George sat at the table in the kitchen of the Burrow eating the piece of pie his mother had given him for a snack. She was happy to feed him anything these days even if it was pie right after breakfast. Lee and Angelina had the shop today because he was going to do some experimenting with Harry. They had plans for a very special, very specific, very targeted range of new products. He smothered the evil laugh that wanted to escape with another bite of pie. The pie however could not stop the grin that graced his face.

A year ago no one thought he would ever smile or laugh again. A year ago he had lost Fred. That had been sheer torture but thank merlin for Harry. He had saved them all by killing Voldemort, then he saved George from evil siblings and finally he saved George from himself. The same siblings, plus one, had tried to get Harry's inheritance but he had stopped them from getting that too. The two of them had been able to get some public revenge but George's sense of justice had not been served. The products they were going to start now would serve that part of him. Unfortunately Harry was sticking to Arthurs rules so still no public nudity.

A commotion from the stairs brought his head around to see who was coming down. It was Ron and Hermione was following him down the stairs. Both were dressed in their best business clothes as they had several times in the last two weeks. George fought to keep the smirk off his face as his mother began to speak to them.

"Where are you two interviewing today?"

"The Ministry." Ron answered.

The two of them had put in a number of applications for jobs at the Ministry for Magic as well as several other places. Percy had told them he'd pull some strings and get them some good interviews at the Ministry. They were hoping today would turn out well. Soon the two of them would have jobs and then they could move out.

"Which departments?" Molly smiled, no one had the heart to tell her what the four had done to George so she didn't hold any ill will towards them. Although she had yelled at them a lot for the law suit they had hit Harry with right after the battle.

"Department of Magical Law and Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures are my major hits but I've also got interviews with the secretary pool and Arthur in the Misuse department." Hermione brushed some speck from her outfit and didn't see the disapproving frown Molly gave her when she dismissed Arthur as unimportant.

To allow his mother to frown at the girl longer George spoke up, "What about you Ron?"

"Games and sports department is first, then the Aurors and finally the archive." Ron shrugged giving his in order of interview rather than importance as Hermione had done, "I can't get one with Dad, relatives can't work in the same department any longer. They're trying to prevent the favoritism that has happened in the past."

"That's too bad." Molly patted his shoulder, "Good luck."

"Thank you Molly." Hermione said as she moved off to the floo to leave.

"Thanks mum." Ron hugged her before following after Hermione.

After they left George piped up, "I don't remember you giving her permission to call you by your name."

"I didn't." the woman frowned, "She has become very presumptuous. I wonder what Ronnie sees in her."

'After the law suit he sees her as someone who will still talk to him.' George thought to himself, 'I'll be surprised if they find jobs at all.' Out loud he changed the subject, "I'm going to Harry's place today. We're doing some brainstorming for new products."

"Is that Greengrass girl still around?" she asked the frown was now focused on him.

"She's going to be around for a while." George defended the girl, "She's as smart as Hermione but doesn't shove it down your throat. She's nice and she watches out for Harry. You know how several people are after Harry to help them start businesses of their own?"

"I read the interview so he should have expected that." Molly nodded.

"They did." George grinned, "Everything has to go through Daphne first. She investigates everyone and brings him a synopsis of the person and their business idea. You remember Pete Smythe?"

"That crooked… man." Molly said, "They couldn't prove he supported You Know Who but we all know he did."

"That's the one. He applied for business help and Daphne told Harry the guy was a loser and to toss him. Mind you she said it in a much kinder way than that but the meaning was the same." George smiled when his mother nodded in approval, "This is what she does for Harry. She watches his back and keeps the leeches away. Blood purity means nothing at all to her."

"But she's Slytherin." Molly still wasn't won over.

"She volunteered to give a vow on her magic to be loyal to Harry and help his business to grow." George added the final touch, "Harry wasn't going to let her but Neville explained that it would give her security in her job as well as let him trust her." When his mother still looked a bit worried he added, "She handles his calendar and has scheduled him to come to the Burrow for dinner Saturday evening. She scheduled it when I told her he was invited to dinner every night if he wanted."

"Why did she do that?" Molly asked, "Isn't Saturday when Ron and Hermione are going on a date?"

"She scheduled it so that Harry could visit with those who care about him, without the pain the others cause." George grinned triumphantly when Molly smiled at the thought put into the planning, "She really is good for him."

"Fine, is she coming with him?" Molly immediately began to plan the dinner.

"No, she has made other plans. She didn't want to presume she was invited too." George took his last bite of pie.

"You tell her next time she is to come too." Molly instructed, "That boy needs more people like her around."

"Just her I'd imagine." George grinned and then left before Molly could ask what he meant, "Harry my boy, how are you today?" he asked after his short ride through the floo.

"Spiffing really old chap and yourself?" Harry was leaning against the door frame of the room George had arrived in.

"Marvelous, thank you ever so much." He replied but turned at Daphne's chuckle, "Ah, the Lady of the Realm I hope your day is also going splendid."

