A Trip to Hogsmeade

Just as the night before, Hope woke with hunger, but this wasn't like the dull ache it had been. Her head throbbed. From the top of her scalp to her lower jaw, as if she'd been hit with a club. Her stomach screamed at her, forcing her to get up and make the tea that helped yesterday's headache. 

As Madam Florence had taught her, she poured and drank the tea in two scalding swallows. There was a slight relief as her ears rang numbly. Hope returned to bed, pushing a pillow down on her head.

What if she was actually coming down with an illness? Madam Florence had been worried about the fever she always seemed to carry. If anything, she hoped it was a simple cold or flu that would pass on quickly.

By the time morning arrived, Hope had hardly slept. Her gums still ached, making the food in front of her in the Great Hall far less appealing.

"You should eat something," Newt offered with a small smile, but his body language told her he knew she wasn't feeling well. "We could…"

"Please don't say postpone." Hope looked over at him. "I'm fine. See?" She took a bite of bread and forced herself to swallow it. "I want to go."

The look in his eyes told her he was conflicted. "If you're sick, you really shouldn't be out. You'll need more rest and…"

"I just need fresh air. I'll drink more tea; that will help. I swear." Hope forced as genuine of a smile as she could muster.

Hope had looked at herself in the mirror this morning and knew what Newt saw. Her skin was a bit pale, and she had darker circles under her eyes, but she was almost certain most of her problem was being unable to sleep. Maybe it was the nightmares.

"I may need to drink more of the sleeping draught Madam Florence gave me the first few days. If I'm honest…I only ever remember sleeping in a metal cage for a couple hours at a time, anyway. All of these changes are probably giving my system a good workout. I'd rather push through it than lay back and do nothing. I need to do something."

That seemed to convince Newt, but he still looked uneasy. Eventually, he nodded. "Alright. Alright, but if you start feeling worse, we'll return and see Madam Florence."

"Deal."

They finished the rest of their breakfast with a casual conversation about Hogsmeade and what shops they had. He explained what Quidditch was and how she could purchase clothing in the village.

"I don't know if you realize this, but I never really got paid for being an attraction." Hope gave him a side-eye.

Newt chuckled and nodded. "Prof-" he caught himself again. "Albus met with the Ministry of Magic to discuss your predicament. Letting them know that the Poachers are moving up from beasts to people. Asking, 'How much longer until they have a zoo of Muggles?' 

They granted your stay here with some conditions. He will talk to you later about that, but they also opened an account for you at Gringotts and were generous in some donations for your well-being." He then pulled a few coins from his pockets and described each. Hope was familiar with them but had never known how much each was worth.

"Wow… that's…very nice, actually." Hope blinked, feeling her throat start to get a bit thick again. "Well, then, it will definitely be a fun day!" She beamed and drank more tea, which helped immensely. 

Hope was feeling much better as they began their walk to Hogsmeade. While they could have taken a carriage, she wanted to admire more of the scenery. It was a short walk and a beautiful day with a bright blue sky above. 

As they passed over a bridge, she hopped onto the stone above and walked along the narrow strip of rock with effortless grace. It felt good, using muscles she'd forgotten. Newt, however, kept side-eyeing her with worry. Asking her to please be careful. 

"We're nearly there," he said, pointing to the tops of the little roofs sticking out from the treeline.

Grinning, she skipped to the end of another bridge. She could practically smell the baked goods from here.

"Race me?" Hope turned, and she walked backward, facing him with a wicked grin.

Newt gave her a look. "You are still on the mend and-"

"And you're afraid you'll lose?" 

That earned her a light laugh. "Don't overexert yourself. I do not want to explain that to Madam Florence."

"Oh, I'd have an excellent explanation…" she trailed off, looking at him as she bit down on her lower lip. She watched as the realization dawned on him, and his freckled cheeks flushed pink.

"Hope…"

"3…2…" Just as she was about to say one, Newt took off with a laugh and a cheeky grin.

