The Flow of Our Years

Somewhere in April, 1981

No one knew of her mission. Frank and Alice thought she was simply often visiting them, helping them taking care of their son, while James and Lily believed she had a personal connection with Harry. She had asked Dumbledore not to let them know she had been ordered to watch over them. Knowing James or Frank, they would have been too pride toa ccept the help of a third person.

Only her and Dumbledore knew about her task, as for protecting the two children who might be connected to the prophecy a certain Sybill Trelawney had shared with the headmaster during her job interview to become a professor at Hogwarts. If it were to be true, then Harry and Neville had to be protected at all cost. Because they were they key to everything. The key that could lead to the end of this terrible war that had costed too many lives already. 

She had reached out to Pierre and Jeanne, who were busy in France, working at the french ministry. They had told her Antoine's parents were being taken care of, and that they visited them from time to time to check on them. She felt also responsible for them, but could not travel to France, as she was still wanted by Voldemort. The trip would have been too risky.

She had to be careful, especially because she had not now only hers, but two other lives to protect.

That day, she had been checking on the Potters after lunch, as the little Harry had been put down to sleep. She was resting on the sofa, next to Sirius and Remus who were chatting on the current location of their friend Peter Pettigrew. The latter had vanished from their usual gatherings and barely came to any meetings until now. She had found him acting a little out of place the last time she had seen him. Perhaps he was going through a rough pass. She could understand him, to be honest.

He had made it at last today, excusing his absence by accusing a parent's illness which had required him all attention. But Remus and Sirius kept questioning him, not satisfied with his sudden disappearance.

Several members of the orders had gone missing and a few more had been attacked, some found dead in the last few months. No one knew when this war would end, neither how it would conclude. 

A sound outside of the house alterted the young witch. She grabbed her wand and stood up at once. 

- Did you hear that? Agnes said, walking towards the window.

- What is it, Agnes? Asked Remus, his eyebrows frowned from sudden worry. 

She did not know how to explain, but she could feel something was wrong. Her guts were telling her danger was near. When she locked eyes with Remus, he seemed to understand and took out his wand as well, quickly followed by Sirius. 

- Remus, go tell Lily and James someone's paying us a visit. The young woman said, tying up her hair with a quick spell. 

The former gryffindor nodded at once before rushing to Harry's bedroom. 

Protego Totalum!

The young woman casted a few spells on the surrounding rooms before stepping outside the house. Not fight would occur with the Potter's son around. 

Outside, the street was empty. She felt a presence, but nothing was visible around her. 

Revelio!

At once, three silhouettes appeared right in front of her and rushed forward to grab her hand that was holding her wand. Agnes raised her arm to dodge them and took a step back towards the house. 

The three wizards were wearing terryifying masks hiding their true identity. Death eaters, of course. Three against one. She had done worse. She took a deep breath. 

Accio ! 

The mask of one man flew to her hand, grabbing his whole face and body along with it. In one hand she crushed the mask, and the wizard screamed in pain, pieces of his disguise ripping off his skin to blood. Agnes used the harmed man as a shield against the others. 

- What are you here for?! Agnes shouted over the sound of the defensive spells striking the air in colorful streams of magic. 

- Give us the boy! Yelled one of her opponent while casting another spell towards the house.

Her protecting charm would not last much longer. They weren't here for her. They knew about the prophecy. They knew about the boy born at the end of July. By the time the man has revealed his intentions, Sirius had stepped out of the house, his wand in hand, quickly followed by Peter, uncertain of where to start.

- Keeping all the fun for yourself, Lenoir? The black haired wizard said, a smirk on his face.

- Wouldn't mind the help, Black! Agnes answered, dodging professionally another Stupefy.

One death eater was down. Two more to go. Sirius targeted a taller man in particular, obsessing with a continuous Reducto spell. His face was now serious, and his movements were focused and well-handled. Agnes, on the other hand, was trying to restrain the other dark wizard from entering the house. If he were to penetrate inside, it would be harder to stop them. 

Before she could defense herself anymore, she saw a thick red string of magic project onto the house, setting in on fire at once.

Incendio..!

Her heart started to beat faster and she gasped in horror. No. The death eater was now laughing, satisfied with the results of his spell. Sirius groaned with rage and allowed himself to use stronger magic.

Bombarda Maxima!!!!

The two wizards were projected a few meters away, and Agnes rushed to increase their state of dizziness with more attacks. They had just the time to vanish in black fog to prevent being more harmed. 

Before they knew it, Agnes and Sirius turned around to the Potter's house, now completely trapped by the flames. 

