Arik was in shock when she saw her reflection. Surely this couldn't be her.
Grace looked up at Arik smiling, "Does Missus Arik like it?"
Arik nodded at her elf. "Grace, it's beautiful, I don't even look like me."
Grace shook her head, "Of course you do Missus, Grace didnt change anything about you, Grace just highlighted all of your features."
Suddenly there was a knock at Arik's door that made her jump, she slowly walked to the door and opened it to see her mother. "Mother, what are you doing up here?"
Her mother stared at her a moment before speaking. "Oh, sweetie, you look amazing!"
"Than you Mother." Arik said blushing.
Her mother straightened herself and said, "The Notts are here, and we are all looking forward to seeing you, after all this dinner is for you and Mr. Nott."
Arik gulped, "I'll be right down Mother." She smiled at her mother as she left to rejoin the dinner party downstairs. Taking deep breaths, Arik tried to calm herself.
"Oh, Grace what if this doesn't go well?"
"Don't worry Missus, everything will be perfect. Now you best go before they come looking for you."
Arik stood at the top of the grand staircase shaking sightly. Thoughts were running through her head at top speed.
"What if it goes horribly wrong, What if I trip and fall down the stairs, what if, what if, what if?"
Her mind suddenly stopped its rambling as she heard her name being announced. "Presenting Ms. Arik Marie Williams!"
Arik looked down at Grace who nodded up at her, this was her cue. Taking in a deep breath, Arik made her first few steps down the stairs, head held high, posture perfect, exactly the way her mother had taught her to enter a room. "Enter it like you own it darling." She would always say, and by gods, that is what Arik planned on doing.
The stairs were the easy part now that Arik had a moment to think about it. After getting to the middle of the stairs she had caught sight of Theodore. Her breathing hitched and she felt a blush creep up her neck and spread to her cheeks. She had to admit he was rather dashing, his dark hair was just long enough to touch the tips of his ears, but he had it combed back for tonight. He was wearing a stunning black suit with slight gold touchings much like her navy dress. He was smiling up at her, most likely an order from his parents, and she could see his amazing smile with dimples in his cheeks. She smiled slightly at him and finally made it to the bottom of the stairs where her father held out his arm and she accepted it gratefully.
What happened next was to be expected, Arik was introduced to the entire Nott family including Theodore himself. He took her hand, kisssed it and bowed while she nodded her head and curtsied. Theodore escorted her to a chair at the dinner table and pulled the seat out for her, then took the seat across from her whie their parents sat around them.
"So," Arik's mother started, "I would like to thank everyone for coming to this dinner tonight, I know that we have been looking foreward to it since the unofficial announcement of the engement."
Arik knew what her mother meant, if this was the unofficial announcement, then there would be a very grand official announcement.
Arik's father cleared his throat, "I believe we need to settle a few things tonight, for instance, both of our children are in the same school, yet my daughter tells me that she doesn't speak to your son. How do we ensure that they will have the time to get to know each other?"
They all mused this as the elves brought out their first course.
"Well," said the senior Nott, "we could talk to McGonagall about having them share a room."
Arik saw Theodore pale at this and felt as if she had done the same.
"It will be separate rooms though, untill they are married," Mrs. Nott quickly shot in,"that way they are able to consummate the marriage."
Arik blanched at her saying that. Of course she always knew she would have to do that she just hadn't expected for Mrs. Nott to put it so bluntly.
Once everyone had agreed to this part of the arrangements, it came time to plan the wedding. By this time they had finished their last course and the parents had dismissed Arik and Theodore so they could work on some secret wedding details. Arik and Theodre walked out of the dining room, her hand on his arm, and into the garden.