Sign The Registry

Unknown to Hope, while she and Newt went to New York, Albus had done some extra digging regarding her type of magic. He had traveled to different muggle locations and picked up a few books here and there, leading to a massive compilation that Hope's sorted through now. She did her best to translate, but much of the ancient Latin handwriting wasn't as legible as one might think.

By noon, Hope's eyes were burning. She'd started reading by firelight at around five that morning until the sun came up and hadn't stopped but for a few bites of toast and gulps of coffee.

Oh, coffee.

Hope reached over and picked up her mug, but as she took a sip, she looked at the bottom to see it was empty. She stood to refill it for the fifth time, but the mug suddenly was out of her hands and in Albus'.

"Sorry, Hope, but I think I will have to cut you off." He smiled crookedly and set the dish on a plate to be washed.

Rubbing her eyes, she sighed and looked at the carpet. To the left were books she'd yet to go through and translate into something that made sense, and to the right were the ones she'd finished. All four of them.

Hope wrinkled her nose. "Hm, who knew translating ancient Latin from witches with terrible penmanship would be such a challenge."

Chuckling, he wrapped his arms around her, and she let her cheek fall to his chest. Dipping deeply into his musky scent.

"You need a break," he kissed the top of her head, "would you like to go to London with me today?"

She looked up with sudden interest, brows raised and eyes alight. "Really?"

Albus nodded, laughing lightly. "I have a meeting at two o'clock. Newt mentioned going through London to get to Diagon Alley, but you never really saw anything."

Nodding, she gave his waist a squeeze and smiled. "I suppose it might look a little different now, given the crash."

With a frown, Albus stroked his fingers along the small of her back. "The Ministry is doing what they can to help with the situation, but there's only so much to be done that keeps our world secret."

Seeing so many struggles in one world while others thrived in another was a sad situation. Hope changed the subject before she could let the sadness get to her.

"Newt mentioned he has a brother who works for the Ministry?"

"He does," Albus nodded, "Theseus is an Auror, meaning he helps the Ministry catch Wizards who practice the Dark Arts."

Hope couldn't help but look over at the books on the floor. They held so much Dark Magic- voodoo and hoodoo were primary practices within the magic she seemed to inherit. From what she could understand, from others' perspectives, was that it could be considered not just dark but very dark.

"I think I was a Dark Witch," she said, looking over at him to see if he would counteract, but he said nothing as he watched her, "Newt just doesn't want to admit it because what then? Would I be sent to Azkaban for crimes I don't remember committing?"

Hope found her face between his hands, forced to look up at him.

"Perhaps you did." He murmured.

It wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear, but she couldn't look away from his penetrating gaze.

"And if you did," he continued, "it does not change the person you are here. Right now. The person that hand feeds Bowtruckles when they have a cough and helps students with homework questions that she has no idea how to answer," Hope snorted, but couldn't help but smile, "that person. That woman is the one that I love."

Hope looked up at him, tears pricking her eyes as a lump formed in her throat.

"Tell me," Albus murmured, "aside from the attacks- what has you so afraid?"

That was the question she didn't want to answer, which had haunted her since she arrived at Hogwarts last June. She blinked tears but found she still couldn't move her line of vision from his.

"I'm afraid if we uncover who I am…" she paused, shaking, "you won't love me anymore."

Albus smiled softly and stroked her lower lip. "I believe you told me that a person can love someone who does bad things; it just means they see the goodness they could achieve. Hope, people are the product of their environment. Perhaps you have done horrible things. That was then and there. This is now. You've done nothing terrible here, which means you are not a bad person. It means the places you had been were darker than your light could shine through. Darkness can consume us, but you must know that even when you are lost in the shadows, Newt and I will be here holding our own light. We will always help you find your way home."

Hope pressed her face against his chest, letting him hold her. Swaying a little as he rested his chin on top of her head. The sadness was still there- the fear and uncertainty of what she didn't know couldn't vacate, but his words and light helped contain them.

