Teach them how to dance

[Ava King]

The headmistress of Hogwarts New Zealand was beyond excited. Her partner had invited her away to a weekend in Queenstown, and desperately hoped that Nicolas would be wanting to make their relationship more official. They had been together for awhile so it was definitely about time; but Ava wasn't going to get her hopes up, she was just going to relax and enjoy the weekend. It would be wonderful to get away from the school for awhile and have a change of scenery, and some peace and quiet. She knew Nicolas would propose when he was good and ready.
Ava surprised herself when she saw she had managed to pack everything into one suitcase and even had time to double check everything before Nicolas came over so they could apparate together. It was needless to say that Nicolas looked very handsome indeed, and Ava couldn't help but fall in love a little bit more each time she saw him.
The couple arrived at a cute cottage, overlooking a lake with beautiful mountains as a background. Ava turned to look at Nicolas and gave him an amourous hug. "This is absolutely stunning!" Ava gushed, taking ahold of Nicolas' hand and pulling him towards the cottage.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas had gone ahead to prepare the cottage he'd rented for himself and Ava over the weekend and, once he was satisfied that everything was just-so, he apparated to meet Ava at the castle. Grinning as he saw Ava ready with her suitcase in hand, the stricken man offered her a peck on the cheek before offering to take her suitcase for her. It was slightly heavier than he'd expected and he thought of how he wouldn't be surprised at all if it was enchanted to hold more than it normally could. Taking Ava's hand in his, he apparated to the cottage.

Nicolas returned the enthusiastic hug he received and was glad that Ava liked the environment she now found herself in and laughed as she started to drag him toward the cottage, he pulling the suitcase in tow. Entering the cottage, Nicolas set the suitcase down by the door and let Ava take in the room. Directly opposite them were large windows and a door looking out over the lake to the mountains, and on a side wall a stone fireplace with a small couch facing it. On the side table sat a picnic basket and a bottle of wine, ready for them to take out to the grass by the lake whenever they were ready.

Nicolas gestured to the picnic basket, "I took the liberty of preparing something for us this evening."

 

[Ava King]

Ava gushed as she entered the cottage. The view was absolutely outstanding and she loved the fact that they had a fireplace. There was nothing better than cuddling up on a sofa by a warm fire on a cold night. Especially the cuddling part. The Headmistress turned around and listened to Nicolas as he spoke. It was only then that she noticed the picnic basket by the fireplace and she grinned in delight. How could she have missed it? A picnic by the lake was the cutest thing anyone had ever done for her, and Ava once again flung her arms around Nicolas excitedly, and kissed him. Deciding she didn't need a tour of the cottage, Ava walked over to get the picnic goodies, shaking her hair loose from the tight bun it was in. Picking up the items, Ava quickly walked back over to Nicolas, almost skipping with happiness.
It was crazy how the man next to her made her feel like a little girl, but Ava couldn't help it. She hadn't had this much joy in a very long time, and only ever felt it when he was around. Interlacing her fingers with Nicolas, Ava tried to encourage him to skip down to the lake with her, laughing as she did so. Sitting down on the grass, Ava grinned up at Nicolas, waiting expectantly for him to join her and crack open the wine. "You're the best person ever." She stated, not able to get rid of her stupid grin.

 

[Nicolas King]

Watching as Ava's girlish glee welled up within her, as she literally let down her hair and skipped about with excitement, Nicolas was glad for the moment he was in. His guard was almost always up but when he was with Ava, and she was just being herself, he couldn't help but let it down - if only for the moments like that - where it seemed that the only place and time that existed, or at least that mattered at all, was there and then with her.

Feeling her hand take his, Nicolas' mind was wretched from its thoughts back to the day it had planned out, and he grinned as he was pulled along beside Ava, refusing to skip (even foolishly in love, he tried to maintain some shred of dignity) to where they eventually stopped on the grass beside the lake, the trees around them changing their colours in the autumn cool. Taking the bottle of wine in his hands and drawing his wand, Nicolas removed the cork as she spoke. "I'd offer the same compliment to you but I'm terribly afraid only one of us could be correct." The man replied, pouring the wine into the glasses Ava held for him and offering her a wry grin in return.

Setting the bottle aside, and leaving the picnic basket unopened for the moment, the man took his glass from the woman sitting beside him and raised it slightly in toast. "To you - with whom I feel constantly a better man."

 

[Ava King]

Ava laughed at Nicolas as he refused to skip along with her. She appreciated that even though he was a man of dignity, he let her do her childish things, like skipping, and jumping in fountains. Having to professional, yet being around children all day drove Ava crazy. A lot of the time she just wanted to join in with them and have some fun, but knew it would not look good, and the kids would probably think she was mad; which she kind of was. Thankfully, she had found someone who let her be her crazy self.
Another laugh came out of Ava's mouth as Nicolas commented on her compliment to him. Taking a sip of the wine, Ava leant back, completely at ease. The smile that hadn't left her face yet grew as Nicolas said he felt like a better man with her. It was such a sweet comment to make, and Ava couldn't help but grin. Ava moved in for a kiss, before pointing to the picnic basket. "So, kind sir, what lovely feast do you have for us to eat?" Ava laughed.

 

[Nicolas King]

Disappointed with Ava's brief kiss before she quickly turned her attention to the basket in front of them, Nicolas grinned. "Ah, that." he began, balancing his glass of wine on the grass before picking up the basket and standing. Offering his hand to help Ava up, there was a noticeable happiness on his face as he gently squeezed the woman's hand and encouraged her to follow him down a small path leading to the trees on the side of the lake.

