Wizards in Shining Armour

Since Hope first found her Grimoire, Albus began studying the different lines of magic, trying to understand them to help her better. Though he had to admit, it seemed a very taboo subject. He couldn't find much information in Wizard published books, so at the beginning of the break, he traveled around to find more self-owned Muggle stores.

It was ironic that Muggles had access to this information so freely and never chose to learn more.

Albus now sat in his office by the fire, turning through withered pages of spell books not meant for his kind. Trying his best to translate, he'd have to ask Hope's opinion when she and Newt returned from New York.

He sighed softly and looked up, letting his eyes linger on the fire as the scene played out in his head for the tenth time that day.

The way Hope had looked at him in the courtyard. It was like she'd known what he'd been thinking. Perhaps she already knew and hadn't confronted him yet.

She was intelligent enough to conclude- yet thoughtful enough to keep it to herself.

Albus' lips curved into a soft smile as he reached for his teacup when his door burst open. He dropped the cup, brows raised as he looked over. Eyes landing on Newt.

With a frown and the tea cup forgotten, Albus stood to his feet and walked closer to the frazzled-looking Newt, who seemed on the verge of tears. Though, he could assume he'd already shed many.

"Newt?" Albus frowned, moving closer still as his heart picked up. "What's wrong?" He looked around, and he was almost sure his fear was confirmed. "Where's Hope?"

"I was going to send an Owl, but I was afraid it would be too slow and…" Newt gasped.

"Newt." Albus' blue eyes fixed on him, resting his hands on his shoulders. "Take a breath."

After Newt did as instructed, he finally managed to get the message out. "I can't find Hope," his voice shook as more tears spilled down his cheeks, "I can't find her, Albus. All the Wizards of New York are looking."

Icy fear started to crawl down Albus' spine, but he forced it away. He could not freeze up now with Hope's safety at stake.

"Tell me what happened." He said as calmly as he could.

"We were dropping Wingedback off, and she got upset they wouldn't let her say goodbye. She left the building, and I lost track of her. A woman said she saw her go into an alleyway and- and she'd heard a scream. Blood was on the pavement when we arrived, but she wasn't there." Newt's words started to come out in a frantic burst again. "I don't know where she could be, Albus. I don't know what to do; she could be dead, and I…"

Albus, without thinking, cupped Newt's face in his firm but gentle hands.

"Newt, hear me," he murmured, gazing into his eyes with a burning sincerity, "We will find Hope." He stroked the tears from his freckled cheeks with a swipe of his thumbs- listening to Newt's near sob of breath, quiet and calm, just a little. "We will go to New York and find her. Hope is resilient; wherever she is, she's probably giving them a run for their money."

Newt couldn't seem to smile, not that Albus blamed him. He could practically taste his fear. He finally nodded, his chest shaking as he released another fragile breath.

Turning to the fireplace, he offered Newt some Floo Powder.

"Let's go."