Amara Selene Montague

After some research, my findings suggest that Brazil does not celebrate Valentine's Day as the date falls too close to their own carnival celebrations. Which, ironically enough, is said to be a period of drunkeness and debauchery. Not that this is too different from the Valentine's Day of some. Instead they have a similar celebration on June 12, which is a comfortable four months away.

To those of you who may have been hoping to Portkey to sunnier climates, I am sorry, but there is only one choice for this trip.

Gracious. Either my colleague at the adjacent cubicle is moonlighting as a florist, or Valentine's Day is upon us.

If anyone is looking for me, I shall be one desk to the left of the rose garden.

Perhaps I shall put that Portkey to good use and visit a country that has yet to be invaded by this fine tradition for this coming weekend.

A belated thank you to those who wished me a happy birthday or who otherwise showed that they were thinking of me. I am now officially into my twenty-first year*, which sounds rather ominous. I feel much, much, much older.

If you were to receive a Portkey for two occupants and for any destination of your choosing, where would you prefer to go?

* Which naturally means that I am twenty, not twenty-one.

Like too many most other things in my life, work has been highly eventful. Fortunately I have little cause to sojourn to the Muggle Relations Office.

Fools. If one takes steps to bring two highly incompatible worlds together, then one should expect that not all others will be in agreement.

For those concerned, a tea-length dress would be perfectly appropriate for the engagement party. So long as it does not overshadow mine. Jeans however are not recommended. And while I have no particular colour preference, be forewarned that my mother may take black or white - or any variation thereof - as a personal affront. If you do wear such hues, a wrap or a short jacket in a differing shade would be advisable.

I have since been advised to alert the Auror department to any suspicious packages, including those with neither a name nor a return address. My gratitude for the kind clarification. This is truly the type of intelligence representative of the Ministry.

( Private )

Private to Leonard:

I am sorry.

end private

If you have received an invitation, please rsvp as soon as you have made a decision. Thank you.

I will be indisposed for most of this weekend. It is not the Sneezing Sickness, but it is some other form of virus. I can be reached via my journal.

Private to Leonard:

I have started a list of potential engagement party guests. Likely I have left someone out.

The Harkisses
The McLaggens
The Pritchards
The Notts
Barbara Grey-Fawcett and Family
Percy Weasley and Family
The Puceys
Miles Bletchley, which would include Michael, his wife and stepchildren
Matthew and Colin Longbottom?
The Malfoys?

end private

I am already so tired. There is much to organize. I do not think that I have ever acknowledged this quite so fully before.

My appreciation once again to anyone who has offered their congratulations up to this point.

Private to Leonard:

My resolve is to behave normally in public and continue to act as though nothing is untoward, even about the Daily Prophet announcement. I am commenting on it as if I am vaguely amused by the whole thing and do not care enough to be troubled. It therefore may be a good policy for myself to make an appearance at Bailey Wood's birthday party.

I believe that my father has sent yours an owl, and may be considering to do the same to you. For that you have my sympathies.

end private

Private to Bailey Wood

I have recently returned to England and feel as though I am out of touch with most of my peers. With that in mind, would it be untoward to attend your birthday party? I promise that I make an excellent tiramisu.

end private

It is so good to see intelligent life, or something like it, on these at last. Wolfgang Bagman's recent entry did lead me to contemplate liaisons between the Muggle and Wizarding worlds, and how they might be altered to better serve both communities. As a pureblood of several generations, my first-hand knowledge of Muggle culture is admittedly lacking. However I have always been vaguely envious of the programs for the arts and modern languages catering towards students at their schools.

If measures to bring the two worlds together must be undertaken, perhaps there should be means to familiarise wizards about Muggles instead of purely vice versa. I am aware that a program was created with perhaps this goal originally in mind (The Muggle Life, I believe it is called?) but as my more recently English-bound peers have informed me, the intent seemed to have slipped towards sensationalism and less of an emphasis on education. Perhaps a house-stay program similar to those that Muggles and Squibs are enjoying at Hogwarts might be offered during the summer months for a select group of students instead?

( Hexed strongly private )

Private to Leonard:

Details? It would be prudent to be in sync.

end private

Working at the Ministry has turned out to be still more interesting than I had imagined. I am slightly concerned that as a recent arrival to the country, I will be singled out for more interest than others by the interrogators. However, it is more for the inconvenience to myself than any potential damage to my reputation. If worst comes to worst, I am prepared to take Veritasium to prove my innocence. Though I doubt it will reach such a point.

It would however be inconvenient. That will perhaps be my word of the day.

Two people who are not inconvenient are my new flatmates. My new room has a nice view and my desk already looks at home with the vase I purchased for the corner. The cats haven't quite taken to me, but I believe they will come around.