Marietta Edgecombe

Something about going to the carnival and seeing Hogwarts again has made me feel rather reflective. Merlin knows why - it's not even like it's been a full year since I was last at Hogwarts.

But it was a year since I was in the position where I was leaving Hogwarts myself, waiting for my NEWT results, stressing about getting a job. And even longer since...well, I've been flipping back and I found the first entry I ever wrote in this. Merlin it's been getting on two years that I've been keeping this journal. I don't...heh, I don't remember what I all wrote there that I scratched out, but it certainly did remind me that I've grown a lot since then. I ( actually, warded private after having been written )

Actually, on second thought, I don't need to particularly share that with all of you.

So moving on. I did want to say that I thought the carnival was very well put together. The carousel was lovely, as were the boat rides if not a bit choppy. Cho and Harry, you flew splendidly in that Quidditch match. Oh, and the food was delicious. To all of you who helped put it together, I just wanted to say that I'm very impressed with all your hard work. I really enjoyed myself.

And congratulations to all of you who are finishing school this year. The real world, I've found, isn't always the easiest place to be compared to Hogwarts, but I think it's still very worthwhile.

Well, that's enough out of me.

( Private to Cho )

It was nice meeting up with Cho Friday night. I really wish I could see her more often but, war or no, I suppose that's just part of being a grown-up.

Been spending most of my free time these days with Mum and Louisa, just the three of us. After that scare, and almost losing her, twice, I tend to want to spend as much time with Louisa as possible. She's knows my name now, you know. She hasn't figured out any other words yet, but she'd certainly working at it, babbling nonstop with such expression you'd actually think she was holding a conversation in another language. I guess this is just a busy time of life for her, figuring out the talking thing, and trying to walk whilst holding onto furniture. She's just nonstop.

Ah well, I don't have much to say, I just wanted to write a bit.

( Look at her! )

We went this week, Mum and Louisa and I, to go visit my grandfather Edgecombe in the country. This is really the first time I've been able to see him since he was in the hospital after the attack on Azkaban and it was absolutely wonderful. How could it not be? She's alive. And so am I. Grandad said he was proud of me for having gone out to the battle, even if I didn't fight - did the Edgecombe name proud, and he wonders if that's a sign that Louisa will maybe take after his side of the family when she ends up at Hogwarts. At this point, I don't care what House she ends up in eventually, I'm just happy enough that she'll be attending someday.

Work also hasn't been this relaxed in quite a long time. Sure, there's still a bit to wrap up on - rounding up Death Eaters, giving out warnings to celebratory rioters once we discover who they are, but everyone's just so cheerful and happy, even if they're still feeling a bit cautious. I think I do believe that this time it's over for good. Mum says it feels different this time than last time though last time she wasn't really paying that much attention as she was still in mourning for Dad.

Cho! We need to meet up and celebrate, too, you know!

Oh this is just fantastic.

I'm barely home from work and the Ministry has sent some officials to search my flat for anything that might help them in their quest to stop You-Know-Who, and had just come from Mum's downstairs. I appreciate they're trying, I really do...but me and Mum? My family has worked with the Ministry for as long as we can remember. My bloody daughter was targeted in the last attack and they're trying to see whether or not we're Death Eaters? Just because we're Pureblooded? I suppose that's the way people's minds would go in a case like this, but really, it's ridiculous! I could have told them exactly what they'd find - some clothes, some divination tools and a few baby toys.

I just...ergh! There has to be a better way they could go about this. Now I have to put the flat back into order and I wanted to do some of my own divining tonight.

But...Louisa. I can't hope for a miracle twice. And Cho! Merlin, Cho...and Hestia and Tonks and...so many people I care for...

( Shakily Warded to the Order )

I just looked and saw that the last time I wrote was the night of the storm, and as I don't want that to be the most recent journal entry I've written, I thought I'd rectify that. Not that I have much better to say now, or even much happier. In all honestly, these past couple weeks have gone by in a blur. I've done all that's needed to be done - work and more work, the funeral...but it seems almost like I've gone through motions more than actually lived. Though I did have a nice outing last Sunday. I'm happy for that. Though as Tonks apparently went and got herself critically injured afterwords...

Oh, I don't know. It's evident I don't have anything of real importance to write, and I think this entry has served it's purpose of pushing the last ones back anyway. I might as well end it.

Though I suppose I should add...Cho, I know I've already said it, but thanks again for all your help this past little bit. It's made things much easier for me.

( After freaking out for several minutes, Mare calms down enough to Ward this Private to the Order again. )

( Much more shakily Warded to Cho (so likely breakable) )

Well this is lovely. It would figure the one day I stayed after work is the day the weather goes absolutely insane. I can only imagine that Louisa is surely fussing and I hope Grandmum is managing okay. Not that I don't think she can handle a baby, but I never expected things to get like this when I asked her to pick her up from the daycare. This is just...I don't even know.

