The last couple of weeks of the school year went by in a blur of review
activities, and then the students took their final examinations. For the
practical exam, Oliver made his students demonstrate their beater, chaser,
keeper and seeker skills. Of course each student had their strengths and
weaknesses, but Oliver was mainly interested in seeing that the students
knew what was expected of each position. He didn't plan to grade them on
how well they could perform the actions.
The written exam covered topics such as the origins of the flying broomstick, the development of the game of quidditch, and broomstick games other then quidditch, particularly those played in other countries. After the final exam period ended, Oliver and Adrianna graded their exams together in the comfortable silence of Adrianna's rooms. The only interruption was the occasional purr from Chip as he stretched out on the coffee table, watching them lazily.
Adrianna had learned from past experience how hard it was to grade exams by hand, so she had made a multiple choice and true/false answer key and then bewitched the stack of exams to grade themselves. She had also eased the load by not having to grade exams for her sixth and seventh years since they had performed at Sing 'n' Swing. Oliver had included some essay questions in his exam, so he didn't have the luxury of allowing his exams to mark themselves.
They finally finished grading their exams two days after the students had finished taking them, which meant that they could spend the last couple of days of the term outdoors basking in the hot June sunshine like the students had been doing since the beginning of the week. They went for walks, played some one-on-one quidditch, and even went swimming in the lake despite the fact that a giant squid resided there.
Oliver planned something very special for Adrianna on the second-to-last night of the term. He kept it a total secret from her, telling her only that he wanted to take her out for an end of the year dinner and that she should dress in a nice set of robes. He dressed in a set of charcoal gray robes, and then went to her rooms to pick her up so that they could walk to Hogsmeade before disapparating.
She looked absolutely stunning in a set of dark red robes and tan colored high heeled boots. She was wearing the necklace that he'd given her for Christmas along with a pair of small gold hoop earrings. She had pulled back half of her long, golden blonde hair and had curled the bottom of it. The makeup that she had applied complimented her natural beauty.
"You look amazing," Oliver said softly.
"You look rather handsome yourself," she replied with a smile. He took her hand, and together they left the castle and walked towards Hogsmeade.
"So where are you taking me?" she asked as they walked.
"Diagon Alley," he replied, trying not to give anything away.
"Where specifically on Diagon Alley?"
"You'll see."
They apparated to Diagon Alley, right in front of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Oliver took Adrianna by the hand and led her down the cobblestone street, which was filled with shoppers and some other couples who looked as though they might be going to dinner as well. They stopped in front of a restaurant that they had been to only once before.
"Weatherby's Inn! Oliver, this is where you brought me for our first date!" Adrianna exclaimed when she realized where they were.
Oliver just smiled and nodded in acknowledgement as he held the door open for his girlfriend. "Reservation for Wood," he said to the hostess after they had crossed the elegant foyer. When he was certain that Adrianna wasn't looking, he slipped a small box into the hand of the hostess.
The hostess led them to a table for two in a back corner of the restaurant. Oliver heard a violin playing softly in the background, creating a romantic atmosphere. He and Adrianna talked for a few minutes before the waiter came and asked what they wanted to drink. Oliver ordered a bottle of champagne for them, and the waiter left again. He returned shortly with two glasses and the requested bottle of champagne. He poured a glass for each of them before taking their order for dinner. Oliver ordered lamb chops, and Adrianna ordered filet mignon with mixed garden vegetables.
"I can't believe the school year is almost over," Adrianna said softly. "It seemed to go by so fast."
"Do you have any plans for this summer?" asked Oliver.
"Not really. I suppose I'll just go back home and get a job for the summer."
"Maybe you could come and visit me sometime," Oliver offered.
"I don't think your Dad would be too pleased if I came to stay at his house for any length of time."
"You wouldn't have to stay at his house. I have my own house, didn't I ever tell you? I left home as soon as I'd earned enough money playing quidditch to buy my own place. It's been vacant the whole school year, but I'm going to live in it again this summer."
"Oh, well in that case, I'd love to visit."
"Why do you still live at home? You played for the American national team, I'm assuming they paid you pretty well. You could afford your own place, couldn't you?"
"I wish. But I had a ton of student loans to pay back, and that took care of all of my quidditch earnings. I went to a muggle college, remember? But I guess I never really needed a place of my own. I lived in the dormitories at college and now I live at Hogwarts during the school year, so it doesn't make much sense for me to have a place when I'd only use it two months out of the year."
The waiter returned with a tray that held two covered dishes and sat one of the dishes in front of each of them. He removed the cover from Oliver's deliciously prepared lamb chops first. Next, he removed the cover from Adrianna's dish.
A small gasp escaped Adrianna and her eyes grew wide and filled with emotion at what she saw. Instead of filet mignon, there was a small black velvet box that had been opened to reveal a stunning one karat diamond engagement ring. Oliver got down on one knee in front of Adrianna and picked the ring up off of the plate, and then took her right hand gently in his own.
"I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. I cannot picture my future without seeing you by my side, and without you I would be incomplete. Adrianna Brighton, will you marry me?"
At first she couldn't say anything at all. Her eyes were filled with tears of happiness that threatened to spill over her lashes at any moment. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you," she replied, unable to hold back the tears as he slipped the ring on her finger.