- They're all inside! Quick! Yelled Sirius, fear on his face. Why doesn't the extinguishing charm work? Let me use this one.. Aguamenti!!!! Aquamenti!! Oh, come on, I need more water! 

The fire was not responding to any of their charms, as if enchanted to live forever. Agnes knew what to do. She put her wand in her mouth, raising her now free hands before her. 

Her eyes closed for a second, assembling all her strenght and attention on the growing flames destroying the house. She approached it slowly, her arms on fire.

- Agnes, bloody hell! Get away or you'll get burnt alive! The Gryffinfor screamed, trying desperately to turn off the fire with any magic he knew.

But the young woman knew what she was doing. As if the fire was linked by a magic rope, she pulled the flames towards her, her hands eating the whole lot and crushing it into her palms. Little by little, the fire decreased, swallowed by her elemental abilities, and the walls of the house were now visible again. 

After what seemed like minutes, the fire had totally vanished into her hands and Agnes and Sirius could rush inside the house, looking for their friends. James, Lily, Remus and the little Harry were all hiding under a protecting shield, perfectly handled by the three wizards, looking fortunately unharmed. James lifted the charm and looked at the two, seemingly in shock. 

- Death eaters. Sirius said, answering his best friend's questionning look. 

- Why were they targetting us? Asked Lily, holding her son close to her in a motherly protective way. 

Agnes was staying quiet. She was still being cautious. The two dark wizards could come back at any moment. 

- To the safe house. Now. She said simply. 

She quickly used Reparo, with the help of Remus, to clean up the space and get back to how the house looked before the attack, and they used Floo powder to get to the Longbottoms at once. 

But when they'd eventually made it there, a terrifying scene appears before them. Alice and Frank's little cottage had been turned down to pieces, and the three members of the family were standing in front of it, looking seriously at the damage.

- Gosh, You too? Asked Lily.

- Took us by surprise, but thank god we weren't home. Arrived from Frank's mother's just when they left. Can't believe... If we were there, we would have- we would have-

- Alice, stop. We're all fine. But we need to talk to Dumbledore. The safe house needs to be changed at once. Told Frank with a cold voice, betraying his fear.

The group of wizards created a safe area with a disillusionement charm, waiting for the headmaster to show up. Everyone was focused on any sound closer to them, making sure the death eaters were gone for good. Agnes knew it was time to let her friends know about her and about the prophecy, but she knew it would be best for Dumbledore to be the one to tell them. 

An hour later, the old wizard arrived, his eyebrows frowned, he looked the most serious she had ever seen him. They lifted the charm to let him in, and the old man made sure everyone was fine before asking any more questions. 

- What is going on, professor? Asked James at once, not letting him rest following his arrival. 

- James, let's sit. I must talk to you. To all of you. Agnes, thank you for your help, I should have known they were going to know eventually. 

James and Sirius shared a curious look, wandering why the headmaster was addressing the young witch in particular. 

- Right. First, I am glad everyone is okay. I can't believe they really attacked in broad daylight. They are becoming more and more reckless. Well... I believe it is no longer useful to hide this from you, but the dark lord is after your sons. Neville and Harry are in great danger. 

- But.. They're just infants! How could they harm Voldemort in any way? Told Lily, confused at the old man's words.

- I have come across a prophecy. It is likely that a boy born at the end of july will be the only one who can defeat the dark lord. The only one who can get rid of him for good. I am most certain that Voldemort got wind of it by god knows who, and is trying to.. clear out the way, let's say. 

Lily and Alice both gasped in horror, holding tightly their son in their arms. 

- I have requested Agnes to look after both your boys for a while now. But I believe we need to use a stronger protection from now on. 

- No one will touch my son. Declared James, his teeth pressed together in anger. 

- I won't allow it, either. Continued the headmaster. That is why I think we should put a Fidelius charm to hide your location. 

- Who would hold the responsibility for such magic? asked Lily, still stroking Harry's hair.

- That, you must choose it among yourselves. No one else should be aware of who your secret keeper is. 

After a moment, everyone had ended up agreeing with the plan. As for the Longbottoms, they had decided to use a disillusionment charm to go into hiding, in case another attack would occur. They were against the idea of asking someone to keep their location a secret, and trusted their own skills. 

These events had exhausted Agnes, and finally being liberated from her protection mission was honestly a relief. She was tired. She went home after a long time spent outside, and slept for at least a dozen hours at once. 

