The Flow of Our Years

September 24th, 1982

- Professor, professor! When are you going to take over the duelling club??

- I still won't apply if you aren't the one teaching us!

Two hufflepuffs girls had waited for Agnes to finish her dinner to ask her all about the duelling club. She smiled at them while walking towards the tower where she resided. She couldn't tell them. She couldn't tell them she had almost begged professor Flitwick to let her become the duelling teacher at Hogwarts, but he had admitted having already given the task to another professor.

"I didn't know you'd be joining us this year, dear! If so, I would have asked you first of course. But you'll see, the current professor is very talented and skilled in the matter. The students won't be lost at all. Perhaps you can apply for next year!" had said the little professor before rushing to the table for lunch a few days prior. 

She had been wanting to grab that job the moment she had opened Dumbledore's letter asking her to become a teacher. But, obviously, it was only fair someone else who was here before her got it. Oh, she was so jealous though.

The two hufflepuffs asked a few more questions before they'd reached the professor's private appartments. The young girls waved at Agnes in a coordinated way before running away to their own dorms. Agnes enjoyed chatting with her students, they always had something to say and did not think much, compared to adults who always seemed to find it harder to connect. 

The young woman sighed when she locked the door from her room. One more day, done. 

***

That day, Agnes had decided to meet up with the current duelling professor to try and persuade them to give her the spot. She walked up all the way to the duelling room practice she used to attend almost every day when she was still a student. There, a few students were already warming up for their training, but the professor was not there yet.

- Professor Lenoir!! Are you here to teach us duelling? Is it for real? Asked one Ravenclaw student.

- Oh, no, no, no. I just thought I'd come to visit you for a moment. 'See how you're doing at practice. 

- I'll be so nervous if I have to duel in front of a world champion... Said a young girl wearing Hufflepuff robes.

- Shall we try it together, then? Agnes invited, with a soft smile on her lips. 

The next minute, the hufflepuff was standing in front of her, wand in hand, forehead probably sweating from the stress and an uncertain look to her face. Agnes kept telling her to believe in herself, that there was no need to fear and that she'd be gentle in her attack. 

The professor would not be too mad Agnes had stepped forward and played a little with their students, would they? 

She took out her wand and called out an older student to act as the referee. Everyone had gathered excitedly around them to witness the first duel between a student and a professor. The atmosphere was thrilling and some students were encouraging their classmate to win. 

- Now, you want to aim for either the arm, the feet, or the chest. Destabilizing your opponent is what can help you succeed in your duel. Try it, dear.

The girl lifted her wand and used a bunch of simple spells which Agnes avoided perfectly, but moved slightly slower than she was used to. She was not ehre to show off, but to help the students gain confidence in their skills. After a few minutes, the hufflepuff was throwing more aggressive and well handled magic, and everyone was applauding her improvement. 

- Exquisite! Exclaimed Agnes when the referee announced the end of the duel. 

- Thank you, professor. I really liked it! Said the girl after all her friends had gathered around her.

- My pleasure, young lady. 

- I wish it was you who taught us duelling, not professor Snape! Said a boy on her left. 

Agnes marked a moment. What did he say?

The duelling professor was Snape? There is no way this was fair! Why was he everywhere she went? (Besides sharing their working space, the castle was pretty big and there was lots to do). 

- I suppose you aren't one to listen to other advice, are you? Professor.

The cold voice had spoken right behind her, and a sudden silence had penetrated in the room. As if the temperature had lowered instantly, Agnes felt her grip on her wand tighten when she turned back to the man who had just entered. Severus Snape was standing there, straight and tall, and his black robes were enveloping him to make him appear way more impressive than his figure actually was. His arms were crossed in an disapproving look. She hated the way he insisted on the word 'professor' when addressing her, as if doubting her ability to teach. 

- What a bright day, professor Snape! She said, forcing a natural smile to her face. 

The students around her gasped in surprise. No one talked to Snape this way, it seemed. Good, she'd be the first. 

- Your students are clever and full of talented spirit! I couldn't just walk past it without exchanging shortly with them. But you don't mind, do you? Alright, children, I wish you a good practice with professor Snape. You know, he's a very skilled duellist himself! Although he used to have quite the temper when I won over him. So, don't mind your own doubts, you just have to find the strenght withing yourself. Good day!

And at that, she was gone. It was her turn to not let him talk. She felt satisfied, and it was already time for her to prepare her next class. She had lots to do. 

But she had missed duelling, so dearly. Too bad the one in charge was Severus Snape. 