THE END
Thanks for reading! There is a sequel called Ian's Story, please read it if you liked this story.
The written exam covered topics such as the origins of the flying broomstick, the development of the game of quidditch, and broomstick games other then quidditch, particularly those played in other countries. After the final exam period ended, Oliver and Adrianna graded their exams together in the comfortable silence of Adrianna's rooms. The only interruption was the occasional purr from Chip as he stretched out on the coffee table, watching them lazily.
Adrianna had learned from past experience how hard it was to grade exams by hand, so she had made a multiple choice and true/false answer key and then bewitched the stack of exams to grade themselves. She had also eased the load by not having to grade exams for her sixth and seventh years since they had performed at Sing 'n' Swing. Oliver had included some essay questions in his exam, so he didn't have the luxury of allowing his exams to mark themselves.
They finally finished grading their exams two days after the students had finished taking them, which meant that they could spend the last couple of days of the term outdoors basking in the hot June sunshine like the students had been doing since the beginning of the week. They went for walks, played some one-on-one quidditch, and even went swimming in the lake despite the fact that a giant squid resided there.
Oliver planned something very special for Adrianna on the second-to-last night of the term. He kept it a total secret from her, telling her only that he wanted to take her out for an end of the year dinner and that she should dress in a nice set of robes. He dressed in a set of charcoal gray robes, and then went to her rooms to pick her up so that they could walk to Hogsmeade before disapparating.
She looked absolutely stunning in a set of dark red robes and tan colored high heeled boots. She was wearing the necklace that he'd given her for Christmas along with a pair of small gold hoop earrings. She had pulled back half of her long, golden blonde hair and had curled the bottom of it. The makeup that she had applied complimented her natural beauty.
"You look amazing," Oliver said softly.
"You look rather handsome yourself," she replied with a smile. He took her hand, and together they left the castle and walked towards Hogsmeade.
"So where are you taking me?" she asked as they walked.
"Diagon Alley," he replied, trying not to give anything away.
"Where specifically on Diagon Alley?"
"You'll see."
They apparated to Diagon Alley, right in front of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Oliver took Adrianna by the hand and led her down the cobblestone street, which was filled with shoppers and some other couples who looked as though they might be going to dinner as well. They stopped in front of a restaurant that they had been to only once before.
"Weatherby's Inn! Oliver, this is where you brought me for our first date!" Adrianna exclaimed when she realized where they were.
Oliver just smiled and nodded in acknowledgement as he held the door open for his girlfriend. "Reservation for Wood," he said to the hostess after they had crossed the elegant foyer. When he was certain that Adrianna wasn't looking, he slipped a small box into the hand of the hostess.
The hostess led them to a table for two in a back corner of the restaurant. Oliver heard a violin playing softly in the background, creating a romantic atmosphere. He and Adrianna talked for a few minutes before the waiter came and asked what they wanted to drink. Oliver ordered a bottle of champagne for them, and the waiter left again. He returned shortly with two glasses and the requested bottle of champagne. He poured a glass for each of them before taking their order for dinner. Oliver ordered lamb chops, and Adrianna ordered filet mignon with mixed garden vegetables.
"I can't believe the school year is almost over," Adrianna said softly. "It seemed to go by so fast."
"Do you have any plans for this summer?" asked Oliver.
"Not really. I suppose I'll just go back home and get a job for the summer."
"Maybe you could come and visit me sometime," Oliver offered.
"I don't think your Dad would be too pleased if I came to stay at his house for any length of time."
"You wouldn't have to stay at his house. I have my own house, didn't I ever tell you? I left home as soon as I'd earned enough money playing quidditch to buy my own place. It's been vacant the whole school year, but I'm going to live in it again this summer."
"Oh, well in that case, I'd love to visit."
"Why do you still live at home? You played for the American national team, I'm assuming they paid you pretty well. You could afford your own place, couldn't you?"
"I wish. But I had a ton of student loans to pay back, and that took care of all of my quidditch earnings. I went to a muggle college, remember? But I guess I never really needed a place of my own. I lived in the dormitories at college and now I live at Hogwarts during the school year, so it doesn't make much sense for me to have a place when I'd only use it two months out of the year."
The waiter returned with a tray that held two covered dishes and sat one of the dishes in front of each of them. He removed the cover from Oliver's deliciously prepared lamb chops first. Next, he removed the cover from Adrianna's dish.
A small gasp escaped Adrianna and her eyes grew wide and filled with emotion at what she saw. Instead of filet mignon, there was a small black velvet box that had been opened to reveal a stunning one karat diamond engagement ring. Oliver got down on one knee in front of Adrianna and picked the ring up off of the plate, and then took her right hand gently in his own.
"I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. I cannot picture my future without seeing you by my side, and without you I would be incomplete. Adrianna Brighton, will you marry me?"
At first she couldn't say anything at all. Her eyes were filled with tears of happiness that threatened to spill over her lashes at any moment. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you," she replied, unable to hold back the tears as he slipped the ring on her finger.
THE END
Thanks for reading! There is a sequel called Ian's Story, please read it if you liked this story.