***

For the following months, no one knew of the Potters locations, and the order was divided into different groups, lessening the number of meetings. Agnes felt a little lonely, after having been living as a small community for a while. She felt abandonned, somehow. Remus and Sirius were out of reach, same for Peter who she had not heard from in a while. Agnes had visited the Dunbar once, late at night, just to check on them. She needed to know they were safe. Mr Dunbar had shown his disagreement in her being absent for so long (they did not know she was living in a small flat just outside of London). 

She also had to give a few excuses as to why she ahd not been participating in her yearly world championship when it used to be all she talked about. That one hurt. Agnes felt nostalgic of her time as a champion, but too much had changed and it was impossible to come back as who she was before Antoine's murder, before Voldemort wanted her immortality power and before the Longbottom and Potter's sons' lives were endangered.

She had to stay strong, but her future seemed so uncertain that she was starting to feel hopeless. Would she had a life, after all of this was over? Would the war ever be over? Would the dark lord ever give up or lose? Was there a chance for peace to finally happen? 

There were many questions going through her head. She was flying around the city, carefully using a disillusionment charm. London was beautiful. Summer was almost over, and some young people were enjoying their last bit of holidays before going back to school in september. She wondered if muggles knew what was going on, if some of them knew about the wizarding world but had decided to live with it. 

She knew Lily Potter had a sister, but didn't seem to like magic very much. They were not close, from what she had heard. Maybe muggles did not want to have anything to do with wizards, after all. 

Agnes was smoothly flying across the clouds, something lowering her broom to get closer to the streets, observing little bits of life here and there. It was refreshing, seeing people interact and live peacefully. Perhaps she would have been happier if she had been born a muggle. Who knows. 

The sun was setting on the city, and she passed by the Dunbars' house one last time, still in hiding. She liked to come secretly see them sometimes, and this time, both Joshua and Jimmy were home. They looked like adults now. Jimmy had just graduated Hogwarts, and Joshua was a full time worker at the ministry. They had grown up so much that Agnes felt overwhelmed to realize how much time had passed since she had first arrived in England. 

Her mother had died 5 years prior, and she had changed a whole life, leaving France, leaving her best friends and her childhood house, to come live with her enstranged father before attending Hogwarts in the fall. She had met some amazing people who she had ended up working with in a secret army organization.

Also, she had won the World championship in duelling twice at a young age, but had to leave the world of celebrity to commit to the task and honor her late friend, Antoine's memory. She was doing it all for him, after all. She wanted to make sure what he believed in would be fought for. And that is what she had done. She had fought. 

But she was getting tired. Tired of having to see danger everywhere, and tired of witnessing people around her get hurt and killed. It was too much. She needed it to stope. To be over at last.

***

October 31th, 1981

Agnes woke up in the middle of the night. Her sweat was sticking to her pillow and her breathing was unstable. She felt her throat dried from the lack of hydration. Her heart was beating fast in her chest. Outside, the streets were calm and everyone in her neighborhood seemed deeply asleep. 

She looked around her small flat, still in the dark. Something was off.

The young woman opened her window, and a fresh autumn wind entered her room. A few street light were giving a little perspective on the neighborhood, quiet at this hour. Her pulse was not slowing down, and she took a glass of water and drank it at once. Agnes closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. It was as if she had just had a nightmare, but could not remember what it was. 

Her long brown hair was falling on her face, and she grabbed it with her fingers, playing with it while looking outside. Something about the silent outside made her chill. It was too calm. She sat down by the window. 

Her elemental magic allowed her to feel the wind, and its provenance. This one came from the East. It had a strange flow of sadness in it. She grabbed a few leaves which was flying in the air, and caressed it slightly, trying to detect any hint to why she felt this way. On the back of one leaf, a strange sign has been carved savagely into it. It looked like a the letter Z.. Or an N..

When she touched the leaf, she felt a sudden pain in her forehead. Her thoughts became all blurry and she had to move to the floor not to fall down. She threw the leaf on the side and grabbed her head in a moan. 

The pain vanished right away. 

Agnes was confused. What had just happened? Had she felt the pain of the leaf? Or the pain it had witnessed before reaching her hand? Something was definitely wrong, but she could not understand what. At once, she grabbed her wand and apparated outside in the streets. Maybe she was being attacked again? But there, in front of her, was standing a man.

Peter Pettigrew.

He looked up, and finally noticed her, his eyes widening.

- oh.. He said, looking unsure.

- Peter, what are you doing here? Agnes asked, curious. 

- I.. I- uh... Sorry..

Not waiting for any more question, the wizard started to run to the first street he saw, disappearing from her sight. She waited a second before following him. What was he playing at? When she finally reached the corner where he had turned, there was no one anymore. Only a rat was running towards the sewers. 