Would there ever be a time when she didn't feel guilt for something she didn't know she'd done? It didn't seem likely, but at least she had this. At least she had them.

"I think I'd like to go to New Orleans sometime," she murmured finally, her voice calmed, "Newt says it might have meant something to me based on my painting."

Albus nodded with a small smile and stroked the hair off her neck. "Sounds like a wonderful trip. We could go in Spring after classes have let out."

It turned out Albus had been to New Orleans before as well. Not for the same reason Newt had been, but she listened to his stories as they prepared to go to London. Smiling as he laughed about how he'd nearly lost his tongue to the city's spice but that it was spectacular and filled with a rich history.

They used a portkey to travel to London this time, and Hope nearly fell to the ground when they arrived. She was laughing as her balance was thrown off, and she couldn't stand straight. "How do you manage to do that all the time? I feel like scrambled eggs."

Albus chuckled, holding her arm to keep her from falling over. "Wizardkind has a bit of a different makeup than others. A sort of evolution, if you will. We've become more accustomed to it."

When she was finally steady enough to walk, they started down the sidewalk heading toward the Ministry. Hope did her best not to stop and stare too much, knowing Albus' had his meeting in fifteen minutes. It was hard to continue once something caught her eye, but she knew better now than to let herself get lost without him or Newt.

Since New York, Hope didn't like being alone.

Inside, she realized very little difference between the Ministry and the Congress. Both were filled with Wizards and Witches rushing around, but it seemed quieter here. Less urgent.

It was so much to look at, but she knew she wouldn't see it all. She'd be waiting in the hallway while Albus met with the Minister.

Or so she thought.

"Hector Fawley," a short man with a handlebar mustache, took Hope's hand with a vigorous shake, "so good to finally meet you. I've heard much from Albus about you. We really are delighted you've been taking to Hogwarts so well. I knew it, I did, I spoke to the rest of the Ministry, and I just knew you'd be a perfect addition– "

Hope blinked, trying to take in all his words as quickly as he spoke them, but it was a little overwhelming with how quickly he spoke. Hector Fawley, oh right, he was the Minister of Magic. And…he still hadn't stopped talking. Hope entirely tuned him out during his spill of information.

Hector looked at her expectantly.

"What?" She asked; she'd clearly missed a question.

"Would you like tea while you wait?"

Hope smiled and nodded. "Oh, sure. Thank you."

Glancing over at Albus, she watched him walk through the door to the meeting room, but not before casting a quick smile and a wink.

Only a moment later, she took the teacup from a woman Fawley requested. Hope checked the contents and dipped her finger in as a habit, making sure she wouldn't be swallowing a mouthful of wolfsbane.

Sitting on a couch in the hallway just outside the room, she lifted the cup of tea to her lips, watching people pass by. They jabbered to each other about one thing or another. It wasn't until a few minutes later that she realized many that passed by glanced at her and then would speak in low whispers.

Time continued slowly but not uneventfully. It was entertaining listening in on others' conversations here. While the gossip was entertaining, she had more fun tuning her hearing in and out of the discussions. She found she could control which voices she could hear more clearly based on how much she focused on them.

It was almost a half hour later when a voice startled her.

"Hi." A tall man, probably thirty or so, sat beside her with a grin. "You're Hope?" He asked, pushing back the blonde hair that brushed his forehead and eyed her with green eyes. One might say they were the same shade of green as Newt's, but they were not the same. They held none of the warmth. If anything, she could see something cold behind them.

A slow chill crawled up Hope's spine, glancing around. She knew Albus was just inside the room to her left, but the feeling of safety she'd felt a moment ago seemed to disappear.

"I'm Thomas," he continued as if she'd answered him, "Thomas Banks. I'm actually just here for a signature."

Hope stared at him momentarily, wondering if he'd heard him correctly. "I'm sorry, a signature? For a petition or something?" She wasn't against supporting certain things but wouldn't sign her name down just because someone asked.

"No, no. For the registry." Thomas chuckled and pulled a few pieces of parchment and a quill from his inner coat. "I'm part of the Werewolf Code of Conduct, and we just need your signature stating that you'll be locking yourself up for each full moon to create a safe environment for those around you."

