Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and...
May 14th, 1983
Days had passed since Agnes had been querelling with Snape in Dumbledore's office. She had been caught on with the preparation of the O.W.Ls coming up for the 5th years. She had been requested to give supplementary classes for some students who lacked in her subject. Not that she really minded it, but it asked her more time than her already packed schedule and she had less time to organize the inter-school event.
She had sent out a few owls to a few Beauxbatons professors to ask them about their potential participation in the competition as jurys and mentors, and it seemed like some were interested. Especially the few youngest teachers who were enthusiastic to organize events with other schools. The war had recluded people inside their own borders and there was now a new wave of wizards who seemed eager to rebuild an international friendship and allow themselves to see the world and its post-war changes.
- There should be at least 20 participants per school, what do you think? Asked Agnes to her colleague while looking at the few papers spread before her.
Severus Snape was not paying any attention to her, and had his eyes focused on a letter an owl had just delivered to him a minute prior. Agnes looked up at him, already pissed at the man for ignoring her.
- Hm. He said, reading the last bit of the text.
- What is it?
- Hm.. He repeated.
- Professor Snape, is there a problem?
Snape looked up from the paper to stare at the ones next to Agnes. After long few seconds, he grabbed one that was above the others and let his eyes read the content.
- We might want to add another 20 contestants. He declared at last.
- 20 more?!
- Durmstrang wants in, I just got this letter from the headmaster. They say, quote, "we will not allow Hogwarts and Beauxbatons to gather in an inter-school tournament without including the illustrious and proud Durmstrang Institute."
Agnes let her eyes move from Snape, to his letter, to the papers in front of her, letting the information sink in. One more school? Blimey, that would be even more complicated to organize! Especially because Durmstrange would travel from further away, and they were known to be extremely competitive. Agnes felt her heart beat a little faster at the news. It would be a lot of work, for sure, but how thrilling. It was as if the triwizard tournament would be attending again, without the dangerous and life-threatening part of it.
The following weeks, Agnes and professor Snape spent all their free time preparing the future competition. Snape was working on communicating with Durmstrange, where he had some acquaintances, and also started working on a few ideas for the tournament tasks. Agnes, on the other hand, kept working on the logistics, and was receiving dozens of owls per day, from sponsors and other wizards association who wanted to attend the competition.
The exam season was coming up and both 5th years and 7th years looked exhausted and stressed from studying and doign mocks tests. Agnes woke up extra early every morning to make sure she had time to answer her mail, prepare her classes and give some time for the students in difficulty. She barely had any time to write to the Dunbars, nor Pierre and Jeanne who she had seen at christmas for the last time. She had sent a few owls to Remus since his last letter, but had not received any answers. She had decided to stop worrying too much about him. He was a grown adult and could take care of himself. Although she knew he might be struggling with finding a proper job, she also knew he would never accept her help in the matter. It was frustrating but she also had many things to deal with at the moment.
***
June 26th, 1983
5th years were running around, nervous about attending their last exam. On the other hand, 7th years were already done, their last examination having been planned a few days prior. The days were bright and longer, and the temperature was high and it was now warm enough for the students to spend their free time outside, playing gobstones and enjoying the sun on the grassfields.
Agnes was chatting with a few students when Minerva walked up to her.
- Agnes, I need your approval for some important matters. Professor Dumbledore told me you were the person to ask.
- It is about.. the thing? Agnes carefully said, waving goodbye to the two young Ravenclaws.
- Oh, yes, yes. We have some papers we need you to send the other schools for the students' parents to sign.
Agnes nodded and promised she would get it done as soon as possible.
Summer was here, and it seemed like summer would pass by so fast, knowing that, starting from september, the school would be filled with students from all Europe.
***
July 3rd, 1983
The very last day of school had a bittersweet taste in the air. Everyone was going home and Agnes was officially concluding her first year at Hogwarts. She had not seen the few months pass by, and had been so busy she had barely got anytime to reflect on the war, and every other thing that had kept her awake for so many nights before. Though it was for the best. Students were walking back to the train station, where the train was departing later in the morning. Some first years had grown up during the year, and a few girls were hugging one last time before boarding. Agnes had decided to travel by floo powder. She wanted to get as fast as possible to London. The Dunbar family was finally about to be reunited and she did not want to miss it for the world. She had seen a picture of Jimmy sent by Mrs Dunbar a few weeks ago, and the young boy had grown so much he looked totally different from what she had known him to be.
Everyone was changing, Agnes thought before throwing the powder into the chimney.
***
August 20th, 1983
Incendio !!
Agnes felt her whole arms tense from the powerful spell she had just performed. Her forehead was sweating from the heat and the effort, and her clothes were starting to stick to her skin. It was a beautiful warm afternoon in London, and the last few days had been increasingly hot. The young witch was enjoying her last days of vacations at the Duelling Club located in the South of the city. She had missed practicing duelling so much she had reached out and been invited by the members of the club to join them for the summer.
- Good work, Tim. You're getting really fierce with that Stupefy. Agnes said, putting her wand away.
The young man laughed before making a water bottle fly to him. He drank the whole lot before joining the rest of the group sitting on the sofas in the corner of the room.
- Agnes, or should I say, Professor! So, you're going back to teach at Hogwarts?
- Yes, I've been enjoying teaching so far, and the kids are great. She answered, grabbing a few herbal candies on the table.
Everyone had been impressed by her career path. Student at Beauxbatons, transferred to Hogwarts, became World Duelling champion, and now professor at Hogwarts in muggle studies. It was true that it might appear as an unusual manner of evolving.
