章節 9: A Close Call
Hope spent the next few days with Newt outside, learning about the creatures he cared for. She sat on the ground outside the Mooncalf area, where the pen was so low it could hardly be considered an enclosure.
Just liked Wingedback's.
"So when they're healed, they'll return to where they lived before."
"Some, yes," Newt replied, sitting next to her to offer some floating kibble to the Mooncalfs, "Others, no."
Hope excitedly watched them snatch the pieces out of the air, making little noises of approval.
He continued, offering Hope some kibble to feed them as well. "Some, unfortunately, will never be well enough to survive in their habitats. So, I keep them here. Offer extra love and compassion, and of course treats," he chuckled, "And they help me teach students how best to care for them - why they are so important to our world and ecosystem."
Reaching her fingers out, she stroked the forehead of one of the Mooncalfs, smiling as it seemed to purr from the affection.
"Do they co-exist among other animals? The non-magic ones?"
Newt nodded. "Mostly, but they usually stick to their own. They've developed wonderful awareness and usually stay out of sight, though there are incidents where the Ministry needs to intervene. While Mooncalfs tend to stay out of sight, Dragons are more known to draw attention. Some Muggles need to be obliviated, have their memory erased, after seeing one."
Grinning, Hope leaned closer to him. "Dragons?" she asked, images of memories coming to mind's-eye, as if she knew what a Dragon looked like but couldn't remember where she may have seen one. She hadn't seen any in the Poachers camp or in the books Newt had given her.
"Oh yes," he chuckled, "If I'm honest, most people don't smile when I mention them."
Hope nodded. "Well, I think some people forget that fear and respect go hand in hand. You can have a fear of something's power but respect and love it all the same."
"I agree…" he smiled, biting his lower lip momentarily as if in deep thought. Newt then patted her knee and offered her his hand. "Wingedback has been pacing around. I think he's looking for you."
With a smile, she stood to her feet, still holding his hand as they made their way to where Wingedback had his own paddock, but as they got closer, something seemed a bit off. Hope watched as Wingedback pranced around, fluffing out his feathers. He didn't look as calm as he usually did.
Newt and Hope stopped simultaneously and watched him claw the dirt in agitation. "Is there something wrong with him?" She asked in a soft whisper.
"I don't know. He seemed fine an hour ago. Wait here…" Newt murmured, holding an arm up to her as he glanced over his shoulder. His features were etched in severe worry lines. "I mean that. Do not come closer until I say."
Swallowing, Hope nodded, though every instinct she had wanted her to go with him. She fought it, knowing this wasn't her area of expertise.
With bated breath, Hope watched Newt slowly creep forward, keeping his body bent in a low bow the whole way toward Wingedback.
Even though she knew he was speaking softly, she could hear every word as if his voice were next to her own ear. Whispering calm affirmations, 'It'll be okay,' 'I'm here to help.'
Wingedback turned his yellow gaze on Newt, making him freeze in his spot and bow lower. Still, it seemed Wingedback was not pleased with his approach because before another second passed, he squawked and began to charge Newt.
Hope turned into a blur as she ran toward him, just as he took out his wand to protect himself. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she rammed into Newt, knocking him down and making him avoid Wingedbacks slicing claws.
Fortunately for Newt, he was safe without a bruise to speak about.
Unfortunately for Hope, talons tore through her new slacks and through her thigh, down to the bone.
Everything next happened so fast she couldn't keep up, the burning pain in the forefront of her mind. Somehow, Newt managed to get them away from Wingedback's pen and onto the front steps of Hogwarts.
"I told you to stay back." His voice would have been irritated if not for the amount of worry it held, his focus now on her thigh, which gushed blood down her pants and dripped onto the step under them.
Hope winced as he tore away some of the fabric with a knife, reaching into a satchel on his hip to bring out a medicated balm.
"I know. I'm sorry, I just," she sighed, "I saw you about to get hurt, and my body just kind of…moved."
Newt glanced up at her, brows furrowed, but nodded with a soft sigh. "This will help you heal—" he started to say before looking down at her leg, which, aside from the blood, had no other sign of injury. With a puzzled frown, he twisted her knee from one side to the other, searching for anything, but there was nothing.
