i. BOUNTY fleur delacour

21

TWENTY

" life is a matter
of choices, and
every choice you
make,
makes you. "
- john c. maxwell

MARI SIGHED as if in defeat. she sat back gently into her chair, logical thinking taking over her.
"i will take a drink, actually," she said to bagman. he nodded and called a waitress over.
"what would you like?" he asked.
"fire whiskey."
he nodded, and told this to the waitress when she appeared. after she left, the table went silent. the intense chatter of background noise dulled, yet it did not feel awkward.
once mari had a small serving of fire whiskey in front of her, and the waitress had left them in privacy once more, she spoke.
"what does it matter, anyway?"
bagman looked taken aback; disbelieving. he opened his mouth to speak, but the younger girl cut him off.
"of course, there is reason for it matter, i am aware of that. but for what we are discussing, i do not believe it is important. we both know the wizarding world knows not of how to deal with such crimes."
"well that's not true, we can help you—" the man sputtered.
"—oh, but it is. it's a muggle crime, and is treated as such. what law enforcement do we have to help with such matters? it's not dark or illegal magic, in fact, it's not magic at all. our world ignores these crimes, and you cannot tell me otherwise."
the man frowned.
"look me in the eye, bagman, and tell me otherwise." silence ensued.
after a moment, he sighed. "okay, no, i can't tell you otherwise. each year, millions of girls' reports are ignored and overlooked. justice is hardly ever served, and when it is, it is beyond poor. you're more likely to get an owl arrested than a sex offender."
mari looked oddly pleased. "i am glad we are on the same page. you understand then, that if i were to bring my situation to the attention of an authority, all that would happen would be a violation of privacy. everyone would know, yet nothing would truly be done. it is not worth it."
"someone can help you, i am sure of it!"
"i don't want help! i am making a choice. i choose not to tell anyone, and i am allowed to make that choice."
"but it is a choice with poor reason."
"poor reason is not a lack of reason."
"mckinnon! to keep this a secret from authorities will only ensure karkaroff freedom!"
"it's my choice!" mari yelled. a few tables looked her way. she put her head down, emotion attempting to flood over her. she spoke almost in a whisper, now. "it is my body, so it is my choice. i don't want my choice, my right to say no, to be taken away from me again, do you understand?"
bagman was speechless. it became obvious that he had almost overstepped, as he had with his old friend. remorse overtook him, so he nodded, and promised her he wouldn't report it.
"but just because i am not reporting it, doesn't mean i won't still offer you help. let me help you. there are ways, i mean, your living situation, to think of. you should be removed, you could be given a room in the castle."
"it would draw too much attention."
   "we could move all the champions to the castle."
   "do you really think that could work? it would be random, and it would seem like a scheme."
   "well, what can i do?"
   mari downed the rest of her drink. "you—you can make sure i don't have to go back to durmstrang."
   "you're in your final year, do you have to go back at all?"
   "yes, there's graduation, move out... and karkaroff is sure to want to parade me around the school. i don't want to give him he satisfaction."
   bagman but his lip. "i'm sure that is possible. do you have all your belongings with you? or are there some still at the school."
   "i still have things at my home in norway and in my dorm at school."
   "well, give me all that is needed to access your home, and i will make sure everything is delivered, without karkaroff knowing. can a friend send your school things?"
   mari smirked. "i don't really have friends at durmstrang anymore. i have fallen out with them."
   "well i'm sure that won't last long—"
   "no, i believe it will. it was no petty argument."
   "i am not sure how i will get your things, then... durmstrang is very private, you know that. it's going to be rather hard doing all this without reason."
   "well, give reason."
   bagman look perplexed. "do you have a reason in mind, or...?"
   mari nodded. "if all goes well, and i survive the rest of the tournament, after the final task, i wish for you to... arrest me."
   "arrest you? whatever for?"
   "it'll be a fake arrest. arrest me, then send me off somewhere else, away from karkaroff. he can't argue against the ministry."
   bagman seemed to consider the idea seriously. "that could work, yes. but, can you be arrested in foreign waters? there are laws against that."
   mari ran her finger against the rim of her glass. "i think you'll find, if you look me up in ministry archives, that i am, in fact, a citizen of the united kingdom."
   "how so?"
   "i know not much of my parentage, but i am aware that i was born here, and that i was never officially made a citizen of another country."
   "well, then. i still need an actual premise to arrest you."
   mari's english faltered. "pre—prem—"
   "premise. it means reason, basically." mari nodded in understanding.
   "i don't think anyone will question you arresting me."
   "why ever not?"
   "you know as well as i do that i am far from innocent. just because my wand does not cast the spell that kills, does not mean my hands do not deliver death."
   bagman's eyes widened, and his lips parted in surprise. he had not expected mari to speak of her situation so openly. it made him uncomfortable. "okay, so i can arrest you." he tried to change the subject.
   she nodded. "very well. thank you. so much." she stood up, and motioned to leave.
   "mckinnon." she stopped.
   "yes?"
   "is there anything else you need?"
   she paused, feeling uncertain. she began to walk away, then looked over her shoulder to reply. "just—just, can you look out for me, please?"
   bagman nodded, sadly, then watched the girl leave, her legs still slightly unsteady from pain.

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