Flashbacks from the night she had discovered the marauders were animagus came to her mind. Was that Pettigrew?? 

She assumed he did not want to be disturbed, and let him go. Also, she had promised Remus she would not tell them she knew about their abilities. But still, how strange to see him here, in the middle of the night. Something was off indeed. 

An icy wind suddenly crushed onto her, and she felt pushed to the side. She groaned at it. 

- Stop it! Agnes said, cursing to the cold air. 

But, as if the wind was trying to guide her somewhere, she felt its will and determination. She decided to follow it. 

Accio broom! 

At once, she was led to the Potters neighborhood. She remembered having spent a few days in summer over there, cooking with the late Mrs Potter (who had unfortunately passed a few months prior as well as her husband, both from Dragon Pox) and enjoying some cozy moments with her friends and brothers. She knew how sad James had been, and she could understand his pain. Agnes' mother had died from the same disease as the Potters, and she had known how terrible of a loss it was. 

Why had the wind led her here? 

Godric's Hollow looked the same as she remembered it. But a strange smell radiated in the area. A smell she had already encountered. A smell of burt hair, the smell of a powerful spell. 

Oh.

She knew where she had smelled it before. That day in Exeter, when Antoine had received one of the unforgivable curse...

Avada Kedavra.

Someone had casted it close from where Agnes was standing. It could be only this. He head was beginning to hurt again, and everything around her seemed to stink. She looked up at the Potters' house, wehre lights were on. No one was supposed to live there.... James and Lily had their own place elsewhere in London. 

Unless...

The young witch rushed to the house where someone seemed to be already there. She approached quickly to see who it was. 

- You. Said the man voice.

In front of her, stood a tall man she barely recognized. He was about to come out of the house when she stepped in, his eyes looked enraged and slighly shocked. Was it tears in his eyes?

He looked familiar but she could not recall where she had seen him. His hair was jet black and fell on his shoulders. 

- Get. Out. He said at once, raising his wand at her. 

By reflex, she took out hers as well. Was it a death eater? Was it someone she had known before? An enemy she had defeated in the past, perhaps? Before she could even try and defend herself verbally, she felt a hand on her shoulder from behind. 

- Both o'you, step out. 

A gigantic man was standing behind Agnes, his beard barely reaching the top of her head. Hagrid. She had seen him a few times at Hogwarts, and knew he was loyal to Dumbledore, but had never seen him at the order's meetings. What was he doing here? 

The dark haired man glanced at Hagrid before pushing them outside, vanishing as soon as he was in out of the house. 

- You better leave. Announced Hagrid, his voice broke a little.

Agnes felt her throat clog. The feeling of uneaseness was back stronger now that she was inside the house. 

That smell. It was the smell of death. The wind had stopped from pushing her forward, as if refusing to enter inside, and not daring to alter what was inside. 

She saw Hagrid climb up the stairs at once, and she heard a gasp as soon as he had reached the upper floor. He turned around and came back to face the young witch from up the flight of steps. 

- LEAVE !

Her heart had missed a beat at his scream. His face was so serious and looked as in shock. At once, she left, not controlling her moves. She watched herself hop on her broom and fly away as fast as possible. Her brain seemed to be on autopilot, and she did not know how she had got so high up in the sky that fast. By the window on the first floor, her eyes glanced quickly at what was visible in the room, and what she saw iced her blood, making her gasp in terror. 

Before she got out of sight, she noticed a woman's body lying down, dead. On the side was a little baby, agitating in his cradle. She just got the time to see Hagrid enter the room and bend down to check on the corpse, and she got so high up her vision got blurry. 

Her broom was uncontrollable and she as soon as she understood who the dead body she had just seen belonged to, she wanted to go back, she wanted to turn around and see her.

Why wouldn't it turn around?

She was losing control. The wind seemed to only affect her, and push her in the opposite direction from Godric's Hollow.

Her breathing became unstoppable, and she felt the wind penetrate her throat and fill her mouth, as if to shut her up. Agnes looked down at her hands, who looked almost blue from the cold. 

Soon, she started to feel dizzy, and her body swayed to the side, and fell down from the broom.

She had passed out before she'd reached the ground. 

But instead of crushing onto the concrete, Agnes landed on the water, diving inside the cold river, leaving her broom smash against a house, breaking a window. 

The last image she saw flash before her eyes was the body of Lily Potter, dead. To her side: her son, Harry, with a large wound on his forehead, the same shape as a crooked Z...