1978, When Danger Comes...
December 28th, 1978
Winter was a little late this year. The temperature had lowered but London was only wet from the rain and there was no sign of snow yet. Agnes had just accepted a mission alongside Antoine. They would have to inspect a house near Exeter, which was suspected to be one of the headquarters of some death eaters. There was no more time to lose, and they had departed right after their meeting with the order of the phoenix.
For now, all of Agnes' missions had been purely buraucratic and social. She had checked on some people's schedule for the past months and had attended a few dinner parties where suspicious ministry members were also invited.
She was trying her best not to involve Mr Dunbar, because he was getting old and she knew he still had some connections with his old Slytherin classmates. Either way, it was better to keep him out of this.
They had apparated in Exeter in the late afternoon, and the sun was just setting. People were gathered in bars and restaurants, trying to avoid the rain. There was a strange smell in the air, and Agnes felt as if a storm was about to crack in the middle of the city. She was wearing a dark rain coat and her hood was hiding most of her face, better not to be recognized.
They walked a little more and arrived near a muddy street, way out of the city center, at the entrance of a farmer's fields. They was a few sheeps far in the lands, enjoying the weather and eating fresh grass. The house looked empty as if no one lived there. Carefully, the two friends opened the door, which was not even locked.
They exchanged a look, silently agreeing on increasing their alertness. If the place really served as headquarters for the death eaters, there might be traps and other jinxes casted onto the place in case strangers were tresspassing.
After a few minutes, they lowered their wands, as no one seemed to be there nor any magical creatures had attacked them.
- Do you reckon this place is legit? Agnes asked, not convinced.
- Not sure.. There is nothing. Not one clue that says there ever was someone here in the last 10 years. Antoine answered, looking around the dusty furnitures for any hint.
- Well, in that case I guess we ca-
Agnes couldn't finish her sentence that she felt a brutal pain in her back, throwing her onto the ground. She tried to look back at her aggressor, but soon enough, Antoine was throwing spells in all directions. The young witch wanted to stand up and help him. But it was as if her body was paralyzed onto the ground. Someone had used petrificus totalus on her.
Antoine was shouting diverse spells and everything he knew about defensive magic, until he caught the same spell as Agnes in the face. He fell right next to her on his back.
She wanted to see who had attacked them, but her face was not moving. She only managed to let out a disapproving groan before she felt her body being held and transported in another room.
There, a few 'crack' announced that more unknown wizards had apparated in the house. Soon enough, the room was filled with at least a dozen of people.
She felt her body being quite brutally thrown onto an old and rusty sofa, and she finally saw who she was facing.
- My, my... started a cold voice which Agnes thought almost... snakey?
Her body was still petrified and she could not talk. She wanted to scream, to call out for help or to apparate anywhere but stay here. Antoine was still alying on the ground, a wizard wearing a mask and a long black cloke pointing his wand at him.
- Miss Agnes Lenoir, if I am not mistaken? Continued the terrifying voice.
Agnes could not answer, but she felt her eyebrows frown a little, announcing that she was slowly recovering from the spell.
- I have looked... everywhere for you. You're always on the news, yet.. it was harder to find you than I thought...
She started to feel her fingers again.
- You see, I heard many great things about you. You are a powerful young witch, a pure blood at that..! How marvellous. I enjoyed watching your excellent duelling skills from afar.. Oh, what a delight. Now, I must apologize for the sudden encounter, you must be really surprised. I haven't even introduced myself. I am Lord Voldemort.
Agnes felt her heart beating faster and faster. She knew that name. She had heard it the first time during one of her meetings with the order. Lord Voldemort. The dark wizard. The leader of the death eaters. Right in front of her.
- I am currently looking for more talent like yours to join my ranks, and further our pure synergy to finally restore the original legacy of the true witches and wizards. I heard you posess a certain power, which I would be more than enthusiatic to help you manipulate in more symbolic manners.
Agnes could now move her feet, but tried her best to stay still, faking still being under the influence of the spell. She knew it was a matter of life and death. She could not flinch, she could not blink. She had to stay...still.
But he knew. HE KNEW. How had he learnt about her power? She was certain he was referencing to her elemental powers. But how was it possible? Only four people were aware of her special skill. Only Jeanne, Pierre, Antoine and Dumbledore knew about it. And she was sure no one had betrayed her.
Then how? HOW?!
- I must let you know that your participation will be not only to join us all in a good cause, but also your exceptional magic will allow you to earn a unique place among my servants. Indeed, I will make you become my faithful wife.
Everything was happening so fast that neither the dark Lord nor his servants saw it coming. Agnes had stood up and took out her wand, casting a petrifying spell on as much death eaters as she could. She thought she got at least three. She felt her heart beating faster than ever, revealing her fear. She was terrified. But the rush of the adrenaline helped her get rid of one more wizard, whose mask flew away from his face. She did not have time to notice the man's face that she had just defeated, that she received a reducto spell right in the chest, pushing her onto the wall.
The young witch looked around for Antoine, but it was too late. A death eater was already dragging him away, letting her faceLord Voldemort and his other servants.
- Agnes, dear. There is no need to fight each other. If you'd only listen... The dark wizard attempted to say, but was interrupted by a jinx thrown by Agnes.
- You deserve to rot in Azkaban!! She finally shouted, letting him know of her rejection to his offer.
- What a shame. I hoped not having to force you, but I guess it is the only way. Friends, take care of this matter for me. You can get rid of any..parasite. And then he vanished.