Staring at him with searching eyes, she nearly started to laugh. This had to be a joke, right? She glanced around to see if this was a prank before looking back at him. His expression had gone from polite to severe, his eyes colder than before.

"I'm not signing that…" Hope said before she could think of something brighter- like staying quiet.

Thomas forced a smile. "I understand this must be embarrassing for you, but it is necessary."

Hope's stomach flipped as goosebumps covered her arms. What he was asking of her didn't feel right. If signing some sort of registry was something she had to do, Albus or Newt would have told her. They would have gone through the process with her, and she was not about to put her name down on some binding agreement that she be locked away every full moon.

"Here." Thomas moved the parchment closer to her and tried to put the quill in her hand, but Hope quickly pulled her hand away. Brows scrunching in a scowl at him.

"No."

"Is there a problem?"

The sweet sound of Albus' voice stopped Thomas from imploring further. He moved forward just enough so that his body was halfway hiding hers. The relief that filled Hope visibly dropped her shoulders. She hadn't realized how tightly she'd clenched her muscles until the tension was suddenly released.

A hint of something in his steel green eyes flickered- fear, maybe?

Albus was not acting aggressively toward Thomas, but anyone with eyes could see he was unhappy with the man in front of him. His usual smile and twinkling eyes were replaced with harsh lines of disapproval.

"Dumbledore," he nodded in greeting, "no problem here. Just informing your newest ward of our program."

Ward?

Hope frowned. She couldn't explain it, but she didn't like that word.

"Hm," Albus murmured with a nod, "I already had this discussion with Hector, and he has given an exception. As I'm sure, you've already been informed."

The air around them got heavier as Thomas glanced at Hope, and she saw it. That glint of malicious intent she'd sensed earlier. It sent a cold chill down her spine as she realized he would have her behind bars for no reason other than an official title in the Ministry. One that hardly pertained to her.

Hope wasn't like the Werewolves they usually worked with. She didn't turn on a full moon. If she signed that parchment, she'd be a human jailed and chained up for a night for nothing.

"Must have slipped my mind." Thomas offered the fakest smile Hope had ever seen before, giving a nod to them both. "Do take care, Hope."

The way her name sounded on his lips made her inwardly cringe. It was like he'd tried to caress her with ice.

They watched Thomas walk away toward a fireplace that seemed a frequent way for floo powder to enter and leave the Ministry.

"Are you alright?" Albus asked, turning to her when Thomas was out of sight.

Nodding, she rubbed the back of her neck. A nervous habit she'd picked up from Newt after being around him so frequently. "Why would he try to make me sign a registry if he knew I didn't need to?"

He pursed his lips and nodded. "Hector is talkative but cordial, taking much of my advice. Ironically," he chuckled at some sort of inside joke, "not everyone shares the same views when it comes to-"

"Werewolves?" She asked softly.

"Precisely. Thomas is, well, he's always had firm opinions when it comes to registries for certain groups. I don't know the past behind it, but he was a student of mine. In one of the first classes I taught, he asked many questions regarding Werewolves. I'm not pointing fingers, but I'll be watching closely."

Hope nodded and let out a soft sigh. "I'm just glad you came when you did. I don't like the way he was looking at me."

"Have I missed something?" A man, probably the same age as Thomas, came up with a raised brow and a slight smile. Now, this one looked a little familiar, and when Albus smiled, she released her breath.

"Theseus," Albus chuckled, "this is Hope. Hope, Theseus. Newt's brother."

Hope smiled. Oh yes, she could see the family relation now. "Nice to meet you." Nothing abnormal came with his energy; he must be safe to be around. Perhaps Newt was right, and she was some version of a seer.

Theseus smiled, not like Newt, but dimpled cheeks and light eyes. "Ah, Newt's told me all about you- the pleasure is mine. I'm glad to see my little brother so happy."

