Yorkshire IV - Another Full Moon
Agnes had ended up falling asleep when the sun rose on Kettlewell. She had been restless that night, trying to figure out the whole story behind Remus' malediction, and how he had ended up this way. Also, she could not help but feel stupid for having never realized it before. She had known him for years, although they might have not spend their entire time together, she should have seen something, shouldn't she?
She rose later that day, exhausted from all the thinking and worrying she had been doing all night. There was a humid feeling in the air, and the windows were blurred from the condensation and the morning mist outside in the garden. Agnes walked barefeet in her cottage, opened the window and a fresh spring wind entered the room. Everything looked so peaceful outside. The town had already been woken up earlier in the morning, and people were outside working in their garden.
Agnes stood there a moment, before the sight of the magical creature she had faced the previous night flashed in her memory. Remus. She had to go check on him.
Years ago, she had learnt about werewolves in one of her classes back at Beauxbatons. She remembered that fact in which a person with this curse had to suffer a life-long torture and that there was no cure.
She couldn't imagine how Remus must have felt, and must still feel about it. First, having to hide his own nature to the people around him, and going through this painful transformation each full moon, while knowing that there was no escape from it.
The young woman sighed and dressed quickly before heading to the pub. She did not want to confront her friend yet, as he would most certainly not like that. She needed to get her thoughts in order before she could talk to Remus. It was not something she could easily just announce, just as she had done back at Hogwarts when she'd discovered the marauders were animagus.
The pub was filled with villagers, and some families had come with their kids to get a nice meal. Today was sunday, and everyone was taking a well deserved rest from work. Some owls entered the place at once, delivering the mail of the day to the customers.
No sign of Remus. Agnes wondered if he were okay. What if he was hurt? Or still trapped in that cage?
The day passed by, and Agnes urged herself not to visit her friend and respect his privacy. It was hard to not go and knock on his door, though. She really wanted to talk to him.
***
May 10th, 1982
" Dear Agnes,
I am glad you are enjoying yourself in Yorkshire. I hope it is not too rainy and muddy, as I reckon it might be in the countryside. I spend my days in Paris at the ministry, and Pierre is officially a member of his own branch in the company. We hope to see you this summer. If you could see how big Fleur is getting! She is turning 5 already!
What are your plans now? You know you can't stay in kettlewell forever. Let me know if you need a job, I'd be more than happy to recommend you for a position here in Paris!
Keep me updated,
J.DLC"
Agnes left the letter on the table while she went to pour herself some more coffee. Going back to France, heh? Sounded dreamy when saying it like that. But what about the Dunbars? What about her duellist career in Britain? What about... Remus?
She surprised herself worrying for the young wizard. He was a dear friend, for sure. And she felt strangely close to him now that there were living close to each other (and that she knew about his 'secret', she felt even more implicated with him).
Agnes opened the second letter the owl had delivered that morning.
"Dear Miss Lenoir,
I thank you for your kind letters, and I apologize for the late response I am giving you. As you can imagine, the last few months have been complicated for everyone, and I am still adaptating with my grandson at home. You are more than welcome to come visit us at anytime, I am sure Neville will be thrilled to see you.
As for St Mungos, I am afraid my son and his wife are still under heavy consultations and visits are still limited to the family. I hope you understand that their condition is terrible and most likely irreversible.
I wish you the best,
A. Longbottom"
Agnes sighed. She had expected to get the authorization to visit Frank and Alice, but had once more been rejected. She felt terrible about what had happened to them, and wanted to check on them. But it seems like their condition was not getting better.
She was saved from her negative thoughts by a knock on her door.
- Remus! What are you doing here? I thought you were at work. Agnes said when she opened the door to her friend.
- Thought I'd swing by to thank you for the cookies you brought me this weekend. I'm on my way to the pub right now.
Remus looked tired, but his smile lightened up his face with some pink colors. She was so relieved to see he was okay. It was a little strange seeing him now that she knew.
- I'm glad you liked them. She said simply, keeping to herself all the thoughts she had.
They had planned to get dinner together that same day, to do some talking and enjoy a moment together at Agnes'.
- So, how are the french doing? Remus asked while stuffing his mouth with some homemade salad.
- Pierre and Jeanne? Pretty good, actually. They're both working in Paris at the moment. Here, I got a letter this morning.
She grabbed the mail she'd received a few hours earlier and read through it again silently. Remus was sitting in front of her, and stared strangely at the paper.
- Why haven't you told me?! He said suddenly.
- Told you what?
- That they're getting married!
- Who?
- Pierre and Jeanne!
Agnes looked at the young man, confused. What was he talking about? He pointed at the back of the letter with his fork and made a big smile.
At once, she turned the paper and saw a little line she had forgotten to read.
"Ps: By the way, Pierre has proposed. We are getting married this summer, hope you and Remus can both join".
- EXCUSE ME?!!
Agnes had screamed in her house, almost making the wind outside shake the whole cottage. The elements were reacting to her emotions, it seemed. Remus laughed out loud at her reaction.
- How come you didn't read that part?! He said, holding his ribs hilariously.
- How come she has written that on the verso as a Post script sentence??! Ahhh come on!
