His hand dropped hers and they continued down the path.

They arrived to Edinburgh as they always did, through the gates and up the stairs to the Great Hall. But when the curtain pulled back at the entrance, it wasn't Charlotte's face that greeted them.

A tall girl with dark skin and a bright smile greeted them with champagne. Draco took two glasses from her, and Hermione could see the slightest bit of surprise on his face.

They entered the Great Hall. Hermione had never felt so exposed as she did now, in Pansy's dress. Men's eyes on her at every turn, dripping across her chest and dragging up her legs. She was a beacon in red, drawing every gaze to her. She lifted her chin, determined not to let her cheeks match her dress.

Her eyes caught Cho's from across the room. Cho lifted a brow, looking her up and down. She smiled before turning back to Mulciber.

That helped a little.

Draco chatted with several men throughout the room, stopping to ask after their wives, their estates. He steered her along, his hand on her back pulling her to his hip whenever a pair of wandering eyes got too close.

Nott Sr. stepped in their path just as Draco tried to guide her upstairs. He was well on his way to drunkenness, and Hermione thought of his failure in France.

"Ah, Draco. I have someone who wants to meet your Mudblood." He slurred his words, righting himself on his cane as he stumbled. An older gentleman with greying hair joined Nott at his side. "I believe you're familiar with Armando Santos, the new Spanish Minister."

Draco shook his hand. "Minister Santos. A pleasure to see you again. May I present to you Hermione Granger, my Lot," he said elegantly, though he slightly tightened his grip.

Hermione did her best to make eye contact and not react as two pairs of glazed eyes devoured her. Draco's hand on her hip steadied her.

"I'm quite impressed you were able to capture her," said Minister Santos, in a surprisingly deep voice. "I heard she was a clever little Mudblood."

"Not so clever after all," Nott Sr. said, chuckling into his scotch glass.

"Has she given you much trouble, young Malfoy?"

"In the beginning," Draco said smoothly. "Now she's learned a few lessons about how to remain comfortable."

Nott Sr. snorted. "Yes, I've heard she's quite 'comfortable.' Theo mentioned her private suite."

Hermione felt her blood chill.

"What can I say," Draco said with a smirk. "I like to be comfortable, too."

The men laughed. She felt Draco's chest rumble against hers, and her heartbeat calmed.

"Keep an eye on her, Malfoy," Santos said. "If any of these pets managed to escape, I'd put my gold on her."

Nott Sr. finished a large swig of scotch. "Not likely," he sang. Hermione's eyes snapped up to him. "The protections we have cannot be beat. These tattoos? Unbreakable."

Hermione's skin was pricking. The exact information she needed...