Author Note:- Ah, Chapter 5 done at last, first part took ages but I managed to catch one of those pesky muses and knocked out the last half quite quick. I'm up to 7500 hits on the story, though I'm pretty sure half of them are mine just a quick thanks to everyone who's bothered to read this far. I've replied to most of my reviews and intend to keep doing so except maybe not all the anonymous ones, they all seem pretty similar. Suspect half of them are from the same person but I'll never know 8)
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, it is nice to read them yet I still have trouble writing reviews for other stories I read. Anyways, I'm rambling again, read the story, enjoy, review if you want to, don't if you don't. Oh, for anyone like me, if you spot any mistakes feel free to point them out in a review or email me. You can discover my email addy by clicking the link of my name just above this note.
All four of them left the elevator on the 2nd floor laughing earning some strange looks from the customers on tours and the staff.
"Visiting guests, may I introduce the twisted minds behind Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George. Who are still involved in the research of new products as you can well see," managed Harry between laughs, "Enjoy your tour folks."
The tour group wandered off with their guide confused ands casting glances back at the group who were sorting themselves out.
"I swear Harry, you missed your true calling joining the Aurors." Fred commented as they entered the researching area and the papers were handed over to the head of research, Lee Jordan.
"Your handiwork Harry?" Lee commented, looking over the twins, "Fred can pull it off, but looks silly on George."
"I said the same thing." replied Harry nodding.
"Looks like a simple enough spell, but these bits are very complicated" Lee commented, reading over the notes.
"That's to stop people fixing the spells, you should see what happens if they try and disillusion themselves," Harry grins evilly, "We'll demonstrate later if we have time, need to get some things done today."
"Aye Lee, show Mister Potter our newest spy equipment while I help our research team and George fetches a full kit." Fred grins and casts a disillusion charm on himself to see what happens now that Harry piqued his curiosity.
Another puff of pink smoke and Fred's dress shrunk to mid thigh and a slit went up the sides to the hip, the neckline dropped to show even more cleavage and the cups of the bra beneath ballooned to double d size.
"Nice one Harry," George comments as Fred gets a few wolf whistles from the staff.
"I recalled your firework display during the Umbridge era, so set my mind to every possible way to cure the illusion. Then devised ways to worsen the effects, it gets better if you stack the attempts." Harry grinned as he left with Lee.
"How's the Auror life then you two?" Lee asked as they walked through the hallways, past clear windows into research and testing areas, clouds of coloured smoke exploding everywhere.
"You know, same ole, same ole, brutal fights against people who will kill you at the flick of a wand. Been considering something more risky to be honest, like teaching at Hogwarts, or working here." Harry commented with a smirk.
"I know what you mean," Lee laughs, "At least since Fred and George hired some testers I don't have to try out all the new things they invent. They still participate because they still believe that they shouldn't do to others what they wouldn't be willing to do to themselves or something like that."
"Well I'm happy in my job," Hermione replied with a smirk, "It's a field that's challenging and we get to make a difference in the lives of the whole world."
"Practically word for word what the pamphlet says about the job, did you write it?" Harry asks earning himself a punch on the arm.
"Seriously though, I know everyone thought I would be a teacher or run some form of S.P.E.W. foundation or work in a library somewhere." Harry and Lee both shared a look and nodded. "But I don't think any of those careers would have been challenging enough for me, fighting against the dark wizards provides something different. We have to be constantly aware and learning new things to counter whatever they devise."
"Like you learning to bewitch objects to act like Bludgers when you're outnumbered Harry," Hermione gave as an example.
"Whoa," Lee gave a whistle of appreciation, "Impressive, difficult spell to master"
"Yeah, but once you get the hang of it you can cast quickly and doesn't matter what you use it on, course I haven't mastered the part where I specify or exclude targets. So can't use it in any hostage situations or with objects I can't dodge myself." Harry explains.
"Doesn't stop you trying though, I still remember wincing when I saw you bewitched that bmw in the pensieve." Hermione shudders at the memory.
"You turned a muggle car into a bludger?" Lee asks, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"Just once," Harry chuckles, "I chased after a death eater into a trap in some car scrap yard. Six of them against me, partner is jinxed a few blocks back, I call for backup while under heavy fire when I figure, why not? Odds are in my favour."
