warnings: none notes: Valentin meets his newborn daughter for the first time. And has to make a decision...
It had been a morning like every other. Valentin had arrived at his shop on the corner where Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley meet, locked himself in and begun making the shop ready for opening at 12pm.
When done he had made himself a cup of lemon tea and settled in the backroom of the shop to take care of some paperwork while waiting for the little bell over the door to ring, signalling the first costumer’s arrival. Valentin usually didn’t have more than one or two costumers a day, but it didn’t matter. The shop was merely a hobby as Viktor’s inheritance had provided him with enough money to live the rest of his life without working. And besides those one or two costumers would generally earn him more money than a regular shop would in six months.
It was late afternoon before Valentin heard the bell go the first time. He was in the middle of categorizing the latest shipment of books he had received. “I’ll be there in a minute,” he said in a loud voice. No one answered, but he heard someone walking around out in the shop.
After a few minutes Valentin got up and walked out into the shop to tend to his costumer. But the shop was empty.
“Hello?”
Nothing. Valentin shrugged and figured that whoever it had been had probably had a change of heart. He had Snatching Detectors all over the shop and they would have told him if something had been taken. He was just about to turn around and walk back to the backroom when he noticed something that was out of place; a basket by the door. He frowned. Why would anyone leave a basket here? Or maybe they had forgotten it? He stepped over to it. It was a closed basket and a small note was tied to the lid. Valentin’s curiosity grew as he reached down to pick off the note and read it.
Valentin,
I’m not even sure you remember me. You certainly didn’t seem to care anyway.
She was born three months ago and I don’t want her. If you don’t want her either you can leave her at an orphanage, but for now she’s yours.
Signed, N.
Valentin frowned. Who was she? And who was this N?
A small sound from within the basket made Valentin suddenly go pale and he reached down with slightly trembling hands to remove the lid of the basket.
There she was. A small baby girl wrapped in a blanket and seemingly asleep. She had dark, almost back hair and a small nose, which Valentin immediately recognized as his own.
“Holy fucking…” Valentin yelped and took a step back. Now he remembered. That girl, Natalie or Nanna or whatever she was called. It had to be… Valentin’s mouth went dry. This was… this baby was… his. This was his daughter! There was no mistake. Even sleeping and with eyes closed Valentin could easily spot their similarities.
He reached out to grab the nearest bookcase for support, his heart racing in his chest. This was… incredible! A child. His child.
After a few minutes Valentin got himself together enough to step closer and kneel down besides the basket to take a closer look. The baby girl was fast asleep, only letting out a small whimper now and then.
Chewing his lip Valentin reached out and very carefully picked up the baby to cradle her in his arms. The child grunted softly, but otherwise didn’t complain. Valentin was panting, feeling that his heart might burst through his ribcage any minute. She felt so light in his arms, almost like nothing and… she was so beautiful; pale, smooth skin, the dark hair and brows, small fingers clutching the blanket.
Valentin had no idea how long he had been sitting there with the baby in his arms, just watching her sleep, but a noise from the street tore him back to reality.
What now? What on earth should he do? He had no idea how to take care of a baby, and what would Adrian say? Or Rab or any of the others for that matter? Valentin swallowed hard. He couldn’t possible do this. No, he had no choice than to leave her at an orphanage.
But just as that thought had entered Valentin’s mind, the small baby girl let out a whimper and opened her eyes. Big, brown eyes looked up at him. They had the exact same shape as Adrian’s, even the colour was the same; warm, dark brown. And right then and there Valentin decided that wouldn’t let go of this girl for anything in the world. There was nothing for it. He had to keep her.
Valentin placed a small soft kiss to the baby’s forehead and got up, holding her tightly in his arms. He felt unusually calm. This felt right, more right than anything he had felt for a long time. She was his and nothing could ever separate them!
With the baby in one arm Valentin quickly locked the door to the shop, then went to get his cloak. The girl in his arm just kept watching him, apparently not caring about being carried around.
Valentin wrapped the cloak around his shoulders and drew out his wand. He tightened his grip around her and turned on the spot. A split second later he appeared in the entrance hall of Lestrange Manor where he quickly and without looking around headed for Adrian’s room.