( EMMELINE )

( MEREDITH )

I hate being woken up by birds singing outside my window at five o'clock in the morning.

I might have to commit some sound act of violence against one of you Aurors, being that someone's lazy arse didn't make it into work when you were supposed to and my girlfriend fiancée had to cover for you.

Do any of you know what it's like to get into a previously-toasty-for-two bed when you've got just the one? Obviously not.

In other news, this flat appears to have a rodent problem. Curious.

All right, well, we've been holding on to this for long enough, mostly because we've been waiting for the proper time to announce it. But, given that there doesn't appear to be a proper enough time coming again, ever, we've (all right, I've) given up waiting.

Dorcas and I are engaged! It's been about a month, and no, there is no set date yet. But we're thinking (all right, well, I'm thinking) summer would be the best time. Except I think she may fight me on this one.

You may give us your congratulations and best wishes now.

OH, BEAUTIFUL AUROR! I know you've been busy and unreachable for the past week or so, and before then I was busy and unreachable for a few days, but...

I do recall an important missed event... that may have something to do with the numbers "2" and "1"...

Do I have permission to whisk you away for a weekend in some purposely-unnamed faraway country next month as a means of making up for such treacherous and forgetful behavior?

And how is that for considerate behavi--

If anyone would like to comment on--

It will definitely be a change of pace from the dullness of work.

OI! THOMAS! The Lady Dorcas wants to have dinner with you and Gabrielle. Think of it as a belated birthday dinner.

Why, yes! That's right. Derek D. Dobbs just turned 21.

You may wish me again, if you so desire.

Maybe because some people didn't get it quite right the first time

So there's this pretty crazy bird named Dorcas who seems to think I positively insisted on taking her to dinner last week.

I sometimes don't know what to do with the number of girls who throw themselves at me? It's very disconcerting; I'm simply a normal young man.

Also, because my mother is a darling, nosy woman (who was very alarmed that her precious boy was becoming some sort of "gangbanger" when she saw that bangin' tattoo, by the way) decided to take it into her own hands to see I did not become some ruffian during that dark period of "unemployment," and apparently did a bit of career-scouting on her own.

Which would explain why there was suddenly a job offer waiting for me when I came home today. From the local shopping mall. As a fucking security cop.

I don't even have the words to respond to that.

They finally let me pick up a quill today.

You know, I realize that when I entered the training program for Hit Wizards, it said that it came with a permanent bed at St. Mungo's. I just never anticipated actually having to use it more than once.

Thomas, beloved partner of mine, this is the last time I jump in front of a bunch of spells to buy you extra time. Just so you know.

To any of the nurses who may have aided me in those first few days, I apologize if I made any inappropriate remarks to you. I tend to say the strangest things when 'under the influence.'

At least I've had some nice company in the last day or two.