Her Parasite

It had been days.

Days of Hope staring out the window, mind wandering into nothing.

Days where she would wake in gasping breaths, unable to remember the dream that had haunted her moments ago.

It had been days of internal conflict- trying to purge the unwanted parasite from her body, which, each day, grew more fragile. This thing was sucking the life force out of her. 

How could she fight something she couldn't see? Fight something she didn't understand?

Hope sat on the edge of her bed in the hospital wing. The only sound in the long room was the tick-tick-tick of the clock in Madam Florence's room.

It was early, for which Hope was grateful. Early mornings were when she could think most clearly.

Maybe her parasite liked to sleep in.

Albus and Newt were getting prepared for the coming school year, though she knew her face didn't leave their thoughts. It was a curse for all of them, halting everything they'd built. 

Possibly destroying it forever.

Madam Florence moved about in her room, not quite awake yet but starting to fuss under her covers.

Standing on shaky legs that offered little support, Hope inched her way to the window at the end of the room. It was her favorite window because it overlooked the grounds, and she could sometimes catch someone walking along the path just below.

Hope pressed her hands against the bottom of the window, using the ledge for support as she stared out the window. Before focusing on the world beyond, she was met with her reflection.

She resembled herself from when she'd first arrived after the Poacher raid. Ratty hair and pale skin- deep gray around her creases, making it seem like she'd just stepped out of a Tim Burton film.

Her reflection gave her so many problems these days; it mocked her and taunted her. The eyes that once belonged only to Hope were now shared with someone else, but she wasn't interested in co-owning a body.

As Hope stared at herself, a new light in her eyes ignited. She suddenly knew how to fix this problem- her freedom was tied to her reflection.

A warped smile crept along her lips.