Katerina let out a long, bored breath. It seemed like the Ministry had been holding an extravagant event every other weekend, as if they had nothing better to do. Of course there was so much to be done every day of every week, but with You-Know-Who gone and most of the death eaters either dead or behind bars, it seemed like the events committee had way too much time on their hands.

At least she got to go dress shopping. As Katerina declined a dance from a fellow in her department, she wondered if she actually had to wait for the Minister to blow out the candles of her cake before she could leave. It was supposed to be such an honor to be invited to these events, but when everyone was invited it took away the glamor, and then you were expected to sit around for a good two hours so that your department head could make sure you were making him look good.

She really needed a drink, or a hot bloke to start talking to her. On days like this Katerina envied her older sister, whose sole purpose in life was to marry rich, pureblooded men. It only took her a few moments to recall that her sister had seven dead husbands to deal with, and now a son for the rest of her life. Yes---Katerina would much rather be forced to mingle at these events than carry those sort of stories on her shoulders.

But, at the moment, she was bored, and let out a sigh in hopes that some handsome bloke would become concerned.