"It is thank you George." She shook her head in amusement at the verbal match, "You are free all day Harry. I'm heading off for a day of shopping with my mother."

"Muggle or magic?" Harry asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Muggle so you can't send a patrous to come get me if you get into any trouble." She pointed at him, "I will not have my day of shopping in Paris ruined by you."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Harry put a hand on his heart, "I will handle anything that comes up."

"Fat chance that." She giggled as she grabbed her purse and headed for the floo, "I'll be back late or tomorrow."

"If you aren't coming back tonight send me word so I don't worry." Harry called. She waved her acceptance just before she stepped into the flames.

"Me thinks he has it bad." George tilted his head at Harry.

"Has what?" Harry's brow wrinkled in confusion.

"You'll figure it out eventually." George shrugged, "How did you talk her into living with you?"

"Actually she just kind of moved into one of the extra rooms." Harry shrugged, "She was here so late those first few nights it was just easier to stay. I mean it's not like we're living together like a couple or anything."

"Right." He grinned and changed to another touchy subject, "When are you going to tell her about your alter ego?"

"George!" Harry huffed, "What is with the twenty questions? Can we just get to work here?"

"Sure, sure whatever." He grinned, "Where are we working?"

"Brainstorming in here, with tea, then later we'll move to the potions lab." Harry told him, "The one here not the big lab."

"Dang I was looking forward to playing with the big boy toys." George collapsed into his favorite chair.

"I have big boy toys." Harry argued sitting nearby.

"I didn't argue that. You just won't let me play with yours, the lab does." George answered, "On to business. Phase two: make life interesting."

"What was phase one's title?" Harry wondered.

"It was public humility." George replied, "Now we get private, secret, horribly embarrassing humility and revenge."

"No public nudity right?" Harry confirmed, "I really don't want to see any of them without clothes. The thought gives me nightmares."

"Right, no public nudity." George surrendered the point, "In fact I want to hit them in a way that they don't know they're being pranked. And embarrassing enough they won't talk about it."

"Explain." Harry leaned forward and put it elbows on his knees and rested his chin on his folded hands.

"Ok take for instance today. The top two are out having interviews at the Ministry. What if we made them repeat everything they said twice and make it so they don't realize they're doing it." George stated, "Then no one will hire them and they'll have no idea why."

"Funny, but I don't think that's needed." Harry grinned mischievously, "Kingsley came by last night. Several department heads are asking if they have to take the top student when they interview. He asked who they wanted to exclude and to a person none of them want to hire Hermione. They're saying she's a security risk."

"Security risk?" George was dumbfounded, "What does that mean?"

"It means they don't think she can keep her mouth shut. They feel the same about Ron but he isn't the top candidate so they have no worries." Harry replied, "He said since they turned on me the heads think they'll turn on anyone. Sell secrets to the highest bidder and all that. The Ministry won't be hiring them. It doesn't look good for the rest of Britain either."

"Well that spoils our fun." George huffed, "But you are right, that is rather funny. Ok then, I have an idea for Percy that just might interest you."

"Spill."

"You know he was put on probation not long ago for nosing into a department he didn't belong in." Harry nodded so George continued, "I thought we'd see if we can make his nosiness go to an all new level."

"Insatiable curiosity." Harry hummed, "Ok, but don't let him find any answers. He could look the answer in the face and he won't recognize it."

"An alarm for Kingsley, when his curiosity leads him to where he doesn't belong the Minister is there to catch him red handed." George added.

"Do we need to decide what he'll be curious about?" Harry asked.

"That would make notifying Kingsley much easier." George agreed, "Set him to be nosy about muggle stuff and as soon as he steps foot into Dad's section without Dad there BAM smack down."

"Me thinks that should be the final straw. The last place he gets caught." Harry grinned.

"Sometimes it's scary how much we think alike." George laughed, "You must be channeling Fred."

"Where else should he go exploring?" Harry asked, "I'd suggest staying away from law enforcement and the department of mysteries oh, and Kingsley's office too."

"He works for magical cooperation, we can't put him in trouble there or it will end to quickly too." George said thoughtfully.

"Maintenance." Harry suggested, "Nothing too important. People will wonder why he even cares."

"Good one. The secretary pool and the archives would work too. Herms and Ronnikins each have interviews with them today so we should start with one of them." George grinned.

"How many do we need?" Harry asked.

"I don't know how many warnings they get but I suppose we can find out from Kingsley. There are a few other departments that aren't too security conscious." He stated, "First we have to actually get this wheeze figured out. How do we make him go all nosy Nellie?"

"Compulsion charms but they're detectable and traceable." Harry offered.

The two of them discussed possibilities until Neville arrived for lunch, "Hey guys."

"Neville." They both chimed, "We have a question for you."

"I don't know the answer." He stated before they could ask, "I'm not sure I want to be involved in whatever this is. And I need to get back after lunch so Hannah doesn't kill me for leaving her in charge."

"We're planning phase two for POB." George crooned.

"POB?"

"Pranks on betrayers." George explained.

