September 1993
Valentina had waved Ivan off for yet another year at Durmstrang. It was the third time she had to let him go and it never got easier. He had grown so much over the summer and Valentina could hardly believe that he had ever been small. Ivan had grown handsome and was strong and growing taller by the day, though Valentina was unsure as to what he got up to at school and what sort of friends he had made. Ivan had never said anything out of line, nor anything that would lead Valentina to believe that he had adopted some certain views, but she couldn't help but suspect so. Ivan was always careful to mind his language infront of his mother.
Over the years Valentina had spent many weekends at her childhood home, Karkaroff manner. Igor took up residence within it out of term time, but while at Durmstrang for the majority of the year, it was empty. Valentina found solace there and would drink in the fresh air that would roll off the mountains that touched the clouds. She hadn't realised truly how much she had missed it. To be back in her childhood bedroom, to stand in the garden and look out to the stretching lakes and rolling hills and mountains.
Her parents belongings, who had now passed, were still scattered around the house and Valentina had decided to donate them or try and sell some more expensive objects neither her or Igor cared for.
That was what had lead Valentina to be strolling down Diagon alley with Cordelia, a bag of objects to take to Borgin and Burkes in which she had taken from the Karkaroff manner.
The two women walked arm in arm down the busy streets, both of them dressed to perfection, hair in an elegant undo. Both Valentina and Cordelia may have aged but their built in obsession of image had not faltered over the years.
"Valentina? Cordelia? Oh gosh, how long has it been!"
Both women turned around to face a stout slightly chubby woman with a blonde bob and large nose.
"Violetta" Valentina smiled, "how lovely to see you, it has been an awfully long time"
Cordelia turned her nose up a little bit at the woman. Although they had been somewhat friends during school, it was more due to circumstance rather than liking. Cordelia had spent an awfully long time trying to get her out of her life.
"Violetta dear, so good to see you" Cordelia smiled
"And you both" Violetta smiled back, "Merlin, neither of you have changed at all. You look exactly the same as you did during school!"
Valentina and Cordelia wished they could say the same. Valentina almost didn't recognised the woman.
"I am terribly sorry to hear of your husbands death" Valentina said solemnly, though she wasn't really that sorry, he was a horrible individual
"Indeed" Violetta said looking to her feet, "Well, it wasn't particularly shock after all, he was never as intelligent as Casper and Evan during school" she turned to Cordelia, "I was awfully sorry to hear of Evans death, truly"
Cordelia waved her off, "It was a long time ago now"
"well yes" Violetta nodded, "I have heard you have remarried... seven times, is it? It is such a shame each one has passed"
The three women looked between each other fleetingly.
Valentina glancing between the two other women, wondering what Cordelia was going to say in defence. Cordelia looked at Violetta and then to Valentina, as if to say, what is she accusing me of? And Violetta looking between Valentina and Cordelia, assessing their reactions out of pure curiosity.
"Yes, very unfortunate" Cordelia muttered through clenched teeth
Violetta smiled obliviously before looking to Valentina.
"And I hear you have a son? At Durmstrang?"
Valentina nodded, "indeed, Ivan. He is going into his third year"
"Ah, I see" Violetta said gesturing to the crowd around the newspaper wizard who was handing out copies of the daily prophet, "I bet you're glad he's not at Hogwarts like Cordelia's boy...given everything that's going on"
Valentina and Cordelia looked over in confusion.
Violetta's eyes opened wide, "Don't tell me you've not heard! He's escaped Azkaban!"
"who has?" Valentina asked curiously
"They said he's going to finish the job... to kill Harry Potter. Finish what he started"
"Who Violetta?" Cordelia hurried with a roll of her eyes
"Sirius Black"
Valentina couldn't help but put a hand over her heart in shock and perhaps fear.
"I know" Violetta nodded, noticing valentines reaction, "It is all terribly shocking. Who would have thought that Sirius Black would of changed sides. During school he was awfully stubborn and Gryffindor like" she turned her nose up in disgust.
Valentina didn't reply to her but pushed her way through the crowd, handing the paper wizard a couple of sickles for a copy of the prophet.
She held it up, taking a good look at the front cover.
It was true.
Sirius Black escaped Azkaban and he was coming for Harry Potter.
Valentina had to force the lump in her throat down as she started upon Sirius photo on the front page.
He did not look like the man she had once loved. He looked manic and like insanity had twisted itself within his heart.
Valentina was scared of it, she was scared of him.
Sirius Black was not the man Valentina thought him to be.
He was out there, lurking somewhere, ready to finish his job.
And Valentina was scared of him.
This could only mean trouble.
Violetta took the paper from her hand, "an awful picture really, Azkaban must have really been something else"
Valentina snatched it back from her hands, suddenly quite protective over it.
Cordelia looked between them both, "Well, Valentina and I best be off, lovely to catch up with you Violetta" she smiled, retaking Valentina's arm, pulling her away.
The pair of them continued walking down the street away from the crowd.
"What a wretched woman" Cordelia said with a shake of her head in pity, "She used to be intolerable during school but I fear she has only gotten worse"
Valentina couldn't reply, her voice had caught in her throat as the pair of them walked briskly past a notice stuck to a shop window.
Have you seen this wizard?
Approach with extreme caution!
Do not attempt to use magic agaisnt this man!
Below, a picture of Sirius Black, screaming maniacally, fighting desperately against his chains
Valentina felt sick.
"Is everything alright?" Cordelia asked her, looking at her worriedly
Valentina swallowed and pasted on a fake smile.
It definitely looked forced.
"Everything is fine"
——————————-
A/N
I love Val and cordelia relationship. I think it's really complex. Also Cordelia doesn't rly know about val and Sirius but in hogwarts deffo had suspicions. She'd caught val short quite a few times. I just like to think that she'd guessed so but never mentioned it.
Also, I think val and caspers relationship is also sooo complex. Like they don't love each other in the way val and Sirius did but they do love each other in a strange way.
Maybe not love but an appreciation.
Val hates him but cares for him equally, and i think it must be hard being married to someone and spending so much time with them and not feel something towards him.