BeauxBatons Academy of Magic V
April 14th, 1973
It was a beautiful saturday, and the four Beauxbatons students Agnes Lenoir, Jeanne Delacour, Antoine Deguire and Pierre Leroy were walking away from their school into the fields. A few days prior, Agnes had found a hidden path which was leading to a riverbank. She had been on one of her solo adventures and wanted to share a discovery she'd made with her friends.
The weather had warmed up which allowed them to escape more often on weekends and enjoy some picnics and strolls around the school. The air was refreshing while the sunlight caressed their cheeks gently.
Agnes was leading the way, keeping the mystery of where she was taking her friends. She was so excited to show them what she had found.
They walked for a few more minutes until they reached the edge of the river. There, a small wooden boat was waiting for them. All overly excited, they hopped on it and Agnes and Pierre started roaming. The day was bright and the sun was reflecting on the water, making it sparkle like diamonds. Jeanne tried to touch the water, and let out a high-pitch yell when Antoine mimicked pushing her off the boat (she had hit him on the shoulder after that, swearing on Merlin).
The little team seemed to enjoy the relaxing ride. Agnes had the habit to wander around the school when she needed to cleanse her thought and relax from the overwhelming environment Beauxbatons was. She liked her life here very much, but could not ignore the tiring rhythm with which she was living. Between the club activities with Jeanne, attending every classes and doing homeworks, as well as preparing for their incoming art performance, and keeping up with her friends' 'parties', Agnes had very little time to think.
Coming here felt so peaceful and calmed her instantly. She liked listening to the sound of nature, detecting the animals and magical creatures hiding around. She had studied new plant specimens in her herbology class and was unexpectedly very enthusiastic about recalling them during her strolls.
- Guys, I'd like to show you something.
Agnes had stopped roaming as she was facing her three best friends. She had taken her serious voice, with a hesitant smile on her lips.
- I have been practicing it during my... strolls. It is not perfect but I think I got the hang of it.
Jeanne looked curiously at the young witch. They spent most of their time together and she was surprised her best friend had hidden something from her. Especially if it was related to magic or learning new skills. She was the one who changed hobbies every day of the week and others had to keep up with it. All of them looked attentively at Agnes, waiting for her to do something. Really, anything.
Suddenly, the boat started to move, and the river became more agitated. A small current began to lead the small embarcation forward, without anyone roaming at all. Pierre opened his eyes widely before he looked back at his friend, finally understanding that she was the one doing it.
- How are you doing that?! Screamed Jeanne slightly louder, to overlap the sound of the now stronger current.
Agnes smiled intriguingly and moved her hand, moving it as if she was pushing the boat with an invisible force. They were going faster and faster, and Pierre was laughing excitedly.
Antoine, on the other hand, was holding the edge of the boat with both his hands, less comfortable than his friend.
- Are you sure this is safe? he asked.
Noticing his facial expression, Agnes lowered her hand and the boat seemed to slow down. Maybe she had done too much... She was so excited to show them she might have overdid her first demonstration. But before she could say anything, the current started to be more agitated and the boat began to move vertically, which was not a good sign.
Antoine screamed in fear and begged his friend to stop. Agnes did not know what to do. Panicking, she took out her wand and tried to think of any spell she could to get them out of the water. Pierre grabbed the paddles and started roaming to reach he edge of the river. But the current was so strong, the boat was barely moving from the boy's effort.
- Agnes! Stop it! Told Jeanne with a worried look.
- I don't know how ! She answered.
The boat was swaying so much, they had to grab anywhere they could not to fall over. The river was deep enough they'd have to swim back to the boat. Agnes tried to close her eyes and calm down. She knew her strange magic came from her connection to the nature. She did not know how it happened really, but she knew she had to focus on a specific element.
Let us be safe, please
The small boat was suddenly pushed to the side, a huge wave leading them back to the land. The four teenagers fell onto the grass, and the boat disappeared with the current.
After a moment to get their ideas straight, there was a silence. Agnes was looking at the water, while her friends were staring at her.
- So. What was that? Began to ask Pierre, with an hesitant voice.
- Agnes, how did you do that? You... You didn't use your wand.. How is it possible? continued Jeanne.
Agnes was now looking down at her hands, guilty. She stayed a moment in silent.
- A little while ago, I started to feel things... It started at the boys' quidditch game last year! I suddenly felt so powerful as if I could control what was around me, in that case the air surrounding me. And today, the river. I was as surprised as you when I realized I didn't need my wand.
Jeanne was looking curiously at her friend. She seemed to be thinking deeply about what Agnes had just revealed.
- So, you can do magic without using your wand? I thought it wasn't possible? asked Antoine, intrigued. (While talking, he was trying to comb his hair with his fingers after the water had messed it up)
- It is possible. answered Jeanne. But it is never really as powerful as when used with your wand. Unless...
Agnes's face lightened.
- Unless what?! Do you know anything about this, Jeanne? She asked.
-Meet me at the library tomorrow after lunch. There is something I need to verify.
- Alright. But first, let's go back to the dorms. I am sorry I scared you, we should get some food to forget about this incident. Declared Agnes, feeling more guilty than ever.
Pierre approached his friend and patted her on the shoulder to comfort her.
- You're a strong one, I already knew that about you. He said, smiling.