"No, Lucy, I said very clearly that we needed the pictures of the Goblin Peace Summit before lunch today! I need to pick the ones to send to layout, and they need them by tomorrow morning. If you'll recall, this is the first time in over a century that the goblins have sent a delegation, so I'm pretty sure people will want to actually see it!"

Ginny rubbed her temple in frustration as her terrified assistant tried to explain how she dropped the ball on one of the biggest stories of Witch Weekly's upcoming Spring edition. Their publication deadline was only a month away, and the editor-in-chief's decision to take an impromptu "business trip" to the Mediterranean with their latest cover girl had caused a dramatic increase in Ginny's workload.

"I…I'm so s-sorry, Mrs. Potter, ma'am," Lucy stammered as tears began to form in her eyes. "I c-called the photographer's assistant on the F-Floo Network last week, and she s-said that since Mr. T-Tempest was overseas, we c-could wait until…until…please, Mrs. P-Potter, I didn't know…"

Ginny took a deep breath as Lucy started openly weeping. It's not her fault, she thought wearily, obviously everyone is going to get lazy if the editor-in-chief just ups and leaves. Damn you, Tempest! "Look, it's okay, Lucy," Ginny said kindly, motioning for her to sit in the chair in front of her desk. "Here's what I need you to do. Apparate to the photographer's office right now, and ask for Colin Creevey. He's a junior photographer there and a…friend of my husband's. Anyway, tell him that Ginny Potter sent you, and that I need him to rush the Goblin Summit photos and get them here by the end of day. Do you understand?"

Lucy nodded vigorously and started to apologize again while wiping her tears away. "It's alright, Lucy. I'm sorry I yelled. It's a very stressful time for all of us. Just take care of this, okay?" Lucy again started nodding like a bobblehead, before jumping to her feet and Apparating with a crack.

Ginny sighed heavily, and looked at the grandfather clock in the corner of her office. That's lunch, I guess. As she considered forgoing food and instead begging the layout team to delay finalizing the edition, a soft pinging noise emanated from her desk drawer. Ginny opened the drawer and saw that her two-way mirror was gently glowing. After picking up the mirror and looking into it, Ginny's reflection disappeared and was replaced with Hermione's face.

"Hey, any chance you're free for lunch?" Hermione asked, looking about as stressed as Ginny felt.

"Absolutely," Ginny said with relief. "God, you're a life-saver. I needed an excuse to take a break." She would deal with layout after lunch. If I can spend my weekend editing these last-minute articles, they can lose a day off their schedule, Ginny thought firmly.

"Glad I could help," Hermione said with a grin. "I'll just grab something from the Ministry cafeteria and Apparate over. Tuna salad sandwich?"

"Please and thank you!" After Hermione's face vanished from the mirror, Ginny pointed her wand at her door. "Colloportus," she called. The door swung shut, and locked itself with a satisfying click.

About twenty minutes later, Ginny was laughing loudly as Hermione sat across from her at her desk and recounted her interview with Draco Malfoy several weeks earlier. "So, he hasn't changed at all?" Ginny asked, covering her mouth to prevent herself spraying tuna salad all over her future sister-in-law.

"Not at all," Hermione spat through gritted teeth. "God, I can't believe I have to recommend him for a job! As if I didn't have enough on my plate, with this damn budget meeting next month!" Hermione covered her face with her hands and leaned back in her chair.

"Then just don't recommend him!" Ginny responded, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Hermione, it's not even the job he was interviewing for."

"I can't do that, Ginny!" Hermione said at once, aghast. "We do need another Wizengamot investigator. Besides, you're one to talk, taking on half of your boss's work while he's off galivanting with an Italian model." Ginny sighed, nodding. She had a point. "And if I'm being honest, it's not just work…" Hermione muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, no, nothing…it's nothing." Hermione looked away from Ginny, her face turning a light shade of pink. However, as Ginny fixed her with a hard stare, she broke. Ginny felt her jaw tighten as Hermione told her about what had happened with George.

"Are you okay?" Ginny asked calmly, knowing that the last thing Hermione needed was for her to lose her cool.

"Ginny, seriously, it was nothing," Hermione insisted. "I'm fine! I know George wasn't trying anything and just wasn't thinking. And frankly, after seeing him in that state, I feel like he's hurting himself more than anyone else." Hermione immediately regretted her words as Ginny looked down, upset. "Oh, Ginny, no, I just meant…"

"I know what you meant." Ginny sighed and gave Hermione a half-smile. "Are you going to tell Ron?"