"So quick bit of spell work and suddenly there's a ton of scrap metal zooming around the yard trying to bash random people," Lee laughs as Harry continues, "Course, as you know, Bludgers are random, can go for the same person ten times before going for another."
"Eventually it went for Harry, nearly crushed him to death," Hermione scolded.
"I dove into a narrow gap between two stacks of cars," Harry explained, "Crashed into the stacks three times before going for someone else, then the reinforcements arrived and I canceled the spell as we arrested the survivors."
"Course I was awarded a medal for bravery and removing all six death eaters from the streets, also suspended for a week and given two cautions for using such a suicidal method," Harry laughed, "And I got a pair of hour long lectures from Ginny and Mione here."
Lee chuckled as he opened a door for them, entering a large research room with a pair of twins. Both men looked up at the entrance of the three and nodded to each in turn as one.
"Hey Andy, hey Daz, got a special tour group for you," Lee grinned, "Crack out the best stuff."
"Hmm," replied Andrew.
"Best stuff?" asks Darren.
"Have you met the Grant twins before Mione?" Harry asked quietly, she shook her head, "They're just like the Weasley twins really, Merlin knows what we did to deserve four of them of course."
"They'll be wanting to see the watch you recon?" Andy asked Daz,
"Recon they'll be wanting it for sure," Daz replied coolly
"Fred and George did say Harry would be getting the first set," Andy commented
"George and Fred did say so, but not ready yet are they?"
"Still a few bugs, but still nifty toys."
"Nifty toys indeed, can we overlook the bugs?"
"Possible I suppose, for a good cause."
"This is for a good cause we suppose?" Andy asked as the twins slipped from their little conversation.
"Best part is when they're talking to Fred and George of course," Harry whispered causing Hermione to stifle a giggle.
"Aye lads, it's for Harry Potter, needs it urgently for top secret ministry stuff." Lee replied earnestly.
"Suppose we can let you see" Andrew concedes.
Andrew nods at Darren and the pair move to two spots on the back wall. They take out their wands and perform a series of taps in perfect sync and the wall opens up to reveal a vault and two keyholes. Pulling chains from around their necks they nod at each other and place the keys on the chains into the holes and twist at the same time.
The vault door shudders and swings open, a soft mist flowing from the open vault as the twins each claim a box from inside and bring it to the desk. They open the boxes and spin them to face Harry and Hermione. Inside each is a golden wristwatch.
"Okay, I'll bite," Harry comments, "How many tricks have you lot crammed into these simple looking things?"
"Ton of Tricks"
"Selection of Surprises"
"Plethora of Pranks indeed"
"Enough, what do they do guys?" Lee interrupts.
"Ah, you have the watches out, brilliant" George comments as he staggers into the room, followed by Fred. Andy and Daz give them a curious look over.
"Not a good look for George" states Andrew.
"George not wearing that well" agrees Darren.
"Looks good on Fred though"
"Fred's dressed to kill"
"We're getting that a lot" replied George.
"Can't say I disagree tho" adds Fred as they both chuckle. At that time another puff of smoke clouds the twins and they return back to their original outfits.
"Ah, these shoes are much better" George groans happily
"Those high heels are murder" Fred agrees.
"Could have just taken them off and gone barefoot you know?" Harry comments idly.
"Didn't even think of that one." Fred admits.
"Wasn't jinxed if we tried?" asks George.
"Course not, I'm evil, not cruel." Harry adds, smiling, "Now can someone tell me what these watches do?"
"Ton of Tricks"
"Selection of Surprises"
"Plethora of Pranks"
"Yes yes! We had this already from Tweedledum and Tweedledee" Harry interrupts.
"Who and Who?" Lee, Fred, George, Darren and Andrew all ask together.
"It's a muggle movie reference, never mind. Now, watches do what?" asked Harry
"Well, it's a watch, so it tells the time obviously," Daz started.
"But there are numerous added features." Fred added.
"If you flip the top part off upwards then it reveals the four way mirror," George commented as Harry picked up the watch and flipped the clock face upwards to see a small mirror.
"Four way?" he asks as he slips his on and Hermione picks her own up.
"We currently have four watches made, designed for you two, Ron and Neville to start with." Fred explains and George continues, "We've got the ability to add more and will be offering the exclusive rights to the Ministry first."
"They work like your silver mirrors," Andy adds.
"Just speak the name and they appear."
