The Flow of Our Years

- I see you've come across an important memory. 

Professor Dumbledore walked slowly into the room, making Agnes jump on her feet. Her whole body and head hurt so bad she thought she would either faint or vomit. Yet, here stood the headmaster, calm and steady. 

- What you have seen, Agnes, is the truth. 

- Why did you hide it from me?

- Severus has shown me his devotion during and after the war, has displayed true redemption to help win against the dark lord. 

- He sold me to him. 

Her voice broke a little, betraying her disappointment and shock. 

- That's true, I cannot hide the facts. I am sorry you got to hear of it this way. I hoped for Severus to reveal it to you himself. 

- Because of him, Antoine... he-

- Whether you get to forgive him for his sins of the past is up to you, Agnes. But I've got to talk to you of a matter that concerns the present as well as the future, not the past. 

Agnes frowned her eyebrows, trying her best not to cry. Her eyes stinged so much it almost burnt. Her throat had like a knot inside of it and it became hard to swallow. But the young witch stayed there, listening to the headmaster. She was starting to feel like everything she thought was true was now completely blurred into a whole new reality. 

- I asked you to leave the school grounds because I was worried about the strange events that occured here since a few months. But after having further investigated on the matter, I know for a fact that not only us, but you are in terrible danger, Agnes Lenoir. 

- What do you mean?

- Some death eaters are still living free out there, and are now gathering new forces to regain their power. They intend to... resurrect their master, the dark lord. 

- How.. I thought he had completely disappeared. 

- Dark magic has always a way, Agnes. And it seems like the dark lord managed to... let's put it simply, keep his soul hidden far away. 

- What does it have to do with me?

- Your immortality, Agnes, whether you want it or not, is real. And such power is rare and extremely helpful. If you were to wed the dark lord's soul and connect your own soul to his, You-Know-Who could then come back stronger than before, beneficiating from your immortality gift. You are his only solution, Agnes. That is why the death eaters are after you. That is why they are planning to come here and get to you by any means. That is why... I asked you to retire from your functions as muggle studies professor. I can help you find a hiding place. But I'm afraid Hogwarts is put at risk with you here.

Agnes stood there, silent. A thousands thoughts were flying around in her head, giving her a headache. At once, only one remained. If she could protect her students, she would. If it meant going into hiding again, she would take the risk.

- Then, I believe there is nothing left for me here at Hogwarts, professor. She simply said, a serious and determined look in her eyes.

- I am sorry, Agnes. Thank you, for everything. 

- Professor Dumbledore. Agnes added, to tell him goodbye.

- Professor Lenoir, the old man added in a sad smile. 

Agnes walked back to the first floor, to get to her appartment and start packing. There was now no need to stay until the end of the term, everything has become too dangerous. She was walking fast, her heels loud on the ground. The corridors were empty, all students were probably in class. She arrived by the viaduct court, wanting to take some fresh air. That's when she saw him. 

The one she trusted enough to share her bed with, the one she had built strong feelings for, the one she thought she'd loved. 

Severus Snape was standing there, surprised to see her here. He seemed to catch the anger in her eyes, the rage waiting to burst out of her chest, because he started walking carefully towards her.

- Agnes. He started.

- I trusted you. The young witch said right away. 

She marked a pause. Severus had stopped walking.

- Do you know how much I regrets I feel about him? About not having been able to save him that night? For years I tried to find the reason why Voldemort had found me that night. HOW he'd found out about me? Who might have told him about my powers? It had me doubting my own friends. For years I suffered knowing I might never get the answer to my question. But here I am now, the man I trusted most here at Hogwarts. I learn he is the one I was looking for. He is the one who turned his back on his own best friend, who sold me to the enemy and now feels...remorse? 

- Agnes, I-..

- HOW DARE YOU. HOW DID YOU EVEN DARE LOOK ME IN THE EYES. 

Agnes was standing there, facing Severus Snape, and suddenly, the tall man she had found so protective and manly, now looked small and fragile. Her whole body was boiling of rage, of bottled hatred of the past five years. Her eyes started to get itchy again and her hands were now warmed with magic. 

- I was a fool. Severus said. I was a fool who believed the wrong man. I thought I was doing the right thing. And when I realized what I'd done, it was too late. 

- SHUT UP ! 

In one move, Agnes threw a bowl of fire towards the man she'd spent the previous night with. It hurt so much, knowing that he had been capable of such terrible things. The potion professor managed to escape from the fire and tried to come closer, his hands forwards. 

Agnes arms were filled with fire, illustrating her anger and sorrow. In one blink, she moved her left feet towards Snape and the ground started shaking in a straight line rushing towards him, pushing him back brutally to the end of the court. 

The first time Severus had seen elemental magic, it had been near by the viaduct. One of his older classmates from the duelling club had been practicing the ancient magic in secret. Lenoir...He had been fascinated by it. Not using a wand, and still managing to create such incredible spells... So he had watched in silence. Agnes Lenoir was this french transferred student from Beauxbatons, which everyone was very fond of. She had been popular among the students since day one, and was the pride of Ravenclaw. Severus felt envious of her natural talent for duelling and her genuine connection with everyone, especially when she had to start from zero in her 6th year. He, on the other hand, was nothing like it.

Even Lily was being a little distant nowadays. All because of her gryffindor 'friends'. 

He was all alone, and had somewhat always been. Someone like Agnes Lenoir must have never felt alone. Yet, here she was, practicing elemental magic in secret, alone on the viaduct. He was the only one seeing, he was the only one sharing her secret. 

He kept watching her until she finished her practice and went back inside, not noticing the young slytherin hiding behind the thick school wall. 

After that, Severus had been more and more curious about Agnes. Who she was, why she was hiding her special powers, why she was so...charming sometimes. 

When she had graduated, Severus had never heard of her again. She'd been on the daily prophet many times thanks to her duelling titles.

Lily had stopped talking to him now. It was only his fault. He had pushed her away. He had deserve losing her... And now she was with him, the Potter kid. 

Everything was falling apart, yet Severus had found someone who accepted him as he was. The dark Lord. His heart was dark like him anyway. He was nothing special. Not like Agnes Lenoir, who was everything.

So when the dark lord expressed the need to find a stronger magic to sustain his own powers, Severus had thought of Agnes. Although she had been a Ravenclaw, he'd clearly seen his her eyes the desire to win, to rule, to be at the top of everything. She loved the feeling of being better than everyone. She loved being strong. Having such bright witch working with him and the dark Lord would be the best addition. 

Severus had told the Dark Lord all about that girl with immortality she could share. He knew how to find her. 

Maybe Severus already knew, maybe deep down he knew. When he saw the look in Voldemort's eyes. That little light of excitement. The thirst for strenght and domination. Deep down, Severus knew he was sending Agnes and everyone who'd try to protect her from him to their end. 

Yet, here she was, standing proud in front of him, stronger than ever. The potion professor had never seen such powerful magic. She was like a goddess, using her body and mind to control the elements around her. Rhythmed by her emotions, and ruled by the will of vengeance, she could have killed him on the spot, without him being able to defend himself. 

She looked so beautiful. She was the most talented witch he'd ever seen. Yet, he had betrayed her. And she would never forgive him. 

He closed his eyes, waiting for her last straw to be the final one, letting him join the dark lord in hell. 

But it never came. When Severus opened his eyes, Agnes was gone. Around him, everything was destructed, revealing how enraged she must have been. 

Snape stayed down for long minutes, and sighed at last, putting his face in his hands. 

What had he done..