"I'm home!" Ron said.

Hermione practically jumped, while George calmly let go of Hermione's shoulder and said a greeting to Ron. Hermione was flushed and her heart was pounding as she quickly glanced from George to Ron. Ron was bent over, taking off his shoes but at George's voice, Ron suddenly looked up surprised.

Hermione almost stammered, but kept a mostly even voice and said, "Hey honey, welcome back. George happened to stop by and we were just catching up."

Ron saw George first, but then Ron slowly shifted his gaze over to Hermione. Hermione turned her face aside and gave went over and gave Ron a quick hug, mumbling, "I'm going go use the washroom."

Ron didn't notice anything wrong, even though to everyone else the awkwardness of the atmosphere was almost palatable. Ron walked over and punched George on the shoulder.

"So what're you doing over here? Can't cook for yourself so you'd thought you would bum a meal here?" Ron joked.

"Hey, the only reason I'd come eat here is if I wanted to poison myself."

Ron noticed the bag of gold on the table, and asked "Is that for the Spanish shipments?"

George nodded. "That, and I made Hermione an offer."

"What really? I didn't think you were serious when said to me you wanted to hire her…"

"I'm always serious." George kept his face as straight as he could.

Ron laughed, and then continued, "What was the offer?"

George repeated what he had told Hermione.

"WHAT?" Ron exclaimed indignantly. "She'd be making almost 10 times as much as me. And if you have that kind of cash, why don't you give me a raise…"

George snorted, "It'd be wasted on you. Anyways, the salary for CFO was determined by the entire board, not just me. I was just offering the position."

Ron was practically drooling, "Wow! This is incredible. I didn't think our company had grown so big. So we'll be seeing each other in London every day now…"

George shook his head.

"What? She turned you down?"

"Not exactly…"

"But she's been complaining for weeks about her job at gringott's… and the pay… you'd think she'd pounce at the opportunity."

Ron frowned for a moment, and then patted George's shoulder. "Don't you worry. I'll bring her around."

George said uncertainly, "I don't know…"

George lower his voice and abruptly leaned in closer. "I don't know why but she seemed upset about something. Has everything been all right between you —" but George's voice trailed off.

Hermione had come back. George peered at Hermione but Hermione looked better and header over to the kitchen to set the table.

"Are you hungry Ron? I made dinner tonight," Hermione called as she went through the cupboard and drawers and pulled out plates and utensils.

Ron grinned, "Excellent." Ron turned to George, "You going to stay over?"

George said, "No, I'd better get going. Make sure to bring the sales report over tomorrow. And don't be late on the payments. I don't want to have to find another supplier…"

Ron said annoyedly, "Don't worry, I can handle it."

"Yeah right. Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow."

After George left, Ron walked over to the kitchen and to help Hermione bring out the food. Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione and suddenly nuzzled her neck, making her giggle. "Stop that…"

Ron looked over at Hermione ladle out the food. It smelled pretty good, much better than the burnt charred smell that was coming from the kitchen 3 weeks ago. Hermione was still in just a shirt and shorts, but the sight of her smooth legs and curvy hips was making Ron forget all about food and hungry for something else. Ron looked up at Hermione's face, thinking about his conversation with George. Hermione seemed perfectly normal to him, if anything, she was getting more beautiful.

Ron said, "Hey, was there any reason you didn't want to work for George?"

Hermione answered without looking up. "No it's just that, I didn't want to answer without having told you first. I didn't want to make you think I was doing something behind—" Hermione abruptly faltered off, frozen in place.

Ron laughed, saying, "Even if you did, I wouldn't care. You'd know I'd support you in anything you decided. I know it'd feel a little weird working for George, but I think you should take the job. I've always wanted to be married to a billionaire wife."

Ron looked over at Hermione to see her reaction, but he was shocked. Hermione's hand was trembling, Hermione was sniffing, it seemed like she was struggling not to cry.

"Hey, are you all right…? If you don't want to work for George… don't" Ron said softly, reaching out for her shoulder.

Hermione suddenly went up to Ron and hugged him tight, ladle and all, almost forcing the breath from him. She put her face in his chest, sobbing.

"Hermione," Ron said uncertainly.

"I'm just glad I have you," murmured Hermione.

"Hermione," Ron.

"What?"

"My shirt…"

Ron and Hermione could hear a nasty sizzling sound coming from where Hermione had pushed the ladle into his back.

—

Ron went to sleep almost immediately after dinner, as he had several suppliers to meet and pay and reports to finish the next day. But Hermione wasn't able to sleep. She tossed and turned in bed, thinking about what to do about George's job offer. To tell the truth, even though she was flattered by George's offer and she complained about her current job, she didn't really have heart to make such a big change right now. Anyways, Hermione always wanted to do something for the goblins to payback the centuries of mistreatment at the hands of wizards, and her work for them was evening out the debts. Plus, her work for them was also kind of thanking them for the aid they gave Harry and Ron during the second wizarding wars.

But Hermione was still worried about how George's company would fare if she turned him down. Though George was easygoing in daily, small matters, he was also very ambitious. If George had to find another CFO and that person didn't preform well, or if that person didn't prioritize George's interest first and instead betrayed him, the company would suffer a major irreversible setback. Ron was working there so she didn't want anything bad to happen to the company, since that would be bad for him.

