The Tribrid and Her Reflection {COMPLETE}

It's All Teacakes and Violence

The world suddenly came into focus as something with many legs scurried across the top of Hope's foot.

Looking down at the ground, she watched her toes squish into the cool, dewy grass of the early morning. So early, the sun had yet to pinken the sky. Hope lifted her head to survey the Hogwarts grounds.

All was quiet.

Peaceful.

Hope had no recollection of getting out of bed or putting clothes on - at least she'd had the sense to do that. There wasn't even a glimmer of a dream that she remembered. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched as Hogwarts slowly started to wake, purple cresting the clouds behind the turrets. Golden lights flickering to life in various sections of the castle beckoned her back, so she obeyed.

Her feet, covered in grass clippings and a thin layer of mud, tracked through the front doors. Around her, the paintings began to yawn, awakening.

"Excuse me?" Hope asked, walking up to one of a man resting against an oak tree in a meadow. "Did you see me come by a few minutes ago?"

"Hm?" He stretched and shook his head. "Me? I just woke up. Didn't see a thing."

"Right," Hope swallowed and nodded, "sorry..." She looked around to see if the other paintings had anything to offer, but the rest were either asleep or waking up. "Perfect." Hope muttered under her breath before heading up to the seventh floor.

When she slid past the gargoyle, she looked to her left, noting the fire had yet to be lit.

"You're up early." Albus' voice came, and then he appeared in the doorway to the sleeping chamber. He was just finishing his morning routine, buttoning his smart gray suit. "Newt is still asleep," he continued, "but if you'd like to go down for breakfast early, I doubt he'd mind." He smiled, glancing up, but paused in his movements.

Her expression must have given her away.

"Are you alright, love?" Albus asked, walking toward her, glancing down at her muddy toenails, and flicking back up to her eyes.

"Apparently, I went for a walk."

Albus arched a brow, stroking his thumb along her jaw. "Apparently?"

Hope nodded. "I don't remember doing it. I don't remember getting up. Putting on a shirt and pants. I don't remember walking through the castle, and I don't remember going out to stand on the front grounds." Her voice grew slowly with increasing desperation. "I can't remember anything." She practically spat out the last word. "It has to stop, Albus. One of these days, I am going to seriously hurt someone, and I'm not even going to know I did it." Red rimmed her eyes as they bulged as if she hadn't slept in weeks. She felt unraveled as if someone had turned her into a ball of yarn, held one end, and thrown the ball a good mile.

As she started rubbing her temples, Albus placed his hands on her waist. "Let's go and sit down. We can talk. We can come up with a plan..."

"A plan to what?" Her voice raised a little. "We know nothing. Ever since being in that

Mirror..." She gasped softly and immediately pressed her finger to her forehead as the throbbing, stabbing pain started.

"Hey," he took her face between his hands and pressed his forehead against hers, "let's get away from the castle for a bit, see if that helps. We're going to Hogsmeade today; let's leave early. Come on." He took her hand and guided her to the door. "Newt has to go to London today. We'll wait until he returns later tonight to see if that might help clear your thoughts, hm?"

Hope nodded, leaning against him as if he were the only solid object in a sea during a raging storm.

They made their way down the stairs and straight out the door. They would walk to the Hogsmeade this morning and have breakfast at one of the shops, giving as much time from the castle as possible.