Agnes was flabbergasted. Her best friend was getting married with her other best friend. She was so shocked and happy, she didn't know what to say. Jeanne was going to marry Pierre. Well, it just all made sense, after all. They were made for each other.
She looked at Remus who was still looking amused by her, and started to smile as well. Such a wonderful news.
After dinner, Agnes had made some pudding for both of them, and had decided to ask Remus about what she had witnessed at his house.
- Hey, I need to talk to you about something. Agnes started.
He nodded.
- You remember that night when I saw you and the marauders back at Hogwarts, and they had turned into animals?
He took a bite of his dessert.
- I had promised I wouldn't say anything about it, right?
He nodded once more, now staring directly into her eyes.
- Well, I..
A moment passed.
- I saw you last saturday night. In.. in the cage.
That's it, she had said it. There was no going back nor hiding what she knew anymore.
Remus had opened his mouth still full of pudding and his eyes had widened in horror. He remained silent for a moment and put down his spoon carefully on the plate. He swallowed with difficulty and sighed to calm himself.
There was an awkward silent in the living room. Agnes felt so stupid. Had she just ruined her relationship with Remus?
He cleared his throat before finally talking.
- How much have you seen?
- I- err. I saw your other.. form.
He lowered his eyes, as if in shame.
- But I left almost directly, I didn't know it was you at first and I- I got worried, that's why I went inside your house. I am sorry, I didn't want to break your trust nor your privacy.
He laughed a little, in a desperate smirk.
- You've just discovered I am a monster and the only thing you're worried about is if you.. you broke my privacy?
- You're not a monster, Remus. You're a werewolf. And that's not something you've decided on, is it? Monsters are something you become on your own terms, not something you've been forced to be.
- I am sorry you had to see this. He answered, not daring looking up at her.
- How long has it been.. since.. you know...?
- I was five years old. A werewolf bit me, leaving me barely alive.
Agnes felt a knot in her throat.
- How did you do? At school and stuff.
- I got help. The nurse, professor Dumbledore and McGonagall, they were the only ones who knew about it when I entered Hogwarts.
- What about the marauders?
- Oh, they found out soon enough. Facing me and stuff, just like you've just done, actually. They became animagus because of this. Wanted to keep me company while I was in that... state.
They talked the rest of the night, and Remus seemed to open up a little more as the conversation was evolving. Agnes had dared asking a few more questions, and they had derived on his childhood, his memories and the ones they shared at school.
- Sometimes, I wish I could come back to these years. They were the good ones. Remus said, looking nostalgic.
- I'm glad we met here, Remus. I'm glad I found you.
- Not more than I am, Lenoir.
He had smiled so beautifully, and she does not know why, but she wanted to hug him so tight, and tell him everything would be alright. But before she could put action on her thoughts, the young man grabbed her hand and held it. His skin was warm and comforting. He approached her palm on his cheeks, and whispered a few words.
- I am glad, so glad..
***
July 1st, 1982
The last few weeks in Kettlewell had passed by so fast. Summer was already here when Agnes and Remus had departed for France. Jeanne's wedding was being celebrated in Paris, an occasion for the british young wizard to discover the french capital city. It was warmer in France than in Yorkshire, and the two friends were wearing short sleeves to fit the weather.
The ceremony had been organized so beautifully, and the guests were counted in hundreds. The Delacour family was well known in the wizarding community, and Jeanne had invited a lot of people from the french ministry to attend her wedding. Being so busy, she had forgotten to tell Agnes she had been chosen as the maid of honor and the latter had had to prepare last minute for it. On his hand, Pierre had not chosen anyone as his best man, or so he did, but the spot belonged to Antoine, therefore symbolically remained empty. They were gathered again, in the celebration of a shared love and lifelong friendship.
The venue was bright and all covered in white drapes, with gorgeous blossomed vine along the arche. Pierre was wearing an elegant wedding costume, with a rose in his chest pocket. He looked the best Agnes had ever seen him. She felt so proud of how far he'd come. He was all grown up now.
When Jeanne appeared, his father next to her, everyone stood up in awe. Remus was sitting among the guests, and Agnes was keeping an eye on him. She wondered whether he was thinking of Lily and James like she was.
Jeanne walked carefully towards the arche, and when she finally arrived, Pierre helped her get in place. Her dress was simple, but fitted perfectly her naturally pretty figure. She was wearing a flower crown on her head, enhancing the natural aspect of the whole ceremony.
"I now declare you, husband and wife."
Jeanne was sobbing, and Pierre was shaking, Agnes could see it from where she was standing. Just like a habit, Jeanne turned back to glance at her best friend, and Agnes caught her eyes, smiling to her in an understanding look. She was so beautiful. Her best friend getting married was probably what she had not expected to witness that year, but it was actually a blessing. The war had ended, the dark wizards were being judged for their crimes and people were finally getting back on their feet. Celebrating love was only a natural thing to do now.
Agnes felt her eyes getting teary as her friends held hands and kissed as a symbol of their union. People were applauding and some threw magical fireworks from their wand to increase the festive atmosphere of the moment.
And, there she was, crying at her best friend's wedding. Agnes turned her head to the little crowd and caught the eyes of Remus almost instantly. He was staring at her already and was smiling. She laughed shyly from him seeing her cry and started clapping again enthusiastically.