Chapter 21: The Engagement

I wrote to Nikki to tell her everything that has happened in my entire month. I wrote to the twins and I learned Harry Potter gave his Triwizard winnings, all one thousand Galleons, to "our cause". I'm really amazed at Harry Potter; after all that he had been through, he still managed to donate gold to Fred and George! The day of the engagement ceremony has arrived, and I'm nervous as hell.

"Shall we start?" Viktor's father asked Alexander Herze.

"Yes."

"Come forth, Viktor and Ianthé."

Viktor wore crimson red dress robes while Ianthé opted for ecru-colored ones. They both walked towards their fathers.

"Ianthé, show us your wrist."

She loosened the sleeve of her dress robes and shown them her right wrist.

Margeaux Herze approached her and placed a small drop of red-colored fluid in her wrist.

"This is pixie blood."

The small drop of pixie blood stayed in her wrist. It didn't ooze out.

Mr. Krum smiled at the couple, "This signifies that her purity."

Alex Herze spoke, "I, Alexander Herze, hand my daughter's hand in marriage to thee," addressing Viktor.

Margeaux Herze spoke next, "I, Margeuax Dreyfuss Herze, hand my daughter's hand in marriage to thee."

Both Alex and Margeaux handed Viktor Ianthé's hand and tapped their wands. A gold ribbon snaked around both Viktor and Ianthé's joined hands.

"It is done."

All of them both proceeded to the dining hall. The gold ribbon on Viktor and Ianthé's hands did not disappear.

"It should stay for twenty four hours."

Ianthé looked at Viktor, "Papa, how are we going to sleep?"

"Oh that… You will share rooms, honey," her mother said matter-of-factly.

Viktor looked at Ianthé. Oh dear, this is going to be a long night…

We ended up feeding each other like some love sick couple. I enjoyed it immensely, but of course, not in front of both of our parents! It was time for bed and I greatly feared what might transpire inside the bedroom. I'm not ready, not just yet!

The house elf assigned to us transfigured our dress robes into night robes. He led us to the bedroom farthest to the other rooms. My hand felt cold but Viktor gripped it and smiled reassuringly.

"I'm really happy today," Ianthé smiled as they slid into the already-warmed bed.

"Me too," Viktor kissed her cheeks and her forehead before kissing her deeply.