"Ugh, that's the thing. I don't know." Hermione grimaced. "Again, I really am okay, and I feel like this is just going to upset him. And we just got engaged! Honestly, I just want things to go back to normal," she said plaintively, before adding, "Don't…don't say anything to anyone, okay?"

"Look, if you say you're okay, I'll stay out of it," Ginny promised. "And as far as George goes…well, like my husband said, I can't sort his life out for him."

"He's a smart man," Hermione said, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"He has his moments." Ginny turned to look out the window, her smile slowly fading. "I really hope George finds a way to get better. I just want him to be happy," she said, after a moment. Hermione nodded sympathetically and took Ginny's hand. Ginny squeezed it as she continued to stare impassively into the distance.

"It's really not that hard," George said exasperatedly. "You just wear the Shield Cloak and stand still when the customer tries to curse you." It had been a few weeks since Aurora joined Weasley Wizard Wheezes, and George had found that there was definitely a learning curve to overcome.

Though she knew a lot about the kinds of spells and jinxes they used on their products, Aurora had too much of a logical head. She didn't take naturally to the bangs and booms of the store, making her best for the cash register. However, George felt that this defeated the whole purpose of hiring her. In the past few weeks, he found that, not only had he been right about training a new employee providing a good distraction for him, but he also genuinely enjoyed her company.

"I'm telling you, it keeps slipping off!" Auror insisted, tightening the cloak around her neck. George laughed, pointing out that she was going to suffocate. "Ugh! You do it then!" she said, peeling it off. George caught it as she tossed it towards him

"Alright, now-" he didn't finish his sentence, as Aurora took the opportunity to throw a Stunning spell at him. Since George hadn't managed to get the coat on properly, Aurora's spell blasted him off his feet, but thankfully didn't knock him out.

Aurora smiled with satisfaction, as George came to realize that she was a force to be reckoned with. Getting to his feet with a groan, she rushed to his side. He was strangely pleased by the concerned expression on her face. As she helped him to his feet, George shook his head and decided to call it quits. After making sure he wasn't concussed, she obeyed him and went to mind the register.

He quite liked her, honestly. She was very smart, a quick learner and, best of all, fun. George quickly found himself looking forward to spending time with her at the store, as he seemed to smile and laugh more around her, in that he smiled and laughed at all. She doesn't look half-bad, either, he thought dryly. A slight euphemism, Weasley, old mate.

She suddenly turned and looked straight at him, and George realized that he had been staring at her. Ignoring the slight quaking in the pit of his stomach, he turned away. He could feel his face get distinctly hot. Shaking himself, he went to help a customer, unaware that Aurora was happily tapping away at the cash register to deposit money.

The slightly haggard witch who bought three large boxes of Edible Dark Marks for her screaming, eight-year-old child wondered what the young woman at the register looked so happy about, her pretty face glowing with a wide smile. The witch looked across the store at a stocky wizard with flaming red hair, whom she recognized as the owner of the store. Every so often, he would carefully glance in the young woman's direction. The older witch sighed, hoping the two enjoyed their time while it lasted. Pretty soon they'd have screaming children and family finances to worry about. Paying for the sweets, she dragged her son out of the store.

George discreetly avoided Aurora for the rest of the day. He was starting to feel strange around her, and he wasn't quite sure why. He had a shrewd suspicion, but didn't want spend too much time thinking about it in case his suspicion was true. Aurora apparently had other plans, as she cornered him as he was leaving the store for the day.

"You're still here?" he asked, as she followed him out the door. "You can leave by six, you know." George felt a little guilty saying it, feeling like he was telling her to leave him alone. It was definitely not what he wanted, now that she was in front of him. However, whatever George thought he sounded like, she remained undeterred.

"Okay, here's the thing," she started, putting her hands into her pockets. George sighed inwardly. She always seemed so relaxed, so at ease. He couldn't help but feel slightly envious. "I sort of have this job…"

George's eyes widened. Had she been a Zonko's spy after all? He didn't say anything, but Aurora seemed to read his mind. "Nothing to do with joke shops," she said quickly. "It's just…okay, I help run this adult educational program, and we're always looking for new lecturers. That's actually why I started coming in here." Aurora went onto to explain that she had heard about the exceptional magic showcased by his products, and had decided to check them out for herself. George didn't know how to respond. Whatever he had been expecting, it hadn't been this. "I was just wondering if you'd be interested, if you have the time." Aurora looked at him expectantly.

"Look, I may be good with jokes and pranks, but…" George began, but she cut him off.