( Private and Warded to the Order )

( Private and Warded to the Order of the Phoenix )

Auror Tonks! I heard 'round the Department today that it's your birthday. Do you have anything planned? If you've nothing official planned, maybe we can get together for a cup of tea or something and I can give you your gift or something. Just not tonight. Actually...

( Private and Warded to the Order of the Phoenix )

Wow, it's hard to believe the House Swap was actually a year ago now. That was really quite some experience. Worked better than I ever thought it would.

I wonder if the first years know there was a Ravenclaw sleeping in one of their beds last May.

( Warded as well as Mare's able to Harry Potter. Hopefully he'll strengthen her Wards even more )

Well, it appears that I can't seem to get out of Hogwarts after all. First, I spend the better portion of the Easter holidays there, and now, I'm going back for the Career Fest tomorrow.

I wasn't supposed to go, actually, but one of the representatives the Forensic Diviners were supposed to send over came down with the dragon pox, and so I was asked last minute to go instead. And so I'm going. I'm not sure how much someone who's been working less than a year can contribute to a career festival, but then, perhaps there will be people there who'd rather talk to young people just starting out. I don't know. I'm sure it will go well, regardless.

This is actually rather good, because maybe I can find Harry and talk to him about Aurors. It might be better to question him in person than trust my warding here on the journal network.

( Private to...self )

( Private to Hestia Dillingham )

Merlin, it's been a long couple of weeks. Cho, would you like to meet up for dinner or something sometime soon - I haven't seen you in forever!

( Private to Su Li )

It's odd being back at the school. I was here briefly for the Dean Thomas investigation, but it's certainly different than sleeping here, after you've finished, with your mother and daughter here with you. Not that it hasn't been nice. I forget how convenient everything was here, and now that I've been out in the real world having the house-elves readily prepare meals or do all the chores is certainly quite nice.

I go back to work tomorrow. Just Flooing out to the Ministry for the day. Mum's been doing that since yesterday, but I needed to take a couple of days off. But I really can't afford to take any more, especially now that Emmeline's...gone.

Merlin, that's still hard to wrap my mind around.

I kind of don't want to go home at the end of this week.

HELP

please...

I wish I was better at Warding - spent a good half hour on that and I really hope it's strong enough.

Merlin...what are we going to do?

My grandfather's in St. Mungo's. We were going to stop by his place for Easter...we don't visit him nearly enough with Dad gone, and now I feel so guilty about that. It's serious but they're being optimistic he'll pull through, so I'll hope.

Cho? I saw your dad was injured in the papers. How is he doing?

And Ron, I saw your Dad's name as well. Is he okay? Imperius on all those people, It's just...

And does anyone know how Auror Tonks is doing?

He said that some of us have a choice, I wonder if I would be one of the ones who does...but no, I can't even think about that. Not after all that's happened. Not with Cho, and Cedric, and Auror Tonks, and Ron. That wouldn't be better, it would be worse...I need to be strong, I need to be brave. I need to be like Dad would be right now. There must be a bit of Gryffindor in me. All I know is that I don't think I'm going to be able to stay out of this any longer, I'm going to have to choose a side. If it's not already chosen for me. And I hope to Merlin it's the right one. I'm just...so scared. Moreso than I was sixth year.

Emmeline? I had a very disturbing dream with you in it last night. I wasn't going to say anything, but now after all this...

All's well that ends well as far as I'm concerned. I admit I'm glad the trail and all that came with it is over and now we're back to normal...well, as much back to normal as we can be. Emmeline convinced Abigail Danforth to let the two of us head to Bristol to search for the secret lair of the Squibbites to confiscate the disease so it can't be used against anyone else, especially now that it's finally clearing up. It's a completely futile exercise, of course, on which Ms. Danforth certainly agrees, but she's pleased enough with the results of the trial that she's allowing for Emmeline's eccentricity. if anything, I'm getting to know the Bristol area quite well.

Anyway, I think that's...wait a moment. Did the Wireless just say something about the Dark Mark? Oh my...is anyone else listening right now? This...doesn't sound like an ordinary mark of a rogue Death Eater attack, it seems to be moving rather than staying above a place of attack. What could that possibly...that doesn't sound good at all!

I have a feeling my last couple days of relaxing are not going to last.

I realise this is long overdue, but I did want to mention what a commendable job in the trial Emmeline did. She handled the questioning and everything so well. I'm not sure I could have been as patient with being asked the same question over and over again.

Merlin, it's been so busy, though. I'll just be happy once the verdict's out and we're back to our normal work. This foray into such a high profile case was fascinating, but rather exhausting. I'll be glad to have a bit more free time again. So long as I'm not investigating secret cults in Bristol.

And I'm glad to hear that the Squibbles is starting to clear up. I do so hope that everyone's back to full magical power soon.

( Private and Warded to Ron )

( Owl and parcel to Ron Weasley )