Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns all the Harry Potter characters, although I created Julianne Michaelson and any other characters not part of the original Harry Potter 'cast'.

Chapter 8: Beaten

"It's so amazing here," said Juli as she and Harry were gliding high above the Quidditch field on his broom. Harry and Ron decided that it would be best if Juli rode along with one of them to get a feel for it, and the other would fly below them to catch her if she fell. "How do you concentrate on the game when you're flying? I don't think I could ever do it. It's too beautiful up here, looking over the grounds, and everything..." she trailed off as Harry slowly descended to the field.

"It's not hard when everyone's yelling and screaming and you have to catch the snitch," Harry said, helping her off. "You know how loud it gets," he said, and Ron laughed.

"Yeah, I think I lost a bit of my hearing after that first game last year," he said. "Though that might have been because of the Slytherins," Ron added, his face dropping.

"Oh, come off it, Ron, they're just Slytherins," said Juli. "I don't know how everyone can sit in the stands just screaming the whole time," she said, shaking her head, trying to her hair back into a ponytail.

"What do you mean, aren't you there with them?" asked Harry.

"No, not usually," both Harry and Ron's faces dropped when she said this. "I don't know much about Quidditch and it's a nice time to work in the library alone, that's all," she smiled. "Can I fly on my own this time, Harry? I think I can do it," she added, still smiling.

"Sure, I guess," said Harry, still flabbergasted by her statement about not watching the Quidditch matches. "Just be careful, it's getting a bit windy." He handed her his broom and she quickly took off, flying high and winding around the goal posts.

"She's pretty good, don't you think?" said Ron as they watched her. "She'd probably be a good chaser, eh?"

"Ron, we don't need chasers, Ginny, Katie and Stephanie are going to do a great job. What we need are beaters ..." he said, trailing off, looking up to where Juli was flying.

"What, a girl beater? I don't think she'll be strong enough," argued Ron. "We've already got two; Kirke and Sloper aren't that bad."

"Yeah, right," said Harry sarcastically. "Didn't Kirke say he was only going to play for a year, though?" Harry watched as Juli dived down sharply and pulled out a few meters away from them.

"Harry, she can't! There's no way she's strong enough to hit the Bludgers hard enough to do any damage, anyway."

"Woah," said Juli as she stepped off of the broom. "I need to get me one of these," she joked as she handed Harry his broom. "It's fantastic," she smiled. "What can't I do, now, Ron?"

"What?" he said, taken aback by her sudden statement.

"He says you aren't strong enough to be a beater," Harry said seriously. "But I think we should see who's right." Harry looked over towards the cupboard next to the stands that were near them. "Maybe we ought to make a bet?" Harry grinned.

"Alright, mate, if she hits it over-" Ron looked around. "If she hits it past the goal posts then you win, and if she doesn't, I do. Fair?"

"All right. Juli, er ... would you go get the box with the Quidditch equipment in it?" Harry asked, and then winked at her. "They're just over there in the cupboard." He pointed towards two large wooden doors with brass handles with two brooms engraved onto the doors.

"Okay," she said looking over towards the place where Harry pointed. "If I can't find it, I'll yell for you. I'll be right back," she said, rolling her eyes. "Boys."

"Okay, what do we have to do if we lose?" asked Ron.

"I don't know," said Harry, and then had a sudden idea. "But er ... okay. You have to ask Hermione to the dance if she can do it."

"What!" Ron almost screamed. "I can't ask her ... what if she freaks out or something? I mean--"

"You don't want to go alone do you? It's either you ask her to the dance or you have to kiss her," Harry raised his eyebrows at Ron, knowing he wouldn't refuse.

"Alright, fine. But if you lose, you'll have to ask Juli," Ron suggested. "You know you won't have the gut otherwise, mate."

"You could be a little more creative, Ron," Harry said. He'd already been planning to ask Juli, and thought it might be fun to do something a little more exciting.

"Don't try to get out of it now, Har. No going back?"

"Alright. Guess Juli found the Quidditch stuff alright," he grinned as Juli came out of the equipment cupboard, carrying a large crate with the Hogwarts crest on it. She walked up to the two boys, nearly starting to sweat, and put the large, extremely heavy crate at their feet.

"You know," she said, panting. She leaned down with her hands on her knees, which were slightly bent, looking at the ground. "At the orphanage, the boys help the girls when they're carrying heavy things," she smiled and looked up at the two boys, who both looked extremely guilty.

"Sorry," said Ron. "Ready to give Beating a go?"

.:-----:.

Harry elbowed Ron in the side as Hermione approached them at breakfast the next day. Juli tried to keep a straight face as Hermione sat down.

"So, how did the flying lesson go?" Hermione asked.

"It went great. Harry and Ron even taught me how to play Quidditch," Juli said, smiling. "Ron says I'm a pretty good Beater, right Ron?"

"Yeah, yeah," he said, mumbling while stuffing his mouth with as much food as he could possibly fit.

"Oh, yeah, Harry, didn't you have to talk with Professor Lipton today?" Juli asked.

"Hmm? Oh yeah," he said, after Juli made exaggerated movements towards Ron and then Hermione. Hermione had her back turned and didn't see but Ron almost violently protested. "I'd forgotten."

"Well…?"

"I guess I should go, then?" Hermione turned around and nodded goodbye while Ron looked as though he was going to lose the entire meal he'd just swallowed.

"I'll, er… go with you," Juli said, looking from Hermione to Ron. "I've got to stop at Dumbledore's office on the way."

"But Professor Dumbledore's office is…" Ron interjected, obviously uncomfortable with the situation.

"See you guys later," Juli said and winked at Ron as she and Harry walked out of the Great Hall, bursting into laughter as they reached the Quidditch pitch.