charm so that only she could see the player but no one else would. Happy with her results she found her new running shoes, put the headphones over her ears, and went downstairs.

She went out the front door and began to run into the distance.

She ran for a good two hours, stopping to look at the beautiful scenery she came across, and stopped running to walk when she grew tired. The run was just what she had needed, as Hermione found herself in a better frame of mind.

When she arrived back at her temporary home, she ran her way to the door, unaware of the crack of apparition behind her. She slowly slipped off her headphones so that they were around her neck and paused the music.

She was almost there when a hand shot out and grabbed her, making her spin around with her wand at the ready. She hadn't been gone long enough from Auror training to still have her skill honed in.

Gray eyes were wide and confused when the wand in her hand was pointed at him immediately as he touched her. He saw her eyes were filled with confusion and were slightly glazed over. She was facing him in a duel stance, and he quickly shot his hands up in surrender.

"Hermione, what's wrong? Why were you running? " He asked, still not lowering his hands. Just going to keep my hands up and pray she doesn't hex my bollocks off.

Hermione was able to focus again and realized who she had her wand pointed at and immediately lowered it. "I'm so sorry. It's a defense mechanism that's grown to be a habit."

Habit? He slowly lowered his hands and confusion fluttered over his face. "It's habit to be ready to duel, when someone catches you off guard?"

Bugger how am I going to explain this? She racked her brain for a good excuse and eventually came up with a decent one. "Back home I took an Auror course, my training was drilled into me. It's just became habit for me." She shrugged.

Abraxas stared at her, seeing the confusion leave her brown eyes and the familiar warmth took over. She wore a white t-shirt that was loose fitting, a pair of black of shorts, and running shoes. Her cheeks were reddened and her brow was wet with sweat. Yet, she still managed to look beautiful to him. "So why were you running?"

"I run for exercise, and I needed to clear my head." She replied honestly.

He nodded at her in understanding. "So is your head clear?"

"Crystal. Would you like to come in?" She asked while reaching for the door and unlocking it. She tried as best as she could to make it inside before him so she could put her CD player on the table before he came in. She succeeded and began to make her way to the kitchen since she was thirsty.

"Yes, I would thanks." He said as he followed her through the doorway and began to follow her.

"Would you like anything to drink?" She called over her shoulder as they headed into the large kitchen.

"Yes, water please." He replied while taking a seat at a stool in front of the large island that dominated the middle of the kitchen.

Hermione got two glasses of water and sat herself down next to Abraxas. He murmured thanks before speaking.

"So I heard you met Jack." Abraxas asked innocently and tilted his head at her. He knew he should have apologized for his actions first, but their was still something niggling at him in the back of his head about her not caring that he was a Slytherin. He knew Jack hadn't lied to him, but he just needed to see it to believe it.

"Yes, I did. He seemed nice." Hermione answered with a smile remembering him calling her a redeemable Gryffindor.

"He can be nice when he chooses to be. He told me all about your conversation about the Houses of Hogwarts." Abraxas replied coolly. Nice? He'll be thrilled she thinks he's nice. He thought sarcastically.

"Did he?"

"Yes, he told me that you were sorted into Gryffindor, is that correct?" He asked already knowing the answer.

"Yes, I was sorted into Gryffindor." Hermione answered warily. Where is he going with this?

"Okay and you know I'm a Slytherin. Tell me Poppet, does this not bother you?" Abraxas asked letting his term of endearment for her fall from his mouth. He didn't know why he gave her that term of endearment; it just felt right whenever he called her it.

She sighed and finally knew what Abraxas was getting at. He was a Slytherin so he assumed that she thought he was evil or some other malarkey. Draco was a Slytherin and even though he had done some horrible things, he had been a good man, friend and brother to her. Severus Snape was also a Slytherin, and he had been a good man all along. So Hermione no longer believed that all Slytherins were what their house dictated.

"Abraxas, I do not believe all Slytherins are evil. I also did not go to school with you, so I harbor no ill will towards you. Since we met, you have been nothing but kind to me. If you were the stereotype your house suggests, then you would have done something horrible to me and been on your way, but you haven't. You have been nothing but a gentleman towards me. It has been wonderful to have you around. Since I have not known you for very long, I don't know if you embody the other traits of your house. However, I do know that you are not an evil man Abraxas Malfoy." Hermione said with a smile and reached over to squeeze one of his hands with her own. She had to fight back a laugh at the shock that he was displaying. His charcoal eyes were wide and mouth was slightly ajar.

