CH3B: The Second Part of Chapter 3 (Great title, huh)

It was a normal day at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Mrs. Weasley was bustling around the kitchen, doting on the various Order members present. Her youngest son, Ron, stuffed his face full of food, while his sister wrinkled her nose in disgust. Tonks was making faces across the table at Remus, who was pretending not to laugh as Molly reprimanded her for her immature behavior.

Everything was normal, that is, until Mundungus came bursting into the room.

"Harry - gone - missing," Mundungus managed to get out in between breaths. Instantly, there was an uproar.

"Silence!" Nobody had noticed the Headmaster's arrival, but were relieved all the same. "Mundungus," he instructed carefully. "What happened?"

"Well ... " Mundungus had the grace to look abashed. "He challenged me to a game of cards."

"What?" several voices ran out in disbelief?

"What has that got to do with Harry being in danger!" Molly cried out, emphasizing the word 'danger'.

"I never said he was in danger. Quite the opposite actually. I think he, er, well ...."

"Out with it!"

"I think he escaped."

"Done!" Alicia exclaimed merrily, slamming the cash register closed. "Done, done, done!" She smiled brightly as she looked at the clock – 3:28.

"Not quite," Gavin pointed out nastily. "You still have one customer left."

"Where?" He pointed at Harry. Alicia groaned.

"Don't worry, 'Licia," said Harry. "I only bought a few things." He dropped a pile of around fifteen books on the desk. Gavin's eyes widened.

"Now, don't think that you get a discount, young man, just because you have a friend working here."

"Wouldn't dream of it. Do you take Magicards?"

"Yes, but you can't possibly have the money to pay for all this – "Harry shoved the card into his hands and the man glared at him.

"Be nice, Harry," Alicia whispered as she rang up 'The Terrible Trio – The History of the Unforgivable Curses'. "He's my boss."

"When am I ever anything, but polite?"

Alicia rolled her eyes and began to respond when she was cut off by a choking noise. Gavin's eyes were bugging out of his head and he had turned a pasty shade of white.

"Mr. Po- Potter!" he stuttered. "My deepest apologies, I didn't realize – "

"It's alright." Harry gave him a strained smile and Alicia tried to fight down chuckles.

"That's it, Gavin!" She plucked Harry's Magicard from her boss's hands and jumped over the counter. "See you tomorrow." She and Harry waited until the exited the shop to burst into laughter.

When Alicia had finally calmed down, she said, "So where to? It's kind of late for lunch."

"How about over there," he replied, eyes twinkling. He was pointing to a very gaudy yellow store with a red WWW emblazed on the door.

"Lead the way!"

"After you, 'Licia."

"Why do you call me that?" she asked abruptly.

Harry thought for a moment. Then he answered, a serious look upon his face, "Because I'm too lazy to say the extra letter."

Alicia snorted and shoved him playfully. "Nice try, Ry."

He raised an eyebrow. "Ry?"

"I'm too lazy to say the extra syllable." She smirked and the entered the Weasley Twins' shop.

The pair stopped, in shock of what they saw.

The shop was upside down!

"Okay, I knew Fred and George were nuts, but this just tops it all!" Alicia exclaimed. "How are customers suppose to get things of the shelves is the shelves are on the ceiling?"

"Actually, I think," Harry began, trying to hold his hat on his head. "That we're on the ceiling."

"Well, well, well," said a voice below them. "Look what we've caught."

Harry strained his neck down to see the face that matched the very familiar voice. "Hello, Fred," he said pleasantly.

Fred didn't answer, choosing to instead turn to a pair of elderly men on his right. "New Topsy-Turvy Traps! And it seems they work perfectly for unsuspecting customers!" The men laughed.

"Fred," Harry tried again. "Remember that time in your 6th year when you got very hammered on Fire Whiskey and – "Fred cut him off as the men broke into chuckles again.

"Let me get you down from there, Harry!" he said brightly. He hit a button on the right side of the door and soon the world was righted, though spinning. As Harry struggled to catch his balance back, Fred addressed the men once more. "Gentlemen, I would like you to meet our first investor and business partner, Mr. Harry Potter. Harry, these are Geoffrey Goldrush and Francis Finacir, potential future investors."

Harry was uncomfortably aware at the pair of them staring at his covered forehead. "It's nice to meet you – "

"Hey! Aren't you going to let me down, too?"

"That went well, don't you think?" Fred said after seeing Geoffrey and Francis out.

"Since when am I a business partner?" Harry asked.

"Since you gave us that money," answered George, coming up behind them.

"You don't have to do that."

"Too late. Already done."

"Now, can I offer you a tour around your business venture?" question Fred, bowing. "And Miss Spinnet is welcome along, too."

Alicia glared at him. "It'll take a lot more than that to make me forget that you left me stuck up there!"

"I know. But it's a start."

An hour later, Harry and Alicia left, bogged down with Ton-Tongue-Toffees, Skiving Snack boxes, Topsy-Turvy Traps, and many an item that they had no idea what it did.

Harry walked Alicia back to the bookstore.

"This was fun, Harry," she said as she began to enter the building. "I had a really great time."

"Me too."

Quickly, she kissed him on the cheek. "Bye." And the door closed behind her.

Harry strolled up Privet Drive, satisfied. He'd had a wonderful day of freedom. He hummed to himself as he opened the front door of Privet Drive.

"You are in big trouble, Harry James Potter."