Just as Lockhart promised, Hermione received no word from him for the rest of the week. Hermione went back to work like normal that Tuesday. After the usual telling-off she got from her boss, Hermione was surprised to find out that she would be finally given full control over managing one of the portfolio investments at gringott's. The executives wanted to give her a little "test", so they said.

With work to occupy her, Hermione tried to forget about Lockhart. Life was nothing but routine until George suddenly stopped by Ron and Hermione's flat on Thursday.

George was dressed in a dark blue suit but with no tie and had a black leather workbag slung over his shoulder, when Hermione opened the door. Hermione had just gotten off work, and had changed out of her clothing into a long shirt and short boxers. It was still a few weeks to fall, and it was warm in their house, so she wasn't cold. Actually, Hermione was sweating a little from cooking in the kitchen, and dressed loosely to stay cooler. Hermione wasn't expecting anyone, so when she found George at the door she was a bit surprised.

"Hey, sister!" George said cheerfully.

"George!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Wow! You look.. great." George's eye's traveled over her messy hair to her shirt.

Hermione realized she wasn't wearing a bra. Even though she wasn't wearing one, her breasts were firm, and the tight shirt was damp from the kitchen, outlining her figure even more. But George was like family, so Hermione wasn't embarrassed, she simply laughed and gave George a soft push. Hermione ran her hand over her hair and straightened it.

"What are you talking about… I'm a mess. Anyways come in! I'll get you a cup of tea.."

George followed Hermione into their flat and sat down on their sofa, while Hermione went into the kitchen.

"Actually, I won't be long. I'm just here to give Ron gold to pay the outstanding import." Saying this, George pulled out a pouch and set it down on the their coffee table with a loud thunk.

"Did you need to speak with Ron?" asked Hermione.

"No, he'll know what the gold is for."

Hermione came back with two cups of tea, and sat down on the single sofa next to George and handed one cup to him.

"Why don't you stay for dinner? I'm trying a new tomato-peach sauce…"

Usually Ron cooked, but in the last couple of weeks, Ron was working longer hours and was away on his trip, so Hermione started to cook more. She thought she was getting better, but she couldn't be sure.

"No, I don't want to trouble you, and knowing you, your sauce will end up making me miss work"

"Hey! It's no trouble… if you keep acting like that I'm going to force-feed it to you," Hermione retorted.

"No, maybe next time, " George said firmly. "Anyways, I came by because I wanted to ask you something as well."

"What is it?"

"You know that Ron is already managing the Zonko's branch of our company, and I've got Bill managing our Dover and Liverpool location as well as our internal finances, and my friend Lee the Southhampton location…"

"Yes…"

"Well, all the locations are doing great. I managed to attract some big investors, and we've had our first round of funding, and we're going to open 10 more locations all around England. We're going to be processing a lot of Galleons, and we need more personnel. You know how overworked Ron and Bill are."

Hermione stayed silent.

George looked at Hermione closely, and said, "It would really help if you came to work with Ron and I."

Hermione didn't know how to respond. She knew George only really trusted close friends or family with business, but he would never give away a position to someone he knew unless he was certain that person could preform well. It always irked Ron a little that Lee Jordan had a higher position in the company, while Ron himself was given the location which was easiest to manage, the Zonko's branch.

"What would I be doing at your company?" Hermione asked hesitantly.

"Well, for starters you'd be our chief financial officer, and I'm going to give you a spot as an observing board member. Your initial pay won't be very high, but as long as the expansion goes well, your annual salary will go up to 3rd or 4th within the company, and of course as CFO part of your salary will be given as shares of the company. You'll be given an initial .5%, but in a couple of years you'll get up to 5%, the same as Bill. The shares won't be worth much now, but again, later they'll be worth something. Eventually you'd have a board position."

It was definitely a very generous offer. But Hermione thought, Ron definitely would not like to be working under me, especially when George is already his brother.

"I'm not sure I'd be up to the job, " Hermione tried to say.

"Oh, nonsense. I heard about your work at gringott's. They're all raving over your compassion for their kind, equal treatment in all transactions between goblins and wizards, and obviously, your meticulous attention to profit. They can't find a single thing wrong with your work, even though they've basically spied on you since you started there. I heard they're about to turn over all management of their investment funds to you."

Hermione's face turned red, "It's just one portfolio…, and how do you know all that, have you… been stalking me or something?"

George flushed too. "Of course not, who'd wanna stalk you?"

In reality, Hermione was flustered because she was worried that George had been following her and had also found out about Lockhart forcing her to meet at the Hotel. But when Hermione looked at George, she noticed he was a little red too. Hermione didn't realize it, but her appearance today was extraordinarily beautiful. She was plainly dressed, but her natural beauty exuded everywhere. There was a blush on Hermione's face and along with her anxious expression, it would make any man want to protect her from anything and everything. George couldn't take his eyes off of her, but Hermione was too lost in thought to notice.

"Lee knows some higher-up goblins and I heard tell from him."

Hermione thought about how Lockhart was still blackmailing her, and how she was just given the opportunity at Gringott's. She liked George and wouldn't mind working under him but there was just too much going on right now.

"George… I—"

George cut Hermione off, "Hey, you don't have to decide immediately. Take some time to think about it, we're not going to start the official openings until next month. And I've got Bill taking care of things for now."

George stood up and made to leave. Hermione got up too, but she was unsteady and stumbled. George was right there and caught her in his arms.

"Whoa! Careful" George warned.

Hermione and George's gaze met. Hermione could see George was embarrassed, he immediately let go. Suddenly, Hermione couldn't help but remember how when Lockhart would catch her arms, he would grab her against her will, but George was always easygoing and could never do something like that to anyone.

Hermione hurriedly turned her face away, as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Oi!"

George put a hand on Hermione's shoulder and tried to read Hermione's face. Why the hell was she crying, was she crying because she didn't want to work for him?

"If you don't want to come, don't come, I'm not gonna force you… "

Hermione cried even harder, and suddenly pushed her face into George's shoulder.

"George, there's something I need to tell you, something I —" sobbed Hermione, but George cut her off again.

"Hey! forget I ever asked you," George hastily said. "I'm sure I can find another woman just as smart as you. Maybe twice as ugly… she won't be family but—"

"No George, it's… there's something… I don't know how to tell Ron…"

George's face lost its joking manner. "What's wrong?"

Hermione forced her tears back and struggle to steady her breath.

"What is it?" George asked again.

Hermione looked at George, finally making up her mind. Once she told George, he could help her how to figure all this out and fix everything.

Just then, the front door opened.

—

Next Chapter 5