Yorkshire I
Agnes was woken up by a loud voice downstairs. A second later, when she had barely got time to sit on her bed, someone had just apparated in her room.
Jeanne.
The young french witch rushed to her friend, her cheeks pink from the sudden emotions.
- You!! You're alive. You're really here!! Jeanne said, jumping on her friend to hug her.
Agnes did not know how the young woman had come here so quickly, but just accepted the embrace and held her friend tighly. It felt good to see people she loved. She really felt good now.
- I came as soon as I heard. Joshua reached out yesterday evening, we could not believe him and we had to come here at once! Pierre is here too. Oh Agnes, where were you?? Everyone was looking for you and then a muggle told us he'd seen a strange woman falling off a broom that night, and we found your broom crushed onto the ground. Everyone thought, I- we thought you were gone! What happened? And you better tell me everything in every details!!! Oh, god, it's been three months, Agnes! Three months I thought you dead!!
Jeanne has spoken so fast Agnes had just let her say everything she had seemed to be holding for a long time. It look her a rather long moment to gather her thoughts her tell her best friend about what she remembered from her.. accident. How she had fallen from her broom into the water and had fainted, then woken up far from the shore and then rescued by a muggle woman. Pierre had joined in mid-conversation, and hugged her as well in a silent embrace. He looked like he had cried as well.
- So.. you don't remember what happened before you fainted? Asked Jeanne, carefully.
- I just recall the pain. I felt a terrible pain in my head, and that smell. It smelled like...
- .. death. Like the Death curse. Finished Pierre, his eyes had darkened.
- That night, you went to Godric's Hollow. Continued Jeanne, still looking back and forth from Pierre to Agnes. You saw Hagrid, and he told you to leave. Because he- he did not want you to see.. to see them.
- See who?
- The Potters. They.. They were ...killed.. that night. Only their son survived.
- And the dark.. hm. You-Know-Who vanished. Everyone's suspected he got defeated, by Harry himself.
Flashes of memories came back to Agnes' mind, and at once she started to recollect all the events. Her waking up in the middle of the night, the scarred leaf, Peter Pettigrew running away. And then she had flown to Godric's hollow, and had came across a familiar looking man. And then Hagrid who had told her to go away. And without even knowing it, she had been uncontrollably forced to get on her broom and leave.
That's when she had seen it: Lily's body, dead.
Her pulse accelerated, and she felt Jeanne grab her hand in sympathy.
- They're really dead, aren't they? She asked, her whole body shaking.
Jeanne nodded slowly, tears running down her face. She looked tired as well. Everyone must have suffered a lot from this war, especially in the past months. Agnes saw Lily and James's face in her mind, smiling. No. It couldn't be. They had just had Harry, they were only starting their life story, it wasn't fair. It was not how things were supposed to end.
Not fair.
Not fair.
Not fair.
- Where were you for the past three months, Agnes? asked Pierre that same afternoon.
- I.. I don't understand. I know I fell from my broom into that river. I woke up in the water, but I was still breathing, although barely.
- So... You're telling us that.. you spent three months immerged in ice cold water? Added Jeanne, looking horrified.
- It's not possible, is it? I would have.. I should have died!!
There was a moment of silence. The three friends were thinking deeply.
- Not if you're immortal. Told Jeanne.
Both Pierre and Agnes looked up at her, confused.
- Look, we never really addressed this, because we did not know much about your power back then. But elementals are known to have the ability to live forever, and share it with another person. That is why You-Know-Who wanted you to join his ranks, after all. It is possible that you truly are gifted by that magic. You might be immortable, Agnes.
Agnes had opened her mouth in shock. She was... going to live forever? That did make sense and explained why she hadn't drowned in that river when she had stayed there for so long, although it had been most uncomfortable. She could get harmed and hurt, but could not die.
- D' you reckon I can get rid of this? The young witch asked, alarmed. I- I don't think I want to be immortal.
- A lot of people would hope for such power, you know. Said Pierre, a soft smile on his face. But I believe you are right. Leaving forever is scary.
- I will make some research. But I think it is just in your nature, you were born this way, alongside your elemental magic. I don't know if it will ever change.
***
The next few weeks, Agnes had been healing completely, but her heart felt heavier than ever. Jeanne and Pierre were staying at the Dunbars in the remaining time. Agnes loved having them around. They had cried so much that first day. Her friends had updated her on the news regarding the war, You-Know-Who, and the order of the phoenix.
She had felt a terrible ache in her heart when they had told her all about how Sirius Black had been sent to Azkaban for having killed his friend Peter Pettigrew and a dozen of muggles. She could not believe it. He was such a loyal friend to James and the marauders, how could he ever think of killing? Especially his own friend and innocent muggles? It just didn't add up. But there he was, now emprisoned in the most secured wizard prison she knew.
Additionally, no one knew of Remus Lupin's location. He had disappeared after James and Lily's funerals back in November, and hadn't bothered share his itinary, most likely because he didn't want to be found.