Hermione thoughts suddenly wandered to earlier in the day when her emotions suddenly overflowed and she had almost revealed to George what Lockhart had done to her. She had no one to talk to about her problem and it was eating her up inside, it not only made her feel guilty but also lonely. Hermione sighed and slowly fell asleep. She'd worry about one problem at a time, she had to make a big inspection for work the next day, and she'd deal with things as they came.

—

Hermione stood with her assistant, Eric, and 2 other goblins, Zineek and Grizek, 1 representing the chief investor and the other the bank's interest, and the factory manager, Malew. The 5 of them had briefly toured and circled a huge cauldron factory, and had come to a stop to discuss the sudden fall in sales.

The goblins wanted to buy out the rest of the factory but the manager, who was under the direct employ of the principal owner was refusing vehemently.

"Look, the sales will come back. Don't worry, your investment is perfectly safe, it just takes a little time, that's all…" Malew said in a reassuring tone.

The goblins looked unhappy but, then they always looked unhappy.

Hermione was thinking carefully. She already had Eric dig through the old accounts and things didn't add up. Their investment was made almost 2 years ago, and since that time the sales were steadily gone up. Their inventory count was also down in the last couple months, yet in the last 6 months, sales dropped sharply. Cauldrons were important in potion making, and potions were made all the time, in hospitals and shops, and potions were also a ingredient for many home improvement spells.

Also, given the current sales, and the amount the goblins were offering for the rest of the stake, it was a killer deal for Malew. Why should he refuse?

Hermione spoke and said, "Malew, your sales are just too low. By rights, all the investment should be recovered by now, but we've only received a 60% payout. We have a right to protect our investment, and the deal we offered you is twice what it was for our half stake 2 years ago. If you don't want to sell, you must have some other reason… why don't you tell us?"

Malew shifted his eyes, looking uncomfortably at Hermione, "I'm just a plant manager, I'm under orders to pass on this message and I've done it. If you want to know why, I suggest you speak with the owner directly."

"When is he in?"

Malew was silent.

Hermione studied Malew carefully. Something was definitely wrong.

Zineek broke the silence, saying, "We'll send Hermione over tomorrow to meet with your owner."

"You do what you want, I've told you everything. If you have any other questions, I'll be in my office," said Malew, then he stalked off.

When Malew had disappeared into the factory, Zineek said, "These wizards can't be relied upon. I say we sell our stake. We'd still be reaping a 10% gain."

Zing and Grizek both looked at Hermione.

Hermione kept her silence and simply looked back, sensing some hidden purpose. Hermione knew the goblins would never sell their stake. The factory was very valuable, and all along they'd wanted to buy out the factory. The fairest solution was to fix the sales problem, but the problem seemed to be deeper than just that.

Indeed, Grizek, finally responded by saying, "No. I think we'd do better to pay Malew and some the other employees, a few… ah— personal visits. There is a clause in the company charter somewhere that says if more than 75% of the voting employees want to sell, the owner must also agree."

Zineek's eyes glittered as he said, "While we do that, Hermione, you come here tomorrow and speak to their owner. Do whatever you can to make him sell, we know how powerful your charms can be…"

The party broke up, Zineek and Grizek headed back to Gringotts, probably to lay more plans while Eric and Hermione went on lunch break.

As Eric and Hermione headed out for lunch, Hermione was full of mixed emotions. It bothered her a little, that the goblins would simply ruin her weekend without even consulting her beforehand. Along with her promotion on Tuesday, they'd also given her a huge pay raise, but it looked like her weekends were going to be a lot worse. But if she came back here tomorrow, at least she would have a chance to check the inventory and production lines, and the company sales receipts. She could try to solve the sales problem and then both parties could maintain their status quo.

Eric found a greek deli, and ordered two pita sandwiches. Hermione was hungry and wolfed hers down but Eric wasn't eating. Eric was freshly graduated, only 17, and he'd be assigned to handle all of Hermione's menial office work. Since she'd been given more responsibilities recently, he also became more like an assistant that she ordered about. Eric didn't seem to mind though and obeyed without question. Hermione made short work of her sandwich but was still hungry. Her eye's moved from her own plate to Eric's and saw Eric's untouched sandwich. Hermione noticed Eric staring at her with his large eyes, and he suddenly handed over his saying, "here, have mine. I'll go order another one for myself."

She didn't have any reservations with him, since he was just a kid, so she took his sandwich and gave him a smile and said, "Thanks."

As she started on her second sandwich, her work purse vibrated. Hermione was startled, nearly choking on her mouthful of pita. It must be Lockhart messaging her. He promised to leave her alone this week! It was still Friday, and Hermione made a frantic grab for her purse and pulled out the phone.

—= Come to XXX hotel again. Be there at 2:00.

Hermione texted back.

=— No. You promised me you'd leave me alone for the rest of this week.

—= The week's over, its Friday. You'll come, or I'll reveal everything to Ron.

Hermione felt a sudden panic.

=— What about your oath?

—=The month isn't over. Don't forget.

=— Please, I have work today. I don't think I can do this anymore.

=— Please just leave me alone.

Lockhart didn't respond any further, and all Hermione could do was put her phone back in her purse. All at once, Hermione lost her appetite, and pushed her plate away, when she realized Eric was watching her with fascination.

"What's the gizmo you've got there?" he asked curiously.

Of course! Eric wouldn't know anything about cell phones, but Hermione didn't feel like explaining anything, just saying, "Let's head back."

"Is it a muggle thing?"

"Don't ask." Hermione said, stuffing a folder full of accounts into Eric's arms. "Make sure you finish these today. I have to go home early."

—

Next Chapter 6