It’s been such a long weekend. It was completely terrifying to wake up Sunday and discover the mayhem that occurred while I was sleeping. So many people were killed and yet I can’t help being grateful that those I love are still okay. I actually went home without being asked. I submitted myself to Mum’s prying eyes, and just tried to ignore the outside world with my parents. Of course, Mum managed to convince both Dad and me to take Monday off. I didn’t mind too much. I’ve been working so hard lately that I think taking time with the family is good for me. I know Mum could tell I was upset when I agreed to spend the night at their house. I don’t know what’s wrong with me; I’m normally so strong. To see so much pain, suffering, and fear around the country really hit me hard. I think going the one place I felt comfortable being weak was good for me, though, I wasn’t feeling quite as weak anymore when Mum suggested Parvati and I move back in.( Read more... )

I couldn’t sleep at all last night. My mind can’t wrap itself around the fact that Melinda is alive and well. It feels like so long since something good has happened to me, for once in my life I don’t want to question the unknown. I don’t want to dig into this mystery… I’m terrified digging will result in Melinda leaving again.

( Reflecting )

I don’t know if I’m ever going to get settled in at work. I wish I could just freeze time around me so I could catch up and not have to spend so much of my free time in my office at St. Mungo’s. I sigh and drop my head on my desk.

( Trying to get work done )

I have a desk again. It feels… odd… I feel like I should be back in the pit, working alongside all of my colleagues. My new desk is in a small office down the hall from the Director General’s. Robert, as he asked me to call him, is a very nice man, and he looks to be a good boss. I doubt he’ll compare to Melinda, but I don’t think anyone can. I’ve spent my morning going poring over a file describing the death of Ernie’s mother. My main project is the curse that killed her. I must say I’m terribly curious, and I want to take a good deal of time to accustom myself to the facts known about what happened to her before I jump into my research. Melinda always told me the best researchers are the ones who know everything that is already available to them. ( Starting over )

I don’t know where the time has gone lately! I’ve been so insanely busy I’ve barely had time to breathe. I spent almost twelve hours in the pit the other day, preparing to take over a months worth of leave, and when I came home I found a letter from my sister, along with a jar or rasgullas. I have no idea how she knew that was exactly what I needed at the end of a long day. I guess it’s a twin thing.

While I probably shouldn’t have due to time constraints, I spent the next day at Saqqara with Ginny Weasley. I’m glad I went, though. It was absolutely fascinating to get inside one of Anubis’s tombs. Normally, I only get to see what comes out of the tombs. I will admit that the experience almost made me wish I had decided to become a Curse Breaker instead of a Researcher. I think I would have had a real knack for it, although I’m certain I would miss the amount of knowledge I get to encounter on a daily basis. I made Ginny promise me that she would owl if they found anything interesting, even if I was already in England. I would have given anything to get to just sit in the tomb and watch them work until they were completely through all of the spells and traps. I can only imagine what they’ll find!

Speaking of Ginny, she finally put me on the right track to find a place to stay while in England. Apparently her twin brothers own several flats in and around London. I sent them an owl, so hopefully they’ll reply with good news. I looked into renting a room in the Leaky Cauldron, but considering they charge by night, it would have gotten very expensive, very quickly. I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed that the Weasley twins will come through for me.

That brings me back to the letter from Parvati. She wants a place to live, and it doesn’t sound like she even knows I’m coming home yet. I haven’t found time to write her back, much less think about what she said in the rest of her letter. I assumed it would be more prudent to write after I knew whether or not I had a place for her to live. I’m not sure how she and Diego will get along. I hope he’ll love her, and that she’ll love him. I love both of them… they’re probably the two most important people in my life. Hopefully, things will work out for the best for all of us.

I still have to send Mum a letter, letting her know when I’ll be coming home. Melinda said that I work too hard as it is and that I deserve to take some time off. Of course, the next day she forgot that I was taking time off and gave me a new file to sort through. Add that to the fact that her mystery writer has yet to show up and work has me a little stressed out right now.

It doesn’t help that Diego has seemed distant lately. Half the time he’s quiet and withdrawn, and the other half he’s fiery and passionate. It almost feels like I’m dating two different blokes. I think he’s just nervous about meeting my parents. He’s not complained anymore about having to go, but I can tell something is bothering him. I just hope he doesn’t let me down.

I can tell I’m feeling more rattled than usual; I’ve misplaced my notes again. I can’t find the section of my notes dedicated to my latest Inferi research. If Melinda wasn’t so disorganized herself she’d kill me. I need more sleep. As much as I love spending the night with Diego, I’m going to get a lot more sleep tonight since he’s staying in his own villa.