Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 5

"More then Jokes"

Monday morning, back at the office, Harry received an owl post from Minerva McGonagall. She was informing him that on Friday at 4pm the press interviews were scheduled, at the school, for the three champions. They were to be held outside, weather permitting, at the Quidittch Stadium. This gave Harry an idea.

"Luna, I need to be going out for a spell. Is there anything or anyone scheduled I should know about? "

Luna carried a small stack of papers into the room and set them on Harry's desk.

"Can it wait Harry? You really need to review these."

"Actually it is a bit time sensitive, can these wait?" Harry pleaded.

Luna nodded and Harry got up from behind the desk and got moving quickly.

"I might not make it back"

Harry said as the door closed behind him. He quickly apparated to 93 Diagon Alley, home of the first Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes shop. Harry put his eyes to the ground and stepped into the shop. He marched straight to the back and spoke to a sales girl.

"Harry Potter, here to see Fred or George, please."

The sales girl, had met Harry at the store before, and she pointed up stairs to their work room.

"Only Mr. George Weasley is in this store today, Mr. Potter, I think you're familiar with the entrance to The Lab."

Harry thanked her and headed to the bottom of a small staircase just about hidden in the back corner of the shop. Posted on a very large sign at the base of the steps was a very specific warning.

"Absolutely no admittance for anybody for any reason, at anytime."

Harry stood in front of the first step and said in a whispered tone toward the sign itself.

"There are no absolutes, I am not just anybody, it's not just any reason, and its 12:05, not just anytime."

With that Harry took a cautious step onto the stairs, and slowly continued up the steps, wand in hand, hoping he had remembered the incantation just right. As nothing happened, Harry continued to the top of the stairs more confidently. The stairs were a copy of the girls' dormitory stairs from Hogwarts. These charmed steps would prevent any and all that did not know the proper incantation from climbing them. At first they would collapse into a slick slide. If a second attempt was made the violator would be transported out of the shop. Fred and George had never said what would happen on a third try, and quite frankly Harry didn't wan to know. Once at the top of the stairs he was greeted by a stone gargoyle.

"Harry Potter to see George Weasley." Harry said with a tone of authority.

The Gargoyle spun around with its twin now facing Harry.

"Password please."

The twin Gargoyle asked.

"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad."

Harry managed to eek out, still not enjoying the humor of his personal password. The Gargoyle chuckled and slid to the side granting Harry entrance. Harry stepped into a rather simple office with two identical copies of almost everything in it. There were two matching desks and two matching chairs behind them, facing identical pairs of couches. As Harry was about to take a seat, George walked in through the lab doors.

"Hello Harry, Ginny kick you out yet?" George joked. "Pleasantly surprised to see you actually, got some new joke shop product that could use some testing."

"Good to see you too George. Where is Fred off to?"

Harry asked, as they usually always worked as a team.

"He is off explaining some of our other products to a class at the Ministry."

George said off handedly.

The twins had discovered during the war against Voldemort, that many of their inventions had some very useful applications outside of simple jokes. They had also learned, the hard way, not to sell those goods to the general public. Order members and Aurors became the rule. Today many of the twins' inventions were used by the ministry and made for a very nice side business.

"Well I wanted to ask how the project for the Tri-Wizarding Tournament was coming along, George."

"Why don't I show you Harry."

George replied as he walked over to one of the desks and picked up a small polished wooden box. He walked over to Harry, opened the box, and displayed what looked like a humming bird.

"This is one of several extras, just place your wand to its head and it will be trained to you."

Harry did just that and the humming bird came to life and began to hover just above and behind Harry. George then waved his wand at one of the walls in the room, and spoke the words,

"Drive-In Theater."

With that a large white screen materialized and on it was Harry and the room the picture in almost exact synchronicity to with his actual movements.

"Move around a bit Harry, watch the way it knows to switch angles."

