Saving F.

Chapter 2

Newt leapt in the direction of the woman, and in mere seconds he was close enough to her before it was too late. However, his sudden appearance beside her had its an undesirable effect: it startled her, and caused her to lose her balance. Newt's hand seemed to work of its own accord as it grasped the woman's sleeve, preventing her fall.

"Please, don't," Newt said, not sure if she would understand him, but trying regardless. "There is absolutely no reason for you to do so."

To Newt's joy, and, to an extent, surprise, the woman turned to him and said in a foreign English accent, "Really? You know nothing, mister. I have very good reasons to do it."

"I don't believe so," he said, still clutching her forearm, but unable to look at her. "Whatever it is you're going through, it won't last forever, and everything will be better eventually."

"Everything will be better?" The woman repeated with a scoff. "Your people have been here since eighteen eighty-two, mister, sucking the soul out of this country — my home. All those years sound like forever to me, and I don't see why my life would matter to you anyway."

She said this with indignation, yet she didn't try to free herself from Newt's grip. He took that as an indicator that she could possibly listen to him.

"This occupation is horrible," he told her, and he meant it. "Any occupation is horrible. I feel sorry for your country, and I understand your anger and disappointment. But trust me, this is not how you can solve the problem."

The woman fell silent for a moment, then Newt felt her eyes gaze into him as she said, "You know what? I am a witch. Your lot used to drown my lot because we are evil. Why don't you bring back this tradition?"

"But I'm a wizard."

Those words were uttered in perfect simplicity, so that when Newt glanced at the woman's face he saw her eyebrows raised and her mouth slightly agape.

"Look." Newt brought out his wand quickly to prove it.

"Eh—?"

"I bought it at Ollivander's. The finest wand shop we have."

"I've heard about this shop," the woman said, her tone no longer snarky.

"Would you like to tell me how you've heard about it?" Newt said. "I know that wizards and witches here perform wandless magic, so is it all right if we sit somewhere and talk about Ollivander's? Please?"

Newt wasn't comfortable around strangers, but that one needed help, and he couldn't think of any other way to distract her. However, he wasn't sure whether the woman would accept or decline his offer. It seemed reasonable to him if her answer was no; he too was a stranger after all.

But when the woman's body began to loosen up, Newt sighed in relief. They began to back away from the river, and he didn't let go of her until they were distant enough from it. Here he glanced at the woman again, allowing himself to catch a glimpse of her features. Her face was round and gaunt, with almond, greenish eyes that stood out on her olive skin. She didn't look older than Newt himself but something in her made him feel that her life was a much harder one.

"Why do you even care?" The woman asked calmly. "You don't even know me."

"Magic folk should help each other... all human beings should help each other. So if what you need is someone that will listen to you, and help you find solutions to your problems, then I could be that person. You can obliviate me afterwards if you want to, but please, give talking a try."

The woman fell silent for a moment before saying, "You are a strange man."

"I am sorry if I came off as —"