It was late afternoon on King Day when Clark heard a knock on his door. "It's open," he said, sitting up on his bed and putting his book aside.

Donald walked in and shut the door behind him. He carried a flat white box. "For me?" Clark asked. "You shouldn't have…unless it'll help me take over the world, in which case you should have."

Donald snorted. "No, it's a practical joke for my sister for Valentine's Day."

"I don't think we're well established enough for me to help you play a prank on her," Clark said. "We've only been out once so far, and if I helped she might decide to cancel our Valentine's Day plans."

"Well, that's just it," Donald said. "I like you Clark, you're a friend of mine. I'm not sure what you like about Urchin…."

"Insanity is a family trait," Clark noted with a grin.

"I figured that out," Donald deadpanned. "I mean, what other set of siblings in this school like Grabiner?" He turned serious again. "What I mean is that since she is my sister, I have a duty to watch out for her. And she could have picked someone intolerable to date rather than you."

"We are planning a second date, not getting married," Clark noted. "Isn't this conversation a little premature?"

"That's not exactly where I'm headed," Donald said, rolling his eyes. "It's just that after this prank, she might be a bit upset, and I'm warning you about it so you don't get the wrong idea if she skips your date to go chasing me with a stick or something."

"If that's the case," Clark asked, "why do it at all, or why not do it on a day other than Valentine's?"

"It's just too good to waste," Donald said, "and I've been waiting long enough to spring it on her. Your sister convinced me to wait on it last year, and I did because Virginia had been sick. After all, there's funny, and then there's just mean. I suppose I could give it to her after you come back from your date if you really want me to…."

Clark sighed. That was probably the best he was going to get. "Let's see what all the fuss is about."

Donald handed over the box, and Clark removed the lid to reveal the paper confetti covered document. He stared at it, shocked.

"Where did you get this? Is it genuine?" he asked.

Donald nodded. "I found it in the attic, in a stash of Virginia's old keepsakes. Jacob's dads use to bring him over to play a lot when we were little."

"And they promised that they would get married," Clark said, worry wrenching his gut.

"Yeah, but they were just kids," Donald said, and then frowned. "Why, you don't think it might be binding, do you?"

Clark took a deep breath. "I think we need to bring it to a teacher so we can be sure."

...

Alice stood in Potsdam's office on a small stool, arms stretched out, modeling the wedding dress Ellen had helped her pick out while Potsdam was making adjustments to it.

"You know flower bud, you have filled out some since last year, but if you want I know a spell that can…."

"I think they are fine," Alice said, red faced. Only Potsdam would be suggesting breast-enlargement to one of her students.

Potsdam sighed as she continued to work. Apparently, it took a little more work with lace than normal fabric to bring the seams in correctly. She looked like she was going to make further recommendations when they heard a knock on the door.

"You don't mind, do you?" Potsdam asked absently.

"As long as it isn't Hieronymous, it's fine. I want this dress to be a surprise," Alice answered.

The plump professor answered the door, and then to her astonishment, ushered her brother and Donald in.

"Oh, sorry Alice," Clark said.

"You look a little pinned down," Donald remarked.

Alice sighed. "That was a terrible pun Donald."

"Anyway," Clark said, handing a flat box to Potsdam, "we thought you should see this so we knew if it was binding or not."

"Clark and Virginia had plans for Valentine's Day already, so he wanted to know if she was engaged or not," Donald piped in.

Engaged? Alice blinked, trying to look over Potsdam's shoulder to see what was in the box. She felt a complex spell issue from her professor. As the teacher turned, Alice was able to see the contents of the box, and thought she saw an echo of some sort from the spell.

"It's binding," Potsdam announced. "Ordinarily, I would be thrilled to be having another wedding, but since Mr. Blaising is seeing Miss Cochran…. And you are seeing Miss Danson, Clark?"

Clark nodded soberly. "We haven't been seeing each other for long, but…" her brother trailed off.

"Will it still be binding if they've forgotten about it?" Donald asked.

Potsdam nodded. "They swore by the Three Great Spirits. It is binding; they will have to marry when they are eighteen to keep their magic. If memory serves, Mr. Blaising turned eighteen over Christmas vacation."

Alice's thoughts raced. "Virginia doesn't turn eighteen until late summer. Wait…it doesn't say that they have to marry each other, so they could each marry someone else?"

Potsdam brightened considerably, and clapped her hands together. "Two weddings instead of one? Yes, you are quite right Alice. That would satisfy the terms." The professor was grinning from ear to ear.

"Lifelong, or would a single-year contract suffice?" Alice asked, noting that although tension had drained out of her brother's face, he was still not at ease. He was not ready to make a life time commitment, though she thought that he might take the year. Even if it didn't work, a year could still go pretty quickly. Had it already been a year since she had found Hafiz standing over Hieronymous? January 25th was approaching fast.

"Oh, the year-and-a-day contract would suffice," Potsdam bubbled. "Technically, it doesn't have to be any more than in name only. But that can always lead to something more permanent can't it flower bud?" The professor was obviously addressing her with that last.

Alice was pleased that Potsdam was happy for them, but she did tend to go a bit overboard. Well, given all the help she was giving for the wedding, perhaps Potsdam did have the right to revel in it a little. "As much work as I put in, of course I'm keeping him," Alice replied with a smile.

Potsdam practically tittered.

"Well," Clark said, obviously trying to get the conversation back on track. "Who gets to break the news to Virginia and Jacob?"

"Not me," Donald said. "If they don't remember making that, they'll think it's one of my jokes."

"And you're afraid Virginia might set your hair on fire if you are there long enough to try to explain that it's binding," Clark said mildly.

"I can talk to Virginia," Alice reluctantly volunteered. "I don't know Jacob that well, though."

"I can talk to Mr. Blaising," Potsdam said. "I can see where you might have to have a long conversation with Miss Danson, Clark." Potsdam then turned to her. "You know what? If you and Hieronymous don't mind, maybe Mr. Blaising and Miss Cochran could make it a double wedding! I've always wanted to hold one of those."

Alice smiled weakly. "It's the 19th, and the wedding is on the 25th," she answered. "Minnie might still be in shock."

Clark and Donald excused themselves, leaving the contract behind while Potsdam continued to natter while finishing up the adjustments to the dress. Alice sighed to herself, thinking about what she had to break to one of her best friends.

...

I've tried to keep the in-game events as much as I could, though I have allowed myself a little artistic license. For example, you can't find out about both Ellen having her parents forget about her and Virginia's marriage contract in-game, but I figured that both events happened whether the player knows about it or not. Keep reading!