If I could turn back time

A little green man with a top hat

The night sky was filled with twinkling stars and a bright crescent moon. Despite it being late, the night air was uncharacteristically warm. Running had always been a release for Hope. It cleared her mind. All her inner turmoil would diminish as her paws hit the ground. The sound of fallen branches crunching under her weight, the owl hooting, and the distant rusting of the trees were all she was focusing on. Not on the death of her parents. Not on the pain she felt that morning when she woke on the anniversary of her father's death. They say with time it gets easier, and she believed it... for the most part.

She had started to move on with her life with the help of her friends, her Supersquad. She was gradually building a life, one with happiness, love, and hope. Gone were the days of wallowing in her bedroom, binge watching Netflix, and building walls around her. She would make her parents proud, change her family's legacy, change what the Mikaelson name stands for and that's exactly what she was doing at the Salvatore Boarding School for the young and gifted. Protecting it, defending it from monsters and humans alike. She was a warrior.

However, for one-month Hope allowed herself to go back to the old ways. To retreat to her dorm room and avoid everyone and anyone as she allowed herself to grieve the loss of her parents. Four years. How can it have been so long? Four years without hearing my mum's voice. Four years since I last saw my dad's smile. The one he only had for me. Four years without their embraces or hearing them say they love me. Would they be proud of the person I have become? Would they be mad for jumping into Malivore, thinking I was going to die? Would they be disappointed that I didn't immediately tell everyone I was back? Would they understand?

As the moon was slowly setting on the west coast, the white wolf slowed to a halt in front of the lake where Alaric and Hope train. With one last howl it turned around and sped behind the trees. The sound of crunching bones filled the morning air, then a petite auburn-haired girl emerged out of the forest. She sat on the end of the wooden deck, her feet dangling barely touching the water. Tears fell down her cheeks as she swung her legs back and forth, wiping them away from time to time. She stayed as the sun rose and the birds started to chirp.

"Hope?" A small voice said from behind the trees.

Hope staring out at the water, following a leaf being pushed by the current, didn't hear it. Nor did she hear the crunching of the grass as a tall brunette walked over to her, determination in each step. However, as soon as the brunette saw the saddened look on her friend's face, all determination extinguished, replaced with worry.

"Hope?" She asked once again, softly as she placed her hand on the crying girl's shoulder.

The girl underneath her jumped slightly at the sudden contact. She whipped her head around and found herself staring back at none other than Josie Saltzman. Her wavy hair resting on her shoulders, framing her face perfectly. She had a sweet smile that Hope reciprocated almost instantly. Somehow the siphon's presence was soothing to the older girl. The simple touch on her shoulder had stopped her from crying for the first time since she changed back.

Hope watched as Josie sat next to her, only retrieving her hand to grab Hope's instead.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Josie asked as she looked at red and bloodshot eyes.

Hope turned her gaze back to the lake, taking a deep wobbly breath to calm herself before shaking her head. Josie knew what was wrong. Everyone in the school knew what month it was. The shrieks coming from Hope's room four years ago were vivid in many people's memories. It sent chills down people's spines when they heard it. The miniature earthquake underneath the school was brief but hard to miss. The anguish surrounding the younger Mikaelson weeks later when her father had also died, revealing her identity was forever etched in her classmate's minds.

Josie knew not to push. Even though their friendship was fairly new, they had known each other for a near decade. Whenever someone would push Hope, she would pull away. Shut down. Josie didn't want that. She wanted to be there for her friend. In any way she would need her. So, she knew it was best to wait for Hope to speak next, and that's what she did.

"Were you looking for me?" Hope asked minutes later, still staring out at the view.

"Yes."

"What for?"

"My dad needs to see you. There's another monster on the loose around the grounds." Josie said, turning her head to now face Hope.

"Why didn't you say so?" Hope said, shooting up. She was already mid stride before Josie processed her abrupt departure. Josie caught up to her as the school was coming in sight.

"What monster is it this time?" Hope asked, scanning the grounds.

"A leprechaun."

"You're telling me a little green man with a top hat is running around with a pot of gold, and your dad needs me for that?" She said in disbelief.

"Well... when you say it like that..." Josie said hesitantly, making Hope chuckle.

"Come on. Your dad needs us. Maybe if we sing 'I'm a little Leprechaun' he'll dance around for us." Hope's comment made Josie laugh as they ran up to the school.

Ten minutes later, Hope and Josie were fighting side-by-side with the rest of the super squad. The Leprechaun was nothing like in the stories. He was conniving, quick witted and fast. He kept dodging every spell and attack thrown at him. He wore a dark green suite, a black top hat and a black pouch that held golden pebbles. He would throw them, aiming for a member of the Supersquad. At first it hit Rafael in the head, exploding in his face, briefly disorientating him as the cloud of smoke dissipated. Then one exploded between MG and Jed who tripped over each other and fell. The Leprechaun laughed at the scene, leaving Hope an opening to tackle the little man and ripping his pouch from him.

"Hey!" He yelled as the pouch was thrown to the other side of the classroom, out of reach. He soon shut up when he saw Hope's eyes turn gold as a growl slipped her lips. Her fangs ascended as she lifted her head before attacking the leprechaun's throat. Before she could sink her teeth in his throat however, she felt the Leprechaun disappear from under her. She fell the short distance and hit the floor with a small thud. Groaning slightly, she looked up.

"What the fuck?" She asked.

Hope was no longer in her history of magic classroom surrounded by her friends. Before her stood a grand castle with countless towers, and a cabin at the edge of a forest with a garden filled with large pumpkins. She whipped her head to the sound of teenage boys snickering at the top of the hill. One was blond and reminded Hope of a certain witch at home who broke Josie's heart. Suddenly another three teens appeared out of a bridge entrance, leading up to the castle. There were two boys, one a freckled redhead, the other a dark brown haired with circular glasses, and a fuzzy haired girl. The girl in a pink cardigan strutted up to the snickering boys in anger who suddenly noticed their presence.

"Ah come to see the show!" The cocky blond boy sneered in an English accent.

"You. You foul loaded evil little cockroach!" The frizzy girl yelled as she pulled out her wand.

Huh. That's an... odd insult. Hope thought to herself as she watched the scene unfold behind some trees.

"Hermione, no! He's not worth it." The freckled boy said, trying to calm Hermione down.

The boy seemed to whimper under the wand, making Hope chuckle slightly. Slowly, Hermione lowered her wand and started to walk away. The blond boy however started to laugh, until his face was hit by Hermione's right hand making him kneel in pain. The two boys with him quickly checked up on him, then they all ran away. Leaving behind Hermione and her two friends. Hope held in her laugh and was thoroughly impressed by the punch the young girl threw.

"That felt good." Hermione said to her friends.

Yeah, no kidding. Hope thought.

"Not good. Brilliant." The tall redhead said proudly.

The trio then walked down the hill and into the hut. This was Hope's window. She would be able to find out where she was. As a precaution, she cast an invisibility spell and walked over to the hut.