It seemed like everything had been torn apart. The war had ended, but heartbreaks kept coming in and it seemed like everyday they had another bad news. Trials were ongoing at the ministry, judging the death eaters who had been caught, and trying to investigate on the criminals still on the run. A lot more families seemed involved, including the Blacks.
It felt weird walking freely in the streets, the word of You-Know-Who being dead had been spreading among wizards, and people felt more and more trustful towards the ministry. Agnes had walked with Jimmy in the muggle park, like they were used to when they were just teenagers. They had fed a few squirrels and had enjoyed the last few cold days of winter. March was already on its way.
She had spent months under water, and had still a hard time believing it. Now, she felt too scared to come near water, fearing she'd end up trapped there again. She could not realize nearly 90 days of her life had been erased just like that, and now it was her birthday coming up. She was turning 24 already. Time flew by so fast.
She glanced at the little puddle made by the rain on the ground and avoided it carefully. Life has turned out to be a strange adventure, she thought. But she was glad that the Dunbars were doing alright.
Agnes thought every night of the Potters. The memories of Godric Hollows came flashing in her mind from time to time and it hurt like hell. She had asked about their son, Harry, and had been told he was now living with his aunt, somewhere in London. She was glad he was being taken care of. The poor child had not even got to meet and get to know his parents. Poor Harry, she thought.
***
- They got admitted at St Mungos, haven't they? Pressed Agnes while talking to her father.
Jeanne and Pierre had gone back to France that morning, and she had caught an owl intended to her father. He was taking care of some business at the ministry, helping with the trials and other things related to the war. The letter she had accidentally read that day had terrified her.
The only word she had needed to read were : Frank and Alice Longbottoms, Cruciatus Curse, Critical State, St Mungos Admission.
She had ran to Mr Dunbar who was working from home that day.
- How is it that no one knew where they were for so long??!
- Look, Agnes. What matters is that we found them alive, and I know St Mungos will take good care of them. They will get the best treatment possible. Please, calm down.
- The Cruciatus Curse! You should know what that mean! There's no going back. They're as good as dead!! Do we know who did it?
Agnes was speaking so fast she felt a headache rush to her temples. Alice and Frank had gone missing for a while, and had finally got found in a terrible state between life and death.
How many more terrifying news would she be able to handle??
- I want to visit them. She had asked her father, trying to keep calm.
- The doctor has forbidden anyone who's not family to visit. I'm sorry, Agnes. You will have to wait. Their son is staying with his grandmother for the moment. They will need all your support. You might want to pay them a visit.
Agnes nodded angrily. She knew Mr Dunbar was right. But she felt so helpless, hearing about everyone she knew beign hurt or killed.
- They'll never recover, will they? She asked with a lower voice, almost too hesitant.
Her father put down the pen he was writing with, and looked up at the window, thinking. Outside, two birds were flying around the branch of a tree, dancing in the air.
She knew what his silence meant.
***
A few days following her birthday, Agnes had had enough. She couldn't just stay and do nothing anymore. She had helped Jimmy with his herbology project he was about to present to become a professional in the field. He was also going on his own path, now. The youngest Dunbar had found what he wanted to do, and his career was just about to begin. She was so happy for her little brother.
But the young woman couldn't help feel jealous. She had committed her years after school to duelling and her whole career had just vanished in the split of an eye when she had been targeted by the dark wizard, leaving behind all her dreams and hope of greatness and glory. She had truly wished for it.
She still remembered the thrill of climbing up on stage, her wand in hand, listening to the cheers from the crowd. She still remembered her friend Alexei, the other opponents she had defeated. How had life turned out like this?
She could not stay in London. She had to look for her own path, somewhere else. She needed some time. She still had no wand, and made it her first priority.
- You should go look in Yorkshire, had adviced Joshua when they had talked about it at dinner. They make the best wands, that is where Ollivanders opened their first shop decades ago!
A few days later, it was decided. She was going to visit Yorkshire for a while. She had rented a little cottage there, allowing her to spent some time in a little town in the countryside, where a small community of wizards lived, away from large urban areas.
She thought of Adeline, the woman who had saved her and offered her shelter when she had been hopeless, lying on the beach. She had loved the atmosphere of her house, and the town her husband had dropped her off in. Some fresh air outside of the city would be more than welcome.
She grabbed a large bag where she'd put all the things she'd need during her trip. After she spent lunch with her family one last time, she waved them goodbye and promised to write at least once a week (She did not know how long she'd stay away).
She was going to take her broom, wanting to fly so she could enjoy the landscape. She had bought a new one a few days prior, after the last one she'd own had been crushed in Godric's Hollow. Maybe it was for the better, after all. All she knew, all she owned seemed to have become dust. She had the opportunity to start over, to become someone she was proud of, someone she would not have to hide.
She was ready for her next adventure.