“Who are you and what have you done with Hope Mikaelson?” Alaric asked as the two ran through their daily training. 
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Hope said. “You saw this coming. It’s that raging hero complex you’re always lecturing me about.”
Alaric pulled back to look at her sternly. “The one I always tell you you should work on?”
“That’s the one.” Hope swung and grunted with the effort. “So, find any lore on how to defeat a dragon?”
“You don’t need to know how to defeat it.” Alaric ducked and dodged his way around their small circle in the gym. “You’re there to get intel. Observation only.”
“What if the dragon comes after us?” Hope tilted her head. “Shouldn’t we be prepared to defend ourselves?”
“The dragon hasn’t gone anywhere anybody the entire time it’s been here.”
“Who’s to say it won’t start now?” 
Alaric sighed. Why couldn’t his kids just listen to him for once? His words came out a little sharper than he meant, “Don’t poke it and it won’t bite.”
Hope just raised her eyebrows expectantly. When he still didn’t budge, she crossed her arms.
“Fine.” He caved, just like she knew he would eventually. “I’ll send you everything we have so far.”
“Good.” She fell back into their sparring pattern. “And what about the missing knife?” 
“Well I highly doubt it’s just lying around Mystic Falls High School, but sure, keep an eye out for it.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “I meant, the two have to be connected in some way, and I know you have theories.” 
“And I will share them as soon as I have one that seems even remotely plausible.” 
“And why is that exactly? Because the ‘adults’ have it covered?” Hope flipped her ponytail and she interrogated him.
“As a matter of fact, yes.” 
“That’s unfair! Actually, no, it’s more than unfair. It’s idiotic. How does it make any sense to keep me out of it?” Hope demanded angrily. 
“Because no one is getting involved until we know more - especially not students.” Alaric passed a water bottle to her and kept one for himself. “And that’s final.”