The Tribrid and Her Reflection {Book Two - - Complete}

A Blooming of Possibilities

Summer was in full bloom at Hogwarts, making everything smell light and floral. Hope would miss this little stretch of time because soon, the term would start again, and students would return to the castle. Some familiar, some new. It was exciting, yet at the same time, a little disappointing. Much of her summer had consisted of all-consuming thoughts and life-endangering incidents.

Still, it could be worse.

She could be without her memories, wondering about all the secrets the universe kept from her. At least now she knew.

At least now, she could make choices with a clear frame of mind.

Hope gazed up at the sunlight that dappled through fluttering leaves above. She was nestled in a cozy spot of the Forbidden Forest. Not all of the place was doom and gloom, and it just so happened she'd found a small meadow with soft grass to lounge in.

She loved Newt and Albus, but sometimes, she liked the solidarity of being within nature with no one but herself and the trees. Newt was the same with his creatures in his case, and Albus with his books in his study.

"Newt said I'd find you here," Albus smiled with his hands in his smart gray suit pockets as he walked toward her through the tall, wavy grass, "and here you are."

Hope looked over but didn't move any other part of her body. She was far too comfortable for that.

"Here I am." She smiled, meeting his twinkling blue gaze that, to this day, could send the warmest chills down her spine.

Watching Albus lower himself to the ground, he sat cross-legged beside her. His fingers found bits of her hair - that had grown significantly longer in the last months - and lightly curled a piece around his finger, nodding his head. "It's quite peaceful."

"Hm," Hope murmured with a nod and a smile, looking up at the bits of sky peaking through the shady canopy, "it might be my new favorite spot." The swish of leaves in all directions and the constant babbling of a nearby brook made everything seem slower. Sleepy. As if she'd eaten an entire batch of brownies that contained a little more than just sugar.

She turned her gaze back to him. "You were looking for me?"

Albus offered a crooked smile as his finger played with the sleeve hem of her white blouse. That, with the black skin-tight pants she had on and bare feet, made Hope more resemble a pirate than a Witch.

"I have an offer for you, well," he chuckled, correcting himself, "the Ministry has an offer for you."

"Oh?" Hope asked, raising a brow as she sat up a little. "I swear if the word Registry comes out of your mouth..." The very notion of the word made her skin crawl with annoyance.

His laughter boomed as he shook his head, making a few crows fly from their hidden branches. "No, actually, as it turns out, they feel increasingly guilty for everything that happened with Syliva and the Poachers that pretended to be Auror's. When Theseus told them you had been killed by Sylvia and that it was a miracle you'd been able to revive, they've since increased security and have added more rigid protocol for new Auror's."

"Ah, I see; now they want to kiss my ass because their negligence in security was a contributing factor to me being killed."

"Precisely."

Hope nodded and shrugged, saying with a wave of her hand. "Let them kiss away." She laid back down again, resting her arms under her head.

Chuckling, his fingers brushed along her hip. "They've asked me to offer you a new position at Hogwarts."

Her eyes flicked to his face so fast it blurred her vision. "A new position?" She sat up, her palms starting to sweat. While she was excited at the prospect of trying something new, she didn't know how much she cared for the idea of leaving Newt and the beasts.