A Paradox on Paper

She ended up in an alternate reality because there was no way that he would be reading a book. He was like fire, and books were ice. He had even scoffed at the very idea of reading a book. Yet here he was, cooped up in his room, reading the book that she had read days before…

Alright, rewind. Going back to the start of summer, she started reading a book series. It doesn't matter what series it is, yet. She got the full set from a muggle bookshop not too far from her house. Her brother was nosy; she had caught him staring at her several times as she read. When she looked up in annoyance, he asked the same question every time: "Are you still reading that?"

She never responded but always nodded her head. Then, as if on cue, he asked the second question he always asked.

"How far along?"

She sighed before flipping the book to show him that she was about a quarter through it. He looked down sheepishly and walked away, heading up to his own room. This would go on for about three weeks.

The summer continued, and she got through her first book before starting on her second almost immediately after. She started to go into a trance-like phase, where she focused only on the contents of the book instead of reality. On several occasions, she ignored her mother's calls or her brother's stupid questions. She breezed through her second book and started on its third.

By the end of the next week, she had finished the third book and was starting the fourth. She started living more and more in her room, reading, completely obsessed with this series she was reading. However, that all changed one day. She was about halfway through the book when her mother knocked on her door.

"Can we talk? Cuz it seems like we never see each other and don't you want to spend some time with us as it's summer?"

She rolled her eyes at her mother and frowned. "Can't you see I'm reading? I thought you liked it when I read?"

Her mother's gaze softened, and she let out a long sigh before nodding her head with a sense of finality before leaving her room. However, she left a parting message to her. "Remember, reading books is fine, but in all of that, can you remember to spend some time with us before you head off to school again?"

"If I do, can you let me read in peace?"

"Is that all you want? To read?"

"Yes, why is that so hard to understand, Mom?"

Her mom looked like she wanted to reply, but shook it off and walked away. Despite her desire to keep reading, she relented and closed her book to head outside to play in the sun.

That's when he walked in. Seeing that she went outside, he silently rummaged around her room until he found what he wanted. Once he grabbed it, he smiled and left the room, heading back to his own and locking the door shut.

When she returned to her room after dinner, she was annoyed. Now, her brother wasn't leaving his room. It had annoyed her mom to bits because she was more worried about him than spending time with her. She grabbed her book and continued reading from where she left off.

That's when she realized that something was wrong. The first book in her series was missing! She thought quickly about how it could have gone missing and within minutes she had the only logical, yet illogical conclusion ever. Her brother was doing something that he swore to god he hated. He was reading a book.

She sprinted out of her room and straight down the hall to her brother's room. She opened the door, and her jaw dropped. There he was, cooped up in the corner of his room, reading her book. She could barely believe it.

"Hugo?"

"Rose?"

Hugo jumped so violently the book flew out of his hand. The siblings locked eyes for several seconds, one of shock and one of fear.

"You read books now?" Rose asked, shocked.

"Yeah, you have a problem with that?" Hugo replied bitterly.

"No! It's just… when? And why?"

"Why does it matter?"

Rose wanted to yell that he hated books, but that seemed like a child's answer.

"It matters because for the past six years, you've hated anything that you had to read and then suddenly, boom! You like books now? What changed?"

"I wanted to learn about my Godfather, what about you? Why did you start reading them?"

Rose took a deep breath. "This J.K. Rowling lady is an animagus, I swear! She got all the private details of his life! And how did she learn of his, Mom and Dad's adventures!?"

Hugo shrugged. "I don't know, but the muggles like the series, and I like it, so what's wrong with it?"

"I have no clue, but she was in multiple places at once. Do you think she used a time turner?" Rose speculated and started pacing.

"Don't be crazy! Uncle Harry must have let her interview him! It is about him, after all; did you read the title of the book?" Hugo waved the book around, and Harry Potter glimmered against the light.

"I guess it will be a mystery then, but what is a mystery is what are we going to do now?" Rose contemplated as she kept pacing.

"First of all, stop pacing, and second, I guess we finish reading the story to find out what happens?" Hugo reasoned.

"Sure. Find me when you finish the book?" Rose asked.

"Sure. Can I read the next one then?"

"Only if you promise that you won't come into my room again to take something of mine?" She stuck her hand out, and Hugo smiled and shook it. The two kids went back to their rooms and continued reading their books.

By the end of the summer, as the two readied to return to Hogwarts for their fourth and second year respectively, Rose finished the final book. Hugo was annoyed at her for about a week, but she kept her mouth shut and let him continue reading. Finally, on the day before they left for school, Hugo gave a shout of joy. Rose rushed to his room.

"Hugo?"

"It's done! I finished it! Can you believe that ending?" Hugo gushed.

Rose raised an eyebrow. "Did you read the epilogue?"

Hugo looked confused. "Epilogue?"

Rose nodded. She was going to let Hugo experience the shock that J.K. Rowling predicted the future perfectly for 2019 in 2007.

Maybe reading books was good for some and bad for others after all…

The Houses Competition Year 10

House: Ravenclaw

Class: Ancient Runes

Category: Standard

Word Count: 1,127

Prompts: [Restriction] - Dialogue must always end in a question, [Action] - Reading a book

Disclaimer: Post-Hogwarts Era generation