Hoping in the Unknown

Disclaimer: Not mine at all.

"Mackenzie! There's a ring for you, dear!"

"Okay!" I called, getting up off my bed. I pulled my dark, red hair up into a messy, small ponytail on top of my head, picking up my phone. "Mackenzie's room, how may I help you?"

"Hello

"Hello darling," my aunt, J.K said.

Yeah, I know, it's very hard to believe that J.K. Rowling, the J.K Rowling was my aunt, but it's true. In fact, she was my favorite (only) Aunt and I was her favorite (only) niece and all because we shared everything. The same likes and dislikes, same dreams, and even the same birthday. I was more like her than my parents. She spoiled me because of it.

"Hullo, Auntie," I said, flopping down onto my cushioned chair. "How are you?"

"Just fine, peach. Happy Sixteenth to you by the way."

I smiled, looking around my room, which was currently cluttered with cards, balloons, and presents. "Almost officially 'of age' by Harry Potter standards. Speaking of, I absolutely adored the seventh book. Real good job, Auntie."

"I'm glad you thinks so. I've sent your present to you, by the way. It should have gotten there today."

"It did." I looked to the large and heavy box that I had been about to open when the phone rang. "I was just about to open it."

"Well go on. I want to hear the excitement when you do."

I slid the box over to my chair, ripping the tape with a pair of scissors from my desk. "This thing is huge. What's in it?"

"Open it and see of course."

Setting the scissors down, I opened the box, gasping almost immediately. "Oh Auntie! You didn't!"

"I did", she said with a laugh. "And I comply understand if you need to hang up so you can begin reading with unadulterated gladness."

Setting the box on the ground, I reached inn and pulled out the first of the original manuscripts of Harry Potter.

All seven books were there, staring up at me with gold letters, bound and tied with a dark, red ribbon, same color as my hair.

"This -- this is amazing!" I said. "Are these—?"

"Just for you, peach. I hope you like them."

"Of course I do! But don't you need these?"

My aunt gave me a mysterious kind of laugh. "I'm sure you'll enjoy them more than I will."

"Oh, thank you, Auntie J. I'm going to get right to reading. You are amazing. The best aunt a girl could ever wish for."

"Enjoy peach."

She hung up and I followed, reaching in the book to pull out the Half-Blood Prince, my favorite among them all, despite Dumbledore death… I was still in shock that she had done this and I was even more surprised to find the inscription she had written on the inside cover.

To A Wonderful Girl Whose Imagination Will Always Surpass Mine. Happy Birthday, Peach.

I picked up my own copy of the six book, putting it back on the shelf before hopping onto my bed with the manuscript, skipping pages until I got to where I had left off, where Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all just boarding the Hogwarts.

I could almost hear the whistle of the train and feel the heat of its engine. . . .

"Mar. . . . Marlow. . . . Marlow are you even listening to me?"

I continued to read, to enthralled despite the fact that someone was obviously speaking. Most likely they weren't talking to me seeing as how that clearly wasn't my name.

The book was snatched from my hands and I looked up, about to cry out an indignant 'Hey!' when I stopped. . . .

Harry Potter, or at least how I suppose I imagined Harry Potter to look, held my book in his hands, staring at me through his glasses, looking amused, black hair brushing across an almost visible scar as he shook his head. "Always," he muttered.

Looking around the cabin I found Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, who was reading the Quibbler (though not upside down).

I looked to 'Harry', saying, "Where are we?"

"On the Hogwart's Express, obviously, but you were so busy reading, you didn't even notice." He handed me back the book and I looked at the cover.

The Life of Mackenzie Andrews.

Opening it, I saw a picture of my room as it was before I 'left it', birthday stuff all over and the box of manuscripts right next to it.

That's it.

I was off Harry Potter for life, I swore. Nothing should make you hallucinate like this.

I would wake up in a minute, obviously . . . I mean, I should. . . . Harry and Neville were staring at me concerned and it was all getting unnerving. I decided to pinch myself to hurry things along.

Nothing happened except for the shock of pain that traveled through my arm.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Standing from my seat, I pulled open the compartment door, peeking out to see the corridor, doors on either side of me.

I wasn't dreaming.

So maybe I was hallucinating? Auntie J always said that I had a big imagination. Looking down, I saw I was wearing the traditional Hogwarts uniform and robe, a Gryffindor tie hanging loosely around my neck.

Were imaginations this big?

"Mar are you okay?" Harry asked.

I sat back down, looking out the window to watch the scenery flash by.

I was definitely not okay.

I was in Harry Potter.

A/N: So new one. Jumped right in there didn't I? What do you think? Thanks for reading, I'll see you later.