The air had suddenly cleared of this suffocating atmosphere, ang Agnes was now facing five to six death eaters, who, wand in hand, seemed ready to murder her on the spot. She had to get Antoine, and run.
Reducto!!
The wizard had dodged perfectly her attack, and was walking slowly towards her, as if overly confident of his incoming victory over her.
She was now beathing heavily, her body sore from the spelled she had taken earlier. The house was dark and humid, she felt nauseous. And WHERE IS ANTOINE?!
In an ultimate attempt to defeat her opponents, she led them outside, giving her more space to defense herself. She was good at this. She was the world champion in duelling, no one could do that better than her.
Antoine was there, lying in the grass. A death eater was about to petrify him once more but Agnes managed to make his wand fly away a few meters behind him, giving enough time for her friends to come closer to her and get a hold of his wand.
- You okay? She asked, panting from the effort.
- Never better, Antoine said, his eyebrow beleding from a punch he had received a few minutes prior.
They were two against six. It was manageable. She could win. But when at once, another dozen of death eaters apparated, surrounding her and Antoine, she lost her confidence. Behind them, she saw their leader, a evil smile on his face. He looked barely human, and his eyes looked reptilian. Agnes only took a deept breath and she was back at throwing spell in all directions, trying desperately to protect herself and Antoine. They had to disappear, they had to apparate ! But she had no time to focus on a place, she was too busy defending against her enemies.
She felt her breath become unstable, and her panting accelerated. She was losing control.
- Join me, Agnes!Join me and you'll be both safe!
The wizard has shouted, almost laughing. The rain was pouring outside and she could barely hear what was going on around her. He body and hair were drenched. Antoine was still determined and seemed focus on any spell thrown in his direction or Agnes'.
- You'll be okay, Agnes, I promise. Had said Antoine.
It was just like a whisper, she had just got the time to turn around to face him, not noticing a green light directed to him. She hadn't heard anyone cast the spell, but she felt the brutality, the animality of it all.
"Avada Kedavra"
Antoine's face slightly tensed under the immense pain, and seemed to fade at once, before he fell down at her feet, motionless.
As if time had stopped, as if everything had slowed down, Agnes' eyes locked onto Antoine's whose seemed still and lifeless. She opened her mouth to scream, but she didn't her any sound come out. Her wand fell on her friend's body, and she felt her eyes itching, and suddenly, she could see clearly and hear everything around her.
Her voice resonated far in the fields, spreading her misery and rage to every living thing it could catch. Around her, the death eaters had stopped for a second, contemplating the inert body of her friend, wondering who had casted the spell. Behind them, the dark lord was laughing, in his cold, animalistic voice. His wand was still pointing at Antoine, revealing the origin of his attack.
He's dead.
You.
You killed my friend..
You will pay.
Agnes felt her veins lenghtening themselves as if going underground, grabbing every inch of soil they could, digging it all up.
She felt the plse of every wizard around her, she knew they were about to attack her once more, trying to capture her to serve her to their master. In a strong movement, she lifted her arms up to her shoulder, and a large wall of mud grew around her, protecting her from her enemies. She could hear the shock in everyone's gasp.
In a sharp hand move, she threw pointed rocks onto them, resulting in touching at least half of the wizards. She jumped on the wall, creating gigantic balls of fire and threw them to any silhouette she saw, additionnally rising the water from the rain into forming a huge wave, which she targeted onto the remaining death eater standing. One wizard was not wearing a mask, revealing his face to her.
She marked a slight moment of pause when she recognized the man.
Barty Crouch Jr...
He was looking a her, quite uncertain, seemingly in shock to see her using such ancient type of magic.
Her shock turned into rage, from having been betrayed. She threw the wave onto him, and he had just the time to vanish that the water had detroyed every inch of the ground around them.
Voldemort was there watching everything. She was constantly attacking him with all sorts of things, but his servants kept protecting him. In a last attempt to hurt the dark wizard, she felt her hands get on fire, and their eyes locked onto each other. As she threw the fire balls with all the remaining strenght she had, she heard him say, just like a terrifying whisper in her ear:
- Magnificent.
And he had vanished, leaving her alone in the field, exhausted.
She lowered her eyes on the ground, and realized Antoine was laying in the mud, his eyes still open. She fell onto the wet soil and held his head, trying to check on his pulse. But there was nothing. There was no sign of life remaining in her friend's body. It was white, paler than teh snow, almost grey. His eyes still testified of the last emotion he has felt: fear.
The rain was pouring on them, and her feet were slowly sinking onto the muddy ground.
She screamed. So loud, that she hoped someone could hear.
Help....
Please Help...
HELP!!!!!
Tears were running down her cheeks as she kept calling her friend's name. She arranged his hair in an attempt to wake him up, and she looked around, trying to grab anyone's attention, but she was alone. Alone with her dead friend in her arms.
She felt exhausted, but focused using her last bit of energy to apparate near the Longbottom's cottage. She prayed insilence for long minutes before she finally felt her body being transported, holding Antoine tightly, and arrived in a dryer place. It was not raining, and the street were calm. She looked up and saw the little house in front of her.
She saw a few people step of the house, but her vision was blurred from her tears and from exhaustion. She could feel Antoine's wet hair on her hand, and she tried to say something but a few noises od despair were the only thing coming out of her mouth. Her throat hurt from the pain, from the fear, from the relief of being home.
She felt some arms grabbing her gently, while other voices gasped in shock.
- Help..
It was the only thing Agnes managed to say before fainting in the arms of her savior.