Bubble, Bubble, Unicorn Trouble

The days passed slowly. At least, it felt that way to Hope. She spent most of her time in Albus' office, only retreating to hide in his chambers at night and when someone was coming by for a visit. It was rare that a student was sent, but it did happen.

Mostly Sarah.

Hope wanted to do more, to reach out and offer help again. But since Valentine's Day, a chill swept down her body at the thought of leaving the safety of Albus' office and venturing further. Never again did she want to be touched like that again- to be forced to feel so helpless.

All Newt and Albus could do now was remind her that what happened wasn't her fault. It helped.

Sometimes.

Other times, Hope would lie awake wishing she could fight away the fear that crept over her like icy fingers. Then the panic would set in, and Albus and Newt would do their best to help her calm down enough to fall asleep. They were cautious of how they touched her, and for that, she was grateful.

A part of her missed their touch, and then another part cringed at the thought of it. That was what she hated the most. Knowing she could trust them with everything and yet nothing at all.

The patience they had for her made the guilt worse. She often felt as though she were depriving them. Albus' look was indescribable when she'd mentioned it in a side comment one day.

"Please, Hope," he had said, "if you're to ever take any advice I give, let it be this. Do not let others' wants overshadow your needs."

Hope sat in the window of Albus' office now, watching large birds fly back and forth from the castle grounds and the forest. They seemed to be making a nest, weaving intricate patterns.

Spring was here, and it could be felt throughout the grounds. That bit of light shined through cold, gray days.

Looking past the birds, she watched Newt walk out of the forest, his gait a bit off. Favoring one leg over the other.

Hope stood and immediately started toward the door but froze. Staring at the knob a moment too long.

"Would you like company?" Albus asked from his chair by the fire, looking up with a soft smile. Blue eyes warm.

With a hard swallow, Hope took a deep breath and nodded. At least she wouldn't be by herself, which she supposed is why he offered.

"I saw Newt limping," Hope murmured, "I just want to make sure he's alright."

Albus smiled thoughtfully and closed his book. "Well, let's see if he needs any help."

Unable to help noticing his continued smile, she raised a brow. "What?" Hope asked, maybe a little too defensively.

Albus stood and set his book on the side table. "Would you like the honest answer?"

"Yes," Hope frowned, watching him.

Shrugging lightly, he smiled again. "You've been afraid to go through the castle for weeks, but the moment you saw Newt might be injured, you went for the door." Albus gave another little shrug while tucking his hands into the pockets of his smart gray suit. "Now, I'm not saying your confidence wasn't damaged that night, but one thing will always help you to maintain your courage."

Continuing to watch him with searching eyes, Hope shook her head. "What one thing?" What could possibly make her feel brave enough to risk her own safety?

"Love." Albus smiled softly, eyes twinkling.

A faint blush slowly crept along Hope's cheeks, making her smile. Taking a moment to collect herself, she turned to the door and went through with Albus not far behind.

They ended up meeting Newt halfway.

Frowning, Hope looked him over. "What happened?" She kneeled down to inspect his swollen ankle. "That doesn't look good, Newt. Why did you come up this way? You need to go to the hospital wing…" she trailed off, standing up to face him.

"No time," Newt panted, "There's a Unicorn in the forest, and she has a foal. He's hurt, and I can't get to the baby without her attacking. I can't help him without someone to guard her."

"I'll do it," Hope said immediately before Albus could answer.

"Hope, you need to know this will be dangerous," Newt frowned, "Unicorns are usually very docile and gentle, but not when it comes to their young."

"I understand," Hope nodded, already walking that way, "and I also understand if we don't hurry, something worse could happen. So let's go."

When Hope set foot outside, she could feel herself start to come alive again. She had a purpose in this moment, a mission greater than herself. Rescue a foal and Unicorn mother.

Taking the worn path to the forest, she knew Newt wasn't far behind.

"Madam Florence is gonna be pissed when she sees how you care for your foot." She called back to him, earning a breathy laugh as he hobbled.

"I'm counting on it."

Hope paused at the entrance and waited momentarily for him to catch up. Looking over at him, she frowned. "What do you need me to do?"

Newt nodded and took out a bag of food and a green bottle. She wasn't quite sure what its contents were.

"Do your best to distract her with these treats and or these bubbles," he held the bottle up, "Unicorns love bubbles. I'll try to sneak to the foal, but I am telling you now, if she starts getting riled up, use your speed and get out of there." Newt's green eyes were darkly severe now, knowing she had a habit of not listening to him.

Hope sighed. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

After a brief nod, they entered the forest together. Albus was back at the door, and Hope could feel his eyes on them. Waiting and watching to call reinforcements if they were needed.

The forest was much different upon entering it this time. The last she'd been here was when the Centaur had given her fortune. The trees had been bare then. Now, they were full and filled with life.

A frantic whinny came from ahead, and Hope nodded to Newt before they separated. He continued around the back while she approached the front.

As she stepped into the clearing, the scene before her unraveled many of her questions. Snagged in thick thorn bushes, the foal gave bleating cries as it struggled and thrashed to escape. But with every attempt to get away, the thorns seemed to dig deeper into him. Causing more silver blood to gush down his little golden body.

The mother pranced back and forth, clearly agitated as she snorted and stamped the ground with her hoof.