"Hey!" Hope shouted in protest. "You cheater!" She raced after him, laughing as she felt the exhilaration of running fill her with a bubbly sensation. Skidding to a stop at the entrance to Hogsmeade, Hope looked ahead. Expecting Newt to be up further waiting for her. When she didn't see him, however, she looked behind her. 

Hope's stomach dropped.

He was still behind her, but she'd been sure they were running together. How had she ended up here so much faster? 

"Hope!" Newt called breathlessly, arriving a few minutes later, breathing like he'd run a marathon, "You…you were like a blur," he said, eyes wide as he looked at her. I've never seen anyone run so fast in my life. How did you do that?"

Slowly shaking her head, she frowned. "I have no idea, I just…did. I was back there, and then I was here. I thought we were running the same speed."

"I hardly saw you; you were so fast." He said, gripping the stitch in his side. "How do you feel?"

Hope nodded. "Good. Amazing, actually." 

Isn't it strange? She'd struggled with stairs a few days ago, and now she could run at high speeds without breaking a sweat. "I guess it's the wolf in me. Wolves can run fast."

"True. I suppose…" Hope could tell he wasn't entirely convinced of her theory.

They continued their walk, and once they entered the boundaries of Hogsmeade, she was free of thoughts of speed and wolves. She watched Witches and Wizards mill around their daily activities.

"Wonderful, isn't it?" Newt grinned and offered her his hand, which she immediately took. "Where shall we go first?"

Hope pondered as she looked left and then right. "Probably the clothing store. I should do some responsible shopping first."

Making their way toward Gladrags Wizardwear, the sights and sounds seemed too good to be true, like stepping into a fairytale.

Without spending too much time, Hope found suitable clothing—a couple of dresses, one in midnight blue and one in champagne gold. The rest of the clothing she purchased was probably suited more for men, given that it was in the men's section. However, a deep part of her wanted to sneer at the women's racks that only had dresses for sale and no pants. 

Hope loved a pretty dress that flattered her figure, but she also wanted slacks that let her move without restraint. The Matron at the desk seemed to think her choice was strange, but Newt seemed happy that the items were of good quality and uncaring that they were from the men's rack.

When all was paid for, they made their way through the crowd. Hope gave a soft sigh as her gums started to itch. She would need more tea soon but wasn't about to tell Newt. He'd have them return to the castle immediately, and she wanted to see the other stores.

By noon, they had visited Dervish and Banges- where Hope perused curiously but never purchased anything, and Zonko's Joke Shop- where she did find some interesting items, but none of which she felt the need to have. 

Now, walking into Honeydukes Sweetshop, her jaw dropped. She could not remember being in a candy store before, but this had to be the most extraordinary one to exist. If she were to buy a few items here, she'd have to stash them away from Madam Florence, who had told her too much sugar while in her state was not a good idea. 

Though, looking at all the different chocolates, too much sugar seemed like a perfect idea.

"We'll be able to get some other items when we go to Diagon Alley later this month," Newt mentioned as she observed a stand of chocolate frogs.

"Oh?" She looked over at him. "What would I get there?"

"A wand, likely. Dumbledore mentioned it in a conversation."

Furrowing her brows, she shook her head. "I don't think I'm a witch. Don't wands only work for Witches and Wizards?" 

Newt shrugged, "I suppose if it doesn't work, or if it does, we'll be that much closer to knowing who you are."

"What I am," she corrected with a nod.

"No," Newt took her elbow and made her look at him, "Who you are."

Hope swallowed hard, losing herself in his green gaze. She glanced down at his full lips and knew he followed her eyes with his own. For a fleeting moment, Hope wondered if he might come a little closer and…

The sound of kids laughing and rushing through the section they were standing in broke them apart immediately. 

They both shared a sheepish laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Uhm…" Newt started. "We could go to the Three Broomsticks after this? Get a butterbeer."

Hope nodded, taking a slow, deep breath. "I've been dying to try one." She smiled and started searching the back wall of treats, wondering if anything might strike her interest.

