Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the content herewith that you may find in a Harry Potter Book.

A/N Okay, I totally reposted EVERY CHAPTER. It's the same storyline, but i added stuff, took stuff out... I think it's better than it was. I hope you do too! Thanks! R&R please and thanks ;)


Chapter one – A Harmless Favor

Ron Weasley wasn't enjoying himself as his sixth year at Hogwarts crept by. The only time he wasn't doing homework was Quidditch practice, which he only liked once in a while, and when he was in class, of course. The only thing that made this year bearable was that he did everything with his best friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

Sure, Hermione finished her homework before they did and made elf hats, but she would read over their work and fix their mistakes. Her pickiness was an advantage, although it annoyed Ron when she'd overreact when he mislabeled a potion or mispronounced an incantation, but all in all, she was really helpful. Harry didn't really help out as much but he made it fun for Ron, being as social as he was.

In the middle of October, after a Quidditch practice with a very violent Bludger, Ron's sister came up to him.

"Ron? Can you do me – well my friend – a favor?" Ginny asked. She was twisting her hands nervously as though worried he might decline.

"Well, what's the favor? What friend?" Ron questioned, eyeing her suspiciously. He wondered what could be so important that she needed to ask him.

"Um, you know Michael Corner? We're still friends – but that's all!" she added at the look on Ron's face, "It's not him, exactly... It's his cousin in Ravenclaw – Avila – she's on the Quidditch team and got hurt." She paused. "Please accept, Ron!"

Ron looked surprised at this second attempt of asking him. "Just tell me what I'd have to do – Remember, I'm in sixth year! I have a lot of work to do!"

"Oh, yea you're in sixth year!" she said sarcastically, "YOU don't have OWLs!! We're in fifth year – we're busy too! We can't spare as much time as you can running after a five-year-old who –"

"A five-year-old? That's what I have to do? Take care of a five-year-old?" Ron interrupted – Ginny was like her mother, who had to be stopped in mid-rant.

"Yea, can you? Please? You don't need to buy me anything for Christmas!" she added, trying to guarantee a yes. "If you don't, I-"

"Alright, alright! I'll do it," he didn't want to hear her threat, "on one condition. You have to buy me a good Christmas present this year." He smiled. He was of course going to help her from the beginning, but he can always get some profit out of it!

"Oh yea!! Thank you so much, Ron!! I'll get Mum to make you a different colored jumper this year, how's that? Okay, her name's Amari. She really wants to make sure Avila's okay and watch her Quidditch matches. Plus, she's muggle-born and she's really miserable being surrounded by muggles. She's coming in two days." Ginny said. Her face completely lit up when he agreed. "Maybe Hermione and Harry can help you."

"No prob, Gin. I've gotta go have a bath, I'll see you Saturday, at the latest. By the way, have you ever met this kid?" Ron added.

"Nope. See you later Ron!" she said, heading off toward Griffindor Tower.

"Hey, Hermione," Ron greeted, thinking of the best way to tell her about Amari without pushing another of her many buttons. He found her in the library after his bath.

"Hello, Ronald," she said back, putting her book down, looking bothered and angry. Then she smiled, "I'm just kidding! You should have seen the look on your face!" she said, laughing. It was true: he looked at her as if she was a giant spider and he was the prey.

Ron sighed, "You wanna help me with something Saturday?" he asked, giving her plenty of time for her to answer him, or question him. He knew he had to give her enough time to think it all through to keep her calm – no rushing girls!

"Sure, I have plenty of time, just... what are we going to be doing?" Hermione asked, interested and curious.

"Well it's not only Saturday, it starts Saturday. It's a long-term project, I suppose..." Ron said, carefully saying each word. When Hermione looked at him expectantly, giving him a look that says 'continue'. "Well Ginny's friend's cousin – Avila Corner in Ravenclaw – her sister's coming here to watch her Quidditch matches and to make sure her injury's okay. So, I agreed to take care of her so all the fifth years that might have been involved can do their OWLs."

"Wow, that's so thoughtful of you!" Hermione said admiringly. "Sure, I'll help! How old is she?"

"Um... I don't remember..." Ron said truthfully. He really didn't remember! He racked his brains "I really don't know!"

