When Harry Met Julia

Chapter Three

The month of August was a happy blur of Quidditch and homemade foods; this is how it usually was at the Weasley's. As school was approaching, Hermione came to the Weasley's as well. Her parents were overbooked with dental patients and couldn't take her to Diagon Alley or King's Cross Station. A few days after Hermione came, everyone got his or her school letters, but Harry got an extra one that read:

Dear Mr. Potter, I am pleased to inform you that you are to be the new Gryffindor house Quidditch Captain. At the beginning of the term you will need to pick three new chasers and a new keeper (Madam Hooch will assist you with the try-outs). I hope to see you when school begins on September 1st.

Sincerely,

Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor house Minerva McGonagall

"Ron, Ron!" Harry said, clutching the letter. " I-I-I'm Quidditch Captain!"

"Really? That's great!" exclaimed Ron.

"What's great?" Hermione asked as Julia and she entered the room. Hermione and Julia had become good friends over the past few days, probably Julia had been the first in her class as well.

"Harry just made Quidditch Captain!" Ron said excitedly.

"That's wonderful!" Hermione shouted.

"Way cool!" Julia added smiling.

"Who's going to be on your Quidditch team?" she continued.

"Fred and George are the Beaters, but we do need new chasers and a keeper," Harry said informatively.

"Oh really? I think I'm might try out. Quidditch was so much fun at my school," Julia said dreamily," I probably won't make it, but that would be fun."

"You never know," Harry said wondering who would try out.

"Ron, are you going to try-out?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I'm not sure," he began

"You should, you're a pretty good keeper you know," Julia interrupted.

Ron just shrugged and quickly changed the subject.

Chapter Four

Finally it was time to visit Diagon Alley. Harry had missed last year's trip due to the Quidditch World Cup. This time they were driving; they couldn't take any risks with Floo Powder because it might be tampered with. The ride to the Leaky Cauldron was shorter than Harry had expected it to be, but a smile crossed his face as the familiar Inn and Pub came into view.

"What is the Leaky Cauldron?" Julia asked.

"It is how you get into Diagon Alley," Ron explained.

As the car stopped the boot magically popped open and they all grabbed their trunks.

" 'Ello Arthur," said Tom the Innkeeper. " I suspect you will want your usual rooms."

"Yes that would be splendid," Mr. Weasley replied.

"I'll take your things then," Tom said winking at Harry. With a wave of his wand the trunks flew over the floor down a corridor to the left.

" Alright then let's get started," Mr. Weasley said.

The first stop was Grinngotts Wizarding Bank to get some spending money. Harry, Hermione, and Julia took a different cart to get to their own vaults. After Grinngotts they shopped for their usual school supplies.

"Why do we need a crystal ball if we don't plan on taking Divination?" Julia asked.

" I don't know, I don't think we ever used it otherwise," said Ron ponderingly.

"I never thought of that before," said Harry, but they didn't get to dwell on it long. The words Quality Quidditch Supply flashed over a stone window. "Let's go in there," Julia said before Harry could ask. (Creepy).

" I'll be at the joke shop," Ron said hurriedly.

"That's sounds good," Hermione said leaving with Ron.

" Something's up with him," Julia said as they entered the store.

" I've noticed too," Harry said. " He's usually so in to Quidditch."

" I think I know why," Julia said reluctantly.

"Why?" Harry asked.

" Isn't it obvious?" Julia asked, starting to sound like Hermione, " He's jealous."

" Why should he be jealous?" Harry asked.

" You know Ron as well as I do. Why would he be jealous? Because his best friend Harry Potter- the famous Harry Potter- who always gets everything he wants is now Quidditch Captain."

" Ron's my best friend, but he needs to realize that my life isn't like that."

" I know that, but Ron..." Julia continued seeing the expression on Harry's face. " I'll bet Hermione is talking to him about it right now. I mean please what would Hermione be doing in a joke shop?"

Harry laughed but he was still worried about Ron.

"Ron you need to talk to him," Hermione and Ron had just walked in. Julia smiled and gave an I-told-you-so-look to Harry and then suddenly seemed interested some Filibuster Fireworks.

"Hello," Harry said.

"Oh, hi," Ron said as Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. ("Ouch!")

" Ron, why don't you want to try out for keeper?" Harry asked.

" I don't know with you being Captain and everything..."

" If it bothers you that much, I'll just tell McGonagall to pick somebody else..."

" NO!" Ron said, "Just imagine what it would be like if Fred or George were captain than you wouldn't get anything done."

" Well then what do you want me to do Ron? You need to at least try out! You never know the way things might turn out. I promise I won't be overshadowing you", Harry explained.

" I just feel that sometimes I don't have a purpose," Ron whispered.

" You will always have a purpose. I mean who would be the best wizard chess player this side of the hemisphere? And who would make up those ridiculous predictions with me in Professor Trelawney's class?"

" I get it Harry... Can we go buy some quality Quidditch supplies, I really wanted to check out those attachable compasses."

Latter that night they sat in the Leaky Cauldron and discussed various things as the table emptied.

"What was your old school like," Harry asked Julia before thinking it through.

"Ah... the Blue Star Guild. It was more like a public school with teams that we had classes with."

"Sounds almost like Hogwarts," Harry said.

"Not really. We only had one Quidditch team that competed with surrounding schools. Like Merlin's, Salem...."

"That sounds far more competitive," Harry thought out loud.

"I guess," she said sadly. Harry could tell that she missed her old school. He tried to change the subject, but Julia interjected.

"Thank you Harry for listening to me," Julia said, "I need to be home sick every once in a while."