Chapter Text
"Non posso continuare a suo padre, ogni volta che la guardo tutto quello che vedo è la morte negli occhi. Non voglio amarla il modo in cui un bambino merita di essere amato dalla madre." I can't keep her father, every time I look at her all I see is death in her eyes. I won't love her the way a child deserves to be loved by their mother.
The young woman paced around the room with a small gray bundle in her arms. A little whimper came out of small pink lips.
"Mi sono distaccato al punto che non ho nemmeno il suo nome. Se le do un nome avrò ripensamenti su lasciandola. Devo fare ciò che è giusto per lei e per Matteo. Ha bisogno di me." I have unattached myself to the point that I haven't even named her. If I give her a name, I'll have second thoughts about leaving her. I have to do what's right for her and for Matteo. He needs me.
Her eyes moved to a small pink bundle in a basinet. A little hand peeking out from its tight swaddled blanket.
"E non tua figlia ha bisogno di te Valentina? Per l'amor di dio bambino sono gemelli, devono stare insieme." And does your daughter not need you Valentina? For gods sake child they are twins, they have to be together.
Her father stood from his throne like chair with his hands in the air. His blue eyes hardening towards his daughter.
"Non riesco a tenerla! Non lo farò. Padre mi dica ora, se si prende il suo." I can't keep her! I won't. Father tell me now if you will take her.
She hugged the small gray bundle closer to her chest.
"Valentina…. Va bene, tua madre e io cura di lei." Valentina…. Alright, your mother and I will care for her.
His shoulders sagged in defeat.
"Grazie Padre. Per favore, quando lei è vecchio abbastanza dirle ho fatto solo quello che pensavo fosse meglio per lei." Thank you father. Please, when she's old enough tell her I only did what I thought was best for her.
She stole another glance at the sleeping baby in the basinet.
"Ho detto che avremmo cura di lei Valentina non che avrei mentirle per te. Stai solo facendo questo per i propri motivi egoistici. Questo bambino saprà nessuna madre. Nel momento in cui si cammina fuori da quella porta non sei più il benvenuto qui." I said we would care for her Valentina not that I would lie to her for you. You're only doing this for your own selfish reasons. This child will know no mother. The moment you walk out that door you are no longer welcome here.
Her eyes snapped back to his. Her face going red with anger.
"Padre ... e Matteo? Ti negare mio figlio la sua famiglia troppo?" Father...and Matteo? Would you deny my son his family too?
He shook his head, somehow he seemed to have aged in the matter of minutes.
"Matteo avrà sempre una casa con noi." Matteo will always have a home with us.
A lone tear ran down Valentina's cheek and landed on the gray blanket.
"Mi dispiace che sono sempre stato una delusione per te padre." I am sorry that I have always been a disappointment to you father.
Her father looked as if he wanted to reach out and embrace her but a small whimper made him stop. Another hand escaped the confines of the pink blanket.
"Valentina, ci sarà un giorno in cui te ne pentirai tutto ciò che state facendo in questo momento. Spero che per il tuo bene e il bene dei vostri figli che non sarà troppo tardi per rimediare." Valentina, there will come a day when you will regret everything you are doing at this moment. I hope that for your sake and your children's sake that it won't be too late to make amends.
She gasped as if his words had physically hurt her. With a solemn nod she turned and walked away. He could only watch as his eldest daughter walked out of their family home and their lives.
Another whimper rang through the sitting room. He walked closer to it and was nearly knocked over with awe at the beauty of his grandchild. The same violet eyes that haunted the walls of their ancestral home were looking right at him. This was the first child in almost a century to be born with the gift in the family. She would need to be properly trained and cared for.
"Cosa ne pensi di Cosima? E 'un buon nome?" What do you think of Cosima? Is it a good name?
A little dimpled smile appeared on her face as if understanding him.
"Cosima è. Cosima Lorenza. Dopo il nonno, naturalmente." Cosima it is. Cosima Lorenza. After your grandfather, of course.
Another smile and grunt and it was settled. He took little Cosima out of the basinet and cradled her in his arms. His eyes full of love and adoration.
"Volete incontrare tua nonna Maria Valentina? Credo che lei sta per innamorarsi di te a prima vista. E poi siamo in grado di soddisfare la vostra zia Vittoria e lo zio Lazzaro. Sono molto ansioso di conoscerla." Would you like to meet your grandmother Maria Valentina? I think she is going to fall in love with you at first sight. And then we can meet your aunt Vittoria and uncle Lazzaro. They are very anxious to meet you.
Years Later...
Cosima watched her grandmother as she moved gracefully around the kitchen. That was one of the things she admired and envied of her grandmother, her gracefulness. Cosima was very clumsy and as a child she would often need her aunt or uncle's guiding hands to stop her from falling.
"Cos would you be a dear and get me some tomatoes from the garden?" Maria Valentina gave Cosima a questioning smile.
"Of course, nonna." As she headed out to the gardens her guardian nudged her with his shoulder. The wolf was larger than any normal wolf and had never left her side since she could remember. "Hello, Bruno."
As she was picking tomatoes a deep feeling of dread pooled in her stomach. She dropped the basket and stood still. Her face going completely white.
"Cos? Have you got the tomatoes? Cos?" Her grandmother called from the open window. Cosima left the basket forgotten on the ground as she ran back into the kitchen.
"Grandmother…" Maria Valentina turned to her granddaughter and gasped.
"Cosima, what's wrong?" Warm, wrinkled and sunkissed hands cradled her face. "You look terrified."
"They are coming. They are coming." Cosima's eyes were glazed over. "Mangiamorte. Il Tenebroso ha trovato la nostra magia e lui ha mandato i suoi seguaci per recuperarla. Nessuno è al sicuro se non viene trovata la magia. Nasconderlo, il suo nascondere." Death Eaters. The dark one has found our magic and he has sent his followers to retrieve it. No one is safe if the magic is found. Hide it, hide her.
Maria Valentina shook Cosima out of the daze she was in. "Cosima, honey, listen to me. You need to find your grandfather and tell him that it's time. Go." She pushed Cosima further into the house.
Violet eyes scanned every room until she got to her grandfather's study. His body hunched over old textbooks and heirlooms. "Nonno." He looked up with a big grin on his face.
"Cosima, what is it?"
The words wouldn't form on her tongue. An unbearable knot in her stomach.
"Darling, what is wrong?" He hurried over to her and cradled her face with his rough hands.
"Mangiamorte. Death eaters. They are coming and they have come for the magic." Tears streamed down her face. "I am scared nonno."
His face hardened but his eyes held so much pain. "Oh Cosima. You do not have to be afraid, it is they that need to be afraid. They do not know the powerful witch that you are. You are the future, the light in this darkness."
"I don't want to leave nonno." Her voice cracked. "Please, I can stay and fight. I won't leave you or nonna."
He smiled grimly. "My Cosima, my beautiful little girl, this is the end for your nonna and I but this is not your end. You will live. Your nonna and I promised to always keep you safe even if it meant giving up our lives." He kissed her forehead. "Your life is more important than ours. Go, take Bruno. He will show you the way."
Hearing his name Bruno nudged Cosima into the family portrait room. A small golden wolf statue waiting in the center. As she reached for the golden wolf she heard the unmistakable sounds of apparition and spells ricocheting off shields.
Bruno nudged her one last time and she grabbed onto the statue as she hugged Bruno's neck tightly.
She squeezed her eyes shut as she was being transported by the portkey. Her heart broke as she was taken farther and farther from her grandparents. Every emotion she was trying to suppress was spilling over and as the air around her settled she slowly felt herself slip into darkness.