"Don't even try that," she said, a mischievous grin on her face. "There's no way a mediocre wizard could have used a complex Spell Extension on an originally non-magical object." George stared. How on Earth had she known that? The method for creating Shield Cloaks was supposed to be one of his and Fred's most closely guarded secrets. George doubted that even Hermione knew much Spell Extensions. "How'd I know?" she asked, again discerning George's thoughts just by looking at him.

"You're a Legilimens, aren't you?" George said weakly, as Aurora searched in her purse for something. She soon pulled out a tattered, fraying Shield Cloak. Evidently, she had dissected it.

Without a word, George took the cloak from her and inspected it. Threads were falling out of place, and George wouldn't have been surprised if the thing split as soon as it was put to use. As George stared at the now-useless Shield Cloak in his hand, Aurora's smile started to falter, and she wondered if he was angry with her. Uncomfortable with the silence, she explained that she had taken it home yesterday and took it apart.

"Let me just get this straight," George said slowly. "You lied to get a job from me, stole from my store, and figured out the secret behind one of my most popular products?" As it happened, the Shield Cloaks' popularity was only second to the fake wands. Those never got old. Regardless, it seemed Aurora no longer found the situation very funny. She started to apologize, but this time George cut her off. "Brilliant!"

"What?"

"That is just brilliant," he said, laughing. Aurora breathed a sigh of relief, but George wasn't really paying attention amid the rush of admiration he suddenly felt towards her. She had taken the cloak from right under his nose, practically destroyed it, and figured out how it worked, all without his permission. Whatever was going on in his life, George couldn't help but admire some good, old-fashioned rule-breaking. He was quite sure if Fred had…still been around, he would have been impressed as well.

"Can I use you for a spy?" George asked, still grinning widely. Aurora responded with a playful death glare. "Or not…just an idea," he added meekly.

"So, you'll come to class?" she asked again. George nodded. He felt a little like he would walk into a room full of rabid Doxies if it meant that he could spend more time with Aurora. He blinked. Did he really feel that way? "Great! It's in a couple weeks, but I'll send over an owl with all the details. That okay?" George nodded dumbly, only half listening.

Lost in his own thoughts, he forgot that she was still standing in front him. They both mumbled a few words at each other, seemingly unwilling to end the conversation. George could tell that she didn't want to leave, but there was some sort of block in his brain. Was he supposed to say something? What exactly? Maybe she was supposed to say it. Say what? He asked himself. Something, just say something.

After what felt like several, agonizing hours, Aurora started to leave. George fought to overcome the blockade in his mind. He cleared his throat as she started to turn away. For some reason, he was desperate to get some words out before she left. He didn't want to lose…something. What was wrong with him?

"Um, Aurora?" he called out. She turned back towards him, and he felt his face start to get hot again. Perhaps it was a bad idea to say anything more. Perhaps he was ill. Bloody hell, George, just sodding say it! "There's a nice pub down the street," he blurted out, gesturing to a warm, yellow light spilling onto the cobblestone road about four or five shops down. "D'you, I don't know, mind having a drink with the boss?" George was having so much difficulty getting out simple sentences that he didn't notice Aurora's eyes lighting up.

"Well, to be honest, I was planning on quitting today," she said with a smile. "So, how about a drink with a friend?" Relief rushed through George's body like water from a dam. He nodded happily, and they both headed towards the pub, neither of them really looking at the other.

Harry was not a happy man. This was strange, because only a few weeks ago he thought he had everything he could ever want. A nice family, friends who cared about him, and a prospective job that he knew he would love. However, the last one had been suddenly, cruelly stripped away from him by a twisted old toad out to settle a score. He thought back to his conversation with Kingsley.

"As I mentioned, there is a way you can get the rejection overturned," Kingsley said in a low voice, keeping an eye on the office door.

"What?"

"Well, Darius said that you're not being accepted because you didn't finish your seventh year. It turns out you can do just that."

"Kingsley, if you think I'm going to go back to Hogwarts and sit in class with a load of seventeen-year-olds…"

"No, no, of course not. Have you heard of overage magical education?"

What the hell possessed me to go along with this? Harry asked himself, annoyed. It was at times like this that he hated the Ministry with every fiber in his being. Just because Dolores Umbridge didn't have the decency to stay locked up in Azkaban, Harry had to go back to school. Even though he probably knew more about fighting the Dark Arts than any Auror on the force. Ron hadn't finished his seventh year either! Or Hermione, for that matter!

He got a hold of himself, trying to push aside his resentful thoughts as he looked up at the building in front of him. While it looked like an ordinary Muggle office building, the sign read Wexler's Academy for Overage Magical Education. This would be where he would take a three-month remedial seminar to replace his seventh year at Hogwarts. The building was in Hogsmeade, which Harry could have done without. Hermione had insisted that he visit her and Ron on the way to "school."