She stopped dead in her tracks, freezing as she stared at what some might gag at the very thought of. She read the label. Blood Pops is ideal for vampires with a sweet tooth. 

Blood. 

The very idea of it made her gums ache. It was like she knew what it would be like to let the warm, sticky consistency run down her throat. The instincts she had told her the headaches would go away. The hunger would go away.

"Oh, I don't think you'd like that." Newt nodded. "Blood-flavored. You're welcome to try, of course; unfortunately, in my youth, we all dared to take a lick. It's one of the worst things I've ever tasted." He made a face. "Almost as bad as the vomit-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans," he chuckled.

"Right." Hope nodded, forcing a smile, and pulled herself away from the Blood Pops. "I wouldn't…want that." Even though she did, oh, she wanted it so much. She could practically taste it. But if she did, if she actually purchased it and enjoyed it, what would that say about her? Wouldn't it prove she was something she feared possibly ever admitting?

She couldn't be.

She couldn't be a vampire.

Please, God, don't let her be a vampire.

Sketches of vampires in the books Newt had given for her to read flashed through her mind. She knew if she was one, and they ever found out… she'd be thrown out of Hogwarts. Who would trust her near them? 

And even if they somehow found a way to trust her, the Ministry of Magic would have no tolerance for her there, especially with students coming to stay for school most of the year.

Hope suddenly felt sick, and even purchasing a few chocolates to take back with her didn't fill her with as much joy as she'd hoped. 

As they left, Hope battled herself internally. She wasn't a vampire; she was some strange wolf creature that did not find pleasure in blood.

Sitting down at the bar of the Three Broomsticks, she forced herself to be excited about trying Butterbeer for the first time. She wouldn't let an assumption ruin the rest of her day.

"Hey," Newt nudged her with his elbow, "feeling alright?"

Hope glanced over and nodded with a small smile. "Hm, I think I'm just tired. This is our last stop, and then we can head back?"

Nodding, he kept his elbow touching hers. "Of course. Do you feel you need more tea?"

"I think so, yeah." She bit her lip, and luckily, some of the thoughts she'd been thinking were hidden in the background as the bubbly Butterbeer was set in front of her. Taking a sip, she nearly moaned but restrained herself. "It's better than I could have imagined," she grinned.

They finally made it back to the castle in the late afternoon, and all Hope wanted to do was drink more tea and take a bath.

"Did you have a good time?" Newt asked as he opened the door for her.

Smiling over at him, she nodded. "I had an amazing time. Thank you for taking me." She bumped his arm with her own as they climbed the stairs to the hospital wing.

Hope pretended not to notice the glances he continued to steal the whole way there—glances that made her stomach flip and her pulse flutter.

They both paused at the infirmary door. "Get some rest," Newt nodded. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Definitely."

No kids were running around here. No one was there to stop them if they were to move a little closer, but just as Newt seemed he might start to lean forward a little, Hope's gums went from a dull ache to severe, ripping pain. 

It took everything she had not to make a sound, but all her attention now was not on Newt's lips. The lips she honestly did want to feel the pressure of, but all she could focus on was the heartbeat in her head. His heartbeat. Hope could hear his blood rushing just under his skin, worse now that he seemed turned on by their situation. She knew she wouldn't be able to control herself if he did close the gap.

"Tomorrow," she said suddenly through gritted teeth and quickly slipped through the doors and closed them, putting her hands to her mouth as the pain escalated. Pricking tears in her eyes. 

She hated it. 

The pain was one thing, but knowing she'd likely left Newt feeling rejected hurt worse than the throbbing of her jaw.

Shakily, Hope poured herself more tea. Some of the pain subsided, but it seemed to worsen each day, and tea could only combat so much of it.

Sleep. Hope needed sleep.

After taking a steaming bath that calmed at least some of her nerves, she dressed and climbed into bed. She begged the universe that she'd be without this pain with some rest.

Naturally, as the universe enjoys playing games, when Hope woke again, she wasn't simply hungry.

She was ravenous.