"Hermione" Harry speaks into the watch, next to him Hermione's watch buzzes and she flips the top to see Harry's face. She smiles and they both close the watches.
"Next if you flip the watch face down," Daz asks, the comply and are faced with another clock face, this one like the infamous Weasley clock, four hands showed the faces of Harry, Mione, Ron and Neville, all pointed at work.
"Nice," then he spots the compass on the lower section with three needles, two pointing at the vaults and one at Hermione, "Very nice, tracking spells on the watches?"
"Yeah, but its not flawless, it only points at the watches, not at the people wearing them," Daz comments
"So don't leave them at home" Andy adds with a chuckle.
"And lastly," Daz starts.
"Only at the moment" Andy quickly adds.
"Flip the watches right." Fred requests.
When the watch face is flipped right there is a glowing blue stone sits in the watch. Harry looks at it for a moment and takes it out.
"What's this?" Hermione asks as she looks at the same stone.
"Portkey Nexus stone," Andy answers with a huge grin,
"What's that?" Harry asks, resulting in the grin spreading around the room.
"Throw the stone over there, and close the watch and press the middle button on the right." Daz explains.
Harry looks skeptical but does it anyways. Tossing the small blue crystal over by the vaults and closing the watch. Breathing deeply then pressing the button he feels a yank at his naval and with a jolt he's standing above the crystal on the other side of the room. With a blink he grins and leans down to pick up the stone.
"How many times can we use this?" Harry asks.
"Need to recast each time, just tap the watch with your wand." George starts
"And turn it into a portkey with the stone as the destination." Fred finishes.
"It's charmed to trigger on the button for a quick escape and works in Anti-Apparation areas."
"Of course if you put the stone into a place sealed by limited or no access to portkeys it won't work and will send you to the outskirts of the ward."
"Still very nice boys," Harry grins as he closes it, "Any other features?"
"Well, the watch will flip open eight ways" Daz starts.
"But eight tricks is hard to think up" Andy conceded.
"New toys they are," Daz explains.
"More tricks we'll discover," Andy promises.
"Of course, if you can think of anymore you could use." Fred asks
"Let us know and we'll see what we can do." George finishes.
"We'll send Ron and Neville over to claim theirs if you like?" Hermione asks, slipping hers on and sliding her sleeve over it.
"Nah, we'll wait until all eight slots are filled, but you're on tough assignment and they could be useful." Fred smiles at them both
"By time you're done we might be able to add a fourth or fifth trick," George adds, "I have your kits here by the way." He places two suitcases and a box on a nearby table and pops the cases open.
"Your usual tricks," Fred starts, "Newest Edition,"
Harry and Hermione had to listen carefully as all five men in the room started detailing the contents of the boxes. Instant Darkness Powder, Remote Extendable Ears, All-Seeing-Eyes, un-jinxed Decoy Detonators, Silence Wards and a few Reductor Patches.
A few years ago the twins had managed to make their extendable ears loose. The ears could be stuck to any surface and inserting the end enabled the user to hear anything around the ear. They followed this by taking a pair of those muggle toys with the eyes on springs and adapting them. The eyes could be removed and by wearing the glasses you could see through them. They worked exactly like Moody's own electric blue eye but they looked more realistic and you didn't have to loose your own eye first. These were named All-Seeing-Eyes and were great sellers.
Silence Wards were patches of paper with some ancient runes sketched on them, whatever they were attached to suddenly became soundproof as if someone cast Silencio upon it. Useful for those who couldn't master the silent version of the spell. Reductor patches came after, attach them to an item and after five seconds a strong reducto curse is fired in the direction the patch is aimed at. The twins got that idea watching a muggle spy movie with directed explosives.
"We also have some special bits for Hermione," George added with a look at Harry. Harry nodded and turned to Hermione who had noticed the look and was giving him a curious look.
"Another special purchase I've got for you and Ron, taken a while to find." He explained and she rolled her eyes.
"Harry, you really should stop buying us all these things." She sighed, exasperated. She went over to the table and opened up the box and pulled out a silvery invisibility cloak just like Harry's, "Oh my!" She swept the cloak around her body and beamed as all but her head vanished, "Harry, it's wonderful, you shouldn't have! It must have cost you a fortune."
"Two fortunes, I got one for Ron too remember," he chuckled.
"What's this?" she asked, lifting a necklace from the box. A small sphere of brown glass hung from a chain of silver.