Hope couldn't help but grin. Hearing from both his brother and Sylvia that Newt was noticeably happy with her felt nice. Sometimes a stroke to the ego was a good thing. It made her feel light and airy.

While Theseus and Albus caught up on some Auror and Hogwarts business, Hope listened as well as she could, but some was a bit above her head.

"Yes, absolutely. Dinner sounds wonderful," Theseus smiled in response, "it'll be nice catching up outside the Ministry."

Hope smiled. It sounded nice getting together for a group dinner. Theseus was newly married, and it appeared things were going well for them. She wondered where they might go- if it were a Wizard establishment outside the Three Broomsticks.

"Tomorrow night." Albus nodded in agreement with a smile before bidding Theseus goodbye as he had to rush to a meeting.

"Take care, Hope." Theseus smiled warmly before quickly walking down the hall.

It was so strange how the exact words from separate people could feel so different.

"Are you ready to see more of the city?" Albus asked with a smile as they started for the front doors. Hope nodded with a grin, her spirits rising slightly at seeing more of the city. Not even the gray skies and distant thunder could snuff her sunshine.

They walked through the streets, mainly through the areas of higher interest. Historical sights, monuments, and little shops. Hope grinned as she watched someone on the sidewalk doing artwork in charcoal, his fingers dirty but face smiling. That was happiness if she'd ever seen it.

By the time it was dark, the clouds had released the shower they'd be saving, making Hope gasp as the rain soaked through her in a sudden bone-chilling wave. Her feet were aching, and her stomach gave a deep growl as Albus used his coat to cover their heads.

"Hungry?" Albus smiled, gesturing to a little bakery they happened to be walking by.

Hope looked over, seeing the warm pastries in display cases beyond, and nodded enthusiastically. "Starving."

It seemed it was an all-night bakery for Muggles who worked night shifts. By the time she and Albus were settled at a table, they were warming up from the chill. Her hair was still damp, clinging to her neck.

It had been snowing and now raining. Spring may come early this year. The prospect of flowers blooming made her smile. What would Hogwarts look like in the Spring?

"What are you thinking about?" Albus asked, her eyes darting to him from across the table. His voice was soft- eyes thoughtful.

Hope smiled, the flicker of a single candle on the table flickering shadows against their faces. "Hm?" She asked, twirling a piece of hair between her fingers.

"You're smiling," he watched her, a sort of wistfulness to his voice, "I wonder what might make you smile like that."

Her cheeks flushed pink, glancing down at the pastry she'd purchased. "Hm, I was thinking about what Hogwarts looks like in the Spring. Flowers…new life." She nodded, looking back up at him.

"Beautiful," Albus murmured, but how his eyes observed her made her think he wasn't answering about Hogwarts.

Another blush crept up her neck, and Hope picked up the pastry. She tore a piece off and placed it on her tongue, where it practically melted. It was warm, buttery, and filled with chocolate. "Hm, that's amazing."

Chuckling, Albus took a bite of his own and nodded in agreement. "I'd like to try the cinnamon buns they have as well. We can take some with us. I imagine Newt might like one."

Hope couldn't help but smile as she put another piece in her mind. The thoughtfulness alone was enough to make her swoon a little. Over the past week, she found he and Newt getting closer.

From what she could tell, they hadn't been physical since that night on the office floor, but she hadn't been with them every waking moment. Who knew what was happening behind closed doors. Either way, even if they hadn't had some affectionate time together, she did notice each day they got more comfortable being closer to each other.

Thinking back to when they sat looking through the Grimoires by firelight, she'd watched Albus place a hand on Newt's knee, and the way Newt had leaned into him in return made her heart swell.

As a worker walked past, their candle flickered and lost its light.

Hope chewed another piece of the flaky pastry as she looked at the burnt wick before her. "One of the books mentioned controlling the elements." She gave him a quizzical look and smiled mischievously. "Wonder if that means I can conjure fire?"

When she'd been angry in her room, the fireplace had roared a little brighter, but that had been emotional energy. Not contained and focused like this would be.

