Credence was well enough now that he and Aberforth returned to Hogshead. It gave them more freedom they deserved, allowing Credence to walk through Hogsmeade at his leisure to work his muscles. It also provided the opportunity to form relationships with others.
Sighing, Hope shook her head as they walked down the street past the potions shop.
"I'm banned from Hogshead, remember?" Hope glanced over at Albus, who offered a small smile.
"I heard you stabbed someone with a fork?"
Hope shrugged. "He pissed me off."
They hadn't discussed what happened at the clearing in the woods, and Hope had a feeling they never would. The car ride had been intensely silent. No jokes or stories. No stopping on the side of the road for a quickie.
It was a mystery to her if they were upset with how she'd handled the wolf pack or just surprised. She supposed it could come as a bit of a shock to watch someone whispering sweet nothings in their ear one moment to gouging out someone's eyes the next.
"Aberforth won't hold it against you." Albus chuckled, taking her hand and squeezing it as they continued. Newt remained at the castle, unpacking everything so she and Albus could help Credence through another healing session.
Slowly, she glanced over at him as they neared the pub.
Finally, taking a deep breath, Hope asked. "Are we really not going to talk about it?"
Albus paused his steps and gleaned down at her, pursing his lips into a thin line. His beard was getting longer, especially since he hadn't trimmed it while they were away.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently. He didn't say it with a tone of judgment, but Hope couldn't help but feel her feathers ruffle a little.
Biting her tongue, she shrugged. "Do you think we need to?"
"We may," Albus nodded slowly, "eventually. Would either of us say anything to help the situation?"
Hope shrugged. "I'd rather fight and hear the truth than waste my time in silence just because it's comfortable."
He surveyed her for a moment before nodding slowly. "I think it would be best if we discuss this later."
Sighing, she pushed her way into Hogshead, heading for the back where Credence would be. With a nod to Aberforth on her way, she sat down next to Credence and sighed, offering him her hand.
Credence raised a brow and smiled crookedly. "Good morning to you, too."
Since starting these sessions, he'd been getting bolder with his personality. Hope could sense he felt more hopeful; honestly, that alone made her happy.
She smiled halfheartedly. "Sorry, just frustrated," then added quickly, "not with you."
Offering a slight nod, he watched calmly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Did she want to talk about it? Obviously, not in detail, but she did. Just to get it off her chest. Like an itch, she needed to scratch, but it was in that one spot she couldn't quite reach.
"I just," Hope sighed softly, looking at him, "I've thought one way for so long that it's hard to understand someone else who doesn't think that way."
It felt wonderful just to say that, and really, she hadn't said much.
After a long moment of silence, Credence murmured. "I've seen people with wicked hearts. Yours isn't one of them."
Hope chewed her lower lip and nodded. She wondered then, would he change his mind if he knew she'd left a woman to be helplessly eaten alive?
Would he see her differently, knowing that the thought made her smile?
Offering her hand to him, she took a deep breath and waited for him to let their skin make contact. Pulsing waves of power radiated off her and into him, making her feel like she'd swum the ocean for days without pause.
It was always off-putting, suddenly feeling energy and power seeping away. Like smoke dissipating in the wind. They pulled their hands apart when Hope started to get tunnel vision, and even after that, she rested her head against the back of the chair and let her eyes close.
Willing herself not to throw up.
"Hey," a calm voice brought her from her dazed stupor, "drink this." Albus pressed the rim of a glass cup against her lips, letting the blood flow past and down her throat. The warmth it provided to her cold extremities made Hope sigh. "No rush, darling. Just relax." Albus murmured, stroking her hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
"Did I fall asleep?" Hope asked, sitting up a little, seeing it was still light outside.
"Only for a little while."
Nodding, she leaned into his palm and closed her eyes again. They waited a little longer for Hope to drink more blood and collect herself before bidding Credence and Aberforth goodbye. Initially, she'd wanted to stop at a few shops in Hogsmeade, but after the car, train ride, and a session with Credence, she just didn't feel up to it anymore.
The trek back to Hogwarts alone made her want to curl into a coma for a few days.
By the time they had arrived in Albus' office, she was ready to nestle in a chair by the fire with a warm blanket.
Newt looked up, smiling. "How did it go?"
"Not bad, just tired." She nodded, dragging her feet to the chair he sat in, a book open on
his lap. He didn't hesitate to set it aside and envelop her in a hug. Having time to himself at the castle seemed to have given him the space he needed.
Albus settled in the chair opposite them, taking his own book onto his lap. She watched him for a moment before finally finding the courage to speak.
"Can I ask you both something, and you'll be completely honest with me?"
They exchanged a quiet glance before nodding. Waiting.
"If someone killed me permanently, I mean. What would you do?" It was the most loaded question she'd ever asked them, but it was necessary.
Newt looked at Albus while Albus stared at Hope. It was Newt who answered first. "I don't think I can answer that…" he trailed off, voice barely above a whisper.
Hope turned to look at him, glancing down at his lip and then up at his eyes, which held a kind of pain she'd never seen before.
"Because you don't know, or because you do know?"
His voice wavered a little. "If this is because of what happened in the forest-"
"Of course it is," Hope responded readily, "but we keep having this conversation. You say you don't mind my version of morality, but when I do something that questions your morals, you go quiet."
"If you want my honesty, Hope, you can't ignore it." Newt finally bit out. "I was…afraid of you. At that moment, I was. Because yes, you were ruthless, and I was shocked to witness it, but that doesn't change what I know to be true."
Hope's throat tightened, forcing herself not to retort anything. To just listen.
"You warned them," Newt admitted, "you told her that if she harmed us, it would be the last thing she did. If I know anything about you, I know you mean what you say. Perhaps your taste for vengeance is stronger than mine, but she also had a choice, and she chose to test the boundary. You bit back. That's where I want to leave this conversation, Hope. I don't want to say that I'd kill the person who killed you because I don't know if I'd ever be brave enough."
Hope stroked her thumbs under his tired eyes and frowned. "I'm sorry, Newt," she murmured, "that was an unfair question to ask you."
"It's alright." Newt pressed his lips lightly to her forehead. "It needed to be addressed. Thank you…for listening." He squeezed her and started to get up. "I'm going to get ready for bed. I'm exhausted."
Hope nodded, watching him go, leaving her and Albus with the crackling fire. Soon, he too, stood and departed for bed.
But not before he stopped beside her chair and looked down at her with icy blue eyes. Looking up, she blinked as he carefully took her chin between his fingers.
"As for my answer to your question…" he began with a small smile, her breath quivering a little as he stroked his thumb along her bottom lip.
"What would you do?" She asked softly, lost in his gaze.
"I'd already be on my way to Azkaban."
With those words, Albus retired to the bedroom.