"That's from us, newest item for retail, once it's passed all the safety tests," Fred explained
"It's passed all of ours and just waiting on general approval." added George at the concerned look Hermione gave it.
"One time cast Disillusion charm," Fred grinned.
"Just crush the sphere and it will cloak you in a strong, short lasting spell."
"Useful for quick getaways or avoiding that annoying stalker."
"I could have used dozens of these during Hogwarts." Harry joked with a grin as Hermione slipped the necklace on with some help from George.
"It's wonderful, thank you guys." Hermione smiled as she slid the cloak into her bag.
"Aye, Thanks you lot, drop all this stuff onto my ministry account, let them pickup the tab eh? Except the cloaks, they go on my personal account, much as I would like to bill them to the ministry I don't think it would go down too well." Harry grinned as he picked up the briefcase and locked hands with Daz and Andy before heading out with Lee, Fred and George.
"Oh, message from Molly for you two" Harry commented as they hopped into the elevator and headed for the ground floor, "Ron says that the family dinner has been moved ahead to the twenty second, not the twenty ninth."
"We know,"
"Mum owled us in case Ron forgot to pass the message,"
"Same, least it only took him two weeks to remember," All four chuckled at that, "I won't be attending unless we get lucky, but Ginny should be free. I think Bill and Fleur couldn't attend the twenty ninth."
"Yeah, we spoke to Bill the other week, he's being shipped out to Brazil on the twenty fourth."
"They've discovered some odd tombs in the jungle, Amazon tribes I think he said,"
"But that might have just been what we heard"
"Quite true, we were discussing scantily clad Amazon witches for the rest of the afternoon."
"In any case Bill's been assigned there and Fleur is going in her Medi-Witch duties to fix whatever breaks him while he's breaking in."
"When you speak to him next wish him luck for me won't you?" Harry asked.
"Of course mate,"
"Oh, before we go, Neville says there's another set of Auror Badges they'd like to send over for you to charm when you have some time." Harry added as they walked to the door.
"Righto, we'll owl them and let them know as soon as we can." George called back. Harry and Hermione waved as they walked out the door and back onto Diagon Alley.
"Good haul I'd say," Harry commented.
"It should certainly come in useful on the mission. It's a pity we can't drop this stuff off in the room since we're here, but it would look too suspicious for a pair of Auror's to pop into the room that our covers have been renting for the past two days." She spoke in hushed tones as they walked through the Alley heading for the Leaky Cauldron.
"Aye," Harry smiled but seemed a bit distracted, he then turned to her and flashed a charming grin "Want to stop for a drink? We'll just say we were at the twins for a bit longer."
"Harry, we shouldn't, we're on duty."
"Come on, nothing alcoholic, just one quick drink. It's a hot day," he pleaded, "Please Mione?"
She sighed and nodded as they entered the cauldron. They both greeted Tom and slipped into a quiet alcove near the door and ordered a pair of butterbeers. Harry slipped into a much cooler attitude as the drinks were brought over and he sipped slowly. Mione was giving him odd looks as she took her first sip.
"Something wrong Harry? You're practically freezing that bottle, you never act like this unless we're about to start on a rai …" Hermione paused, her eyes opening and her hand going for her wand. The door burst open and four masked men burst into the Cauldron.
"THIS IS A HOLD UP, NO-ONE TOUCH YOUR WANDS AND NO-ONE GETS HURT." The first one bellowed.
"You boys have awful timing you know," Tom commented casually, still wiping the mug he was working on as they entered, "You should just leave now."
"SHUT UP OLD MAN, GET THE GOLD OUT, QUICK!" the second yelled, his wand quivering as he pointed it at Tom.
Harry gave Hermione a knowing smile and continued with his drink, ignoring the scene playing out beside them. Hermione gave him a scowl and stood from her chair and raised her wand and flipped out her badge.
"This is Auror Granger, you are ordered to toss your wands over here, put your hands behind your heads and drop to your knees. You are all under arrest."
Three of the four quickly rounded on Hermione, wands pointed at her. The first still had his leveled at Tom.
"Aww crap its Granger" the second whispered, "I don't suppose we could just walk out of here and pretend this never happened?"
"Shut up idiot, we're getting the gold and walking out of here unless she wants some innocents hurt, she's good but she can't take us all by herself." The first growled, "Now old man, get the gold and you Miss Granger can throw your wand over here or we start hexing."
