Part of Your World| D.M., M.R., C.D., H.P., F.W., G.W., and N.L.

Click. Darkness enshrouded me as I sunk into my mattress. I stared at the empty ceiling and let my thoughts engulf me. Embarrassing things I'd done for the day, past regrets, etc. I firmly shut my eyes, trying to push the thoughts back out. I let out a blissful sigh as my brain began to empty and my eyelids grew heavy. Then everything finally went dark as sleep welcomed me with open arms.

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

I ignored the footsteps steadily approaching me.

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

I shivered as a chill ran down my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

Clunk. Clunk.

I drew a short breath as I no longer heard the steps. They'd stopped.

"I know you're awake. Well, not really, but I know you are conscious in this 'dream'. Get up. We need to have a serious talk."

I rose and gasped at the person I saw.

"Hikari?! But...that's not possible. You can't visit me, you're fictional. I created you."

A scoff. "Wow, you're not even excited to see me? A years ago you'd be elated if one of your characters came to life. Remember how much you wanted to lucid dream and talk to the Harry Potter characters? Your characters?

"Don't tell me you've forgotten about us. You wrote a story for yourself, a fan fic, because you knew you would never be able to be a part of that world."

"I remember," I breathed.

"If you remember, then why are you making us suffer? The world you built, the world you're building has been on hold. You're right, you are our creator. But you are also our story teller. Without your words, we will only exist in your head. Pick up the pen. Grab your computer. Continue our story!"

I looked down, my face heating up and my stomach sinking. The world became blurry as tears pricked at the edges of my glassy eyes.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm scared."

A finger gently touched my chin and lifted it up. Hikari stared into my soul with pleading eyes.

"What for? There are people who want to read your story. You've been gone for a year and yet people continue to read and comment. You've already started to make a mark. Why not finish? And I'm sure, somewhere out there, maybe one of your original readers is waiting for your return."

My lip quivered as warmth slid down my cheek.

"Hikari, I've already caused these people enough pain with my inconsistent schedule. I'm growing up and getting busier and busier— I won't be able to consistently upload, which will annoy people! And I constantly get writer's block. I was trying so hard to advertise myself as an author who stuck to the books even though I barely remember them! My writing started to just become the actual books rewritten with a few changes here and there. What if people are upset because I'm not sticking to the books?"

Hikari let out a frustrated sigh.

"You say you're growing up, but have you still not yet learned that it is impossible to make everyone happy. Stop worrying about that. Think about who you will make happy, not who you won't. If you're not book accurate, that's okay. This is fan fiction. This is your interpretation, your words, your imagination. Also, you are causing these people more pain by being silent and not giving them anything. Something is always better than nothing."

I sniffed in the snot that had flowed out my nose.

"Will they really be okay?"

She sighed and pulled me in for a tight, warm embrace. Her arms wrapped around me and I gripped at her shoulders.

"Remember, you are a writer. A writer's only obligation is to show the world their imagination."

I looked up and gazed at Hikari's sad smile. I sobbed and gripped her tighter.

"I wish you were real."

"I never will be, but you can at least show me off to the world," she said as she faded to golden dust in my fingertips.

I gasped as I sprung awake and was met by blinding light flooding through my window and illuminating my room. I scrambled out of bed and rushed over to my messy desk with piles of notebooks, papers, and all other kinds of junk.

"Where is it...where is— aha!" I exclaimed joyfully as I unburied my laptop from the madness.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I logged in and navigated my mouse to Google Docs. I clicked on the document I had been looking for and my heart's pace began to quicken. A grin lit up on my face as I stared at the blinking line and the blank page underneath the words "Chapter 41".

My fingers trembled as I pressed them onto the keys and then familiarity took hold and I finally began to write again.

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Chapter 41 of "Part of Your World" will be (hopefully) released on July 31, also known to many Potterheads as the birthday of Harry Potter himself.

I look forward to showing the world my imagination once more.

Thank you for your kindness and patience.

Sincerely,

Your author,

Hikari Ryu