As Harry moved around the room so did the Humming Bird, showing everything Harry was doing, his sightline and even managing to keep George in the frame as well.

"Does anyone else know it's completed yet, George?" Harry wondered.

"Actually no, Fred and I were going to have a bit of fun with them before the first task."

These birds had originally come from a spying Idea the twins had to keep their own kids out of trouble. However the ministry was looking for a way to bring all the action for the Tri-Wizarding Tournament out for the public to see. The head of Magical Games and Sports, Catriona McCormack, had commissioned the twins to see if they could come up with something. Stealing a bit from muggle movies and movie projection, they thought about the spy birds. During the action at the tournament a bird would follow each contestant and the images would be displayed at the old Quidditch World Cup Stadium, which had been relocated just off the grounds of Hogwarts. Students, Witches, & Wizards from all over the world could Port key in, and take in the event of the day. Three large screens were built at the back of the horse shoe shaped arena to allow a constant view of all the action simultaneously.

Harry continued on.

"Well I have a bit of a favor to ask then George. Would you mind trying to arrange a test of the birds on the champions during some interviews they have coming up on Friday?"

"Don't see why not, partner, though it would be a bit of a waste. The birds are a one shot device. As soon as they are deactivated, they are of no use. One person, one time, more secure that way. But what's up, Harry, why all the interest in the birds? I can assure you they work just fine."

George pointed his wand at the humming bird above Harry and said,

"Finite Incantatem!"

The device landed slowly on the ground and Harry picked it up.

"It's not the invention that I'm interested in, George. It's great and all, don't get me wrong. But I wanted to find out about the contestants. And Rita Skeeter is doing the interviews. I don't want to be anywhere near her, and we both know what makes it to the paper will be a rather distorted version of what is actually being said. I thought if you used the excuse of testing the birds out, I could listen and watch in on the interview, without having to worry about anyone thinking much of it."

George looked a bit shocked at the whole thing.

"I think all the time with us and our dear sister has turned you into quite a sneak Harry. But why all the interest in the champions and the interviews?"

Before Harry could answer a booming voice rang out through the room.

"Just ask for the bloody test you snot. Must you know everything little brother?"

It was a painting of Charlie Weasley, one of which resided in the WWW office.

"If there was something wrong Harry would mention it, wouldn't you Harry?"

Charlie said with a touch of accusation to his tone.

"Sorry, I didn't mention I was coming over Charlie. If I had told Luna I was coming here, she would assume I was only trying to escape the office early, again. But really I'm sure it's nothing I just want to get some background on the Champions is all, no big deal, really."

George agreed to contact, McGonagall & McCormack from the ministry and arrange the test. The conversation moved on to the pending birth of Harry and Ginny's first daughter and potential names. After a bit Harry excused himself planning on headed home, as the sun was setting. He exited the office and the stairs which are only charmed up not down. He thanked the sales-girl from earlier and headed out in the street. Packed under each arm was a care package for the boys from their favorite uncles.

As he strode into the street he glanced down Knockturn Alley, and was a bit surprised to see Narcissa Malfoy. She was casually walking out of Knockturn Alley headed towards Gringotts Wizarding Bank with a something rolled up under her arm. It looked a bit like a small rug to Harry. She disappeared into Gringotts before he could get a good look at what it was she brought out of Knockturn Alley. As Harry was deciding to stay and she if she came out of the bank with or with-out her rug, he was spotted.

With in minutes there were witches and wizards all around Harry. Some just wanted to introduce themselves, some wanted to say thank you, some wanted autographs, some wanted help from his charity. Good intentions or not, within a minute he was surrounded four or five deep. Harry quickly and politely apparated back home to The Hideaway. Years ago a Malfoy taking an item from Knockturn Alley to Gringotts would have concerned Harry, these days were different. The apparating room allowed Harry entry in his home. Narcissa Malfoy was forgotten.

Please feel free to review, criticize and correct as much as you want. This is a first for me and just some fun.