Albus chuckled and nodded, glancing around. "I see no one near. Why not try?" He tilted his head, amused.

Grinning, Hope rested her chin on the tops of her hands as she looked at the wick. She couldn't help but giggle for a moment, biting her lip, wondering if she was out of her mind thinking she could actually make this candle relight itself.

Okay, if she was going to do this, she had to focus. Hope took a breath and steadied herself, staring intently at the candle. Willing it to light, trying to force it with her mind. But after a minute, she wondered if she was approaching it the wrong way.

Instead of trying to force it with her will alone, she imagined it already lit. Her vision blurred momentarily, and then she realized the candle had returned to life. Its flame flickering as it had before.

Hope grinned and looked at Albus. "I did it." She whispered in excitement, but Albus wasn't looking at her.

She followed his gaze and realized she hadn't just lit the wick in front of them. Every candle on each table in the shop was alive with a flame.

"You certainly did," Albus murmured.

Hope looked at him, eyes wide in surprised delight. "I did that?" She whispered, grinning as his eyes met hers. It felt so good- so natural, like stretching a muscle that had been cramped in the same position for too long.

"How did it feel?" Albus smiled, watching the flame dance.

Hope thought for a moment. "Like…" She thought over the warmth that hugged her from using that part of herself. "Being home."

The incentive hadn't been rage or fear. She'd chosen to use the muscle, which made her sigh in relief. Hope very nearly leaned in to kiss his lips but then realized even in a Muggle pastry shop, she couldn't be caught kissing the Headmaster of Hogwarts while already in a known relationship with another Professor.

It was nice when they were behind closed doors and could show how they felt the way they wanted, but she wished she could walk about and take his hand without the fear of being ridiculed. Or the fear that Albus would lose his position and the respect of others.

Hiding her love for him always slashed through her like a blunt blade.

Hope yawned, which was strange because she hadn't felt tired five minutes ago. Having been filled with a new burst of energy from the sugar she'd consumed.

"I think it's time to get you to bed." Albus chuckled and stood.

Rolling her eyes, she smiled as she, too, stood. Stretching, she sighed happily, watching him go to the counter and order three cinnamon buns. The scent of sugar and cinnamon nearly made her moan; Hope could already imagine what it might taste like on her tongue.

After Albus took the order and they went outside, he removed his wand from his pocket. He checked that no eyes were watching and cast a charm over the buns so that they'd stay warm and gooey. If Hope did have their kind of magic, she'd be using that charm a little more than necessary.

Using the Portkey left Hope feeling dizzy again, and being tired didn't seem to help the effects. She stumbled into the office with a happy sigh and collapsed onto the floor pillows near the fire. The Grimoires had been moved to make the space more comfortable, and Hope realized it must have been Newt. She looked up to see him sitting in the chair Albus usually sat in.

Grinning, she got to her knees and rested her cheek on his thigh. "Hey."

"Hey," Newt chuckled and stroked his fingers lightly along her jaw, "you look like you had fun today."

Nodding, she sighed, resting her head in his lap now. His legs moved under her to support the weight of her torso while his fingers scratched up and down her back. The sensation made the back of her neck tingle.

"She saw the Ministry and saw most of London." Albus smiled, coming out from the back with a change of clothes. He wore a sweater and slippers now. "I'd say she's thoroughly exhausted." Sitting in the other chair, he crossed his ankles.

"I met your brother," she smiled at Newt, "and we're all going to dinner tomorrow night."

Newt's brows rose. "We are?"

"Yes, please? I'd like to go somewhere other than out for a Butterbeer."

Laughing lightly in his throat, Newt nodded and stroked her cheek. "I have nothing against it. My brother and I are on better terms now than we used to be."

Hope grinned as she sat on the floor and tugged her shoes and socks off with a wince. Her poor feet had been scrunched in her boots all day, walking street after street through London.

"Come here." Newt smiled, offering his hand to her. At first, she didn't understand, but then he gestured to her feet, and she grinned, setting them in his lap and resting back against the pillows as he rubbed the day away.

