Back to Hogwarts
September 1st, 1982
What a weird feeling, being back here. Agnes had decided to symbolically ride the Hogwarts express to travel to school. The train was full of students, some already wearing their house robes. They all looked so young. Even the oldest prefects looked like children. Maybe she really had aged, after all. The young woman wondered if she had seemed so little when she had entered Hogwarts in her 6th year. It seemed like a long time ago now.
So many things had happened.
She was expected in the headmaster's office shortly before the banquet, to get some things in order and get the instructions for the beginning of the year. Agnes could not ignore that she was getting really nervous about being introduced as a new teacher. Would she be good enough?
The only thing she couldn't wait to do was take over the duelling club. She missed it a lot.
Students were now filling the Great Hall and a loud hubbub removed every once of solemnity to the place. It looked as beautiful as she remembered, although she had never seen it from the professor's angle. The four tables for each house were as usual extremely long and a lot of people were already seated, waiting for the sorting ceremony to begin. Agnes had not met all the professors yet, some had arrived later, after their meeting. Professor Flitwick, however, had been one of the first to come and talk to her, enthusiastic to see her join the teachers' ranks. Although she had not seen him for a few years, the little man had not changed one bit, and still looked sympathetic.
Agnes couldn't lie, she really was excited to be here. Being back at Hogwarts after her school years was already her luck, but becoming a professor was a great way to get more experience and recognition by the wizarding community.
Professor Dumbledore entered the Hall, and a respectful silent fell on the place. Professor McGonagall traditionally arrived, followed by tiny-looking first years, terrified by all the eyes on them.
One by one, names were called, and a few children went to Hufflepuff, one or two in Slytherin, and the rest in Gryffindor and ravenclaw. She was glad to see her former house still looking as welcoming.
Once everyone was sorted and well seated at their table, the headmaster stood again, and approached the stage, ready to deliver his annual welcoming speech. He announced a few ground rules before moving on to the presentation of the professors.
- As for some of you, it is the first time you passed Hogwarts' doors, let me present you your professors, all very well equipped and knowledgeable to teach you during this school year. Also, we are welcoming a new professor, who's going to teach Muggle Studies. Some of you might know her as a worldwide reknowned duellist, and she has granted us of her presence. Please, applaud Professor Lenoir!!
Agnes felt her cheeks burn, but stood up at the announcement of her name. Professor Lenoir. It sounded nice. All eyes were now fixed on her, and she even saw a few students pointing at her and whispering something she couldn't hear.
After a deadly silent second, hands started clapping and students were applauding her passionately, screaming her name and chatting excitedly between themselves.
They knew her. They knew who she was, and seemed enthusiastic about having her around. What a relief, Agnes walked around the table and approached the headmaster who politely held her hand. She bowed respectfully to the students and smiled, intensifying the clapping at once.
- I can't believe we have a celebrity as our professor! I can't wait to start classes now! said a Hufflepuff the nearest to her.
She shyly returned to her seat and let professor Dumbledore finish his speech, calming everyone's chatting. Her cheeks must be all flushed now, but she didn't care. She felt good. Among the professors, Flitwick gave her an encouraging wink and Professor McGonagall seemed to smile a little.
At the end of the banquet, students were rushing to their common room, stomach stuffed with delicious food. Prefects were busy keepin everyone in line, and some professors had already left to get some rest before the start of class the next day. Agnes had just finished talking with professor Trelawney, who she found rather peculiar, but who didn't look mean at all. The new professor of Muggle studies walked towards the exit, ready to discover the new place she was going to live at for a year.
In front of her stood a tall figure, wearing a dark robes the same color as his hair. The man looked imposing, and was standing in her way. He was definitely a professor, as she had seen him sitting on McGonagall left side, at the end of the wooden table.
- Excuse me. She said while trying to pass by.
The man turned, lowering his eye on her. His skin was pale and his eyebrows naturally frowned.
- I see you too are in a hurry. Not much different from your fellow students. The man said, in an accusing deep and cold voice.
Agnes opened her mouth in a smile, confused at his comment. What did he mean by 'in a hurry' ? Had he been offended she'd asked him to move an inch? Had he just compared her to a child?
- Professor Lenoir, How do you do? She introduced herself. I apologize, I wouldn't have liked to step on your exceptionally long robes. She answered in a polite smile.
Not everyone was kind and polite, were they? At least she knew that one wasn't. He looked strangely familiar, but she couldn't remember where she'd seen him before. He looked too young to have been a professor when she was still a student. She didn't dare look at the man's reaction and purposely avoided his cape before rushing to exit the Great Hall.
- I see you've met Professor Snape. Told an old voice behind her.
- Professor Dumbledore! She gasped.
- Haha, pardon me. But I must congratulate you, the students looked happy to see you.
