June 5th, 1895 - Grimmauld Place

"I can't believe you're leaving already." Belvina whined indignantly as she perched herself on her brother's bed the morning of her grandmother's event. Not only did she NOT get to go to the ball, she was also just learning that Sirius was off to the continent for however long and he'd just gotten home last week!

She pouted, which usually worked on most people, but knew it wasn't going to work this time, hence the theatrics. "Siriussss," She added with a cross of her arms over her chest. "It's not fair!" She wanted to go traveling! She wanted to go to Paris and Barcelona and to the Mediterranean! Maybe if she begged Mama she could convince her that she deserved her own trip.

"This is going to be the worst birthday ever." She sulked, head downcast as she sniffled back real tears.

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Sirius Black

  

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It was hard to pack for a six month trip, particularly when they were taking off in the summer and on the continent until December. There was a lot of weather to prepare for. Sirius was going to have a significant line of credit while he was traveling, but they were going to have to use coin on the times they went off the beaten path, and he wasn't sure how much money he wanted to spend on clothing.

He wasn't paying Belvina much mind; she was whining and pouting and chatting at him, and complaining about fairness, like he ever got to do anything fun when he was her age.

"The worst birthday ever?" Sirius said, his tone teasing. He threw another pair of socks into his suitcase. It would be good to be able to go a week without asking for laundry.

"Are you sure?"

  

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set by Lady

"Ever!" She squeaked, doubling down. "You won't be here, you're always here." It was only a few days away, he couldn't have waited, just a few more days? Ugh, the nerve. She hoped he had a wonderful time, but still, she was caught up in the moment of being upset over it. Father was never here, and now Sirius was gallivanting off too and it made Belle feel some type of way she couldn't quite explain.

Still pouting, she flopped back dramatically on his bed, one hand covering her eyes. "Where are you going? Will you write to me? Will you send me a birthday present?" She would have to work on her spelling a little more if she was going to write back to him. Maybe her governess would do it for her if she said aloud the things to be put in the letter.

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Flopped onto the bed, with her hand over her eyes, she looked rather like their mother. Sirius had not considered any of his siblings' birthdays when planning his departure date — that they had been able to work around the Flint Ball was something of a miracle in and of itself. He doubted that Belle would consider it as much if he pointed it out. He folded a shirt with a flick of his wand, and added it to his suitcase.

"It would be rather hard to send you a birthday present from abroad if I wasn't missing your birthday," Sirius said dryly, "Have you thought of that, Belle?"

If he sent her a good enough present — which obviously he would — she would hardly notice that he was gone.

  

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set by Lady

Her pout deepened. It sounded like he wasn't even going to send her a present! Did he not care for her at all? This was getting worse and worse. She didn't like the stinging of tears at the corners of her eyes. It was unfair, but ladies didn't cry over nonsense and so she sniffled it back, sitting up. Blinking back the threatening moisture, she looked out the window for a second before looking back at him.

"Do you want help packing?" It wasn't what she wanted to do, but she wasn't a terrible sister either.

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Sirius didn't want Belle's help packing, but she was young enough that it would be an affront if he said no, and he was old enough that he did not want to fight her if it could be avoided

"Can you find ten pairs of socks in the top right drawer?" he requested. He also said, "And what do you want for your birthday?"

  

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set by Lady

Belle hadn't exactly expected him to agree, but she hopped of the bed anyway and went to the indicated drawer. Hopefully it was just socks in there. "Only ten?" Merlin she hoped he would get laundry done frequently with that few pairs of socks. Still, she dove in, trying to find as many pairs as she could.

"Depends on where you're going." Belvina was curious to know that before she gave a solid answer; she obviously had different ideas for different countries! 

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"I have some already," Sirius said with a shrug. In a conspiratorial tone, like he as letting her in on a secret, he added, "On your birthday, I'll be in Italy."

  

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set by Lady

"Oh," Belle furrowed her brows at him, but continued with her appointed task. Hmm, if he was in Italy on her birthday it would be too late to send it on time. But Italy. "Some lace," Italian lace was always so lovely. "Oh! Or that pretty glass." Belle couldn't remember which region of the country it came from, but surely he'd be able to find something?

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Belvina had expensive taste for a nine year old, but Sirius had to suspect that he'd been the same way at that age. They were both spoiled, arguably their mother's favorites. "The blown glass?" he asked, feeling indulgent. "I think that can be arranged. What color?"

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   Belvina Black

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set by Lady

"Purple!" Came the immediate, almost-too-excited response. It was her favorite, every shade, so ladylike and lovely. She'd have an entire wardrobe if it if she could.

Belle finished up the socks and huffed. "There," she left them in a neat little pile, aware now she was probably in the way more than anything else. He didn't need her help packing, he was just humoring her.

"Thanks, Sirius." She smiled more genuinely at him, edging toward the door. "I can leave you to it, if you want." He was an adult now, having his little sister in his shadow was probably annoying. She would miss him though.

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