Walk in the Sun
'Do you want to go for a walk?' asked Teddy, turning to Victoire, who was staring into the bonfire. Teddy looked at the golden flames dancing in her eyes for a moment before she turned, her sheet of silvery blonde hair rippling slightly, even though the air hung still.
'Yeah, okay.'
Teddy smiled a wide smile, gently taking Victoire's hand as she got up. She smiled back, looking down at their intertwined fingers.
The sun was beginning to set. It reflected off the sea, and threw an orange light onto Shell Cottage, which was perched on top of the cliff behind the pair. The beach stretched out into the distance. The salty sea air filled their nostrils and the only sound was the waves gently lapping against the sand.
They walked barefoot across the beach in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Victoire's thoughts were simple: of how happy she was, how much she loved Teddy. But Teddy's, on the other hand, were fast and furious, flying around inside his head like a storm of angry bees. Everything had to be perfect.
After a few more moments, Victoire spoke.
'Hey, Teddy, did you know that it was five years ago today that we had our first date?'
Teddy nodded in agreement. Then, as if he wanted to change the subject, said,
'Why don't we go down to the water's edge?'
So they did. Victoire winced as the icy water washed over her toes. Again they stood in silence, watching the ebb and flow of the tide. Then Victoire, squinting into the sun, spotted something.
'Er, what's that?'
There was a flash of gold. Curiosity getting the better of her, she gently pulled her hand form her that of her boyfriend's, and held up the skirt of her summer dress as she walked further into the water. It swirled around her calves, colder than usual for the time of year. She took a couple more steps forward before realisation struck and she understood: the flash of gold that she had seen was a golden snitch.
She looked back at Teddy quizically.
'A fifth anniversary present,' he shrugged.
'Bemused, Victoire dropped her skirt and ran forward to grab the tiny ball with the skill of the Seeker within her. She hurried back to Teddy. The bottom of her dress was dripping and her feet were crusted with sand, but in Teddy's eyes, she was more beautiful than he had ever seen her.
'Umm … well, er, thanks, baby,' she said, failing to hide the disappointment in her voice.
'Oh, Vic, you've got to ask it to open!' Teddy laughed.
'Right, okay. Open,' she whispered.
Her eyes widened. After a series of clicks, the snitch opened in her palm. She gasped.
A ring.
A gold ring with one diamond set into the centre, about a quarter of an inch in diameter. She looked back up at Teddy, who, expressionless, tapped the snitch with his wand. Victoire looked back down at it, to see writing, as though written by an invisible hand, forming on the smooth inside of the gold ball.
She squealed, and tears sprang to her eyes.
Will you marry me?
Teddy was on one knee. She rushed forward and hugged him tight as tears poured down her cheeks. She whispered into Teddy's ear.
'Yes.'