"Hey, easy…" Hope murmured as she took out the food bag, "Is your baby hurt?" She continued, her voice low as she inched closer to where the Unicorn continued to pace.

Opening the bag, she held it up. Movements slow and careful so as not to startle her. "Look, it's-" Before Hope could get another word out, the Unicorn charged at her.

Getting from one side of the clearing to the other was a blur, but at least she was accomplishing her task. She was a great distraction when she saw Newt from the corner of her eye creeping toward the foal to snip away the branches of the thorns and thistles.

"Okay, fine. You don't like me here, I get it," Hope shouted, keeping her attention away from the bushes, "Come on now, I even have bubbles. Look!"

Taking out the bottle, she shook it. After unscrewing the cap, she expected to take out a bubble wand to blow through. Instead, a flourish of bubbles erupted from the top like a spewing volcano. "Ah!" Hope gasped in a sudden cry of surprise. With the solution coating her hands and the bottle, it was suddenly too slippery to hold.

Dropping it to the ground sent bubbles flying everywhere, coating the forest floor and surrounding trees. Covering herself, the Unicorn, and even the bushes nearby in thick bubble soap.

Hope covered her eyes and crouched, trying to keep the solution out, when all at once, it stopped. Looking up from her position, she saw Newt was pointing his wand at the bubble bottle. He, too, was covered from head to toe in bubble foam.

The Unicorn and her foal took off in a mad dash, disappearing behind the darkened trees of the forest with bubbles still stuck to their gleaming coats.

Hope and Newt exchanged silent glances and left the forest, crossing the grounds at his pace with his ankle toward the door.

Using her hand, she tried to brush the bubbles off as they walked but frowned as they seemed to stick to her like glue. "Why won't they come off?"

"They're unpoppable bubbles," he answered as if it were another Tuesday, "it'll fade over the next few hours."

By the time they arrived at the steps of the front door where Albus was waiting, Hope felt more alive now than she had for weeks. Her heart pounded with adrenaline, and the blood rushed through her, warming the cold fingers that not even the fireplace could seem to get rid of.

Albus looked down at them from the top step, a faint smile on his lips. He said nothing as he looked them over, laughter in his eyes.

Newt leaned closer to Hope and said, "You're not supposed to shake the bubble bottle, you know."

Hope looked over at him in bewilderment. Then, unable to stop herself, she began laughing hysterically. She was almost in tears, especially as Newt and Albus joined her laughter. Holding her sides, she shook her head before putting her hands to her mouth to stifle her giggles.

It felt good- no, amazing. To feel light and airy with laughter.

To feel joy again.

"Come on, you need to get off that foot." Hope grinned, offering her shoulder to help support his weight as they went inside.

On the way to the hospital wing, Hope continued to giggle as Newt relayed what happened to Albus.

"It did provide a perfect distraction, though." Hope countered.

Grinning, Newt nodded. "That it did."

The rest of the night was spent with Madam Florence reprimanding Newt for walking on a broken foot. Apparently, the Unicorn had smashed it with her hoof. Still, unsurprisingly to Hope, she watched Newt defend the Unicorn with each cringe. Explaining how she was merely protecting her baby.

Leaning forward, Hope pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

Newt looked up at her with blinking eyes. Speechless.

"For being you." She murmured.

As night fell and the castle quieted, Hope emerged from the bathroom after showering and brushing her teeth. Things she'd felt were impossible just yesterday.

Newt was fast asleep in his bed- Madam Florence required him to stay the night to ensure his foot and ankle appropriately healed.

Just as Hope was about to fall into the bed next to his, she noticed something on the top of her covers. Her stomach churned uncertainly as she recognized it to be the box with her dress from Hogsmeade, the one she'd purchased for the Ball she never went to.

On top of the box was a letter.

"Newt?" She whispered, but he didn't so much as flutter an eyelid. The sleeping draught had knocked him out completely.

Sighing, she picked up the letter and inspected it. Usually, Albus opened her letters for her, but she didn't want to go through the castle, let alone at night.

Hope pressed the envelope to her nose and breathed it in. It didn't smell like wolfsbane. It smelled like…Albus. Tilting her head, she looked at the front of the envelope where her name was scrawled in pretty script. She knew that hand.

Without waiting any longer, Hope opened the letter. It read:

Friday night on the seventh floor - opposite the troll tapestry.

It was all it said, and while it smelled like Albus, she'd ask him just to make sure. She didn't want to go to a meeting spot if it would be some nefarious plan to get her alone again.

Setting the letter to the side, she opened the box to see if the dress was still inside. It was, but not just her dress.

She gasped as a pair of beautiful sparkling rose quartz earrings and a matching necklace glittered in the moonlight. Next to them was what looked to be a makeup set. Tears itched at the corners of her eyes as she thought back to what she'd wanted when going out that night.

Hope hadn't thought Albus had heard her comment about wanting makeup, but he always did have a knack for listening.

Hope curled up in bed that night with a smile gracing her lips. She wasn't quite sure what changed from this morning to now.

One wouldn't think that an exploration to save a Unicorn foal that resulted in a bubble catastrophe would aid in suppressing fear and anxiety, but somehow, it did.

Or maybe it was the knowledge that no matter what she might go through, her boys were there for her. Ready to help her fight her demons even if she was the one who had to throw the punches.

Either way, whatever had relieved her chest of its heavy pressure, for the first time in weeks, Hope slept without nightmares.