When Harry Met Julia

Teaser

Prologue

It was a cold night in Arlington, Texas where a teenage girl named Julia got a shiver in her spine. Where were her parents? It was 11:35pm and they promised to be home well before ten. Julia took a long drink from a glass of water, but a second later the glass was in shards on the ground. She saw a sudden green flash of light in her mind's eye and she knew her parents were dead.

Half way around the world a boy named Harry Potter awoke with a start. He tried to remember the dream he just had, but all he remembered was a flash of green light. After a few seconds he dismissed the dream as another reenactment of his own parents' death.

Chapter One

Harry fumbled in the dark for his glasses on the nightstand. It was the usual time for his owl, Hedwig, to return from her nightly hunt. Right on time, Hedwig flew in the window with a freshly caught mouse. Harry stoked Hedwig as Dumbledore's familiar snow owl flew in only a few seconds later. He had been writing to Dumbledore all summer asking when it would be okay to visit his friend Ron. This time, he hoped, wouldn't be another rejection. The owl happily joined Hedwig in her cage as Harry opened the letter:

Dear Harry,

It is my pleasure to announce that it is now safe to sojourn at the Weasley residence. I have already informed them of your coming. They will pick you up in an armed ministry car at eleven o'clock in the morning on July 31^st. You shall need all your things for school. I will see you when term begins September 1^st.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore, Merlin 1^st Class

For the rest of the day Harry couldn't stop smiling. In just a matter of days he would be leaving the Dursleys' to visit Ron and on his own Birthday! Harry couldn't stand the Dursleys, this year in particular. Dudley, his cousin, got his driver's permit this summer. It was extremely scary. Uncle Vernon bought Dudley a nice car and gave Harry nasty looks as if daring him to ask why he didn't get one. This didn't upset Harry too much because wizards don't need to drive, but Harry didn't dare say this. The Dursleys' detested anything that has to do with his kind.

Aunt Petunia was acting more demanding than usual. She had Harry tend to the garden, clean the house, and even cook dinner one night a week. The worst part was that Harry would have to do these things several times, because she was never satisfied. Just one more day Harry told himself as she made him clean Dudley's toilet for the fifth time.

Finally the day of Harry's departure arrived. With the help of Ron and Mr. Weasley he loaded his trunk into the boot of the car. To Harry's utter disappointment Ron showed no sign that he remembered Harry's birthday. The conversation on the ride to the burrow was mostly Mr. Weasley firing questions about Muggle life towards Harry.

"Now tell me again, Harry, how does an airplane stay up in the air without magic?"

"Err...." Harry didn't have time to answer the last question because they had arrived at the Burrow.

Chapter Two

"Oh, look we've arrived," said Mr. Weasley briskly as he got Harry's trunk out of the boot. Relived Harry started towards the door. Right as Harry reached for the handle the door sprung open with a loud "Surprise!" After that word Harry's mind went blank. Standing in front of him was the whole Weasley family including a girl he didn't recognize. Harry slowly drifted back to the present and smiled.

"And you thought I forgot your birthday," Ron said smiling devilishly.

"Yah, you really had me going," Harry said in a contented daze. The decorations were beautiful. A sign right in front of him read Happy Birthday Harry and Julia!

"Julia?" he read out loud.

"Oh," said Ron, "I forgot to introduce you to Julia." Harry's eyes again feel on the unknown girl with long, curly red hair.

"This is Julia," Ron said, "She's my cousin on me dad's side."

"Nice to meet you," she said amiably. All Harry could do was nod. He was still flabbergasted at the idea his first birthday party.

"It's Julia's Birthday too. Did you know that neither of you have ever had a Birthday Party before?" Ron said.

"Poor deprived little children," George muttered as they proceeded into the cramped living room.

"What to do first?" Mrs. Weasley said, "We could play whizzing wizzbes, chess, Quidditch..."

"Quidditch? I love Quidditch! I was a chaser on the varsity team at my old school." Julia said starting to trail off as if remembering something painful.

To lighten the mood, Harry added quickly, "Yes- yes, let's play Quidditch."

Mr. Weasley levitated two garbage cans 20 feet in the air on either side of the yard while Harry, Ron, Julia, Fred, George, and Ginny got their brooms. After playing a little three on three, they all came inside for a vast lunch cooked by Mrs. Weasley.

When all of their stomachs had been loaded with a fifth helping of meat loaf, Julia challenged Ron to a game of wizard's chess. The game lasted longer than Harry had expected. Usually, Ron won within the first minute, or so. In the end, Julia won with a resounding, "Check and mate." Ron looked utterly bewildered.

"You forgot who taught you, young apprentice," Julia added with a smile.

After a dragged out discussion over last year's Quidditch World Cup they all filled into their rooms for the night. For the first time Harry had a truly wonderful birthday.