- Oh, I hope I won't disappoint them. By the way, what did you say that.. that professor was called, again?
- You mean professor Snape? Oh, Yes, you must know him, you were attending Hogwarts in the same years if I'm not mistaken.
Snape. Snape. Severus Snape. Oh, of course! That's where she recognized him from! That introverted Slytherin who was in the duelling club with her. The one who used to be Lily's friend but betrayed her by insulting her. Right, that one. Well, he hasn't turned out that good, has he?
Agnes smiled at the professor before finally walking towards the Faculty tower, where her room was indicated to be. She walked up the few set of stairs before arriving in front of a large wooden door, with her name tag written in bronze letters. Fancy, she thought.
The young witch carefully opened the door, and gasped at the width of her new appartment. It was a huge rounded space with a few windows carved into the rock, and a huge bed was placed on the right, with curtains to cover the inside. Near the window was her desk, and on the floor was placed a beautiful sky blue authentic carpet on which a comfortable sofa was sitting.
She couldn't have asked for a better place. She already liked her dorms as a Ravenclaw, but this was next level.
She wondered if every professor had such nice rooms. She hoped Snape had a smaller appartment. What would he need space for anyway? His arrogance and his insulting vocabulary?
She laughed out loud, alone in her new bedroom. It was going to be a bloody exciting adventure. But the thing she was most scared of would happen the next morning: meeting the students.
***
September 2nd, 1982
Agnes was facing 3rd year students, at least 20 of them. She was used to face a crowd, but having such young people listen to her seemed rather scary, for some reason.
- Professor, is it true you attended Beauxbatons? Asked a girl when Agnes questionned them about their current knowledge on muggles.
- It is true, and I transferred to Hogwarts later. Now, who can tell me the name of the most used muggle public transportation in urban areas?
- It's a truck, ma'am! Said a Hufflepuff without raising his hand.
- No, it's obviously the plane! Said another one from Slytherin, giving a disdainful glance to his classmate.
- Come on, now. You're both right in the fact that they are commonly used transportations. However, the most convenient vehicle will be the metro, also called the subway or tube, in London. It is mostly underground, and muggles use it as we use floo powder, for instance.
She had caught the class' attention and the silent had come back in the room.
After an hour, she dismissed the students and thanked them for their focused behavior. She thought it was not too bad for a first lesson. It was quite fun, teaching wizards about muggles. She had spent her youth asking Pierre and Antoine about their lives at home, and had earned some useful knowledge. She was ready and had much knowledge to share to her students. Good start, Agnes thought.
Days were going by rather quickly the first week. The young woman was starting to get the hang of her tasks and the teenagers she was teaching seemed eager to learn more in her subject. She enjoyed living at Hogwarts and having her own appartment, without sharing it with anyone. Although it could become lonely at times. She wrote a few letters to Jeanne, the Dunbars, and to Remus, who had not answered any of her mail since they last saw each other the previous summer.
- How are you finding the school? Asked gently Dumbledore while looking curiously at Agnes.
- Unchanged, she said in a smile. Although I do feel like I am discovering it all over again under a new angle.
- Attending Hogwarts as a professor is quite different, indeed. You should ask your colleagues, they've all been students here before, if I'm not mistaken.
Agnes laughed politely before taking a sip from the tea the headmaster had served her in his office.
- Professor, we never really talked about.. everything.
- Do you mean the war, Agnes?
She nodded.
- There are many things to say, and many others to keep to ourselves. But I did mean to ask you about the incident that occurred in Godric's Hollow last year. In your letter, you've told me you had lost consciousness and found yourself trapped underwater, is that correct?
- Yes, professor. When I woke up, I was far away from the city, on the edge of the sea.
- Elemental magic had many mysteries still hidden. Such magic is so rare we only know so little about it. Such powerful reaction might have been caused by your own spirit.
- My own.. spirit? Do you mean I knocked myself out?
Dumbledore marked a pause, and started to stroke his long white beard while looking to his side, where many portraits seemed to listen carefully to their conversation. After a long second, he looked back at the young professor.
- That night, the Potters were killed by You-know-Who. He had used one of the unforgivable curse to murder them, the same who killed your friend, Antoine. As if your magic which has been in contact with this curse, was now sort of inclined to react to it. Therefore, perhaps, when you approached Godric's Hollow, there remained marks of such spells which made your mind and powers react instantly, and try everything to flee from it.
- How could it react this way? I mean, I had no idea what had happened.. then..
- Perhaps a post-traumatic response from the tragedy you went through when you lost Antoine might have repercuted on your magical abilities. As I said, there are many mysteries we have not elucidate yet.
Agnes nodded. Mysteries, huh. Then, so be it. She had not used her elemental magic for months now, and was not about to try again. It had caused to much pain and loss around her, there was nothing worth doing it. At least not anymore.
