A/N; This chapter takes place between chapter 14 and 15
Enjoy!
Valentina Parkinson and the Matryoshka Dolls
Dear Mother
Something extremely odd happened this morning after I woke up. I headed down to the common room, per your instructions, to keep an eye out on my subject, but he never came down, his dorm mate also mentioned that he hadn't come back to his dorm the previous night. I went to the Great Hall for breakfast and learned that Harry Potter was also missing, but Umbridge didn't seem to be aware of their absence.
I came to write to you right away before sweeping the castle in search of the two, and will keep you updated on my conduct.
With love, your daughter
The woman releases the parchment, watching it land back on the table. She runs a finger over the words, pressing down on the folds and idly gazing past the letter and at the lone candle burning above the desk, as if inviting her to incinerate the letter. As if burning the letter will burn away what it signifies. After a beat or two, she pushes her chair back with a small creak, sweeping the letter in one quick motion as she stands and strides out of the darkened office.
Sharp clicks of her boots echo in the wide corridors, quick and resounding as the letter remains clenched in her left hand, the only outward sign of her displeasure, aside from the slight, almost unnoticeable curl of her mouth.
She comes to a stop before the double doors, her hand curls around the ornate handle and she enters without knocking. She's not pleased.
"Has something of great importance interrupted your evening, my love?" her wife says without looking up from her parchment, her dark hair casting a veil over her face. "You don't usually cut short your tea parties without a valid reason,"
Selene's mouth curls further and she closes the door behind her, eliciting a sharp sound that causes Val to glance up from her parchment at last. "Yes?" she prompts, knowing full well that Selene wouldn't be demanding her attention while she was working unless it could not be avoided.
Selene pushes her skirt out of the way and takes the seat in front of the desk, the letter on her lap, her blue eyes piercing a subtle glare into Val's.
"I received a letter just now," she says, softly, watching as Val's eyes trail down to the letter in her hands.
"Yes, I can see," she says slowly. "Is someone dead?" Her eyes are just as steady and deadpan as hers.
"It was Pansy." Selene slides the letter across the desk, and then leans back in her seat again. "She was reporting," she only lets the slightest hint of tension seep into her cool voice.
Valentina reaches for the letter, does a quick scan, her face remains impassive for the most part, but then stands abruptly.
"Disappeared?" She mutters. "Oh, I need to write Lucius at once."
"No, you do not," Selene says, standing up too, it's not a request. "Why is she reporting back to you and why was she spying on Lucius' son?"
"Not important, Love." Val's eyes flicker over her, and she looks ever so slightly harried now; Selene resists the urge to frown, "I can explain later, right now, I need to contact Lucius,"
"You will tell me now, Valentina."
Val takes a deep breath, and completely faces her, setting down the letter on her desk, "It was not my choice," she says after a moment of deliberation. "Our Lord commanded someone inside the school to keep tabs on the child. Nothing harmful, she obsesses over him anyway. I volunteered her for the job."
Sel's frown deepens. "And you didn't tell me."
"I wasn't aware you would be upset." Selene has a feeling that Val had, indeed, been aware that Selene would be upset had she known about this. Utilizing their child was off-limits, they both knew this.
"That's exactly the reason why you hid it in the first place. We've had this talk before, Val. Pansy, our daughter, is off-limits." Val's mouth curls down. "What Lucius' whelp does or doesn't do is not our concern. If he wanted a spy he should have prompted Severus, his lapdog, to do the job for him." Selene can see Val's left thumbnail subtly raking light lines down her index finger, a gesture of tension it had taken even Selene years to notice.
Val doesn't back down, she rarely does when they argue, but Selene knows that Val is aware of the absurdity of her logicm which makes this exchange unnecessarily infuriating.
"He has his reasons." her wife says, "You know why he didn't carelessly make a choice. Lucius's situation is very fragile. He just lost a wife, you know,"
"That's why you decided to offer up my daughter on a platter?"
Selene stares at Valentina, daring her to contradict her.
"Our daughter," Val says after a beat, "Is perfectly capable of following a fifteen year old. It's not as if she does much anyway. You're fretting over nothing, Selene."
"You and I are raising a child together," she seethes in response. "Not training an assassin. I do not want Pansy to be involved in any of this, Val." there's a pause, and Val looks away from her. "You know my reasons,"
"And you know mine." she snaps back. She turns to stare at Selene with narrowed eyes. "Things aren't the same anymore, Selene," she swallows. "We need to prepare her, show her how to adjust in a new world order. The one where she takes orders from a superior."
Selene lifts her chin ever so little, "I don't see any new world orders now."
"Shh Love," Val whispers, her eyes narrow further, "Dangerous words for a time like this," they stare into each other's eyes, a heavy silence overtakes the office.
"There's going to be a war," Val says after a beat, "There's going to be a clear winner and a clear loser. I've learned my lessons. I will not be like Lucius. We will remain in grace. Pansy has wanted this her whole life."
"No." Selene said vehemently, "She's doing this because she thinks you approve of it. Don't play games with me, Val, I know you see it too,"
"Parental love?" she says drily, raising one eyebrow in a way that suggested that she knows very well the words that she isn't speaking. Selene speaks them anyway.
"Obsession. She's obsessed with you, admires you, the only reason why she didn't come running to me is because she sought your approval, and you played her on it."
"I wouldn't deceive my own daughter," Val's voice has gone flat and Selene makes her expression flatter, her voice colder with an effort of will even as her stomach clenches.
"Yes," Selene nods, "I agree that you shouldn't." Val glares at her but she continues. "This will be the last time she writes to you about the Malfoy boy, I don't care how you're going to placate the dark lord, but our child is not a plaything in his game. After this disappearance, I doubt there would be much to tell anyway,"
"You have theories?" she cocks her head to the side, before taking a step back and sitting down on the chair again.
"I have eyes," Selene says, leaning forward ever so slightly, "Narcissa's child was bound to have her spirit as well. I doubt he's off strolling the grounds. This will break Lucius's heart."
"Treacherous blood?" Val has propped an elbow on the table now, and is tapping her fingers against her chin, looking thoughtful.
"How about a heart?"
"Hm," she nods, once, "I shall write to him,"
"And our daughter." Selene adds firmly, then stands "And Val? Be a dear and don't let your disappointment show too much, it's unseemly." she straightens her skirt. "I shall write her a separate letter myself. I'd imagine she'll be upset."
Valentina's mouth stretches into a grim smirk, "Of course, Selene." she purrs, then deliberates before saying the next sentence, "You know the things I would do for you, don't you?" her lips curve in a small smile.
"I'm aware."
Val hums, and then continues, "Never forget it then. Everything that I do is for you and Pansy. Nothing else, no ulterior motives. I won't let this put a strain on us."
Selene finally lets go of the tight reign she has on her expression and lets her face soften, "I love you too,"
Valentina's lips widen into a grin and she stands, her eyes playfully running over her wife as she steps forward, grabs Selene's face delicately with both hands, and cradles it before diving in for a firm kiss, and Selene returns it with the same ferocity, breathing in the sharp perfume and fresh parchment.
There were dark times ahead, she could already feel it.
