Hermione found Charlie doing his customary evening patrol over the fields on his broom. She waved to him and he flew down to her with an unreadable expression. She held out her hand for the keys, as it was their custom to lock the main gate when he was finished with the sweep, but he shook his head.

"We're going to town tonight and we'll lock it then." Concern was etched on his face and without thinking Hermione found herself reaching out to comfort him. She cupped his cheek affectionately and did her best to reassure him with the touch.

"Tell me everything." He gestured to a tree nearby and they sat beneath it.

"We have a meeting," he began vaguely. Hermione looked quizzically at him and he elaborated. "I got an owl a few weeks ago from someone who wants to invest in the Reserve. Or maybe buy it… he wasn't clear. I'm no good with this business stuff and I need you to come with me and make sure it's a good deal for us. Plus I think you know him. Didn't you go to school with Draco Malfoy?" Hermione's heart sank.

"Yes," she replied dully. "He was our year, but in Slytherin. Are you sure this is a good idea, Charlie?"

"Not really. Funding is drying up though. This could be the miracle we needed to stay afloat."

"You didn't tell me it was that bad," she tried not to sound accusatory with little success.

"I didn't want to worry you. There was nothing you could have done." He looked so tired. "We'll fly to the village on brooms and stay overnight at the Green Dragon. Malfoy has offered us the rooms as a gesture of goodwill." Hermione looked skeptical but could not see another way. If Charlie was willing to consider this offer then the Reserve must sorely need it.

"When do we leave?" she asked with resignation.

"I need to clean up and then we'll head out. Do you have anything a little more formal to wear?"

"I wasn't expecting a business meeting, but I'll find something." Charlie was relieved that she wasn't fighting him on this. After a few minutes of silence while they both considered the task ahead, Charlie stood up and offered her a hand. He helped her to her feet and they made their way back to the lodge to prepare.

The other keepers were already having dinner when Charlie and Hermione returned. They received a toast in their honor and Charlie announced that they would be dining out tonight. A few hoots and hollers followed them up the stairs and Hermione blushed at the insinuation. If Charlie hadn't known about the rumors before he must have an idea of what the other keepers thought now. They parted ways at the top of the stairs with a solemn nod and Hermione was struck by the impression that Charlie looked like he was heading off to plan his own funeral. Government funding had given him a lot of autonomy in how he ran the Reserve that a single investor or new owner would be unlikely to offer. To Charlie this must really be like giving up his freedom and risking the family he'd built, but of course it was something he was willing to do if the alternative was losing them entirely.

Hermione packed quickly and efficiently, trying not to dwell on the lack of formal clothing she had here. Most of the time she was wearing dragonhide gear and what went under it never really mattered. All of her clothes were simply sensible with the notable exceptions of a sundress and the formal robes she had worn to Ron's wedding. It had felt like a shame to throw them out and now she was grateful that she hadn't. She ran a finger over the seams in the silver fabric and sighed.

"Reformabit habitu," she said as she waved her wand. The formal robes twisted themselves into a tight ball and as they untwisted they changed into a smart business blazer with matching skirt. They were still silver, but that would not seem too out of place in the Green Dragon. It was, after all, a wizarding inn. She found a nondescript black shirt to wear underneath and did a final check around the room before closing her deceptively small bag and slinging it over her shoulder. She threw a warm cloak over herself in preparation for the long flight and closed the door to her room with a soft click. She met Charlie back where they had parted and after exchanging encouraging smiles they descended the steps. A few loud hoots greeted them as the other keepers expressed appreciation for their fancy appearances. Their joviality seemed to lighten Charlie's mood and he put his arm around Hermione's shoulder as they walked out the door. The gesture was so familiar and comfortable that it was only Abigail's earlier suggestion of something more that made Hermione pull away under the pretense of adjusting her skirt. If Charlie noticed he made no sign of it.

The flight to the little town of Wyverndale was chilly and Hermione was grateful for the warm cloak. There was no wind and they were able to talk normally as they flew.

"We're mostly just going to listen. I don't know what he's offering and there's no way in hell he's getting anything without some serious consideration. I'm relying on you to be critical and ask any questions that come to you."

"Got it. I won't let you down, Charlie." He spared her a smile that she hardly noticed. Hermione hated flying and it was taking every ounce of her concentration to keep the pace. Why wizards couldn't invent a more comfortable mode of transportation was beyond her. Apparition was all well and good except that some places like Hogwarts and Wyverndale had anti-apparition jinxes set up around them that made it impossible. The little town used its remoteness as a selling point and it was generally only the people who had the time or money to get there by other means that visited. Some hikers wandered through on occasion, but those travelers generally preferred to stay at the Reserve's lodge.