The setting sun filtered through the coloured leaves as they walked a little further down the path to a slight clearing with the lake reflecting the sun's light to one side, and the brilliant autumn colours of nature to all other sides. The cabin or, indeed, any signs of civilization were far out of sight and they were guaranteed to be alone. Setting down the basket, Nicolas' collected demeanour hid the mess of emotions just beneath the surface. So far, he had remained absolutely silent, despite Ava's very likely confusion. Kneeling down, he opened the picnic basic and withdrew from it a small guinea pig with a ribbon tied in a bow around its neck. Attached to the bow was a ring. Holding the small animal in his hands, he looked back up toward Ava and broke the silence: "Ava Davershire," Nicolas began, the nerves making their way toward his tongue - trying to stop him in his tracks.

The guinea pig felt strange in his palms and he couldn't help but smile as he thought back to the night he had spent at Ava's home in London where she had used the phrase he would now use on her: "As you say the muggles put it - would you 'have the guinea pig' and be my wife?"

 

[Ava King]

Ava smiled at Nicolas' grin, finding it amusing that Nicolas was getting excited about the food. She wasn't going to lie, Ava got excited about food also, and it made her wonder what he had in store for her. However, her grin turned into a look of confusion as Nicolas helped her stand up and led her away from their spot. The Headmistress had no clue as to what he was doing or where they were going. Perhaps she had sat down in the wrong spot? By the looks of it, Nicolas was leading her somewhere more secluded, as far as she could tell, there was no one else around them.
Unable to hold her curiosity, Ava spoke up, "Where are we going?" She asked, but to no avail. The man remained silent, and Ava followed obediently, looking around at their surroundings. None too soon, they had stopped, and Nicolas put the basket down. Looking around, Ava didn't notice anything different. It was a beautiful setting, perhaps he just wanted somewhere prettier? The lady looked at Nicolas as he knelt down and she felt her breath hitch in her throat. What was he doing? He took out a small guinea pig and confusion settled on Ava's face again. Ava stopped thinking as Nicolas began to speak. Ava wasn't too sure what the guinea pig had to do with it, but at that moment she didn't care. "Yes! Yes I will! I will - have the, the guinea pig!" Ava said both laughing and starting to cry. She knelt down next to Nicolas, an overwhelming emotion of joy filling her body. Ava placed her lips on Nicolas and kissed him passionately, before looking down at the guinea pig, gently taking it out of Nicolas' hands and fumbling with the ribbon to get the ring off. The cute animal didn't move around too much and as Ava removed the ring, she looked happily at Nicolas, unable to contain her tears. She realized she probably looked like a mess, but she didn't care, as she went in to kiss her fiance' again. Her fiance'. The Headmistress gave Nicolas the ring, so that he could place it on her, before looking at him. "Nicolas, I am so beyond overjoyed right now, and I really can't believe this is happening! But, but I have to know, I don't understand why you want me to have the guinea pig?" Ava asked, still grinning like a lunatic, wiping her face.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas beamed as Ava accepted his proposal. No matter how much he was sure she loved him and would say yes, there was always a degree of uncertainty. Before he could move to untie the ring and place it on her finger she had fallen to her knees in front of him, and he couldn't help but laugh in the moment as relief mixed with joy and rushed over him. The man endeavoured to return his fiance's passionate kiss, but with his hands occupied holding the small creature it made for an interesting challenge and he wondered briefly at if there had been a better way to propose to Ava.

As Ava took the animal from him and untied the ring, Nicolas tried to help steady her shaking hands and gladly took the ring from her once she'd gotten it free. Holding her hand in his own, he placed the ring on her finger and just lingered for a moment, taking time to appreciate the moment before it passed. Looking back to his betrothed's face, he placed a hand to it softly - she'd never looked more beautiful to him than in that moment, and he counted himself the luckiest person alive for being able to share even that little bit of time by the lake with her: let alone the rest of his life.

When she spoke again, Nicolas nodded his head slightly. He hadn't considered that she might not remember what it was he was referring to, and now he was quite sure he'd looked incredibly foolish through the whole thing. "When you made us dinner at your home, you said that I'd have to 'have the guinea pig' and try the food first. You then explained to me that that's some sort of muggle phrase about being the first to do something. Like, I suppose, to actually marry me."

 

[Ava King]

If it were possible, Ava felt more excited and overjoyed when Nicolas placed the ring on her finger. She let her eyes connect with her finance's as they savoured the moment of his proposal. Ava couldn't believe she was getting married again; and for actual love this time. Ava couldn't wait to let her children know, and to start the planning.
Ava listened to Nicolas as he explained about the guinea pig. She thought back to the special night, smiling at the thought of it. Have to have the guinea pig? Ava couldn't remember having said that. Thinking about earlier in the night, she remembered Nicolas' hesitation to try the food. It finally clicked in her mind and she started laughing. It all made sense. "Oh, oh dear, hunny, it was just a slip of the tongue. I'm sure what I mean to say was that you would have to be the guinea pig, not have it. But, it doesn't matter. I'll be the guinea pig, and this is the cutest thing anyone has ever done!" Ava exclaimed, a grin still on her face. She couldn't help but kiss him again, beaming at the thought that he remembered something so little and so cute.