Her eyes rolled back as the pad of his thumb the ball of her foot and dug in. It felt amazing after such a long day.

Hope relayed to him what had happened that day. From Thomas and his creepy approach to lighting the candles with her mind's magic.

"Oh! And Albus got cinnamon rolls. He thought you might like one too." She looked at Albus, who calmly watched them from his chair with a book in his lap.

"Hm, I nearly forgot." With a wave of his wand, the pastry box drifted over and landed on the floor. Hope started to move, but Albus sat at her head, stroking his fingers through her hair.

"I did have something in mind when asking for extra icing…" Albus murmured.

Blinking up at him, she watched as he took a piece of the cinnamon bun off and brought it to her mouth. Which she opened without question. Hope didn't hesitate to take his icing-coated fingers into her mouth, swirling her tongue to lick them clean.

"Hm," she smirked at him, "I think Newt is hungry."

Hope didn't have to look to know Newt's ears would turn red.

"Do you think so?" Albus asked, tilting his head and glancing up to meet Newt's eyes. "Newt, are you hungry?"

Hope looked at him and smirked, waiting expectantly.

Newt swallowed, looking between them, eyes slowly widening. "I…uhm no…I don't think so. I mean, yes. Yes?"

Oh, Newt. Hope thought as she eyed him. He was trying to gauge how they wanted him to answer, not how he actually wanted to answer.

"You know what?" Hope asked, looking Newt in the eyes, seeing that startled look in his eyes that always gave her fuel. "I'm starving."

Taking hold of his neck collar, she pulled him down into a kiss but turned and twisted them as he was distracted. Newt let out a soft breath as his back landed against the pillows, looking up at her, lips curving into a small smile.

"I am," Hope nodded, "I'm so hungry, and it turns out you don't always need a plate." She began slowly unbuttoning his dress shirt, pulling it off his shoulders. Watching his expression change from curiously optimistic to oh dear was terrific.

Newt could only lay back as Hope rested the warm cinnamon bun on his stomach. He swallowed hard, panting a little in anticipation.

Leaning down, Hope ate off his stomach like a wolf over its prey.

Her gaze flitted up, meeting Albus' eyes, who were watching her with a clenched jaw. She only smirked as she continued eating, swallowing sugary goodness and making a mess of her chin.

After a few minutes, all that was left was smeared icing that didn't exactly look like icing.

Licking her lower lip of the remaining residue, her eyes flashed as she saw the erections they both had. "Hm, Albus, I'm full. Mind licking my plate clean?"

Albus' eyes met hers quickly, a spark in the blue that made her shiver. His gaze drifted to Newt's, who stared back, his heart racing. His silent question was met with a slow nod of permission was exchanged before Albus moved to take her place.

Hope watched in fascination, her pulse skipping as Albus lowered his head and dragged the flat of his tongue slowly up Newt's abdomen while not breaking eye contact.

He didn't stop there; his tongue made slow laps, and when Newt's hips started to squirm, he pressed down and kept him still. Causing Newt's eyes to roll back and a moan to escape him.

Albus growled deeply as he sucked the sugar icing off every inch of exposed flesh. The tip of his tongue stroked lightly through the creases of his defined muscle, leaving no crevice untouched.

Gasping softly, Newt looked down at Albus, swallowing hard as he traveled further up. Before realization hit, his mouth was on his. Newt moaned into his mouth, eyes fluttering shut as Albus pushed his hands down on his shoulders. Keeping him in place.

"Hope works in tricky ways, doesn't she." Albus chuckled, to which Newt laughed with a nod.

"That she does." Newt agreed breathlessly.

"You're welcome," Hope whispered from where she was sitting curled on the chair, the book Albus had earlier in her lap now.

They glanced up at her with a sideways grin and shook their heads.

"Troublemaker." Newt chuckled before Albus caught his lips in another kiss.

Grinning as she watched them, a feeling of something light bubbled in her chest. She rested her head against the side of the chair and realized she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer.

Hope fell asleep to the sound of Albus and Newt sharing breath and kisses.