"Are you reading that again?"
Avery sighed, sliding her bookmark into The Prisoner of Azkaban as she looked up at her coworker. "Yes. And?" she replied.
"I just think it's…" He paused and shifted, clearly uncomfortable now.
"Weird," Avery finished. "You think it's weird."
"Well...yeah, I guess," Josh responded shrugging.
"Weird because you don't read?" she snapped. This was because, of course, Avery dealt with this often.
She was part of a security team at an amusement park on weekends. She and her two teammates would monitor part of the park, switching between wandering around and sitting in a security booth. The job, of course, usually led to slow shifts. Which meant Avery often read, while keeping an eye on the security cameras.
In the year she had been with the company, she had read a lot. And this was her third time reading part or all of the Harry Potter Series. A few people had commented on it, and she was just tired of it. People commented on it at school, at work, and at home.
"Weird because I enjoy specific books? So I read them when I want to?" Avery continued. "Weird because I'm not mindlessly watching the cameras?"
"Woah, calm down," Josh said, taking a slight step back.
Avery clenched her jaw, gripping her book. "I am calm. You're the one being an ass because I'm reading a book."
"Ave, just calm-"
She stood quickly, trying not to glare at her coworker. "Don't call me that."
He stopped and held up his hands, making Avery close her eyes and took a slow, deep breath. "I'm...I'm going on my break." She moved out of the office and down the trail, trying to take deep breaths.
She stopped against the employee entrance, leaning against the wall of the building. "...god, I wish magic was real…"
Avery stood from against the wall then, intent on going to her car to relax, when the world spun around her.
Stumbling, Avery fell onto the ground, her book falling beside her. "What the-" She blinked, trying to clear her head, but the spinning only grew worse, and slowly her vision started to turn black.
Feeling her body hit the floor, Avery's vision turned completely black, and she fell into darkness, hoping she would wake at one point.
Feeling her sense return, Avery slowly opened her eyes. To her surprise, she wasn't outside, or even in a hospital. Instead, Avery saw a stone ceiling. She could feel a worn wooden floor beneath her and slowly sat up. Looking around, she saw she was in an office, bookcases lining the walls and strange items on tables around her.
Strangely, the office felt familiar to her.
Slowly, Avery stood and said, "Hello?"
"Hello there, dear."
Avery spun to see an older man behind her, in the doorway to the office. He had robes on, and a long silver beard trailing over the robes. "W-who are you?" she asked, stuttering in confusion. He felt familiar, just as the room did. Where did she know him? Why? "Where am I?"
The man looked over his half-moon glasses, folding his hands behind his back. "...where do you think you are?"
"I...I don't know," she muttered. "I…" Avery spun around, feeling panic grip her. "I passed out at work and…"
"What's your name?" the man asked calmly, stepping forward.
She looked to him, taking a shaky breath. "Avery...Avery Thomas."
He nodded slowly. "Miss Thomas...you are at Hogwarts." Avery's jaw dropped, but the man continued. "And I am Albus Dumbledore."
A/N: And welcome to a new series! I hope you guys are intrigued, I have a lot of plans. ;)
Chapter one is coming soon!
-Kay Erin