Summer 1982
July 27th, 1982
Agnes was sitting on a long chair in the garden at the Delacours. Remus and her had travelled from Paris to spend some more time with the newly wed before their departure for their honeymoon at the end of summer. Fleur Delacour, Jean's daughter was already a well-behaved and kind girl, with a touch of elegance proper to the Delacours.
Everyone was enjoying some nice moments together, Remus having decided to stay with the lot after Jean had insisted he did. The young wizard had been fascinated by the gigantic library of the house, and had spent a lot of time reading and exploring the room filled with various books. Agnes was glad. She had been worried being with this many people at once annoy Remus or make him uncomfortable, but he always seemed to know what to say, and what to do.
That afternoon, he joined her in the garden, a book in hand. He sat in the grass while Agnes was still laying down on her chair. The sun not too strong, just warm enough to relax every bit of skin they exposed. It was just a normal summer afternoon in the south of france.
- What are you reading? Agnes asked, looking down at her friend through her sunglasses.
- Basics and Introductions courses for teaching Defense magic. Found it in the back of a dusty shelf.
- Never knew you fancied teaching.
- I don't know. Maybe I do.
Remus looked at the book before opening it at the first page, caressing the paper carefully to feel the material under his fingers. As if daydreaming, he did not pay any attention to Agnes and she let him read in peace.
An hour later, the sun was getting too strong, and the young woman decided to go for a walk to freshen up a bit.
- Gosh, I'm all sweat! I'll get down to the river, care to come? She asked while streching her arms.
- Wouldn't mind a fresh dive, yes.
Remus put down his books and followed Agnes who was already heading towards the woods. The Delacours' property was so huge it led to a small river where the current lengthened until a bigger one kilometers away.
- Summer here is really different from spending it in London, Remus admitted, carefully avoiding tripping on large tree roots.
- Yes, it's warmer here, and the atmosphere is different.
They arrived by the river, Agnes felt a slight knot in her throat. She was scared to go back in the water. What if she was getting trapped under the surface again? She stopped walking towards it, thinking.
- You're alright, Lenoir. You have to trust yourself, and let it happen. Nothing will happen, I promise. I'll be there, next to you.
Remus had grabbed her hand and talked so softly she felt her pulse slow down a bit. He had a real power over calming her, and she was truly thankful to him. She smiled.
- What would I do without you, Lupin?
They got rid of their clothes and carefully entered the water in their underwear. Because of the heat, the river seemed way colder, and Agnes shivered when she immerged her body at first.
She felt her feet on the ground and kept a hand on the side to not get thrown away by the current. Remus took her hand once more and led her in the middle of the river, not leaving her sight.
- Let's breathe together. He said calmly.
One after the other, they took depp breaths, and everything seemed to soften in her body. Her shoulders felt less heavy and her feet burried a little into the ground. She could feel the water flowing around her to catch the speed of the current, and the smell of the wet plants thriving on both sides of the river.
Finally, her eyes started to itch a little, just like everytime she'd use her elemental power, and her body started to feel like it was becoming fluid.
- Your eyes.. Remus said in a surprised voice. It's.. glowing.
She tried to look at her reflection in the water and so that, indeed, her blue eyes were now of a shiny bright blue color. She had never seen them like this. Around her, water started to create a small rotating flow, pulling her and Remus closer together.
- Are you the one doing this? He asked, alarmed.
She did not dare say. Yes, it was most certainly her own doing, but more of an unconscious one. She had not used her elemental magic since the accident, and she had very little to no control over the water element in particular. But now, it was as if she was reconstruction her connection with it, through her friendship with Remus.
She pulled a hand away, and the flow softened before going back to its original form.
- Agnes, you are hiding something, aren't you? The young man said while walking up to the land and making a large towel appear out of nowhere.
She smiled softly drying her hair with the piece of cloth. There was no need to hide her powers anymore, was it?
- It's a long story, she said.
- I got time. He answered almost instantly.
Agnes spent long minutes explaining the whole story, from how she had realized she was an elemental to her training with professor Dumbledore back at Hogwarts, and finally her escape from You-Know-Who's attempts to get her in his ranks. Remus had been listening the whole time, nodding at some moments, frowning his eyebrows at others.
When she had finished her story, she felt almost.. naked. As if she had just revealed everything about her, and that her friend was now seeing every layer of her.
The sun was starting to set and the light softened around them.
- I guess I wasn't the only one with a big secret, huh.
Agnes smiled at his comment. He was right.
- How do you feel about this? The immortality thing. He continued.
- I don't like it. Although in theory, elementals can't die, they can suffer, they can get hurt and be injured forever. It's mroe of a torture than a gift, if you ask me.
- I agree with you. Is there something you can do to alter your immortality?
- Jeanne believes there might be, but it might requires years of research before we find an actual method.
She sighed. She disliked talking about it. She had never asked to live forever nor having all these powers. And having to find how to get rid of it sounded terrifying.
- You'll find a way, you will. He added, smiling at her.
His hair were still wet and was dropping on her knees, sitting next him. His face seemed to get closer as she looked into his eyes. It was the first time she saw his scar from up close, and it looked painful, but she knew Remus had lived through worse. She respected him for his bravery and his kindness. He had always been patient with her, since their school days.
He carefully pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear before approaching a little more. His lips were almost touching hers, and she could feel his warm breathing on her own mouth. He was about to kiss her. Remus tilted his head before breaking the last remaining space between them.
