If I could turn back time

Hope?

Hope was walking through the familiar woods surrounding the Salvatore Boarding school, the familiar smell of flowers, trees and magic filled the air around her. It felt calming, comfortable, it felt like home.

The tribrid ran through the woods until she reached the edge. There, she stopped. In front of her stood the Salvatore Boarding school. Her second home. Ecstasy filled her veins, her heart pumping a mile a minute, as she saw the faces of her peers. Unable to hold her excitement, Hope ran towards the backdoor, leading her inside.

As soon as her foot crossed the threshold, however, the world around her chilled. The small thud of the door closing was the only sound in the room. Hope, tentatively, started walking. Her eyes peered into the empty rooms and hallways for any signs of life. A chill shot through her spine which resulted in her wrapping her arms around her chest in an attempt to keep herself warm – something she hadn't done since she triggered her werewolf curse. It wasn't until she reached the hallway leading to Dr. Saltzman's office that she heard a muffled conversation.

Her ears perked up, much like in her wolf form, as she closed the distance. She knocked on the door but was met with silence. She knocked once more; nothing. Hope opened the door nonetheless and felt the warmth of the room brushing against her face. Her eyes closed for a second, embracing it, before turning her attention to the people inside.

Before her stood the super squad and Dr. Saltzman, all staring at her in a way she had hoped they would not.

Unrecognition.

It was painful the first time, when she had jumped into Malivore, but she knew what the consequences were. It was her choice. She knew what to expect when she finally got out.

But this time, it was worse. A small part of her hoped they would remember her, that whatever that blasted monster did to send her away didn't erase their memories of her. But here she was, standing in front of the people she considered her friends, her family. Yet, to them, she was a stranger. And it hurt. She wouldn't be able to deal with it another time.

"Who are you?" The words were spat at her. Hope looked in the direction of the one who said it and locked eyes with Josie Saltzman. Suddenly, the tribrid could feel her heart shatter, little by little. She peeled her eyes away from the brunette twin and turned to the others. Each one wore the same look. Each one was studying her carefully, like prey, ready to pounce at any moment.

A large piece of Hope's heart fell to the pit of her stomach. She took a step forward, her gaze fixed on the brunette twin, and stretched out to her hand, but quickly retracted it when Dr. Saltzman reached for his crossbow.

"I'm Hope Mikaelson." She struggled to say, her voice cracking slightly as she tried to withhold the tears starting to form in her eyes.

"A Mikaelson? You're not welcome here. Leave." Dr. Saltzman said, his crossbow raised, ready to shoot, standing protectively in front of his daughters.

"Dr. Saltzman, please." Hope begged, taking a step forward and raising her hand, but the damage was done. The twins had siphoned some magic from the school floor and cast a spell throwing Hope across the room whilst their father shot the tribrid in her chest, letting her fall unconscious.

Hope woke up with tears running down her cheeks. Her head was buried in her cushion whilst the rest of her was curled up in a ball beneath her bed sheets. She brought her hand, which was clutching her cover, to her mouth to muffle the sobs escaping her lips. Although her curtains around her four-poster bed were drawn, the early morning light illuminated the ceiling above.

Once she had calmed down, Hope pulled her covers off her and slipped out of the room, wearing a nightgown and some fuzzy slippers. She wandered down the steps of the dormitories until she reached the common room. The room was empty and was chillier than it was when she went to bed. Hope glimpsed at the fireplace and saw the last flame flickering before it inevitably died down.