A Room of Moonlight

Ironically, her room was located directly across from the kitchens- the one place she couldn't find when she needed it most. Newt opened the door for her and smiled happily as she stepped through. Her jaw dropped.

Hope got to call this her room? It was more than she could have ever asked for.

Deep purples and blues tapestries hung from the walls and ceiling, with shimmering gold accents here and there. The gold glittered as Hope glided by. The moon seemed to be the room's theme, with stars sprinkled over the ceiling. The moon on the ceiling even gave a faint, comforting glow.

Newt started a fire in the hearth as she ran her fingers over the soft bedding, which was midnight blue with constellations scattered throughout. She always loved looking up at the sky while in the camp, watching it move each night and seeing the moon change its phases. It was nice knowing change did exist somewhere in the universe.

Here, at Hogwarts, Hope would spend a lot of time watching the night sky from her window in the hospital wing.

Just watching. Wondering what it would be like to touch the moon.

Walking over to the nightstand, her fingers grazed a floating orb that emitted a soft glowing light. It was an exact replica of the moon.

"Who designed this room?" She asked in awe, looking up at the ceiling again.

"Albus did," Newt nodded, sitting on the couch before the fire's flickering light, and smiled, "He told me about it earlier tonight when you'd gone to bed. Do you like it?"

Hope looked over at him and grinned. "I love it." She walked over and plopped herself down on the couch next to him. Gazing up at the fireplace, a towering bookcase covered the entire surrounding of the hearth. The books organized themselves over and over as if they couldn't decide to be alphabetized or separated by genre.

Finally, Hope looked over at Newt. She swallowed hard.

"I owe you an explanation." She murmured, feeling a sweat forming on the back of her neck. "Can you just…promise me you'll be open-minded?" 

Newt nodded, positioning himself to face her more openly, and frowned. "I will always listen to you. Do you trust me?" He asked gently. Those eyes glittering in the firelight held so much warmth she could feel it like a hug.

Biting her lip, she nodded and carefully took his hand, playing with his fingers as she told him what had happened. She began by explaining how she'd first started having strange hunger pains and then realized she'd not only been able to turn into a wolf but also a vampire. Whatever surprise he must have felt, she was relieved not to see it on his face.

When she finished, the only sounds in the room were the crackling fireplace and paper rustling on the work desk nearby.

"I know it's not the best news, but it's the only truth I have."

"Hope," Newt murmured, "Earlier today. At Hogsmeade, when you were looking at the Blood Pops…I shouldn't have told you not to get them. That was wrong of me. If you had, maybe we would have been able to decipher this sooner." He squeezed her hand. "I'm so sorry…"

She looked up at him and furrowed her eyebrows a little. "I'm part vampire, and I just went on a rampage to find someone to sink my teeth into, and you're sorry? Somehow, I don't think your wrong is worse than mine."

Newt laughed. He actually laughed. 

"Your body is craving something it hasn't had in…goodness knows how long, and you need to know something."

"What?" she gave him an incredulous look, resting her cheek on her hand while her elbow rested against the top couch cushion. She pulled her feet up under her to warm them.

"None of this is your fault."

Hope opened her mouth to argue, but he shook his head and leaned forward a little. He spoke more clearly, his words deliberate.

"It is not your fault." His eyes searched hers as they had in Honeydukes and in the hall of the infirmary. "You've given me no reason not to trust you. You can only do so much when trying to learn who you are. I call this a win. Now we're one step closer to understanding how to regain your memories, and we know what you need to continue healing."

Blinking, Hope tilted her head and couldn't help but smile. "You mean to tell me you still like me even if I drink blood?"

"Of course," he answered immediately.

She grinned and leaned forward a little closer. "So. You do like me?"

The flush of pink that spread along his cheeks earlier that day was beginning to simmer under his freckles again. 

"I…well, yes, I do," he stammered, "Though I'm beginning to suspect you might be quite the troublemaker."

Hope laughed, "You say troublemaker- I say fun enhancer."

"Is that right?" He grinned.

"Oh, absolutely," She moved even closer, touching her nose to his, and sighed, "Unfortunately, I trust you, but I don't trust myself." She pulled away a little, offering a small, sad smile. "I want to make sure I know how to control myself before-"

"Hope, you know I want to be around you for you, not…not just…"

Smiling softly, leaned forward again and kissed his cheek tenderly. She let it linger, savoring the moment, then sat back against the couch.

"I know." She whispered.