1984, when all became silent.
Wind came crushing onto the death eaters who tried to disappear into shadows but the magic was so powerful they were kept in wind bubbles, levitating in the air, slowly getting rid of all the oxygen in their lungs. At once, they were thrown away to the ground, collapsed from the lack of air. At once, Agnes used her air magic to lift their bodies and threw them by the windows, followed by ice spike. her bright blue eyes shining through the night showed no empathy nor determination. She was like in a dream, using her powerful magic like it was nothing. She was wearing a tight and simple black attire, which hid her well in the dark, although her eyes betrayed her presence to everyone around. without a look for her once colleagues, agnes ran out of the great hall, following her instict as if she knew where each and every intruders were now hiding.
Without hesitation, Severus ran after her, but having a hard time reaching a high speed. It was as if she was jumping, or even flying through the school grounds. She barely looked human now.
- Agnes. Said dumbledore as if to salute her when she finally reached him. Thank you.
In an easy move, she threw the death eaters to the near by wall. Behind her, Severus finally arrived.
- You came. he said, trying not to look too out of breath.
- You thought I wouldn't? She said, her voice still resonating as if coming from far away.
- I never doubted you. He said, blood still running down his face from his previous fights.
A switch in Agnes' expression suddenly made her look more human. A twinkling light in her eyes betrayed her poker face while she was looking at Snape. But before she knew it, a strong spell came pushing her onto the broken stones which once formed a wall. her whole arm had been crushing onto it, which made her bleed at once. Snape frowned eyebrows and without hesitation used deadly spells to his opponents. Dumbledore came to help Agnes but she was faster and stood at once.
- Professor, I'll protect Hogwarts. She said, looking at him with a mix of determination and confidence.
The headmaster was about to replicate, but a spell wa thrown just between them. There, the last death eater was still standing, bleeding from head to toe. Snape was still fighting another one. The death eaters threw himself at them in a raging scream, and Dumbeldore had just the time to throw a spell which rebounded behind him, and pushed Agnes to the side to save her from the now unmasked man. As if time had slowed, the death eater tried to push Dumbledore to his death down the hole in the wall, leading to the black lake beneath them.
Dumbledore, in a sharp move, managed to escape from his grib, leading the death eater to throw himself in the void. At the last second, the man grab his fingers around the elder wand and, when he had finally grabbed it, smiled as if satisfied of dying.
Agnes' eyes widened and, without any thinking, threw herself after the death eaters.
Severus who had just seen her falling, ran towards the pit.
AGNES !!!
Her eyes still shining bright through the night, Agnes lifted her hand towards the lake, and in a controlled manner, parted the water, creating a hole leading directly to the ground of the lake, to the deepest they could go. Instead of landing in the water, the death eater ended his fall on the ground directly, killing him instantly.
Water still high, surrounding her, Agnes grabbed the elder wand and looked up to both dumbledore and snape looking at her, seemingly shocked by her power. Near her, the slytherin common room showed students also looking at her, some recognizing their former professor, other just in shock from the battle and thinking looking at a dream.
In a push on her legs, Agnes jumped high in the sky, joining the high tower of the castle where she gave back the wand to the headmaster.
He thanked her and excused himself before rushing towards the dunjeons to check on the students. Agnes and Severus were left alone, in silence.
- You're hurt. agnes pointed out by showing the open wound on his forehead.
Her voice was normal again, soft and caring.
- It's nothing. He said right away, afraid she might disappear if he did not answer right away.
With her elemental magic, Agnes gathered some water which took a translucid aspect and made it wash away the blood on the potion professor's face, magically closing the wound.
- Thank you. he said softly.
- Severus.
- Yes?
- Lead me to the wounded.
He nodded and they walked in silence towards the dunjeons. After the terrible battle, the noise had left place to the cold wind penetrating through the broken windows and walls, giving the impression Hogwarts was now an abandonned castle. Agnes looked around, her eyebrows frowning a little while looking at the damages the death eaters had done.
In silence, she entered the slytherin common room, and ignoring the grateful cheering of the students, she started healing each and everyone who had been wounded during the battle. Mixing her elemental power, with the help of miss pomfresh, the wounds were closed and scars where minimized. After two to three hours, when the sun was rising outside, Agnes finished healing her patients.
- Come with me. She said to Severus, leading him to the potion stock located on the same floor. When they were left alone, the young witch turned to her once lover and looked at him with soft eyes.
- How are you feeling? He said, not daring getting too close.
- I'm fine. she almost smiled.
A moment of silence.
- Severus, I-...
- tell me.
- I forgive you.
Snape sighed of surprise and perhaps relief. He looked at her, waiting to hear more.
- You must live for the good, and let go of the bad. She added.
The way she spoke felt like a goodbye, yet she would not say the words.
- Protect them. She said, looking behind them in the direction of where all the students had found shelter.
- are you leaving for good? he said, unable to stop the words coming out of his mouth.
At least, Agnes smiled. Her eyes were now of a normal blue colour and naturally shined from her smile. Slowly, she approached him and cup his face with her hands, so softly he could barely feel her skin against his yet, he closed his eyes, not wanting to waste any detail of the moment. He felt her lips touch his, in a light kiss.
When he opened his eyes, she was already gone. The feeling of emptiness on his face where hands had rested for a bit was unbearable he felt his eyes sting with tears.
agnes joined professor dumbledore in his office. It was just the two of them and the old man was busy tidying up the office after the battle. She helped him for a bit, and together used their magic to build back up the castle, as if nothing had happened. Thanks to her elemental magic, it fastened the process and within an hour, Hogwarts was back to his old self. Dumbledore ordered his staff to bring the students back to their rooms and get some sleep. Outside, the sun was now visible rising above the forbidden forest.
- Where were you? eventually asked the headmaster.
- Not far. The forest welcomed me as hers. Agnes answered simply.
- I had felt a powerful magical presence in the forbidden forest for quite some time. I wasn't sure it was you. The old man answered, petting his phoenix while looking by the window.
- Professor, I have a request. Agnes said, her eyes locked onto the ground.
He turned his eyes to her and waited for her to go on.
- Let everyone forget. Let them all live without the burden of what happened tonight.
Dumbledore sighed, not surprised by her request. He looked back at the outside, and she followed his gaze, in silence.
The students were served warm cups of tea, with a strange after taste of sourness. Outside, a heavy rain fell for the rest of the day. Professors were invited by Miss pomfresh to share some tea as well. Only the headmaster, who had stayed in his office the whole day decided not to enjoy a warm drink.
Agnes had disappeared not long after their conversation.
The next morning, the whole school had forgotten about the battle, waking up with no wound or memories of the death eaters intrusion. People had forgotten about professor Agnes. Only Dumbledore remained, forced to remember each and every moment.
- where will you go ? had the headmaster asked to Agnes.
- I will find a way to get rid of my immortality. No matter how long it takes. She had answered calmly, eyes locked on the horizon.
-THE END-