Turn It Off

The ocean was a violent beast, as the waves crashed thunderously against gray rock. In the middle of the raging sea, Hope walked down a dark hallway inside Azkaban prison. The moment she was even in the vicinity of the place, she felt a drop in temperature—a drop in energy.

It was no wonder people went mad here.

Dementors glided above her, passing over like spirits from another realm, while prisoners shouted at her from behind the bars of their cells.

"You'll die here!" A woman with blackened teeth laughed. "You'll die here!"

Hope remained placid as she willed the fear and unease to go away, but already she was feeling nauseous from the atmosphere.

An Auror, the blonde woman who had taken her from The Three Broomsticks, pushed open an empty cell door. The screeching cries of other prisoners could still be heard from down the way, but at least Hope would have a room to herself and wouldn't have to look at anyone.

"In you go."

Hope sighed and stepped through, turning to watch her close and lock the door with a reverberating clang.

The Auror glanced up and pursed her lips. "The Dementors will guard you now."

When Hope said nothing in response, she turned and walked swiftly back down the hall toward the carriage they'd arrived on. Of course, she wouldn't want to stay long; who would?

Looking around at her little cell. In the corner sat a pail, she imagined, to relieve herself. To her right was an almost mattress-looking thing, lumpy and stained. Hope scrunched her nose at it before sitting on the floor, listening to the roaring wind and the screams of prisoners.

The door had a little slot for food. From what she'd read, after so long of feeling the Dementor's presence and being in almost complete isolation, many prisoners simply refused to eat. Dying of starvation was better than a Kiss.

Taking a deep breath, she stared at the wall. All color and warmth were leached from this place, leaving nothing more than a bone-dry carcass.

Hope could not be one of those carcasses. For one, she couldn't starve to death even if she tried, and two…she had something to live for. 

Albus and Newt.

They were the lifeline she had to hold onto. Even though it pained her to admit that if she was going to preserve her sanity and return to them, she would have to heed Elijah's advice.

Swallowing hard, Hope took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

I love you…so much. So I'm doing this. For you.

She flipped the switch.