Hermione pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips as she caught sight of the guilt plastered on his face. "Charlie start talking now," she ordered.
"I didn't think about offering you the job until now," he confessed. "I mean not really. I certainly wasn't thinking about when you tumbled in and stated all seriously that you were there to be a tamer."
"Oh stop reminding me of that fact, Charlie!" Hermione's face flamed as she recalled her pitiful landing on the reserve.
"Sorry love, but it's too funny to let you live it down," he laughed heartily. "To be honest Hermione, the reserve's library idea is only an inkling at this stage."
"You're offering me a job that isn't available yet?" Hermione was confused. She didn't know if she was affronted at his dismissal of her on the reserve or irritated that he came her unprepared to redeem her favor. Certainly, she wasn't happy to be given an opportunity and then told it's only an idea at the moment.
"No, not like you're thinking. What I mean is as a director of the reserve there are more pressing issues than building up a research center. The idea to have one is there and while the position available I've not been actively seeking candidates for it. Then you showed up and when I recovered from the shock realized you were the perfect candidate."
"Go on," Hermione stated calmly.
"I don't have time to deal with hiring or worrying about that center being built so I didn't think about it at the time. To me it is just an idea, if you decline the offer then I doubt the reserve will have a center anytime soon. You could start tomorrow and it would be grand. It's not that I'm offering you a non-existent position, rather it's a position undefined. You would define it for yourself with my full support."
"I think I get your meaning," Hermione nodded. "I don't intend this to be critical, but it seems as though with your other concerns you don't care one way or another about a reserve library."
"Kind of," he replied sheepishly. "Bloody buggering hell, it sounds terrible but I guess that sums it up. I mean I want the research center to happen but I can't handle the day to day of it. So, what do you say Hermione? Help a bloke out?"
"Oh Charlie," Hermione sighed. "Of course I'll help." The lethargic grin that developed across his features at Hermione's answer had her rolling her eyes.
"Excellent, that leaves the rest of the day for much more pleasant business," he remarked leaning in to slant his lips over hers. Hermione pressed herself against him as she kissed Charlie back. It was like she was dreaming he felt so good and yet she was suddenly unsure as to if this was a good idea or not. If he were to be her boss…
She pulled back. "Charlie," she breathed "If you're my boss it's not feasible for us to have a relationship."
"I'm not your boss Hermione," Charlie sighed heavily but none-the-less stepped back from her.
"You are the director of the Dragon Reserve," Hermione implied.
"I am, but the director of the reserve oversees the tamers, the dragons, and the daily affairs. Despite being a director I don't control everything there. The kitchen staff manage the mess hall and work with the kitchen director for example. The Director of healing has a staff and runs the medical clinic. You would be the director of the research center. You are your own boss."
"Surely I still have to answer to somebody, and you are the reserve's director," Hermione protested.
"Aside from a monthly director's meeting to keep everyone up to date how you run your facility is up to you. Each director is responsible for their decisions, if something fails or gets messed up it's on them to fix it. Directors are their own bosses it's always been that way."
"So, there won't be any fallout if were are involved?"
"No Hermione. No fallout. Will you do me the honor of escorting me to dinner this evening?" Hermione pondered everything he had just said. She couldn't help feeling like there was something that gave him authority over her, but that was more likely because she always had somebody to answer to before. She trusted Charlie implicitly, and if he said it wasn't an issue she would believe him. Life was giving her an opportunity to make something with her crush of many years now and she would be a fool to pass it up.
"I'd be delighted to have dinner with you," she finally replied with a genuine smile.
"Excellent," The redhead expressed exuberantly. "In that case, I'm going to check myself into the Leakey Cauldron for the night. Will you meet me there in an hour? We'll go to the restaurant from there."
"Sure," Hermione responded. "For the record, how should I dress for the occasion?"
Charlie smirked sinfully at her. "A dress would do nicely Hermione," he explained finally and then disappeared from view.
Moments passed after his departure before Hermione sprang into action. An hour didn't leave her a whole lot of time to get ready. Luckily she wasn't the type to spend a lengthy amount of precious time on vanity. However, considering she finally landed a date with the wizard of her dreams, she wanted to look rather nice. As it was a workday she could skip the shower and instead Hermione opted to refresh her makeup. A fresh application of Mascara and blush with a light dusting of peach pink lipstick and she was satisfied enough to move on to her hair.
The monstrosity of wild curls was the bane of her existence and the most time-consuming part of getting eventually was able to secure them into a French twist that suited her. That only left her the dress. It so happened that she had the perfect number in her closet already.
She figured she had Ginny to thank actually, she insisted that every witch needed to own at least one little black dress. Hermione didn't dress up as a general rule, but after seeing the garment in a muggle shop couldn't resist buying it.
The dress was black, obviously, with silver sequins that sparkled when she moved. It fell just to the tips if her knees and had one shoulder strap. It fitted her form perfectly, hugging her curves and accenting her figure. Considering the time of year, she paired it with a black wool shawl and pair of high black boots.
Satisfied with her look she shrugged into her coat and snatched up her bag before leaving the apartment and heading to the Leaky Cauldron. To Charlie. For her date with Charlie. She grinned like a silly schoolgirl the whole way there.
