Evan Rosier begged Fabian to join him on a tour of Europe after the Quidditch Euros. He put it across that the incremental charge of hosting Fabian was barely noticeable, when they would be sharing a room and such, so Fabian need not feel guilty about letting him foot the bill.
Fabian dawdled, pointing out that he had no way of explaining his absence or how he could afford such a vacation without revealing the nature of their relationship to his sister and brother.
Evan, in turn, put on a quick succession of pleading faces, ranging from puppy eyes to a spoiled princess pout. Fabian eventually gave in and said he would come up with a suitable excuse. As they were all packing to leave, he pulled Alice aside to ask if she would lend support to his fabrications that her mother was in need of extra research guides on the tour and Alice had suggested he come into the temporary employ of the tour company. Alice agreed on the terms that he revealed to her his true itinerary, to which she responded with such goggly eyes if she opened them any wider her eyeballs would simply roll out of their sockets.
The harmless fib settled, Fabian bade goodbye to his family as he saw them off at the Portkey. Shortly after, he packed his bags and said his byes to dear Alice, planting a large, wet kiss on her round, rosy cheeks.
He was about to set sail on the Ulysses, the largest recreational yacht this side of the wizarding world. He would spend the next fortnight on the high seas of the Mediterranean, sailing from port to port, ensconced in opulence.
Hosted ever so generously by Ted Tonks, Fabian, who was introduced as a school friend of Narcissa and Evan's, experienced some of the most sumptuous food and wine on the tour. He was delighted to find that the chef on board did not disregard his dietary requirements but used the opportunity to show off his skills even when working with a restricted ingredient list.
During the day, they hopped off the yacht to explore some new cultural centre, enchanted by the sights and sounds of places steeped in esoteric magic, building new connections to modern use in their personal study of magic. It was a better tour than any they could have had from mere textbooks.
It was as if Fabian had been granted access to a whole new world. There was a different manner and use of language that he had to quickly absorb or face humiliation, but as soon as he could pass as one of them he realised that doors that were once imposing and firmly shut to him now swung open with featherlight ease. There were places and shops that he would never have dared to enter that he now strode into with ease, by the side of Evan and Narcissa. With enough training, he learned to keep his amazement at the sheer excess and luxury of this lifestyle strictly to himself, marvelling silently when he was able to touch exquisite trinkets and souvenirs, like the crystal figures that were animated by light, or the notebooks bound by marbled vellum that swirled languidly on itself like volcanic lava. With the paltry pocket money he earned from summer jobs, he couldn't resist purchasing some small mementos as gifts for family and friends.
They eventually set foot into Greece, and Evan brought him and Narcissa to visit his maternal grandparents, whom he loved very fondly. They introduced themselves as Aristotle and Aphrodite Ambrosiadou, and spoiled them silly with food, wine and lavish gifts to make up for all the Christmases and birthdays they had missed. Their formidable reputations faded away in light of familial relations and they were just as warm and loving as any good grandparents were. They chatted like old friends, and the fact that they spoke to Fabian as if he were their social equal left him nearly tongue-tied from wonder at times. Inwardly, he felt like he was the only person conscious of the gulf in their place in society.
They spent days lazing around the olive groves, sipping cool spring water and gazing into the sparkling Aegean Sea. Evan declared that he never wanted to leave this place, and Fabian agreed, because Aristotle and Aphrodite were so genial he felt like he belonged in this home. He also had a sneaking feeling they were aware that he was intimately involved with Evan and seemed not to mind one single bit, even exchanging sly nods and winks and allowing them their privacy.
It was, therefore, with bewilderment that Fabian reacted on being asked to pack and leave the house on short notice.
"What's going on?" he mumbled sleepily, reluctant to stir from between the sheets.
"We have to go. Right away," Evan hissed anxiously. Fabian noticed that he had ordered the house elves to do their packing for them and all their belongings were ready to go. On a chair, a set of day clothes had been laid out for him. Evan ordered for him to put the clothes on, and they would sneak out through the service stairs.
"What's the hurry?" Fabian asked.
"Never you mind," Evan replied evasively. "Just do as I say."
It was later, when they were back on the Ulysses that Fabian found out from Narcissa that the reason for the swift exit was the arrival of Evan's estranged mother. With more pressing, Fabian found out that Evan still resented her for leaving him behind when she divorced his father. Apparently, she had chosen to leave with the house elf, and Evan could never forgive her for preferring a house elf to him.
Back on the yacht, yet another soirée was going on. A band was playing some waltzes on deck, and a flurry of expensive mead was called out for all. It was at this moment, graced by the presence of all her family and closest friends, that Edward Tonks decided to ask for Andromeda's hand in marriage, to which she willingly agreed. On bended knee Tonks produced a sparkling engagement ring and slipped it into her finger. Overwhelmed, she tried to help him stand up after, whereupon he grabbed her in a hug and they kissed passionately, and Fabian could see tears of joy streaming down Druella's face. She felt a surge of accomplishment as a mother, for she had just handed off Bellatrix to the Lestrange family, and her second was well on her way her way to a successful marriage. The third she did not have to worry about, for she had the most number of suitors and she had the luxury of choice.