***

November 10th, 1982

Days were getting colder, and the students were wearing their house scarves when coming to class. Agnes had chosen a thick blue dress, her favorite color. She added a knitted jumper over it and felt warm enough. Her long brown hair were tied together with a discreet dark blue bow in the back. The first class went well, and the third years were paying enough attention she only had to gather silence once during the whole hour. The second class was with 6th years who seemed particularly chatty which asked for Agnes' patience and full concentration to make the lesson flow smoothly. 

Lunch was some beef stew and saucey vegetables, with sourdough bread. Hagrid was eating twice if not three times more than the usual portion, and Agnes could hear his passionate chewing from her seat. The gamekeeper was always enjoying his food, as if he liked everything, compared to professor Trelawney who tended to doubt the omens related to the ingredients used for the recipe. Agnes had always liked the food at Hogwarts, but she had to admit the one served in Beauxbatons was way more sophisticated and better quality. bu then, she was not one to complain about food in her plate. 

Professor McGonagall was sitting next to her this time. They had got closer now that some time had passed. Minerva (as she had told Agnes to call her) was a suprisingly interesting woman with a good sense of humor and a passionate taste for competition, especially in Quidditch. They had spent some time together observing the new teams practicing on the pitch a few days prior, and Agnes was rather impressed by the level. Although no one seemed quite as good as James Potter. 

- Attention, please. Attention! Declared Dumbledore at the end of the meal. I meant to wait until dinner to make this announcement but I have excuse myself later today as other affairs require my presence. The yearly Quidditch tournament will be open starting next week and the first match will happen on the 20th of November. Please expect the first teams to compete to be announced some time today or tomorrow. Thank you. 

Before he had even finished, everyone had started to chat between themselves and comment on the news shared by the headmaster. The most awaited event was finally about to begin. Agnes knew some of her students were enthusiastic fans of Quidditch, and were expecting this announcement since the term had started. 

The young woman laughed at her neighbor's reaction. Minerva McGonagall was jubilating in her chair, fidgeting her fork to restrain herself from applauding. 

- Who will compete first? Agnes asked in a whisper so no one else could hear.

- Oh, dear, it will be Hufflepuff against Ravenclaw, but don't tell your students yet. And you better be here, it will be most epic! 

Agnes gasped in an exagerrated manner. McGonagall knew Agnes was still very attached to her old house, and would support them no matter what. As a professor, she had a few students who really liked her in Hufflepuff, so the choice of which team to support was becoming a little harder. But deep down, it was as if she had ravenclaw blood running through her veins. 

The week passed by fast, and classes seemed to chained while each Quidditch team was practicing ardently to prepare for the big game. Dumbledore was away since his last appearance at lunch and no one really knew what he was up to. He was a man of many mysteries, and Agnes had learnt to accept this fact about him. Professor Flitwick was giving the last encouragement to the Ravenclaw team when Agnes passed by the tent where the players were getting ready on match day. A crowd of students was already heading towards the stairs to reach their seats and the supporters of the two teams contrasted with different shades of bronze and blue, and yellow and black. Some Slytherins and Gryffindors were walking along the crowd and some had changed their house colors to support their friends' team. 

The booth reserved for Hogwarts professors was getting filled with familiar faces, and Minerva was sitting in the first row, her googles ready for the match. On her side was sitting professor Trelawney who seemed focus on one of her shoes whose lace was untied. Behind them, Hagrid had just sat down next to professor Sprout and a few people who worked at the school. Agnes decided to sit on the last row where the only free seats remained. She waited patiently for the match to begin, eyeing on Sprout's bag of herbal candies. She would have loved to try one, or maybe two. 

After a moment, she felt someone sit next to her while she was counting the number of Gryffindors supporting Ravenclaw. Professor Snape had just sat down next to her. Bloody hell, was she that unlucky? She sighed under her breath before turning her face to the man, faking a polite smile to salute him. 

- Did not know Quidditch was your cup of tea. She declared, still holding her smile.

He did not answer at first. Had he not heard her? Or was he just plainly ignoring her? Agnes was about to repeat herself to make sure he would not avoid her comment, but Snape turned his face to her and looked straight in her eyes. 

- I fancy things I know I can end up winning. 

- Isn't it the other way around? 

His eyebrows seemed to frown for a second, but he came back to his inital expression.

- I was obviously speaking as the Slytherin team referent. 

They did not talk the rest of the match. Agnes had maybe overstepped here. She had heard from Sirius how he assumed Snape used to fancy Lily back in their school days, but had never got any chance, especially when James came into the picture. He liked someone he couldn't have, and ended up cutting ties with her by being purely mean and hearltess. But maybe he had changed, and aimed for things he could actually get, as he told. 

The Quidditch match was going well. Hufflepuff were skilled but not enough to compete with Ravenclaw, who had literally crushed them down and won hands down. Agnes stood up during the last few seconds and screamed in joy when the Ravenclaw seeker grabbed the golden snitch, helping the team win the game. 