"Oh, well then that's different. Let me tell Hannah that Harry needs me all afternoon for phase two." He turned back to the floo.

"Now that we have the full team assembled we shall begin." George rubbed his hands together and cackled evilly. After a quick explanation to Neville they were on their way.

"It just so happens that there is a plant that we use in pepper up potion that might do that." Neville grinned, "In that potion we add a few other things to calm down the tendency to be overly nosy but without those it should have the effect you want."

"Insatiable curiosity along with the energy to follow through." George stood and bowed to Neville.

"We need an effective delivery method." Harry stated later after they had the plan nailed down.

"Can you make your cold drops last longer?" Neville asked.

"Yes, why?" George didn't know where he was going.

"Give him a cold drop that lasts a few days." Neville started.

"Then make him some 'cough drops' to help with his cold." Harry grinned evilly.

"I don't think that potion is affected by the ingredients we need to make him nosy." Neville shrugged, "He'll never suspect your help to him is also helping you. You can give it as a peace offering."

"Neville when did you become so Slytherin?" George cackled, "I love it when you go green like that."

"Last year was so weird with us all together." Neville tilted his head, "I kind of found a kindred spirit in Daphne."

"They have a similar dry wit." Harry shook his head, "They say stuff with a straight face that just kills me."

"No you just have a weird sense of humor." Neville pointed at him.

"I've been infected by George." Harry put his hands up in a surrender motion, "It's not my fault, really."

"And I will infect everyone else with this too. Waaahahahahah." George used his mad scientist voice, "It was my secret plan all along."

"So with those plans made on to the next?" Harry asked laughing at George

"I don't have any thoughts for the other three." Neville stated.

"Ginny was just misguided." Harry began, "So just two."

"I think I'm with Daph on this one." George interrupted, "I know how devious my sister can be. She could get Fred and I blamed for things she did."

"But your reputation preceded you." Harry tried.

"I'm with George." Neville sighed, "You didn't see her during the year before last."

"So you think she's still playing me for a fool." Harry bowed his head, "What about you George, do you think she wanted you dead?"

"Yes." He answered after a few moments, "The reason I say that is because she seems to not care about me now. She never asks how I'm doing or any of the other brothers for that matter. She sails into the room, tells us all of her wonderful plans, tells us how wonderful her life is, then she leaves without another thought."

"George…" Harry was still unsure.

"Wait for dinner Saturday evening." He said, "She told mum she'd be there for dinner."

"Fine, if she acts like that then I'm in." Harry agreed, "Let's concentrate on the other two."

By late afternoon they still didn't have anything set about Ron, Hermione and Ginny. They did, however, spend time in the lab working on the drops for Percy. Dinner rolled around and Neville left to spend the evening with Hannah. Harry and George continued on until Kreacher entered the lab.

"Master, you have a guest." He said and left with a pop.

"Let's go see who it is and have dinner." Harry put the notes down as George put a stasis charm on the cauldron. The two headed towards the main part of the house and found Luna waiting in the drawing room, "Luna?"

"Hello Harry, George." She smiled serenely, "How are you both?"

"Fine, how are you?" Harry asked giving her a quick hug, "Last I heard you were with your father in the Falkland Islands looking for… something."

"Nerfhearders." She reminded him, "We didn't find any and after two weeks Daddy decided he needed to rest. He only went so I wouldn't go alone. His health isn't that good since his stay in Azkaban."

"He is right that you shouldn't go by yourself." George pointed out, "You could get hurt and no one would be able to help you."

"I'm sorry." Harry pulled his friend into another longer hug.

"It's ok, that's what happens in life." She sighed and the three of them headed into the dining room, "I just wish he hadn't turned the Quibbler over to me. I don't think I can do it justice. I don't like being a publisher."

The three of them ate dinner and retired back to the drawing room to visit. They hadn't been sat long when Harry sat up straighter in his chair, "Luna, would you sell me the Quibbler?"

"You want to publish a magazine now?" George questioned.

"No." he grinned, "But I do want to find if there are any new or lost creatures. Who knows maybe the crumpled horned snorkack has medicinal properties that will heal warts or something."

"Oh Harry that would be lovely." Luna smiled, "Maybe we could still put out the magazine as a newsletter that covers all the wonderful things your company is doing."

"I think we start with just adding a division called the Quibbler." Harry looked thoughtful, "I want to investigate publishing first. You can head the division and send people out to find…"

"No, but I would love to sign on as a researcher though." She smiled, "Maybe when I get married and have kids I can move to that spot."

"Ok, you can research but I'm going to need your help setting up the department and hiring the personnel." He gave in to her, "How much do you want?"

"I'll have to talk to Daddy but I don't think he will want anything." She stood to leave but stopped and gave him a hug first, "Thank you for helping me achieve my dream Harry."

"Anytime Luna." He returned the hug and didn't notice the fire flaring.

"Hello Luna." A female voice grabbed their attention.

"Hello Daphne." The blond pulled away from Harry and met her half way and hugged her, "I'm so glad we'll be coworkers now. By all."