Hermione cast a glance at the chair Harry was sitting in to find it vacant, she sighed and wondered if he was testing her.
"Magical Law Enforcement is already on its way. You're in enough trouble as it is, you don't want to add even more charges do you?" Hermione called, "You two have barely done anything, I'm sure we can reduce the charges if you surrender now" she added to the silent wizards."
"Hey, show this bitch we mean business." The first barked at the silent two, they each picked random bar patrons and fired off curses. With lightning quick reflexes Hermione shot off two nullifying spells to cancel them and raised a shield as three curses were then fired at her.
"Come on Harry, I've shown I can handle them now? Help me!" she growled as she took the blows, her shield holding strong and absorbing rather than deflecting. When nothing happened she quickly dived to one side and sent a strong stunner to fell one of the robbers before bringing up the shield again swiftly.
"She's holding her ground but she's stuck, hand over the gold or I'll stun you and take it myself" the first growled.
"I know," Tom smirked and put down the glass and picked up another, "But ask yourself two questions, firstly, do Aurors ever patrol alone? And secondly, would I be this cocky if I wasn't sure I was safe? I told you that you picked a really bad time."
"Oh that is it" fumed the first, "Stupify!" he bellowed.
As the wand tip glowed red Harry grabbed his arm and twisted it quickly, pointing the tip back at the robber's chest and letting him stun himself. Harry's disillusion charm shimmering away as the man fell to the floor unconscious. Harry hopped up onto the barstool and continued to sip on his drink.
"Aren't you going to help her?" Tom asked curiously.
"I've got her back if she needs it, but doesn't look like she does to me, what do you think?" Harry replied with a smile as he bound up the leader with magical chains.
Hermione was keeping up with the pair now that the third was floored, her shield blocking all the curses that they shot and nulling the ones they tried to fire at civilians. She fired a few stunners at them but they brought up shields though the strength of her spells unbalanced them with each hit. She even managed to nullify her own stuns when they deflected towards someone else.
Eventually she slipped another stun through the haphazard defenses and easily disarmed the last remaining robber, moving over to bind them and take their wands. She was fuming when she took the leader's wand and turned on Harry right as four Magical Law Enforcement officers burst in through the rear door.
"Little late aren't we?" Hermione rounded on them, venting her anger for Harry on them, "Had to deal with all of them ourselves, what will your head think, Aurors having to deal with a petty robbery, what took you so long?" she hissed.
She rounded back on Harry who had summoned her drink and offered it to her. She snatched it and swallowed quickly while the officers stuttered a bit. The squad leader coming to claim the wands from Hermione cautiously. Her anger already drained she contented herself with scowling at Harry while he paid, counting the seconds until she got him alone to tell him off herself.
"Suppose you're wondering why I didn't help," Harry commented casually while Tom went to get their change, "While you held their attention I slipped around and disabled the leader, believing you easily capable of holding yourself against three teenagers. Once he was nullified as a threat I noticed you had already incapacitated one of your targets and were holding steady so surmised that you could handle the other two. I didn't want to quickly stun the last two and steal credit for your work."
"Well, while that was very noble of you, had you stood with me at the beginning then I'm sure they would have surrendered without a fight." She was still angry, letting it build and preparing to unleash it upon him the moment they Floo'ed back to the Auror Headquarters.
"Quite possibly, the three underlings would have almost definitely folded, they almost did with just you, but their leader held them steady and might have tipped the scales either way." Harry commented, "Plus, had I stopped the holdup tomorrow there would be a Daily Prophet report that I single handedly stopped a Leaky Cauldron robbery. Adding to my already over inflated reputation, this way it adds a little to yours and next time maybe the three will fold because it's Hermione Granger they're facing."
He offered her a smile as they stepped into the fireplace ready to return to the office. Hermione sulking as once again Harry defused her anger, robbing her of her chance to yell at him.
Author Note again! :- Didn't want to add a spoiler by including this at the top. I'm gladly accepting ideas for other tricks for the watches, email me or PM me on Kindred Spirit, username is Ranis there too. There's only five spots remaining and I'm not going to add anything too powerful, if Harry's invincible it makes the story a little duller IMO. Include in any messages you send me your username so you get due credit, also if you like add in a character name I can slip into the story somewhere as a small prize. I'll remember all the suggestions if it takes a while for the tricks to be added to the watches.