- LET'S GOOO, RAVENCLAW!! 

She saw Snape jump a little on his seat, shocked by her sudden enthusiasm. Minerva was applauding passionately, seemingly satisfied with the match she had just watched. Ravenclaw had won, and Flitwick seemed to be as happy as Agnes was. 

A flashback flashed before her eyes, and she remembered how the marauders had gathered to support Ravenclaw with her, yelling and encouraging the players as if from their own house. Agnes lost her smile for a second. This place made her most nostalgic, and she missed her friends. Everyday. 

***

April 9th, 1983

Christmas holidays had passed, the second term had already ended and spring was warming up the castle with bright days and soothing sunlight. Over were the cold and wet days of winter, and the owls flying around Hogwarts seemed to be the first ones to enjoy the change of seasons. Agnes was now confident in her job as a professor, and she had earned the respect of her students and peers. Well, with an exception. If she had managed to get closer to most teachers and school staff, she still found a terrible disdain towards Severus Snape, especially caused by the way he seemed to despise her as much as she did. Everytime she looked at him, with his frowned eyebrows and pale skin, she saw her friend Lily, and the contrast between the two. How had they ever been friends to begin with ?

For the holidays, Agnes had visited her manoir in France, paying her respects to her mother and grandparents' grave, and had met Pierre and Jeanne for a couple of days. Then, she had traveled back to London to meet with Mrs Longbottom and she had allowed her to come along to St Mungos with the little Neville, who was starting to speak well, and together had visited Frank and Alice. It was hard looking at them diminished by such terrible magic, but she was sure she had seen Alice smile when her son had entered the room. Or maybe she was just imagining things. 

Although Agnes had no news of the Potter's son, she had heard from Hagrid and McGonagall how he was safe and sound at his aunt's, Lily's sister. It was a relief, but she'd wished to see him. How tall was he now? Was he talking as much as Neville? 

She sighed. Maybe it was better to keep some distance, the poor boy needed to live a normal life after what had happened to him. He needed to be protected from the terrible truth a little longer. 

Agnes went through her mail, she was receiving more and more letters from her fellow duellists (apparently people had started to hear about her new position at Hogwarts) and from other teachers working at Beauxbatons. It took her all afternoon to answer to everything, and when the last letter came in, she gasped in surprise. It was from Remus. The young wizard had not given any news since the previous summer, and she was getting worried. 

"Dear Agnes, 

I have well received all your letters, which I thank you for. For the past few months, I have been working a lot, and it did not allow me to keep track of my mail. I apologize for the late response. I am glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself at Hogwarts, who wouldn't? What a magical place it is. Sometimes I fancy paying you a visit in Hogsmeade, just to take a glimpse at the castle where we grew up. 

How are the kids? Are they still as mischievious as back in the days? I would love to hear all about it. 

As for my current location, please don't be worried about me. I happen to move quite often and never really stay in the same town for more than a month. The moons are not helping, but I am hanging in there, and I get to do some sightseeing. 

Hope to hear from you soon,

Your dearest friend, 

R.Lupin"

Agnes started to know Remus, and read between the lines. They had talked about how hard it was for him to find a proper job as a werewolf, and that he had to stipulate his condition when applying for any position. He did not want to worry her, but she knew he was probably working his arse off somewhere in the welsh countryside, underpaid and exploited by his employer. 

She was very lucky. Dumbledore had offered her this job and she came from a wealthy family. Remus, on the other hand, was left alone. He had lost his best friends, and was discriminated for something he'd become against his will. 

It was not fair, and she knew it. 

The young woman switched back to reality when someone knocked on her door. It was saturday, and she had the day free. Who could it be? Before she could even reach the door to open it, the person knocked again. 

- Here, here, hold on a second. 

She pulled the heavy wood towards her and faced a complete black silhouette. Oh, she was starting to get to know that one. 

- Professor Snape? What do I owe the pleasur-

- Professor Dumbledore has requested a special audience. With you.

The man looked... anxious? and almost annoyed he was charged to be the one to inform her.

- Oh. Couldn't he send an owl or something?

- This matter concerns us both, I'm afraid. 

She nodded and excused herself to go grab a cardigan and her wand. Why would the headmaster need to talk to her AND Severus Snape at the same time? It was odd. She walked back to the door once she had everything in hand, and looked up at the wizard, catching his deep brown eyes glancing over her shoulder into her room. Was it curiosity she had just seen in his stare?

- How'd you find the room? 'Wasn't expecting such large space for a one room flat. She said, obligating herself to act relaxed in front of him. 

Snape sighed from the nose, obviously uninterested in her attempt to make conversation happen between them. 

