Chapter Nine: Wanted: Babysitter.

When the rest of their group appeared Gwen drew them off to the side.

"We need to find a babysitter…" she told them.

"Put an ad in the Prophet." Ron suggested.

"No," Hermione shook her head, "we'd have to screen candidates and there's no way we could be absolutely sure someone's not a Death Eater or something worse…"

"The American papers?" Ben offered, "Betcha there aren't many Death Eaters over there."

"We can't break their masquerade though," Julie reminded him, "and there's no way that all this could be alien tech or aliens…Besides, that would make them move into a different country and hemisphere…Give up their lives, jobs…"

"I have an idea!" Ginny exclaimed suddenly, grabbing Gwen and Kevin and dragging them out of Gryffindor Tower.

They first went to another tower where Ginny had to puzzle out a riddle in order to gain entrance and entered, leaving her two friends waiting. She returned with a blond girl roughly her age and introduced them, "Luna, meet Gwen Tennyson and Kevin Levin. Guys, meet Luna Lovegood."

"Hey."

"Hello."

Luna surveyed the two Americans with silvery eyes, before declaring, "Aaahhh, I see, you're of them."

"Them?" Gwen asked curiously.

"The givers of magic," Luna spoke simply, cheerfully, "the progenitors of witches and wizards…Although I highly doubt you're the originals, the Aadi…but it's an honor to meet you all the same…"

"Okay," Ginny said brightly, "Luna here is gonna help us talk to the Puffs; she's a Ravenclaw by the way. C'mon, c'mon, curfew's in an hour…"

They hurried through the school with Luna leading and down into the basement, "Dungeons and a basement, they went all out…"

They came to the portrait of an axe-man in mid swing on a piece of lumber. He saw them and paused, saying happily, "Luna and Ginny! How are you?"

"Good Aekley," Ginny replied as Luna nodded, "Hey, can we talk to Ced?"

"Of course! Let me go get him…" Aekley set down his axe and left his frame before returning, smiling and opening.

A young man, roughly sixteen, came out, grinning amicably. He pulled the two girls into a hug, saying, "I was wondering when I'd see ya."

"We've a favor to ask Cedric," Luna said seriously.

"Ask away…"

Luna and Ginny introduced the Plumbers to him, explaining the situation.

"Sure thing." He agreed, "We'll be happy to help."

"Puffs are the best babysitters," Ginny and Luna confirmed.

Gwen and Kevin thanked him profusely and they set up a schedule.

"No, no way," Cedric shook his head when they offered the various sitters salaries, "we don't accept pay inside Hogwarts or Hogsmeade."

"You sure?" Kevin asked, stunned.

"Yep. Just set things up with the elves and we'll be good…" Cedric smiled.

"Great! Thank you so very much!"

"C'mon you two, we've to get down to the kitchens…"

"See you in the morn." Cedric waved them away.

The next morning, after breakfast, Harry and Draco met Cedric.

"Hey guys," Cedric knelt before them outside the Great Hall, with the Gryffindor group standing by, "I'm Cedric and me and some of my friends are going to watch you while your…friends are in class. Deal?"

"Okay." Harry nodded, shifting his day pack.

"Yes sir." Draco whispered.

"No," Cedric spoke firmly yet gently, "I'm not a sir; I'm just Cedric to you. Ced if you want. Not 'sir'. Deal?"

"Deal." The boys agreed.

"Good, let's go back to my common room." Cedric stood up slowly.

"Thank you so much," Gwen said before she turned to her boys, "Behave okay? We're just a call away."

"We will." Harry promised.

She pulled them into a tight hug, planted a kiss on each head and then the groups parted ways.

Cedric scooped the boys up and carried them down into the basement, Evander following closely, coming to Aekley.

"Blimey!" Aekley exclaimed, mid-swing. He put down his axe to crouch and gander at the children, "Is that really Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy?"

"Yeah," Cedric nodded, "ants…"

Aekley swung open, allowing them to enter Hufflepuff common room. It was quite like that of Gryffindor, except that instead of red and gold decorations there were yellow and black. Instead of lion emblems there were badger insignias.

"Welcome to Hufflepuff guys," Cedric announced proudly.