The Ultimate Compromise

"Please, Hope," Newt began, "tell me you're not serious."

Hope didn't answer. Instead, she sipped her tea, mauling over the idea of going back into the Mirror Dimension. It wasn't something she wanted to do, but at the moment, it felt necessary.

Newt tried again, moving to sit in front of her. "Hope, you barely made it out alive last time. Your safety can't be guaranteed in that place."

"My safety can't be guaranteed out here." She countered with another scalding swallow of tea. Her gaze flitted to Albus to gauge his expression. "I don't mind talking it through, but I don't want the idea to be shut down immediately. We're running out of options and time. What about when the train arrives on September 1st? What could happen then? If a student were to get taken into that world? You're right; I barely survived. I made it out because my body temperature is higher than average. Anyone else would freeze to death before finding the right mirror."

Newt sat back on his heels and rubbed his face, pursing his lips thinly. "It terrifies me thinking of you in there again."

"I know," Hope nodded, taking his hand in hers, "I'm not exactly fond of the thought, but what choice do we have? We have to do something."

After some deliberation, he nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay, but let us at least come up with another solution before you try?" Newt asked as desperation tinged his eyes.

She finally nodded with another look over at Albus, who studied her silently. "You have till the end of this week. Friday evening. If you don't have an alternative, I go back in."

The compromise was enough to settle him as he sat back a little, though he wasn't completely relaxed. 

And he wasn't alone.

They were all on edge.