Rachele stood with her Mamma and Papa. Leone her older brother was away at school. Today was her 7th Birthday and she was about to meet her future husband. They had written to each other every week since he turned 6 and had quickly become friends. Rachele was glad, she didn't want to marry someone like her Cugina Rosa Maria who married a Sicilian mafioso call Enrico. Mamma had talked her through the politics of the match at the weekly tea party for mafioso wives. Zia Anna had explained her own marriage in a similar way, during her politics and etiquette tutoring the year previous. She just hoped that Sirius treated her better than Enrico treat Cugina Rosa.
Rachele's mind wandered and she started to think back to this morning when she opened her presents. Mamma and Papa had bought gotten her, her first set of knives which they had promised to start lessons on the following week. The pair knives were plain 6-inch steel blades with simple handles, they came wrapped in a leather holster for her hip. Zia Anna and Angelique had bought her a set of hair pins to tie her hair up with. And her brother Leone had 'borrowed' her a book on advanced occlumency.
She had been looking forward to her 7th birthday as this was the year her training was going to step up into a more physical regime. She was to start sparing with and without weapons next week Papa had found her a tutor for hand to hand and Mamma had promised to teach her how to use knives to defend herself, that was exciting. Mamma and Zia Anna had been teaching her politics and etiquette that seemed more like manipulation to Rachele even though Mamma insisted it was just another name for encouragement.
Mamma had talked her through how to act with Sirius today. What was proper etiquette and how to not offend her future husband. Zia Angelique and mamma had dressed her up in a beautiful blue dress and pinned her hair up delicately for the occasion. She felt nervous despite how lovely she thought she looked. What if Sirius decided he didn't like her and didn't want to marry her after all.
"Mamma?" "Yes Tesoro" her mamma looked at her "what if Sirius doesn't like me?". Mamma laughed a warm inviting sound that put Rachele at ease "oh Tesoro everything will be fine you will see. Take Sirius out into the garden, show him around and give him a tour of the house. He is only staying for a couple of hours". She wasn't reassured but it was already time. The Floo faired and Rachele straightened her posture as Sirius and Mr Black walked through.
Sirius looked nothing like Rachele thought he would. But then again, she didn't know what she was expecting. He stood a few inches shorter than her and had longish, for a boy, black hair and the most beautiful grey eyes she had ever seen.
"Orion welcome my friend; it is good to see you. How has your summer been?" Her papas voice sounded in the room and broke Rachele away from looking at Sirius's eyes. "Orion, Sirius may I introduce to you my daughter Rachele Nieves Montague". Rachele dipped into light curtsy.
"Rachele why don't you take Sirius around house and then out to the gardens? Lucia will chaperone you" Lucia the maid stepped forward from the back wall to open the door to the main hallway for the two children. Sirius offered his arm to her, and they left with Lucia towards the gardens.
The weather was starting to warm up outside. It was going to be a hot day in Tuscany later decided Rachele as they walked along the pathway leading out to the formal gardens. Neither of them had said a word and Rachele was starting to get nervous.
"I bought you some thing for your birthday" Sirius's voice broke her out of her inner doubts. He reached into his jacket pocket and revealed a rectangular box. Sirius said "happy birthday" as he handed it to her.
In the box was a blue sapphire and diamonds inlayed on a silver bracelet. A betrothal piece. Zia Anna had explained that a betrothal piece was given to a bride by her future husband to denote his commitment to their engagement but also as a warning to other potential suitors that the bride was off the market. Zia Anna had said that in the future Sirius would give her betrothal pieces from the Black Vault.
"you're giving me a betrothal piece?" She blurted out before thinking.
"We are contracted to marry" Sirius stated sounding a bit confused.
"No, I mean you actually want to get married to me?" she asked self-consciously.
"Oh, well, yeah for a girl you not too bad. Not like my cousins, they are awful!"
"Will you put it on for me please?" when she asked him Sirius's face lit up. Maybe Mamma was right, maybe Sirius did want to marry her after all.
Lucia, who was still stood about 20 feet down the path, invisible to the two children in their own little world, watched and smiled at the scene. Little Mistress was so cute when she acted her age.
When the three of them had reach a small outdoor seating area overlooking the orchard Dippy the house elf served some refreshments. It was almost 10 o'clock and the day was starting to get warmer. Sirius shrugged out of his jacket and Lucia collected it to pass to Dippy. Rachele and Sirius talked about the Griffins and Pegasus that live in the stables over tea, and Rachele wondered why she was so nervous. It felt as though she had always known Sirius, and that this was not in fact their first meeting but a normal occurrence. Sirius spoke about his younger brother and how he always got into trouble with is mother and how one time she shrieked so loud she shattered the good chinaware Yes Rachele decided. There was no need to be nervous at all.
It was coming up for 11 o'clock when Lucia informed the pair that it was time to head back to the manor. As they stood Rachele took Sirius's arm and they wandered back towards the atrium of the main house.
"Next time you will have to come over to Grimauld place" Sirius told her.
"do you think I could visit next Sunday afternoon? Will you show me the library you've told me about?" she pleaded
Sirius grinned at her "of course and I'll show you the garden! You'll love it there, our house elf Kreacher has a herb garden and grows flowers for the house. And maybe" Sirius whispered, "we could play a prank on my mother!" they dissolved into giggles as they reached the door of the manor.
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"Father, please may Rachele come to Grimmauld place next Sunday for Tea?" Sirius asked. Orion watched the hopeful faces of both children. He turned to look at Alessandro who nodded.
"I will check with you mother, but I don't see why not" Orion replied. The pair grinned from ear to ear and Sirius gave Rachele a big hug.
"don't worry" Rachele whispered into Sirius's ear "I'll still write you through the week"
Rachele and Alessandro watched as Sirius and Orion disappeared back into the Floo.
"Still nervous mia figlia?" Alessandro asked her. Rachele grinned up at her father "No papa, Sirius is my best friend. I'm not nervous anymore.
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Translations-
Zia- Auntie
Cugina- Feminine cousin
Cugino- Masculine cousin
Mafioso- Mafia
Mia Figlia- My daughter
Zio- Uncle
Tesoro- Treasure