Oh Merlin, they weren’t having much luck were they?! Konstantin had to stop himself from laughing at the sheer absurdity of the moment, and wondered how it was that his family could possibly think he had no sense of humour. Or perhaps it was just that they would have been too amused whereas he had a healthy sense of concern for the young lady mingled in.

“I think these two have been more than enough trouble,” he said, pulling out his wand and conjuring a trail of dog treats to lure both the beagle and the Australian shepherd to the side of the clearing. He flicked his wand again and both their leashes extended and wrapped around the nearest tree – they had plenty of give but for now, consumed with their treats, neither of them were going anywhere. “One would think they’d never seen another human or dog in their lives,” he chuckled, offering her his hand for the second time.

“I suppose I ought to introduce myself as our dogs seem determined to keep us here – Konstantin Fisk,” he inclined his head. “At your service any time you should be knocked to the ground by his ridiculous hound.”