Hermione arrived home to the smell of French onion soup, its aroma permeating the whole flat. As she stepped in, she realized she was still dressed in the clothes Lockhart had transfigured for her. She heard Ron, busy at the stove, calling out from the kitchen, , "Hey! You're back earlier than I thought!"

Hermione said back, "Yeah… I finished early…" and hurriedly went to the bedroom, transfiguring her clothes back. She went in to the bathroom and took a quick shower, before coming out to eat dinner with Ron.

Over dinner, soup and casserole, they told each other what had happened in the day. Hermione explained what gringotts wanted her to do the next day, but left out the part where Lockhart took her to the park. Ron listened, and told her to take it easy, saying, "Who cares if the goblins lose out a little?" Hermione didn't think that was the right attitude, but Ron was always like that with non-wizards.

Ron then told her about George buying huge boxes of some unknown good from Spain, and how George's Wonder Witch products kept selling better and better.

"I swear, it used to be just a joke shop but all of the money spinners aren't joke products anymore."

Hermione nodded, as Ron continued, "Did you know Bill told me that Weasley's Wizard Wheezes now produces more than half of all quills sold? I couldn't believe it myself, until Bill showed me the sales figures…"

"And by the way, I'm going to have to go to France in a few days, there's a new perfume that smells different to each person, depending on whose smelling it. Apparently it's scent can last for a whole week with one use. I'm supposed to buy samples, and get an offer for a contract to import it."

Hermione was surprised, she didn't expect George to send Ron out on another trip, when he had just gotten back. But that was probably because there was so much work for them. Part of her didn't want Ron to leave, but another part thought that if Ron was gone for most of this month, it'd be easier to deal with Lockhart.

"How long will you be gone?", asked Hermione.

"No more than a week, I'll let you know once I've spoken with Lee and George. Oh, and my mother invited us for dinner next Sunday. She said we absolutely have to go."

"Sure, I love your mother's cooking."

"She probably just wants to know when her grandchild is coming, so don't tell her you don't have any plans to have children yet…"

Hermione blushed, she suddenly felt awkward. She knew Ron's mother was ecstatic at the prospect of more grandchildren, Ron's mother had been so happy when Bill's first child was born and was looking forward to Ron's, being that he was the only other married Weasley. But Hermione wanted to wait. Her career was going well, and she didn't want to interrupt it right now. It wasn't that Hermione didn't want children, but she was only 20 and thought she could wait at least another year or two.

Suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of anxiousness came over Hermione. If Ron's mother ever found out about her and Lockhart, what would she think? Hermione did have a crush on Lockhart a long time ago, but that was just a silly grade school crush.

George had an easygoing character and was a little different in terms of ideas about relationships, and would probably understand that it wasn't what it looked like, that Lockhart had forced her. But what about Mrs. Weasley? What about the rest of the Weasley family? Suddenly, she remembered her impulse to reveal everything to George, and now she thought it may not be such a good idea. As long as George doesn't tell anyone…

"Hermione."

"Hermione!" Ron called.

Hermione snapped out of her sudden daze, as Ron gave her a confused look, saying, "Are you okay?"

"Yes… I'm fine," Hermione said.

"Anyways, just remember to say we've been trying but have had no luck."

"Don't worry, I won't forget."

—

The next day when Hermione woke Ron had already gone. Beside her was a note from Ron. Apparently, since Hermione had to pay Wendel's factory a visit, Ron had gone off to a quidditch game with Dean Thomas. It was already pretty late, around 11AM.

Hermione got up and dressed quickly, ate some leftover breakfast Ron had made, gathered her notes, some forms, and her purse and apparated to Wendel's Cauldron Factory.

Malew was there, giving her the same old tour.

Hermione wanted to shake him off, so she said, "Excuse me, but I need to use the ladies room. I'll meet you in your office in 20 minutes."

Malew nodded, showed her to the washroom and walked off. Hermione waited a minute, made sure that Malew footsteps couldn't be heard anymore, then came back out. She found the factory waste room and went in. Hermione knew that the factory burnt coal to to melt the tin, and there was always a layer of ash left. The ash was normally scooped out and vanished but some of the ash was useful and could be saved for reuse. As she expected, there was a lot of ash saved up, and based on the ash the factory was operating like normal. Hermione had what she wanted, and hurried off to Malew's office.

—