Agnes did not know why, but something in her reacted before her brain could. Her hands pushed away her friend and she stood up at once. Remus looked surprised and stared at her, his hand on the grass to sustain his body.
- I- I'm sorry, Remus, I didn't mean to. I-
- No, Agnes. It's fine, I'm the one who should apologize. I shouldn't have forced it onto you like this.
- I-, no you were right, I just. I don't know what happened.
- Hey (he had stood up and lowered his head to be at her height), it's fine. I'm sorry. I won't do anything like that again.
And he smiled softly, but he had a sad look in his eyes. She felt so stupid. This kind boy she's known for years had made a move on her and she had just... pushed him away? What was wrong with her?
***
July 31st, 1982
Remus and Agnes were on their way back to England when the young man finally opened up about what had happened between them a few days prior. Agnes had wanted to talk about it but he had just smiled and ignored her as if nothing had happened. She could see she had hurt his feelings by rejecting him at the river, but she had already apologized so many times.
- Agnes, I like you, but you know this, don't you? Remus said at once.
The young witch felt her ears burn from embarassment. She felt her cheeks get red and her eyes were glancing everywhere but at her friend. It is true she had guessed Remus might have some kind of interest towards her, but had never acted on it, and she had assumed he didn't like her to the point of wanting to try and build something with her. After all, the war had changed a lot of thing in his life, and building a relationship with someone so close to his traumatic experience might not be ideal.
But there he was, confessing his feelings as if the most normal thing in the world.
- That is why I tried to kiss you that day. And I am sorry I made you uncomfortable, I just.. I didn't mean to, I guess I just followed my instinct. And don't worry, I know you don't like me that way, and it's fine.
- Who told you I don't share your feelings? She said, rushing.
- I can sense it. The way you look at me, it is friendly and genuinely kind and affectionate. But that's it. Nothing less, nothing more.
She lowered her eyes. Well, how could he know what she felt when she herself had no idea? She felt stupid. Remus was two years younger than her and seemed way more aware of his own feelings and others' as well.
- I'm sorry Remus, I just don't really know where I'm at right now. I really like you, you know. I just can't figure things out for now...
- It's Harry's birthday today. Remus said at once, looking up in the sky.
- Huh?
- It's the 31st, Harry turns two.
She looked up at the sky. There a flying carriage came down towards them. Their car was here, they were going home.
***
Remus had found a new job in Ireland, and was only staying a few more days at the Dunbars (Agnes begged him to spend time in London) before heading there. That morning, they were all eating breakfast together (except Jimmy who was on a working trip in Eastern Europe).
- Oh, Here comes Cosmey, the owls must have delivered today's mail.
- Mistress, Cosmey brings the daily mail yes, mistress. Master received four letters, sir. Mistress received two, mrs. And Joshua received one from master Jimmy, sir!! Miss Agnes, miss! There are two letters for you, miss!
Everyone were busy opening their envelopes while Remus was still sipping on his tea, adding a little more milk to it. Agnes was surprised to receive two letter in the same day. These last months, the duelling community had somehow enstranged her which she had fatalically ended up accepting.
The first paper came from Jeanne. She was thanking both her and Remus for having traveled all the way to France to attend the wedding and spend some time together. She invited them again in her parisian appartment anytime soon. The second one, Agnes didn't recognize the handwriting at first.
" Dear Agnes,
I know it had been a long time since we have met, and I believe you are spending some well earned time away this year. I hope you have rested and feel better. I heard of what happened to you at the end of last year, and I apologize sincerely for not having been more precocious. But we will have plenty of time, I hope, to talk more about it.
I am writing this letter for an important inquiry, I admit.
As you may know, Hogwarts will welcome its students for a new school year in september. Our team of professors is well prepared for the start of the term, but I am having difficulties finding a proper teacher in Muggle Studies. I have thought that, perhaps, you may be interested to join us and become our new professor in this subject.
What do you think?
I would like to further speak with you about it when you have time.
Please send an owl before the second half of August.
Best regards,
A. Dumbledore."
Agnes gasped at the letter. Her?! Becoming a professor at Hogwarts? Didn't she need a certificate or something? Remus seemed alarmed by her reaction and silently questionned her by raising his eyebrows?
Robotically, she handed him the paper with shaking hands and looked up at his brother who had just finished reading his own mail.
- Who is that letter from, dear? calmly asked Mrs Dunbar.
- You're going to teach at Hogwarts? Told Remus, seemingly surprised.
- Wow, Dumbledore wrote you himself!! You're a special one, aren't you! Continued Joshua, laughing at her shocked expression.
- That's a great opportunity, Agnes. You've got to say yes. Added on Mr Dunbar, who had just finished his coffee.
Agnes looked up at Remus. He was still looking at the letter, smiling. But it was a polite smile. She could see his eyes reading the same line over and over. Why was it her Dumbeldore had chosen? Why wasn't it Remus? He would make a fantastic professor, and he seemed to have a genuine interest in the job.
She felt a little ashamed, as if she shouldn't celebrate the news.
- You're going to make a great teacher, Agnes. Remus said, a genuine smile on his face.
- I'll try my best, she answered.
He did not seem to be angry at her, thank god. Remus was on the go, he had packed everything in his little suitcase, ready for his next job in Ireland. He had not want to tell her exactly where he was heading to, wanting to keep her focus on her new adventure.
- Promise you'll write! She said over the loud wind blowing outside.
- Promise you'll respond, professor Lenoir!
And like that, he was gone.