Hermione laughed, "That's okay! I'm sure she's not too young!" Little did she know, Amari would be considered tooyoung to her. She had baby-sat before, but just her eight-year-old cousins. Boy, was she going to be surprised! "Come on, let's go find Harry... Maybe he can help out," she suggested.

Ron nodded and said, "he probably had his own bath already, we can probably find him somewhere in Griffindor tower doing homework or something."

"Most likely. I hope he's starting Slughorn's essay – it's due tomorrow. I don't know how the "Half-Blood Prince" is going to help him this time," Hermione scowled. She didn't approve of Harry's new potions' book or of her being outdone in potions for the first time.

"You have to admit, he has helped. The Prince –" Ron started.

"How do you even know that this person is a guy?" Hermione interrupted.

Ron rolled his eyes, "Princes aren't girls!"

They kept arguing until they reached the Fat Lady's portrait.

"Hinkypunk Lantern" Ron said, cutting Hermione off.

"Sorry, it's been changed," replied the Fat Lady.

"What? When?" Ron gasped, "I'm a Prefect! Why don't I get informed?"

"Because, Ronald, you we're playing Quidditch. It's 'Coffee Stain'." Hermione glared at him.

They both stepped into the now open portrait hole. Sure enough, Harry was sitting in his armchair by the fire, homework propped up on his knees. He didn't notice them entering. Ron put his pointer over his mouth to make sure Hermione was quiet. He tiptoed behind Harry and grabbed his shoulders with a loud "BOO!"

Harry jumped so much that Crookshanks, who was sitting by Harry's feet, ran under the couch and Harry's homework dropped off his lap and all over the floor. Ron was on the ground, holding his sides, laughing and Hermione was smiling.

"H-hey, Ron" Harry said, catching his breath and clutching his heart.

"You should have seen the look on your face, Harry! It was priceless!" Ron said, after recovering from his laughing fit.

"Yes, it was funny, Harry..." Hermione said, giggling just a little.

"We're going to have a guest in two days – want to help us take care of her?" Ron asked, far less cautious than with Hermione.

"Sure, who is it?" Harry asked.

"Ginny's cousin's... no… Ginny's friend's sister... um..." Ron tried.

Hermione laughed. "Ginny's friend's cousin's sister. Ginny's friend Michael Corner's cousin Avila's little sister, Amari."

"Show off... But yea, I agreed when Ginny asked me to do it. Want to help us?" Ron said, gesturing to Hermione and himself.

"Just because I'm able to remember even the simplest things that you can't doesn't make me a show off! I just pay attention to detail! Of course, you're not-"

"Okay! I get it! You're better than I am at that, satisfied?" Ron said, annoyed at her continuous ranting. "But yea, Harry she's just a little girl – no problem, right?"

"Right – there's nothing we can't handle!" Harry said, laughing. "I just finished Slughorn's Acromantula essay, can you look it over, Hermione?"

Hermione took his copy. "You can get Acromantula venom from the brain, too – not only from the mouth. The eyes can also be crushed and the hair can be used in wands – Ollivander doesn't use it, but people engaged in the Dark Arts might. Other than that, it's all okay." She said after reading it and handing it back.

"Thanks, Mione. Ron, how old is this girl, anyway?" the question was lingering in his head since Ron mentioned her.

"I dunno… I seriously don't remember!" Ron said again, angry with himself for forgetting. "Let's ask Ginny if we see her before Saturday."

"Ask me what?" Ginny just walked in, towel wrapped around her head and bathrobe secure on her newly showered body.

"How old is the little girl we're going to baby-sit?" Hermione asked before the boys had the chance to.

"Amari? She's five. Ron knows, why didn't he tell you?" Ginny asked, looking at Ron angrily.

"I… forgot." The redheaded boy said, ears matching his hair. Hermione looked at her, jaw dropped.

"Five?" Hermione breathed, "I thought she'd be like eight or something, but five? That's way too young! How can her parents let her come down here? Five! That's completely insane!"

"Hermione, don't worry, Avila's really nice – I'm sure Amari's fine!" Ginny reassured her panicky friend.

Hermione was in a bad mood the next day – so much so that she didn't answer any questions in class or even reread Ron and Harry's homework. The boys didn't understand why – she didn't have to baby-sit!


A/N Hope you liked it! And btw, dracos-soccerstar, you're not the only one who wants someone to update!! R&R :)