I put down my book and sighed. It was probably the millionth time I've read it, but I still seem to forget the happy ending almost everybody gets. I can't breathe normally until I read those last three words: ''All was well.'
It was a normal Sunday afternoon. The sun was shining outside, but the wind made it rather chilly. My friends were all outside playing some sort of ball game, but since I don't like the cold I decided to stay in. I heard my phone ring in the other room and got up to see who it was.
''Charlotte.'' I said.
''Are you sure you don't want to come down and play a bit?'' I heard a voice say. It was Simon, a nice guy I met a couple of weeks ago. He was in my desk research class this semester, and we seem to get along fairly well.
''Alright, but only because I just finished my book. You're lucky. I'll come down in a bit.'' I said quickly.
Right, I forgot to mention I had this huge crush on him, and I'd do anything to be in his company right now. Even face this cold.
''Awesome!'' he said excited. ''We'll see you in a bit.''
I hung up and walked to my closet. How the hell was I supposed to find an outfit that was warm, comfy and what would say: ''Look at me, I'm your future wife.''?
Twenty minutes and several outfits later I finally walked down the field to my friends. Maria, my best friend, jogged my way. Everything she does seems to have some sort of elegance, it's driving me crazy. Whenever I'm with her I feel like I'm some huge elephant, doing a parade, and she's some kind of exotic dancer.
''You know you don't have to play, do you?'' she whispered to me as she gave me a hug.
''I want to play.'' I whispered back, returning the embrace.
''You know you don't want to play, you just want to see him play.'' Maria laughed.
I blushed and smiled too. ''OK, you've got me, but there's nothing wrong with that, now is it?''
Maria just smiled.
''Hi guys.'' I said as I came closer to the group.
''Hi!'' they replied. Rory, just like Maria, hugged me too.
''Haven't seen you in a while.'' he said as he let go. I nodded.
''Yeah, it's been too long.''
''I brought some friends.'' Rory said as he pointed to two guys talking to Simon. My heart started beating faster, and I nearly missed Rory telling me about his friends.
''The tall one is Thomas, and the one with the blond hair is Jasper.''
The two guys turned and waved. I smiled and waved back. ''They seem nice.'' I told Rory.
Rory smiled. ''They are, but we all know you've got your mind set on somebody else.''
I poked Rory and stuck out my tongue.
''Oh, very clever comeback you've got there!'' he teased.
''Is he bothering you?'' Simon said as he walked over to us.
''Yes, very much actually.'' I replied.
Rory put up his hands in defense. ''Alright, alright, I'll go then. It's your loss.''
Simon and I laughed while Rory walked away.
''Nutter, he is.'' I said.
''I wouldn't know, but he does seem a bit crazy.''
I nodded and turned my attention to Maria, who was about to explain the rules of the game.
An hour later it was time for a little break. It was actually a fun game; but honestly I had no idea what I was doing half of the time. I also had no idea who was winning.
''You're doing great, Lotte!'' Maria told me as she got a bottle of water out of her bag.
''You've got to be kidding, right? I never catch the ball, and I still don't get what we're playing.''
Maria shrugged. ''Neither do I, but it's good fun, eh?''
We laughed, but it lasted shortly. My attention got drawn to a couple standing only a few meters away from Maria and me.
Maria saw it too and gasped. After that everything went very quickly.
I started walking to Simon and the blond girl, I heard someone screaming my name, I felt something hitting my head and after that everything went black.
I finally open my eyes and am sure I must be having a nightmare. I probably had a bit too much to drink the other night and that's why my head is pounding.
That still doesn't explain why I see the sky instead of the ceiling of my bedroom. I try to get up but someone pushes me down.
''I think it's better if you'll keep down a bit longer. You're not bleeding, but it could still have a concussion.'' I hear a voice say. ''What's your name?''
''Charlotte, Lotte, whatever. Do you have an aspirin?'' I ask while closing my eyes again. The sky is a bit too bright for my liking.
''Oh, you're the girl from the Quibbler? You're Luna's friend!'' he said.
''Sur- What?'' I sat up. My mouth dropped at what I saw. I was sitting at the foot of a huge castle.
There was a guy kneeling next to me.
''Who are you? And where am I?'' I asked him.
He made a pained face. ''Ouch, you've must have hit your head quite hard there. That's the second time this week those bloody bludgers escaped and hit someone outside the field. I'd better report it to Professor McGonagall.''
My eyes grew wide, I was starting to get a bit angry now. This must be a prank, oh god, sometimes I really hate my friends.
''Listen to me, Mister. Either you tell me right now where the hell I am, or I swear to God, I'm going to-''
He cut me off. ''Ok, ok, relax. I am Neville Longbottom, herbology professor at Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry. You're on Hogwarts' grounds.'' Neville smiled.
And once again everything went black.