It had been quite uncomfortable, with Hermione chattering away about how unfair it all was while he and Ron stared determinedly in different directions. Harry was starting to get the impression that Ron was annoyed with him too. Perhaps he had picked up on Harry's slight resentment towards him. This was another reason why Harry had become a little desperate to become an Auror, hoping that it would make things go back to normal with his best friend.

He made his way to his classroom, opened the door, and saw that it looked almost exactly like how he remembered the Hogwarts classrooms. Fleeting visions of his different teachers bubbled up from his memories. Professors McGonagall and Snape walking in haughtily, Professor Binns gliding through the blackboard, Professor Flitwick standing on a pile of books. Shaking these images from his mind, he took a seat.

"Sean McAvery," said a voice with a thick, Scottish accent from behind Harry. The man was probably a few years older than him, and sported a large red beard. He stuck out a coarse hand to Harry. While Harry was no mood to socialize, he shook the man's hand, knowing that he had to be polite. Nobody here had taken his job from him. "Harry Potter, right?" Harry's jaw tightened. He did not feel like having everyone stare at him. "Nah, don't worry, lad. Won't say anything. None of my business."

"Thanks, that would be nice," Harry said, knowing what Sean's next question was going to be. As he predicted, the bearded, Scottish man asked why he was there. "Ministry said I couldn't get a job unless I finished my seventh year." Sean stared incredulously. Don't get me started, Harry thought.

As Harry chatted with Sean, he started to forget his anger and resentment. Soon, however, the door opened, and a familiar face entered. George?! Harry looked up in surprise and slight horror as George Weasley walked in. He looked a lot freer and happier than Harry had seen him in a while. However, Harry did not have time to feel good about this. The only people Harry had told about his predicament were Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, and he didn't want everyone he knew to learn that he had been rejected by the Aurors. He could only imagine the fuss Mrs. Weasley would kick up.

Unfortunately, Harry had chosen a seat in plain view of the door. George's eyes widened when he saw Harry. Someone hates me up there, Harry thought angrily. Could he not catch a break? George started to approach him. Not only was he going to find out that Harry had to retake his seventh year, but he was going to announce to the room that he was Harry Potter.

"Hi, George," Harry said, subtly pulling him aside so that others would not overhear them. "You're, um, you're here too?" Harry knew for a fact that George was not here to make up for dropping out of Hogwarts. Why would he? "Yeah, me too, I'm a…well, not exactly a…" Harry began stammering and spluttering, not wanting to admit the real reason he was there.

"You're a guest speaker?" George suggested. Harry wondered if he was being serious. He didn't see the joking glint in the Weasley's eyes, which told Harry that there was such a thing. Nodding vigorously, he forgot that Sean McAvery was right behind him. The Scotsman looked at Harry in surprise. Harry shot a quick, pleading look at Sean, who nodded and said nothing. "Really? So am I." Of course, Harry thought with a heavy heart. How could he have been so stupid. Why else would George have been there?

Harry began stammering again. Deciding to take the story and run with it, he thought it would be best to stay away from any actual subject matter. He still didn't quite know what they would be doing. George nodded, suggesting that he take the class first.

Oh, you must be joking. The day was going from bad to worse. Now Harry had to embarrass himself in front of the class or admit to George he lied. Not exactly a brilliant start. Before George could encourage Harry to talk to the class any further, a pretty woman with light brown skin entered. "Well, you must know Aurora, in that case." Harry sighed, and shook his head.

"Alright, I'm here to learn," Harry admitted. George simply smiled in response, giving Harry the distinct feeling that he had known this all along. Despite himself, Harry was thrown by the simple, happy expression on George's face, having not seen in a long time. "What are you so happy about?" Harry asked, before he could stop himself. Before George could respond, the woman called Aurora put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ready, George?" She asked, before noticing Harry. "Oh, hi there, I'm…oh, my!" Aurora's eyes fell on Harry's scar, and she recognized him instantly. He was suddenly annoyed with himself. Sean recognizing him had apparently not been enough to remind him to flatten his hair over the scar. "You're… you're…" George exchanged an amused look with Harry. "I just have to say, it's an absolute honor…if I had any idea that…" Harry nodded wearily as she wrung his hand.

"Ah, Aurora? Maybe we should get to the front of the class?" said George. Aurora nodded, breathless. While it was subtle, Harry sensed that George was a little displeased with Aurora being star-struck by him. Oh! So, he's… At that moment, Harry realized that he had solved the mystery behind George's good mood. He grinned at his brother-in-law, and took his seat in front of Sean again, making a mental note to fill in Ginny, Hermione, and Ron.

