The Tribrid and Her Prison {Book One - Complete}

There's No Place Like Home

Weeks passed without another incident, but Hope was still wary. She kept an eye on everyone around her, ensuring she would notice if someone was trying to spike more cups with purple petals.

Fortunately for Hope, she realized she had a keen sense of smell and could distinguish differences in herbs. She kept her senses open when people were near, just in case any of them happened to have any wolfsbane on their person.

While nothing happened, Newt and Albus were especially vigilant as well, especially during mealtimes.

By the time Halloween approached, she'd felt some of her guard slip just a little. Mainly because when she was around Newt or Albus, she felt safe. Like she didn't need to always be on high alert. They shared the task of being watchful, helping her to relax.

Now, Hope sat cross-legged in the grass outside of Wingedbacks pen. He was still acting very strange, more aggressive than he ever had been before. He avoided people at all costs - Newt had to go as far as enchanting his pen so that he couldn't charge at any students passing by.

"We'll take him somewhere." Newt broke the early morning silence and sat beside her in the grass.

Biting her lip, she looked over at him and nodded. She hated saying goodbye, but Wingedback simply wasn't improving. He needed to be with his kind and quickly if they wanted to avoid altercations with students. Students often pushed boundaries and tested the limits of these creatures without even knowing it.

Newt's guidance was certainly helping, but they were still in the early stages of learning.

"Where?" She asked. "When?"

With a nod, he removed a world map and touched the upper-east corner of America. "New York. I have a friend there who has helped create a division that assists in troubled beasts. Instead of putting them to death, they're evaluated and released into a stable environment. Unless it's..." he paused, voice sounding a little thick. "Unless they're a danger to themselves or too sick to continue. Then they'd be met with...a mercy kill."

Hope's complexion paled- her palms began to sweat. She nodded slowly, tucking her hands under her arms, and rested her chin on her knees. "I don't want him to die." She murmured, watching him drink from his trough.

"Neither do I, but at that point, it will be out of our hands, and...Albus is right. He can't stay here happily locked in a pen all his time because he's too dangerous to be around students."

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and leaned against him.

"It's Halloween," his lips pressed against her hair, "let's go to Hogsmeade for a while."

Hope nodded, turning her head to smile into his shoulder as she breathed him in. "Hm...okay." She paused, thinking of one unanswered question.

"When will we take him?"

Newt cleared his throat and nodded, clearly a question he didn't want to answer. "During Holiday break, for Christmas."

Hope shuddered but didn't argue. She knew the 'when' was inevitable, but it felt so soon.

Strolling across the lawn, she followed Newt, but instead of going toward the front of the castle to find the path that would lead to Hogsmeade, they headed toward the Quidditch pitch.

"I thought we were going to Hogsmeade?" She asked curiously.

Grinning over at her, he nodded. "We are, but seeing as it's a special day, I've gotten permission. Albus and I thought you might like to experience something."

Hope raised a brow, but her questions were immediately answered as he opened the shed and pulled out one of the nicer brooms used for Quidditch practice. Her jaw dropped.