Again this woman never ceases to shock me. He searched her beautiful face for anything amiss, but all he saw was honest sincerity."Thank you Hermione."

"No thanks needed." She replied trying not to shiver at the way he said her name.

"Hermione, I came over here today to apologize for my actions." Abraxas blurted out.

"Apologize for what?" Hermione asked confused as she let go of his hand. Why is he apologizing?

"For not coming over or owling you. I said I would and I hadn't done so in a week. I came over yesterday, but you were gone. Your absence put things in perspective for me. Well that, and running to Jack yesterday." He said with a smirk remembering his brother yelling at him.

"Put what in perspective?" Hermione was beyond confused. He doesn't owe me an explanation, yet here he sits apologizing. Oh what could this mean?

"You, us, whatever it is this is becoming." He answered with his gray eyes shimmering with some emotion Hermione couldn't place.

"You've lost me Abraxas." She replied.

"Poppet, you told me you wanted someone to be forward with you so here it is. I want to be with you. I don't want to waste more time skirting around the subject. I've wanted you since that night at Hogwarts, and I want you now. When I came here yesterday and you were gone I panicked. I thought I had messed up the only shot I had, but now here you are sitting with me. We can take this slow and progress at whatever pace you set. I don't know what it is about you but you entice me to no end. Please just give me a chance." Abraxas pleaded with her. He knew this was against his Malfoy code to plead with a woman, but this was the one woman he knew he would break any of his codes for.

Her heart had stopped beating after she heard that he wanted to be with her, and his pleading tone almost broke her to tears. Here was the Patriarch of Malfoy family, who was known for his cold demeanor, and now he was pleading with her to give him a chance. Merlin knew she wanted to, but she wasn't from this time. She didn't want to hurt him or herself when she left.

In her heart she wanted to desperately give him a chance. He was kind, charming, and handsome to boot. She looked into his deep gray orbs, and took a deep breath. This is going to be difficult.

"Abraxas we cant be together, eventually I will have to go back to America." Hermione said begrudgingly.

"Like I said before, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Now is there any other reason of why we can't be together?" Abraxas asked in a determined manner. I've seen the way she looks at me, so I know that's not the issue. I now hate the word 'America'.

"Well, yes. But Abraxas we can't, I don't want to hurt you." She said honestly and looked at him with a pained expression.

"The only way you could hurt me is if you don't at least give us a chance. Please Hermione." He said looking into her deep golden brown eyes that shimmered with pain. He knew he was playing dirty, but he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Hermione got off of her stool taking her empty glass with her and padded over to the sink. She needed to put some distance between herself and Abraxas so she could think clearly. She stood with her hands on either side of her framing the sink, and closed her eyes. Why couldn't I just of said no the first time he asked me to spend time with him. I wouldn't be in this predicament now if I had just said no.

Like approaching a timid animal, Abraxas slowly rose from his stool and walked over to meet her. He held his hands behind his back as he neared her and she turn around but didn't match his gaze. He tilted his head to cajole her to meet his eyes. He stopped in front of her as she leaned into the side of the sink.

Her breathing was rapid and she inwardly chanted not to let him get the best of her. She knew she should put distance between them, but this time she couldn't find the strength to walk away from him.

"Poppet…"He said in a deep tone.

The air between shifted dramatically and Hermione had to stifle a gasp. His smell was beginning to act like a drug to her and her head started to swim with the sound of his deep voice caressing his term of endearment for her. Once again she was torn between right and wrong. She knew accepting his request could potentially hurt them both later, but she now felt that if she didn't say yes she would be hurting them both now. Her line of rationality was once again being put to the test, and she desperately wanted to cross it.

He was watching her face contort with all kinds of emotions. She was taking her time in answering him, and was obviously torn between an answer to give him. Her going back to America was of no consequence to him, because he would stop it from happening if he had to. He took a deep breath while he waited for her to stop her inner musings and got a nose full of her intoxicating scent. It was now mixed with her sweat from her earlier work out. His eyes almost rolled back as his cock strained in his pants. Fuck! It should be illegal to smell this mouth watering.

