Sighing, I rest my head in my hands and close my eyes. Everything I’ve been working all day seems to be running together in my memory. I came in to work early this morning to continue looking through deciphering charms. I’m going with Dean this evening to Ernie’s family home to try and break into the notebook again. Then, on my lunch hour I looked over Jessie’s family tree again. I took note of some of the prominent family members, and made notes to myself to look into what is known of Ollivander’s disappearance. All I know currently is that he was assumed dead years ago.

Pushing my hair behind my ears, I grab a quill and make a note to talk to Dean. I feel a bit unsettled after our conversation the other day (before I started picturing him as a model) and I think I need more resolution. I know Anthony is jealous; he’s told me as much. But I don’t want Dean to feel uncomfortable around me all the time. Maybe that means I should talk to Anthony. I’m not even sure what’s going on with my relationship with Anthony right now. It’s not the same as it was back in Hogwarts, and it’s not the same as my relationship with Diego. Although, my other relationships ended badly, so maybe different is a good thing.

Whoops! I glance down and realize not only did I make my note to talk to Dean on all of my Jessie notes, but I’ve been doodling his name for the last few minutes. I don’t know how with everything else on my mind I’ve managed to find a minute to think about Dean and Anthony. But Dean is much too good of a friend to lose him, and Anthony has been too good to me to hurt him.

“Padma, my dear, are you still working?” Melinda asks, popping her head into my office.

“Yes,” I sigh. “I seem to have a hard time leaving work these days.”

“Well, you won’t be any good to anyone if you don’t get any sleep,” she says with a wink. “Where’s that boyfriend of yours?”

“Probably sitting by his fireplace, waiting for me to floo him,” I laugh.

“Then why don’t you go do that, my dear?”

“Because my office is a mess and I’m not done working,” I point out, motioning to the papers covering my desk. “And, I’m already almost late for a meeting with some friends of mine.”

“Work will still be here in the morning,” Melinda says forcefully. “Go to your meeting so you can spend some time with the one you love.”

I feel an odd jolt in my chest when Melinda refers to Anthony as the one I love, but choose to ignore it and follow Melinda to the floo set up down the hall. I will touch base with Anthony then go to meet Dean and Ernie. More importantly, I’ll deal with all of my problems later.