Half a Life Without You

Chapter 1: "My Heart is Broken"

Book Description: Everly never expected to wake up at Hogwarts. One moment she's living an ordinary life, and the next she's face-to-face with Albus Dumbledore in a world she thought was just fiction. But Hogwarts is very real, and so is the mysterious soul bond that seems to have drawn her there.

Thrown into a whirlwind of magic, Everly embarks on dangerous adventures of self-discovery, makes unexpected friendships, and fights for survival in a world filled with spells and secrets. Along the way, she discovers love and uncovers a shocking truth about her identity—a secret that could change everything.

With humor, heart, and a touch of danger, Everly must learn to harness her powers while navigating the twists and turns of a magical reality far more complicated than she ever imagined.

Author Note: I don't own the Harry Potter characters—just Everly! Hope you enjoy the adventure! I'm having a lot of fun creating this new take on the Harry Potter universe.


EVERLY POV:

My body trembles as tears blur the words on the page, despite my attempts to blink them away. They fall anyway, soaking the book resting on my lap. One drop smudges the ink beneath my thumb… Always.

A wave of sadness washes over me, tugging at my chest. It's absurd, I know—grieving for someone who doesn't exist, whose life and death are mere fiction. But logic doesn't soften the ache. I'm mourning him all the same.

With a shaky breath, I close the book, gently this time, as if slamming it might erase the comfort it has brought me over the years. "Why?" I whisper, the word falling into the silence around me. There's no one to answer—because there's no real loss. Just a story.

I press my palms to my face, wiping away the tears as I try to pull myself back to reality. It's irrational, this grief. Yet, it lingers, and I let it, clutching the book to my chest like an old friend. I know I'll return to these pages, again and again, even if it means feeling this strange sorrow each time.

Time slips away—minutes, hours? I lose track, staring into the flickering flames of the fireplace. The grief feels too real, too heavy for something that never truly existed. He never had a chance at happiness, only loss and sacrifice. It's unfair.

Tears prick my eyes again, and I curl into myself on the floor, whispering into the darkness, "I wish I could've given him happiness, shown him love." A small part of me believes that, if I had been there, maybe—just maybe—I could've stopped it. But exhaustion pulls me under, and sleep drags me into oblivion.

When I wake, my body is stiff, and my head pounds. I blink against the sunlight spilling in from a nearby window. My breath catches as I take in my surroundings. This isn't my living room. I'm lying in a bed, in a large room with high ceilings and rows of neatly made beds. Panic bubbles in my chest. "A hospital? Am I sick? Dying?"

I clutch the blankets, trying to ground myself in reality, but it's slipping from my grasp.

A loud bang startles me, and I turn to see a pair of ornate doors swing open. A man in long, deep purple robes steps into the room, his eyes twinkling behind familiar moon-shaped glasses.

No. This can't be real.

His voice is calm, almost gentle. "Ah, my dear, you are neither asleep nor crazy. You've simply found yourself in a rather peculiar situation." He takes another step forward, and my mind spins as he smiles. "Allow me to introduce myself—though I suspect you already know—Albus Dumbledore, at your service. And may I ask for your name?"

Still in shock, I stammer, "E-Everly Quinn, sir."

"Miss Everly Quinn, the honor is mine." His eyes twinkle with amusement. "Do you have any idea how you came to be here?"

I shake my head, too stunned to form words. He nods, as if he expected my silence. "Your sudden appearance was quite unusual. Hogwarts is well-protected—no one arrives here without reason or consequence."

My thoughts race, struggling to keep up. Is this real? Am I dreaming? I blink at him, bewildered. "I'm at Hogwarts... talking to Albus Dumbledore?" The words slip out, but something in his expression changes before I even speak. He's looking at me like he knows exactly what's going through my mind.

That look. It's too knowing. Almost like he heard me think it.

A chill runs down my spine. Wait… could he actually be reading my thoughts?

I narrow my eyes at him, suspicion growing. "Are you... reading my mind?" I ask, the disbelief creeping into my voice.

His smile widens. "A touch of legilimency, yes. I needed to ensure there was no threat."

"I'm not a threat," I mutter, feeling a surge of indignation. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't go poking around in my head."

He raises a hand in a gesture of peace. "I only looked for a moment. And now I see there's something far more curious at play here."

He pulls up a chair and sits beside me, his expression turning serious. "Everly, have you ever heard of soulmates?"

I nod cautiously. "Sure, but… why?"

"Because there's something even deeper than that—a soul bond." His voice softens, drawing me in. "It's a connection that transcends time, space, even dimensions. A soul, when displaced, calls out for where it truly belongs. And sometimes, if the bond is strong enough—whether tied to a person, place, or even a memory—it can pull a soul back to where it should be."

I stare at him, struggling to comprehend. "So, this… bond pulled me here? To Hogwarts?"

"That's one possibility," he says thoughtfully. "A soul bond is powerful. It may have connected you to this world long before you were even aware of it."

"But how?" I ask, my voice cracking with confusion. "How can I be connected to a world I thought wasn't real?"

Dumbledore's eyes soften. "The bond could be tied to many things—perhaps to someone here, or even to this place itself. Strong emotions, deep connections… they can act like an anchor, drawing you back, even across dimensions. But the specifics? I can't say for certain. That is something you may need to discover for yourself."

I frown, feeling both fascinated and overwhelmed. "So, you're saying I've always been connected to this world? That I'm... supposed to be here?"

"That is my theory," he replies gently. "Though the exact nature of how and why remains a mystery. What I do know is that the bond brought you here for a reason, even if it's not immediately clear."

I sigh, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "I just want to understand why this is happening."

"Understanding comes in time," Dumbledore says softly. "For now, focus on what you do know: you are here, in a place that resonates with your soul. Let that guide you."

Before I can respond, the sound of brisk footsteps echoes through the room. Madame Pomfrey bursts in, her voice sharp with disapproval. "Albus! You should have told me she was awake," she scolds, crossing the room in swift, efficient strides. Dumbledore, ever amused, merely gives her a mild smile as she fusses over me.

Madame Pomfrey grabs my face, peering closely into my eyes. "Hmmm... color is good, eyes focused and alert," she mutters, more to herself than to me. After a moment, she releases my face and straightens up, a bright smile breaking through her stern expression. "Well, you look quite good for a girl who's been asleep for three days."

"What?!" I sit up, incredulous. "Three days?!"

I try to swing my legs out of the bed, but before I can stand, Madame Pomfrey presses a firm hand to my shoulder, gently pushing me back down. "Now, now, none of that," she says firmly. "You still need monitoring for a few more days, young lady."

I open my mouth to protest, but before I can argue, she reaches for a small vial on the bedside table and holds it out to me. "Take this," she instructs, her tone leaving no room for refusal. "It will help with your recovery."

I glance at Dumbledore, who has already pushed his chair back into the corner, clearly unbothered by the interruption. His eyes twinkle with quiet amusement. "We will talk more once you're properly rested," he says softly, as if we hadn't just been discussing soul bonds and legilimency.

I sigh and take the potion from Madame Pomfrey, swallowing it down in one quick gulp. It tastes bitter, and I grimace. But as soon as I set the vial back on the table, a wave of drowsiness sweeps over me, my limbs growing heavy and sluggish.

As my eyes begin to close, I hear Madame Pomfrey clucking softly. "Rest, dear. We'll figure everything out in time."

I barely manage a nod before sleep pulls me under once more, my mind still buzzing with the impossible reality of where I am.