No sign of a cut or bruise, only smooth skin.
"Does it hurt anymore?" He asked, looking up at her in bewilderment.
Hope shook her head. "No, I don't even feel it now." Since she'd begun drinking some blood daily, her body had restored itself in massive waves of improvement.
Madam Florence had been delighted because her tonics, it seemed, were counteracting her body's natural healing properties. Blood was the only 'tonic' she needed now.
A vile of blood a day kept the doctor away.
"That's remarkable healing. Any vampire I've ever met took at least a little longer. This was almost momentarily." Newt looked up at her, smiling again.
Returning the smile, she watched as he touched his wand to her leg. The blood disappeared without a trace; even the stain was gone. "That can be fixed in a jiffy," he nodded to the hole. "But please, Hope," he continued, "When I ask you to stay back, please do everything in your power to stay back."
Frowning, Hope thought his words over and nodded slowly. "I wish I could promise that I will because I know that's what you want to hear, and I'll respect the space you need when working with a creature, but…no," she shook her head, "I will not stand back if I think you're about to be shredded."
"Hope…"
"Would you?" She asked pointedly. "Would you stand back when I'm about to be torn into?"
Hesitating, he finally sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "No. No, I wouldn't." Newt smiled sheepishly. "You're terribly stubborn, you know that, don't you?"
"I will thrive on that compliment," Hope grinned and stood to her feet, testing her leg. It worked perfectly fine, "I even felt his claw hit bone." She paused and looked at Newt.
"Why was he acting like that? I've never seen him so distraught."
"It could be several things. The change from one place to another, he could be ill, or it could be that mating season is just around the corner."
Hope pondered that information for a moment. "So he needs some Hippogriff lovin'?"
Letting out a laugh, Newt nodded. "Yes, he might require some affection from a female Hippogriff."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go get him a girlfriend." Hope hopped to the ground from the stairs.
Laughing still, he followed her. "It's not as easy as that, but I'll look into it. If anything, we can find an area where there are more Hippogriffs. Where he can find a mate for himself."
A sadness crept through her as she looked over at him. "You mean he'd leave? For good?"
The soft smile he held matched her own sadness. Newt nodded. "Yes. He would leave, but it would be best for him." He stroked her arm lightly, comfortingly. Like he knew the sadness she felt all too well.
Hope nodded and sighed, not yet trusting her own voice.
"Come on," Newt retook her hand, "Lunch will be served soon, and we need to wash up before we eat. I don't want to make that mistake again. I was giving a Graphorn a bath once and forgot to wash my hands afterward. That was the worst toast I've ever had."
That earned a laugh from Hope, and she quickly followed him into the castle, stomach growling and gums aching for more blood.
Just as they entered the Great Hall, a tall woman with long blonde hair down to the back of her knees, whom Hope knew to be the Herbology professor, stopped in their path.
"Albus has sent for you both. He's in his office now." Professor Hadridge smiled, her cheeks silver with sparkles as she walked past to have lunch.
She and Newt exchanged a worried glance, and she knew they were thinking the same thing.
Has the Ministry asked for her departure? If they somehow found out she was part vampire, she imagined they'd have every right not to trust her control, especially with students starting classes in just a few short weeks.
"It'll be alright," he squeezed her hand reassuringly, "Go and get some blood, and I'll meet you at the gargoyle on the seventh floor."
Hope nodded, though her heart was hammering in her chest as she returned to the kitchens where her room was. They had a stock of blood in a little compartment hidden inside, so she'd be relatively safe from accusation even if someone went searching.
After downing a bottle of red, she let her features settle and sighed with a shaky breath. This could be it. She could be out of Hogwarts after this meeting.
While walking down the hall and climbing staircases, she mentally prepared herself for what was to come. Hope was trembling by the time she met Newt at the gargoyle. They didn't speak, only spoke the password, and began up the stairs. Hope wanted to be fascinated by the suddenly appearing winding steps, but her nerves were too frayed to be distracted.
When they reached the door, Hope took a deep breath and knocked.
Here goes nothing, she thought, as the door opened on its own accord, and she stepped through the threshold.
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