She thought of the Potters, of Sirius, of Peter, and Remus. She thought of Antoine, and the Longbottoms. So many members of the order of the Phoenix had perished or disappeared in the conflict, so many had given their life to protect their people. To protect the world.
Her becoming a professor was her way to pay them back. She would teach their children, and the new generation about how brave the resistance had been, about how muggles and wizards weren't enemies, how you-know-who was a dumb piece of--
She got interrupted in her thoughts by professor McGonagall who was waving at her to come closer. The older woman was wearing her eternal long dark robes and her witch hat was distinguishly stuck on her head.
- Agnes, dear. Oh, professor Lenoir, my apologies. I need to get used to this. I need you to make sure the prefects are aware of the first term meeting we are having tonight in the Great Hall. I sent owls and flying mails but it seems like the air traffic is in a bit of a struggle since th beginning of the year. Would you mind searching for prefects from Slytherin and Ravenclaw?
- Of course, professor, I'll handle the matter right away.
- Thank you, dear! You're of great help.
The older witch mumbled some old-fashioned insults towards the owls beckering instead of going to their destination and headed towards the Gryffindor tower. She was the same as Agnes remembered her, passionate about her role as an educator but never fully satisfied of the way things are handled around her. A perfectionnist, in all her glory.
It was not that easy of a job, finding prefects from all years and all houses in the large castle. At that time of the day, students could be anywhere in the school, from classrooms to the Quidditch pitch. Agnes started by searching in the Great Hall, where some were playing baord games and talking together. Voices resonated in the large room as one Gryffindor was standing in front of his friends, making all sorts of jokes. Agnes had started to recognize the prefects from Ravenclaw but still had some troubles with the other houses. With her wand, she made a little book that fitted perfectly in her hand, and opened it at the first page, where pictures of all prefects had been added for the new school year.
- Paloma Chesvire, Paul McBeneth are 7th year prefects for Ravenclaw. Right. As for Slytherin, hm.. Ah, here. Sylvia Perrot and Donna Rosier. Maybe I can find them first and they'll tell the others. The young woman mumbled out loud.
Agnes was looking down at the page while walking, and had not realized she had already made it all the way to the dungeons. It was darker here than the rest of the castle, and she believed it felt more humid than upstairs. Slytherin's common room was located there, and she realized she had never really wandered around here when she was a student. Hogwarts was huge. And a life time was probably not sufficient to discover all of its secrets.
The common room was obviously closed when she arrived. Dumbledore had granted the right for professors to enter any house common room if they needed to, to fetch a student or solve an emergency. But Agnes felt somehow strange to penetrate in another house's private appartments. She had always known only Ravenclaw and had always wondered what other dorms looked like, but had only entered the Gryffindor room once or twice when the marauders would invite her.
- Hey, you. Where's your prefects? She asked the first Slytherin student who she saw.
- Err, I'll look if they're here yet, ma'am, answered the 2nd year, still sucking on his Honeyduke Lollipop.
After a few minutes, a young woman passed the door to face Agnes. She was a tall slender girl with really black curly hair. Her eyes were green and her skin was dark, she looked really beautiful and confident.
- Professor, how may I help you? She said politely.
- Please tell the other prefects in your house that there will be a meeting tonight in the Great Hall. You must not miss it, order of Professor McGonagall!
- Thank you, professor! We'll be there!
And at that, she was gone. Agnes walked around the corridors, enjoying the fact that no one could tell her anything nor scold her for just wandering. It gave more space for exploring. She arrived in front of a large wooden door she had never seen before. Or had she? It did look somewhat familiar. She passed by it and heard the door open behind her. Agnes turned around at once to see who had just came out from the room and gasped at the silhouette standing in front of her.
- Professor Lenoir.
His voice was cold, deep, and strangely calm. She could hear a slight touch of disdain in it and was looking down at her with his dark brown eyes.
- Professor Snape. Is that your office? Agnes asked, lifting her chin to face him properly.
- Your curiosity towards my private study place as well as wandering around a quarter you have nothing to do at might be misinterpreted for mischief.
- Excuse me?! Her smile fainted at once.
- As a new professor at Hogwarts, you should learn where your place is.
And without even hearing what she had to say, he was gone. Agnes was flabbergasted. What had she done to make him hate her so much? She knew him for school, that to say. But they had never been close nor enemies whatsoever, she just happened to know the same people and then she had never seen him again after her graduation. Or, maybe, he had just turned out to be the biggest asshole in the whole United Kingdom.
She felt her cheek burn from the frustration of having being talked this way, and not given the opportunity to respond. She would have destroyed him verbally if he had just waited a few more seconds.
That night, she turned in her bed for a whole hour before she could find sleep. At least, tomorrow, she'd finally attend her first duelling club practice, and could chat a little with the professor Flitwick who was supervising it, hopefully allowing her to take part in the club activities.