10_letters unofficially 024 Parents
The owl arrives with a letter addressed to Alecto Carrow
Dear Alecto,
I'll be honest and admit that I'm not sure what to even say to you. I feel like there should be something that I need to say, but I come up empty. I'm not sure why it's easier with Severus...No correction, I know exactly why it is easier with Severus. I can tell that despite all his protests to the contrary he actually enjoys being a parent. Maybe not to me since I'm all grown up and still a stranger to him, but to his snakes. To those kids who find their way to his path. I can see that he can't help but connect with them. So, I guess I tell myself that if he had known about me when I was a baby he would have probably raised me. Maybe. I don't try and convince myself that if he had known about me it would have been enough to make him not make the choices he did. I'm not arrogant enough to think that my existence and beliefs is enough to change either of your points of view, anymore than knowing who both of you are changes my own.
I guess I wanted to thank you. It probably seems strange to thank someone for walking out on them, but I figure maybe you'll get it. I like my life. I'm good at my job. I have a beautiful woman who loves me, and an amazing kid who I somehow played a part in creating. I have friends. I survived this war. I'm not sure any of this would be the case had I not been left in that hospital and taken in by my parents. Nature versus nurture is a strange thing. There are tons of books written on the subject. I'll admit to reading some ever since I discovered that I was adopted. I guess I'm looking for clues as to what this knowledge of who my birth parents are means in regards to who I am. Because it does change things to a degree. It took me down a notch on my high horse when it came to dealing with Iz and her family. It made me step back and look at my relationship with my own daughter and the choices I made in regards to being a part of her life. It's made me understand why the hat hesitated and nearly sorted me into Slytherin.
I'm not going to try and get to know you. I believe people make choices for their own reasons. You chose to not want to be responsible for the care and raising of a child. You could have terminated the pregnancy, but you decided to give me a fair shot. I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful that you recognized you didn't want to be a parent, and that you allowed me the chance at being raised by people who did want to be parents. They gave me a good life. They raised me to be a good man. I learned to be a good parent from them. Life is funny how it works out I suppose.
I know that the war wasn't easy on you. You lost someone that can't be replaced, and I suspect you probably aren't happy about the truce. I just wanted you to know that we are not actively tracking down Death Eaters. If you don't seek us out, if you don't make a move against us, then you are free to live your life as you choose. I can't tell you to take this chance and do something with it. I can't threaten you because the fact is we are strangers. There is a blood bond, yes, but my opinion holds no weight with you. I may never understand or support the side you took in this war, but I do respect the fact that you believed passionately enough in it to fight for it. Even if I don't agree with the tactics you chose to do so. For what it's worth, I think maybe deep down I'm a little more like you than either of us are really comfortable with, but those qualities are what has driven me to succeed and except nothing but excellence for myself from those around me.
Thanks for being true to who you are, Alecto. Because of that I got the chance to be who I am. I hope you find something to believe in or at least peace in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Bastian