Unforgivable

The carriage rocked in the sky as the driver tried to avoid the shocks of lightning that lit the interior. Hope sat on the bench seat, staring ahead at the two people before her. Neither were Theseus or Johnathon - the man who had arrested them. There were two other Aurors she didn't recognize, a man and woman equally severe as they watched her intently but said nothing.

Hope swallowed, the rest of her body remaining stiff as a board as she flexed her fingers. Her cuffs were thick, keeping her wrists together and preventing her from conjuring any magic. 

Newt and Albus wore the same cuffs but were all in separate carriages with their own handlers. Hope had been very reluctant in the tiny apartment to hand over her freedom. She only did when Albus offered his wrists.

"We've done nothing wrong," he had said, "best to cooperate and get it straightened in London."

Hope sighed and glanced out the window, watching the dark clouds roll past as another flash of lightning lit the sky. 

"Isn't this a bit dangerous?" She asked, looking at them.

They said nothing. The pair continued to stare. And though Hope knew they were looking right at her, it was like they weren't seeing her. As if, in their eyes, she wasn't there.

The thing shook a few more times on their way to London, and Hope was grateful to finally be settled on the ground with a soft thud. Waiting for them to escort her out, she frowned when they didn't move.

Why wouldn't they move?

"Hello?" Hope asked, narrowing her eyes and looking over at the door. 

Without a word, they moved forward and took her by the arms. One on each side of her. "I can walk by myself, thanks." Hope snapped at them as they ushered her from the carriage onto the grassy plain they'd landed on.

Searching the scenery, Hope frowned in confusion. It was primarily empty fields for what seemed miles. The only structure that she could see was a strange warehouse of sorts.

"Where are we?" She asked, digging her heels into the ground.

The Aurors pushed her forward, but when she added more pressure to the dirt to keep herself from moving, they swept a leg under her and began carrying her toward the dilapidated building.

Hope squirmed and thrashed against them as they carried her struggling body to the wide double doors. "Let go!" She bellowed, panicking as their fingers dug into her flesh to keep a grip on her.

How were they so damn strong?!

The man kicked the door open, still gripping her like a vice while she tried to kick out and snap her fangs at their hands. Hope was immediately greeted with a horrible sight that settled her body immediately.

Panting, she watched Newt crouch, hands wrapped around the bars of a cage he and Albus shared. They were crammed into what Hope realized was a cage from the Poachers' camp.

Albus sat on his heels, watching her intently. Eyes wide - jaw tight.

Her breath shook as she took in the rest of the room and realized they weren't alone. In fact, numerous bodies filled the place. They all dressed as Aurors, but Hope realized immediately they were not working for the Ministry.

Theseus was among them.

"I'm s-sorry…" Theseus stuttered, tears rolling down his cheeks. He was on his knees, his hands behind his back, and a wand to his throat.

"I take full credit." The wand holder's voice came, and dread wrapped around Hope's throat as she looked at the woman holding the wand to Theseus. 

"After all, the Imperius Curse is unforgivable for a reason." Sylvia purred.

Hope winced as she was forced to her knees with a resounding crack. The fingers of someone behind her threaded into her hair, forcing her head to stay still. Heavy boots weighed her calves down.

"Syliva…" Hope gasped as the man tightened his grip on her hair.

With a wild grin, Syliva tilted her head to the side. "You really aren't as smart as you think, Hope."

How could it have been her? All this time…

Hope had confided in her- they'd become friends. Her eyes flitted to Newt, whose eyes were glittering with fresh tears as he watched Syliva hold his brother's life in her hands.

"Then enlighten me," Hope murmured, looking back at her.

Sylvia didn't look the same as she had in Hogsmeade. Somehow, she seemed older. Aged, even. Like time had stolen her youth sooner than it was meant to. Her usually tame hair was frizzed, and her clothing was worn, ripped, and soiled.

A low laugh came from Sylvia. "It's nothing personal, Hope. You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and now, unfortunately for you, you'll be paying the severe consequences of that."

Hope's head spun as she tried to collect everything thrown at her.

"I don't…understand."

"Of course, you don't," Sylvia rolled her eyes, "because it's not about you, you self-centered little bitch." She peeled a high-pitched laugh. "You think because you're some hybrid freak, you're that important?"

Hope thought for a moment and gave a slight shrug. "I mean, a little bit, yeah."

The glare Syliva cut through her was sharp as a blade. "Wrong. My orders are clear. Find it by any means necessary, and I take my work very seriously."

Blinking, she glanced at Albus, who was watching Sylvia.

"Sylvia," Albus began, "you already know my answer."

Hope flitted back to Sylvia, who turned her glare on Albus.

"He said you might be difficult," she sneered, "but I think you might be a little more forthcoming with your answers if you realize what is at stake."

"Sylvia…" Albus began again calmly, but she cut him off.

"Crucio!" Theseus dropped to the ground in a deafening cry of anguish.

Newt slammed against the bars of the cage. "STOP!" He shouted. "Syliva, please!"

"Tell me where it is!"

Albus bellowed now. "I don't have it!"

In the next instant, Theseus lay motionless, but Hope watched his chest rise and fall in ragged breaths. Heat stung her eyes as she squirmed against the people holding her.

Sylvia strutted to the cage and snarled at Albus with blunt teeth. "Tell the truth."

"That is the truth," he fixed his eyes on her and dropped his voice to a whisper, eyes desperately deep, "Sylvia, you know this isn't right. Take me if you must, but leave them be."

Another wave of panic crushed Hope's chest as Sylvia raised her wand, pointing it at Albus' forehead. He didn't waver, even as Newt tried to move to position his body in front of him. He held his arm out, keeping Newt to the side as he continued silently watching Syliva. 

Waiting for her to make a move.

Hope heard Albus' heart pound like a bird's wings trapped in a cage. Could smell the fear and despair emanating from him.

"If you do not tell me, then I will lose everything," Syliva hissed, eyes wide and wild, "so if I'm to lose everything. I will take everything from you."

Turning on her heels, Syliva raised her arm.

Hope stared at the tip of Sylvia's outstretched wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" 

A flash of green.

A scream in her ears.

Then, Hope knew no more.