After Aurora and George took their places at the front of the classroom, Aurora introduced herself, and then launched into an explanation about the basic aims of course and subjects they would cover. Harry was pleased to learn that all the subjects he needed to pass to become an Auror were being covered. Kingsley had mentioned that unless Harry passed in the next few months, he would have to apply again. And having been rejected once, his chances of being accepted would not be high. So, he really only had one shot. Completely fair, Harry thought, clenching his fists.

After she finished her explanation, Aurora turned to George and introduced him as a guest speaker.

"Right, so I'm George Weasley, as Aurora so kindly said," George said, writing his name on the board. "You may recognize me as the bloke who's turning your kids into hardened pranksters. Those of you who shop at Weasley Wizard Wheezes, anyway." Harry laughed with the rest of class, while a few older witches glared at George with disdain. Clearly, not everyone had a very distinguished sense of humor. "So, you might be asking what a joke shop owner is doing teaching you lot 'proper' magic, as you might call it..."

Throughout the class, George proved that he had as much right to teach people about "proper" magic as anyone, displaying an unimpeachable knowledge of Charms and Transfiguration. Not for the first time, Harry wondered how he and Fred had only scraped through with a few OWLs.

"It's not as though they haven't got the brains!"

Mrs. Weasley's rage from years earlier echoed in Harry's head as a reminder. Like Fred, George had simply never seen the point of putting his intelligence towards academics. Then what's he doing teaching? Harry wondered.

Of course, the answer to that was made quite clear by the furtive glances George kept throwing in Aurora's direction. It was very discreet, but, thanks to his Seeker training, Harry had always been good at noticing small details. As the lesson came to an end, Harry reflected that it had actually been a little fun. He almost didn't mind having to go back to school. Almost.

Aurora was busy answering questions from other students, which left Harry an opportunity to talk to George. He managed to catch up to him as he was leaving, and found that he was still in an unusually good mood.

"So, this is a pretty weird coincidence, wouldn't you say?" Harry asked.

"Oh, I don't know," George responded with a smirk. "Might have been weirder if we were both lecturers." Well, guess I had that coming, Harry thought as George laughed at his expense. However, seeing George in such high spirits, Harry didn't even mind his jabs.

"Alright, alright," Harry responded. "Well, I'm hoping I count on your, ah, discretion. No reason for your mum to find out, right?" George nodded, still snickering. "And for what it's worth, I can see why you signed up for this, getting to hang out with her and all," Harry added under his breath. George threw him an annoyed look. "Oh, touchy…"

"Excuse me, but you happen to be married to my sister," George pointed out. "If you'd like me to tell her about your thoughts…"

"Oh, please," Harry responded, rolling his eyes. "Even if Ginny was the jealous type, I can't imagine she'd disagree." George laughed again. "Honestly, though, she seems great," Harry said. George nodded in agreement. "You should have told us you were seeing someone, mate."

"What?!" George's previous mirth disappeared instantly, replaced by panic. Harry blinked, surprised by his reaction. Had he been wrong? "No, we're not…it's not…" George trailed off as a look of sudden realization (and, it seemed to Harry, shock) appeared on his face.

Without another word, George Disapparated on the spot, leaving Harry alone, and very confused. He shook his head at the now-empty hallway, concluding that all Weasleys were just strange. Shrugging, Harry decided to take a bit of a walk before heading home.

"Harry? Harry Potter?" The voice sounded vaguely familiar, like someone from a past life. As Harry turned, he forgot to be concerned about people hearing her and recognizing him. It took him a few seconds to fully recognize the black-haired woman in front of him, after which his eyes widened. He seemed to be reuniting with everyone from his schooldays lately.

"Merlin, Cho?" Harry said incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

"Same thing as you, I expect. My last year at Hogwarts didn't…go very well," Cho explained. Harry smiled sympathetically, but didn't ask for any more details. He was still quite surprised at running into her. "It's been such a long time, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, about five years, I reckon," Harry responded. "Well, I was just going to go for a walk. Want to join me? It'd be great to catch up." Cho smiled and nodded.

Harry found talking to Cho quite strange, particularly since the last time they had had a real conversation was when they were teenagers, and even that had been an argument. However, she seemed different, certainly happier. Harry could not count the number of times a row with Cho, or any kind of conversation, ended in her dissolving into tears. Apparently, she was living in Godric's Hollow too, having moved there recently. As they swapped life stories, Harry commented that Ginny would be thrilled to meet her, demonstrating that he was not always, as Hermione had observed, a smart man.