The Flow of Our Years

February 2rd, 1975

Agnes had just eaten the most filling breakfast ever. She did not know who the cooking chef was, but she would have wanted to thank them personnally. She had loved it. Loved it so much she couldn't stop eating during the meal. She'd almost thought someone had put a greed spell on her. 

She was walking in the school, wandering around in quest of a new room or set of stairs she might have not discovered yet. She liked taking strolls after her meals, to digest a bit and enjoy some alone time before joining her classmates. Today was sunday, and she had plenty of time to explore the castle (as she had already done all of her homeworks the previous day). 

The days were still cold, but the joy and enthusiasm from the people living at Hogwarts brought natural warmth to the place. Agnes saluted a few portraits who seemed to take their morning tea together. She liked to observe them jumping from one canvas to the other, visiting each other during the day and coming back to their initial place when the sun would set. 

She wandered further in the castle and stopped by a large tapestry hung on the wall. It looked as old as the place, and Agnes wondered if they cleaned it often. It did look huge and thick. It would make a good hiding spot for a hide and seek game. She looked behind it, curiously. There was a sort of small door. Ah-ah! She knew it was hiding something. She opened the door and there was a narrow opening leading further underground. 

Brilliant, Agnes thought. But before she could penetrate the passage, a voice emanated from outside the tapestry.

- Homenum Revelio! A masculine voice invocated.

Agnes felt her body being swiped outside of the door and pulled back in the corridor. She let out a cry before she came to face her aggressor. 

- You. 

It was him. The young wizard from the nursery! She recognized him from his several scars on his face and neck. She felt stupid, standing there, staring at the Lupin boy. 

- What were you doing ? 'Seemed kind of mischievous just now... He asked.

- I- was exploring. I'm really fond of this.. beautiful antique tapestry you know. She answered casually.

He looked taller and more masculine than a few months ago when she had met him for the first time. She'd seen him a few times in teh Great Hall and now knew he was a Gryffondor and always spotted him with James Potter and Sirius Black. She had heard all sorts of stories about them. Apparently they had set the robes of a professor on fire by accident and had earned the highest number of detentions in their whole year. He seemed like a good kid, but maybe she had been wrong about him. 

He looked at her, curious. His eyes looked extremely deep and seemed to hold a lot of hidden emotions. He was a good-looking 4th year, she had to admit. Not that she liked younger men, but he really was charming. Not in the same way as James Potter, but in his own poetic sort of way. 

- Do you want to..'explore' this artpiece together? I'm sure it holds a lot of interesting secrets... She said, an playful smile to her lips. 

The boy seemed to soften a bit and smiled back at the young witch. He looked around before nodding his head in agreement.

She pushed the tapestry and revealed to him the hidden door. His eyes widened in surprise. Agnes opened the door to the passage she had discovered a moment prior.

- Blimey! Lupin said, a hand on his mouth.

- Haven't seen where it leads yet. She admitted, staring at the depth of the passage. 

The two students looked at each other in a knowing look. A second later, they were entering the passage. 

It was larger than Agnes had thought, It led them underground, in a dark area. Agnes used a Lumos spell, and all became brighter in the space. They walked for a few more minutes before they'd reached the end of the tunnel. Remus approached the sort of wall and touched it. It was the back of another tapestry! He pushed it slightly and they escaped the passage.

- Oh Merlin! Said Agnes, her hand on her head. 

They had made it to the kitchens. There, a dozens of elves were working in all corners, preparing the food for the next meal and elaborating new beverages for the students. It was crazy. Everyone had wondered where the kicthens were and how to access them (so they could steal some food for the dorms). 

Their discovery was legendary.

- Wow, that is definitely going on the map. Lupin whispered, still astonished. 

- What map? 

He seemed embarassed by her question and was fidgeting something in his pocket. 

- Nothing. I was just mumbling. 

- What? You're definitely hiding something.. Could it be.. in your... pocket!!

Agnes had grabbed the folded paper in Remus' pocket and ran away from him, trying to read what was written inside. She heard the boy running after her through the kitchens, mindless of the elves staring at them, surprised to see students in their work place. 

But it was blank. There was nothing on the paper. What all the fuss, then? He acted like it was his most precious belonging just earlier. 

She looked at him, disappointed. 

- Give it back, Lenoir! He yelled, his breathing was unstable.

- Oh, you remember my name, I'm flattered Lupin. I'll give it back when you tell me what you're hiding. 

- Nothing!! Just... Give it back. Look it's blank, there's nothing on it.

- Right. Then, you wouldn't mind if I tore it apart, would you? 

As she was mimicking ripping the paper and Remus screamed in fright. 

- No!!! 

- Tell me your secret, Remus! She laughed.

She had almost tore it up when her opponent capitulated.

- It's.. a map. But it's hidden by magic. That's why you can't see it. He admitted.

She glanced again at the paper, curious. Interesting.

- Show me.

- I-, oh come on! 

He hesitated a moment. It did seem like a big deal to him. But Agnes, for whatever reason, wanted to know. Maybe she was bored, or maybe she just wanted to get to know him better. But she knew he'd give in eventually. And she had always been curious to who Remus Lupin truly was. He was now almost taller than her. His voice sounded deeper than the last time she had seen him. Or maybe she was just imagining things. 

He grabbed gently the map from Agnes' hands and took out his wand. 

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"

Little by little, the map started to draw itself with strings of ink spreading all over the sheet. A few names appeared on the paper, and were moving through the map. She saw her own name located in the kitchen. Wow. It was...

- Brilliant, Agnes whispered, in awe. 

- Mischief managed, Remus said at last. Lenoir, what you just saw, I wish you could erase it from your memory or... oh, James and Sirius are going to kill me...

- You could Obliviate me, Agnes told him, a soft smile on her face. 

He seemed to consider it for a second, before grumbling something to himself. He looked displeased. Maybe she had gone too far.

Agnes was already on her way out of the kitchen, not waiting for his answer. She was obviously bluffing about ripping the paper. She was no monster. She would have given it back to him eventually, but he sort of gave up so easily she found it even more entertaining. 

The young witch heard footsteps following her in the passage. Once they had reached the end at the tapestry, she finally turned around. 

- Lupin. 

- ..Lenoir.

- I will keep your secret, and won't be asking you about it no more. 

He seemed releaved. She was smiling. 

- I am sorry if I scared you earlier. I wasn't going to tore it apart, you know... She admitted.

He laughed and smiled back at her. They were now back in the corridors.

- Lupin, make sure to add that one passage, though! It's revolutionnary! She said before leaving in the opposite direction. 

- Right... Oh, and Lenoir! 

She turned back.

- You can call me Remus. 

- Then It'll be Agnes for you!