Finally, after many minutes of silent deliberation she began to think of an answer to give him. However, more thoughts of him got in the way. Like the way he had just came to her so thoughtfully and hadn't pushed her for an answer. The way he smelled. The way he looked at her with his beautiful gray eyes. Hermione had already crossed the line once by letting him get this far and now she wanted to do it again. She wanted to go against the rules she had set up for herself at the very beginning of their relationship.

Oh to hell with the rules! No matter how hard you have tried, when have you ever followed the rules in the history of your magical life?

She took a deep breath still staring into his silver eyes and bravely said, "Okay Abraxas we can try, but lets take this slow."

As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders he sighed in relief and then realization took him over. She said yes! His whole face lightened up at her agreeing to be his, and he smiled a wide smile that made her giggle. He reached for her; the sound of her giggle sent a shiver down his spine.

Hermione let Abraxas pull her into his embrace. Feeling him hold her, pressing her close against his muscular chest, she heard and felt his strong heartbeat. Her feelings for this man were growing more and more with each time they came together.

After an age, Hermione and Abraxas slipped out of their embrace. They agreed that Hermione would take a shower and then they could have lunch. She of course offered to cook and he agreed instantly.

So she showered, changed into some jeans and a navy t-shirt and headed into the kitchen where Abraxas was waiting eagerly for her while reading a book he found in her living room. Before she entered the kitchen she took a moment to look at the man she had just agreed to be with.

He was dressed casually in dark boot cut jeans that filled out over black dragonhyde boots and a white short sleeved t-shirt that stretched over all of his tight muscles. His hair was freely falling and his face was focused on what he was reading.

He looked up to find her staring at him and chuckled at her blush at being caught. She walked timidly into the kitchen and faced him.

"So my dear what will you be making today?" He said cheerily. Stop it! You're acting like a damn hormonal teenager

She gave him a smile in return and leaned against the opposite side of the island he was sitting at. "What would you like me to make?"

"I'm not sure. What would you make if I wasn't here?" He asked.

"Well, I have leftover ranch macaroni salad from yesterday, I would probably just eat that and make a sandwich to go with it." She shrugged.

"Okay well then let's do that. Whatever you make I'm sure I will like it." Abraxas said watching her move around the kitchen collecting ingredients.

"Alright." She muttered. She decided to make club sandwiches and was looking for all of the things she needed.

Abraxas watched her begin to work on their sandwiches and felt a pang of guilt. He wanted to help her, but he had no idea how to make anything. He watched as she chopped some tomatoes and decided he would voice his concern.

"Hermione do you need any help?" He asked earnestly, but confusion washed over him as she laughed at him.

"Have you ever made food before?" Hermione asked, while keeping focus on her task. She knew Draco hadn't ever cooked before, and over the course of their friendship she found out he didn't even know where the kitchens in the Manor were. She had to ask a house elf to show her. So she knew Abraxas had to have had a similar upbringing.

"No, but what you're doing now looks a bit like chopping ingredients for Potions. I could do that if you'd like." He said watching her chop.

"Abraxas your offer is sweet, but really I'm fine doing this without help. I enjoy it." Hermione said looking up to smile at him and went back to work.

"Well, okay if you're sure." He replied and continued to watch her put together their lunch.

They ate their meal together with good conversation and the occasional comfortable silence. Abraxas complimented Hermione on her cooking again, and threatened to capture her for his own personal cooking. She laughed knowing the house elf's would not be pleased if she took over their kitchen.

When they were done eating Hermione charmed the dishes to wash themselves and led Abraxas to the back of the house, outside to the large porch. There were several pieces of outdoor furniture that littered the area, and they settled for a couch wrapped in protective wrap. Abraxas settled into the corner of the large couch and beckoned Hermione with his hands to join him.

She sat down next to him and he put his arm around her shoulder, brining her into a comfortable embrace. She sighed in content and viewed the beautiful landscape before them. The area in front of them was covered with large trees, rich green grass, and the normal sounds of nature. She felt Abraxas' fingertips graze her arm in a soothing gesture and had to fight a shiver. She placed a hand on his upper thigh to return the gesture and briefly closed her eyes. He was making her feel things she hadn't felt before.