She hated the fact that he made her feel uneasy. It wasn't like that back in the days. She would barely talk to him, of course, but the only time she did, she felt like a normal 6th year chatting with a 4th year, and there was an unwritten sense of superiority in that. But here and now, the age gap seemed unrelevant and Snape had grown a least 10 centimeters since she had last seen him in school. 

He had become a grown man in his twenties and looked way more imposing and his voice had gone so deep she had not recognized him the first time she'd seen him in the Great Hall. There was something so infuriating about him and she could list all the defaults she had already noticed about the lad, but the more she spent time with him and the more confused she was about him. What was the point of being so annoying? What was he looking for? 

And like that, she started to daydream about the true nature of Severus Snape, thing she'd never even thought was possible. 

They arrived in Dumbledore's office but the headmaster was missing. The portrait were for some absent and the rest was either taking a nap or checking on their neighbors, uninterested by the two intruders. 

- I thought the headmaster was expecting us? Agnes asked, surprised not to see Dumbledore anywhere.

- I just passed the message, I assumed he'd be here by now. 

- Well, perhaps you assuming too fast. 

- Are you insinuating I can't comprehend a most simple instruction?

- I'm just saying you might be wrong.

- How in Merlin could I be wrong about coming to the headmaster's office when I'm fetched there?

- It's fine to admit that you might have got the time wrong or something.

- I did not.

- All I am trying to say is that maybe you-

- I. DID. NOT.

- Professor Snape, you better keep your calm and start talking to me like a decent human being or else I-

- Am I truly facing two competent professors of the noble school of Hogwarts ? Or only two children bickering in my office?

Albus Dumbledore had appeared from behind the stairs, calmly walking towards them, although his look seemed most unpleased. Agnes and Snape stopped at once, turning their head towards the wizard. The young woman suddenly felt so ashamed of having lost her temper. The headmaster was right. She was no child, and she had just acted like one. What was it about Severus Snape that made her lose all her self-control like this?

- I have gathered you two for a matter of high importance, and I hope your.. dispute or whatever I witnessed just now, will not affect the mission I am about to give you. 

- Of course, professor Dumbledore. I am sorry you had to see this. Answered Agnes at once, not daring looking directly at the headmaster. 

- In what consists the mission, headmaster? Asked Snape at once, not glancing once at his colleague.

Dumbledore cleared his throat before revealing his instructions. Snape had not moved an inch and Agnes wondered if he were even breathing under his robes. She, on the other hand, was glancing here and there, rediscovering this office she had entered so many times for various reasons. How many stories and memories held this place? The portraits had now gathered and listened attentively to the ongoing conversation. Agnes and Snape's heated exchange from earlier had brought every gossip-lovers back to their original portraits and had woken up the other ones. 

- Well, as you may know, our school is closely linked to the other european schools in the continent. Especially Beauxbatons who we share centuries-long friendship with. I have talked with the french school's headmistress and we exchanged a few owls regarding the wish to hold an inter-school event for the students to discover other ways of learning and make new encounters. I know Durmstrang, the Bulgarian school, have applied for the Triwizard tournament to be held again, but I must admit it is most likely a lost cause. The ministry do not want to face another scandal and another loss of a student, as the event is considered too dangerous. 

Dumbledore was giving so many information and Agnes was trying to remember everything, but felt the urge to ask him to come to the point at once, she was really impatient to know what was the event he mentionned. 

- Professor, what would be the inter-school event ?

Agnes glanced at Snape, shocked. It was as if he'd read her mind. She looked up at the headmaster who had just got interrupted.

- Oh, right, right. Well, Beauxbatons's headmistress and I wanted to hold a new tournament based on students' skills in potions. We already have many physical competitions held but we do think there is a lack of more intellectual and somewhat academic championships. That is why I'll need both of you to make sure this event is happening starting from next year. I am letting you know in advance so you have plenty of time to recruit students who might be interested and exchange with Beauxbatons about the whole organization. Agnes, you have relations there, and you attended Beauxbatons, that is why you are the best fit to make sure the communication between the school is held without a hitch. As for Severus, you are our Potion professor and therefore knowledgeable about the subject of the tournament. You will help in making the competition as fierce as possible. 

Agnes felt a strange excitement in her stomach. She was going to take part in the coming year's most exciting event, and it was only her first year as a professor! An inter-school tournament ! She did not even mind working alonside Snape, if it was to take part in such fun experience. 

After having received a few more instructions, the two professors thanked the headmaster before leaving his office, full of thoughts. Agnes' brain was fuming with ideas and to-do lists were building themselves in her head, whereas Snape looked as if he had just received the most casual news. It was so hard to guess what he was thinking. 

Well, needless to say that they had a lot of work ahead.