The last days of summer, Agnes had decided to spend it with her family. Mr Dunbar was about to begin his last year before retirement, and Joshua was hoping to get his position at the ministry. Everything was going well for her little brothers. Mrs Dunbar stayed unchanged, although a few more wrinkles were visible on her forehead. Life after the war was most peculiar, but people were moving on and things were changing little by little. Agnes had no choice but to follow the flow, and not live in the past.
She allowed herself to recall of her memories, the moments she had passed with her friends, but still had a hard time thinking deliberately about You-Know-Who and all the terrible thing this monster had done to the world and its people.
Enough of blathering, it was time to go back to Hogwarts.
***
September 1st, 1983
New faces entered the Great Hall, the children seemed even shorter than the first years from the previous september. Agnes knew she was aging, but seeing them so young made her feel old for a second. She was already 25 years old and everyone around her had stopped looking at her like a young adult but as a confirmed one. There was no more place for naivety nor innocence in her world. Although she liked the excuse of rubbing shoulders with students, as it allowed her to rediscover her own childishness.
The Great Hall looked as good as usual, it was probably the only thing that did not change much in the castle. She liked the gigantic and high ceiling where candles were floating magically, adding a mezmerizing aspect to the place. Professor Dumbledore was giving his eternal welcome speech while Hagrid was impatiently waiting for the dinner to appear on the tables. The feast prepared by the house elves downstairs in the kitchens was made extra succulent for the symbolic first dinner of the year.
Agnes looked discreetly to her left where Severus Snape was sitting, professor McGonagall as the only frontier between us. She had not seen the man since June, as they had both been busy with their own tasks to prepare the big event. He looked unchanged, although his hair had been trimmed and... washed? Well, that was a first. He looked however as dull and imposing as usual. He wore his black robes and Agnes though he might have at least a dozen pair of the same ones, as he wore it all year, every day. Her eyes wandered a little more before her colleague seemed to realized she was staring at him, and turned his head slightly to his right, making her almost jump in her seat before focusing her attention back on the headmaster.
The rest of the night went well, and Agnes slept early, wanting to be fully rested for her first day as a muggle studies professor. Especially because her first lesson was going to be with first years.
***
September 10th, 1983
Agnes was feeling anxious. It was the last meeting with the headmaster and the other professors regarding the inter-school event happening this year. The delegation from both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were supposed to arrived later in October, and everyone was starting to hurry to gather enough space to welcome the participants. At Hogwarts, students were still unaware of such a competition happening at their school, and it was Dumbledore's task to let them know about it that same day at dinner. Agnes was struggling not to bite her nails because of the stress.
- There will be 20 participants per school, no age limit. Started to present Severus Snape in the headmaster's office.
- We will start with the 60 students and there will be four tasks to filter and select the bests among them. The first one will pick out half of the overall participants, the second one as well. So, 60 to 30, and then 30 to 15. By the end of the third task, we need to keep at least 7 students for the final examination. Continued Agnes while showing an imaginary board in the air where she was writing with her wand.
- Will the tasks be kept secret, just like the Triwizard tournament traditionally does? Asked Flitwick while taking some notes.
- Indeed, added Snape.
- The delegations will arrive respectively on October 30th for Beauxbatons and November 1st for Durmstrang. We will ask the students to be present for their arrival. Professor Flitwick, you are in charge of the choir, will you be ready to present us something? Asked Agnes to her colleague.
The little man nodded energically before taking some more notes.
- Good, thank you for your hard work, both of you. Declared Dumbledore after he clapped his hands together. I count on all of you to answer every questions our students might have regarding this expectional event, after I announce it at dinner today, of course.
After the headmaster's words, the meeting was dismissed and everyone went back to their occupations. Agnes couldn't wait to see the look on her students' faces when they would hear about the news.
She changed before going to dinner, wearing a thicker jumper with a gorgeous long white skirt and some sandals. The weather was still warm enough to wander around with summerish clothes, and she wanted to enjoy the season before days shorten.
Right before dinner, Dumbledore made the announcement, and every single student in the room became mental when they heard (as she had expected). Agnes was jubilating, eager to see who would sign up for the tournament and who would be the selected ones. Unfortunately, only 20 people could participate in the competition, as explained by the headmaster, growing the nervosity in the room. Everyone wanted to be the one selected to represent their house and their school.
The selection process would occur through the same principal of the Goblet of Fire. Students who applied would all drink from the same potion, and if their tongue turned blue, it meant they were worthy of participating. Professor Snape would be making the selecting potion prior, and share it during the selection night.
As expected, a lot of people applied and wanted to be the ones chosen. However, many of them had no particular skills in potions nor had any knowledge or interest in the subject. The idea of glory coming from the tournament was too tempting to back out from the opportunity.
- How many? Asked Severus Snape while brewing a potion in his office.
- 54 at the moment. I don't think we will have much more than that. Declared Agnes after having checked her notebook.
It was the first time she had entered his office. He had asked her to visit him as he was busy with the preparations. She had been surprised the man allowed her to enter in his office at first, but knew he only saw it as a logistic invitation. He had not even looked at her since she had entered the room.
- Is that..
- The selecting potion? Indeed. It needs early brewing and at least a month of marinating to be functional.
- I wonder what it'll taste like... Agnes thought out loud while looking at the mezmerizing glittery blue.
Snape stopped brewing for a moment and finally looked up at his colleague. She had come closer to his desk adn was resting her palms on the wood. When she felt his eyes on her, she turned her head towards him but he was already back to focus on his potion. They kept silent for another few seconds before Agnes declared she had to go.
- Will you..
She turned back to the potion professor when his deep voice resonated in the room.
- Would you.. take care of the further explanation for the applicants while I prepare the tasks? He asked, looking somewhere behind her.
Severus Snape was asking her a favor. He looked nervous and a little exhausted. Was he trusting her enough to delegate his work? Bloody hell, that was new.