Abraxas was absentmindedly running his fingertips on the soft skin of her arm and desperately willing his erection away when her hand was placed on his thigh. Only this woman could arouse him with the smallest of touches and it was driving him mad. He knew she felt the same when he felt a slight tremor at the beginning of his touching and made a point to continue. Well at least I'm not alone. He mused silently, and turned more towards the corner of the couch so he could look at her while still holding her close.

Her face was one of content and her attention was focused on her surroundings. It reminded him of their time at the movie, just like their familiar embrace. However, this time she had agreed to be his and it made it all the more memorable.

"It's a beautiful view, did you come here when you were younger?" He asked conversationally.

"No, Albus told me he just recently bought the house. It is a beautiful view, he certainly has good taste." She said looking at the man whose embrace she was in.

"Yes, but I wonder what it would look like from the sky. Maybe we could get on a broom and find out." He told her absentmindedly looking at the sky.

"Well, you can enjoy the view from up there. I'll be here with my feet firmly planted on the ground." Hermione said with a nervous laugh.

"You wont come with me? Don't you like to fly?" Abraxas asked with a bemused expression. She's a witch? How could she not like flying?

"Ah, no. I hate flying." She said and giggled at his expression of horror.

"How can anyone hate flying! Are you not a witch?" He asked in mock horror.

"A witch I am, a flyer I am not." Hermione said still grinning from his attitude.

"Why don't you like flying?"

"I'm afraid of heights, and the memories I have from flying are not good ones." She said remembering all the times she had flown. There was flying class which Hermione gotten out of after almost falling off of her broom, flying with Sirius on Buckbeak, the damn dragon at Gringotts, and flying out of the Room of Requirement when it caught fire. It seemed every time she got on something that flew it was always for life or death purposes, which in reality would probably be the only time she ever got on a broom willingly.

"Poppet, there is nothing to be afraid of if you charm your broom. We'll just have to make new memories of flying for you. I can teach you how to fly." He said while staring into the whiskey colored eyes of his witch.

"Abraxas…" She started to say but he silenced her with a finger over her lips and she frowned.

"Well, I see your opposed to me teaching you so how about a proposition." He said racking his brain to think of something she could teach him in turn for teaching her. He let his finger off of her lips, so she could talk.

"What kind of proposition?" She asked warily.

"How about I teach you how to fly and in return you teach me how to cook." He said. She started to shake with laughter and the sound filled his ears. "What is so funny?"

"Sorry. I just know that you've never cooked before and I find it adorable you want to learn." She said trying to contain her laughter. His face was priceless, and she tried to picture him in a chef's hat and apron. It wasn't working out. If Abraxas was anything like Draco, then she knew he would burn toast or put foil in the microwave.

"Well I'd like to learn, so how about it? Flying for cooking. You said you like to learn, and this could be a whole new learning experience. I'll even give you a test at the end if you'd like." He said with a wink and a chuckled at her blush. The sound of his deep rich laughter warmed Hermione and brought down her defenses almost instantly. She really did love the sound of his voice.

"All right let's do it, but on one condition. We have to be patient with one another, since we are both new at these things." She said looking at his gray eyes.

"Okay I can do that. So when would you like to start?" Abraxas asked, enjoying her warmth as she moved closer to him.

"Well I'm free any day this week except Sunday, I have plans." She said remembering she had a tea date with Dumbledore and Minerva.

"What are you doing Sunday? If I may ask." He said raising his eyebrow at her.

"I am having tea with Albus and Minerva." She said and giggled at his strange expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just strange to hear their first names used so freely. It's like their actual people and not just my former Professors." He said sarcastically.

"Yes I know the feeling." She said knowing that calling them by their first names was still weird to her.

"So how about tomorrow? I could come around noon." He said while rubbing his fingers against her arm again.

"Okay, would you like to play teacher or shall I?" She said with a cheeky grin.

"Into teacher fantasies are we? I think maybe I should go first, and then afterwards we can cook. I wouldn't want you to lose your lunch while flying." He said with a smirk at her reddening face. She really is an innocent.

"Sounds like a plan." Hermione said turning to sink further into Abraxas' warm embrace and allowed herself to get lost in the feeling of him holding her.

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