It was entirely unintentional (though rather fortuitous), but I left my journal in England while Parvati and I were in India.  I hope that everyone survived well enough without us.  For me, we returned two days ago and it has been non-stop at work ever since- I suppose it is good to be missed.

[Ward: Parvati]
Thank you, again, for coming with me on holiday.  It was a much-needed escape, and I was glad to share it with you.
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[Ward: Paresh]
Still alive, I hope?  Also, how was your date?
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[Ward: Hemani]
Please don't let this be awkward.  Sparing any sordid details, how are you and Paresh getting on?
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[Ward: Private]
Arrested for possession of dragon eggs and under investigation for house elf abuses.  Has that idiot been fired from the Prophet yet?  I mean- honestly.
[/]

My bag is packed, and Parvati and I leave for New Delhi in the morning.  I'm anxious to be traveling again, though not in a particularly bad way- it will be wonderful to be in India once again, for the first time in nearly a decade.  I expect it to be rainy, of course- it is hardly unavoidable this time of year- but I refuse to let that hamper my excitement.  It will be wonderful to browse the markets again, to slip right in with the flow of the crowds there (where at least my knowledge of the native language will prevent me from seeming to be a tourist!).  I plan to visit Akshardham, as the temple was barely in its planning stages when last I was in India, and now it is (by the photos, at least) one of the most beautiful in the world.  Aside from that, however, I fully intend on relaxing, shopping, and otherwise enjoying the holiday.  Wish me luck!

[Ward: Parvati]
How does 17 June through 23 June sound?  It's a full week, and it's the longest holiday I think I'll have had since Hogwarts- well deserved, for the both of us.  Dad offered to have us stay with relatives, but thankfully mum convinced him out of that quickly enough- they'll be putting us up in The Royal Plaza Hotel instead.  Elegance in the name of sisterly bonding, I suppose- I'll not complain!
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Planning a holiday is a lovely distraction, I've found.  I can hardly remember the last time I've allowed myself to consider having this much leisure time!

I feel as if there is some large karmic joke being set up, but I'm not certain I want to know the punch line.

[Ward: Not Adrian, T, Malcolm, Melinda, Emil, Jill, or Andrew]
Adrian Pucey is now employed by the Daily Prophet. Perhaps I'm too nostalgic, but what happened to the days when it required actual journalistic talent to be employed in the reporting industry?

Freelancing is sounding better and better every day. If only I were as roguish as Sally Perks!
[/]

Parvati and I had an appointment for mehndi today.  It had been too long, really, and it felt wonderful to sit there and be pampered for a few hours!  The results, if I do say so, are beautiful and very much worth the time:

( spell-o-taped photos )

[Ward: Parvati]
Thank you for today.  It felt good to spend some proper drama-free time with you.
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[Ward: Eleanor, Sally, Lavender, Morag, Kevin, Lisa]
I'm not certain what to do about our birthday.  It's only two days away...  A part of me would like to host something here- a small get-together, really, almost akin to a house-warming party?- but I do not know if that would just seem rude to boast about the flat to Parvati's face.  But I cannot truly exclude her from any birthday plans, seeing as we share the day...  A dilemma, I suppose.
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[Ward: Morag]
A question, and forgive me if this is completely out of place, but- you had mentioned your old flat, earlier...  Would you be interested in renting it, properly?  I only ask because I think that I do need a place of my own, and I do not want to impose on Sally any longer than I already have.  (I have been pet-sitting for Dog these past few days, else I would have asked sooner.  I believe she and Oliver are due back tomorrow or Wednesday.)  If you aren't interested, of course, that is fine- I simply thought I'd ask you before searching elsewhere.
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[Ward: Private]
I am not certain what to think.  I don't feel defeated, particularly, just... resigned.  It may have started as a fit of pique, but the more I think on it, the more it just feels... time.  We- I will be twenty-six at the end of the month, perhaps that is time enough to cut the apron strings, as it were.  She seems content in her reliance on Melinda, and I cannot spend the rest of my life fretting over whatever nonsense she's going to be dragged into because of that association.  Her choices are her own, as are her consequences.  She will always be my sister, and I never want to change that, but perhaps the distance (albeit a small one) will do us some good.
[/]

I had forgotten how soothing it can be to spend an overnight shift in the offices.  Now, if I can find some tea, this second shift may be just as productive as the first!

[Ward: Eleanor, Sally, Lavender, Morag, Kevin, Lisa]
I don't understand it.  I feel like I have lost am losing my sister.  Every time I try to show concern for her, she brushes me off about it, or her partner ends up yelling at me for it.  I understand that her job is dangerous- and, no, I don't like it- but does that mean that I am not meant to care at all?

Parvati was admitted to St. Mungo's yesterday.  Due to some failure of their notification system, neither Paresh nor I received an owl (as her next-of-kin) notifying us of this.  But her partner apparently saw nothing odd about the fact that none of Parvati's family or friends showed up to be with her at the hospital, because her partner also didn't send any sort of notice to us.  When I questioned Parvati about it, she defended her partner, insisting that she was "just making sure I was okay."  What could her partner do, in that situation, that our brother the Healer couldn't?

To make matters worse, the evening capped off with a letter from said partner, addressed solely to me.  And, perhaps it is petty of me, but something that starts off with the ever-so-eloquent greeting of, "Grow the fuck up," just will not be getting a response from me.
[/]

[Ward: Sally]
I know that it will seem rash- stupid, even- but I've told Parvati not to expect me at home when she gets there.  We've lived together since we finished Hogwarts, but right now just being in that house makes me more angry than I ought to be.  Maybe I'm only compounding the problem- I have a feeling she'll run right back to her partner to complain about me, after all- but I'm not sure what else to do.  It's like she doesn't need me anymore, so maybe I'm just taking her at that word.

Have I completely lost my mind?

Please forgive me if it seems too forward, but would you be open to having a house guest for a few days?  Eleanor and Kevin are too busy, Lavender lives with Euan, Morag is married, and Lisa, well, I don't know how well she'd cope with someone throwing off her routine.  If it's too much to ask, I completely understand- I can just go back to stay with my parents.  I just really don't want to deal with the questions that will come with that.
[/]

[Ward: Parvati]
Where are you?  This is me, not freaking out.
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[Ward: Paresh]
Have you seen Parvati today?  Please say she's with you and she just forgot to tell me-
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[Added after this.]

[Ward: Paresh]
She's at St. Mungo's. Her partner didn't see fit to tell us this.
[/]

[Ward: Lavender]
You're a bartender, right? Would you advocate taking up drinking as a method to avoid the temptation of hexing someone within an inch of their life?
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[Ward: Not Adrian, T, Malcolm, Melinda, or Andrew]
I've already made to argument to Parvati that acknowledging his drivel does more harm than good, but the idea of Adrian Pucey getting paid to write absolutely turns my stomach.  How any self-respecting editor could allow his words to go to print under a name so well-respected as the Daily Prophet is beyond me.  Please, for the love of Rowena, let this be a joke!
[/]

I've taken the night off, and plan on doing little else but sitting at home, drinking tea, and catching up on Timeturner Tales my own personal reading.  Rowena help anyone who tries to stop me- they will have tadpoles for fingers.

[Ward: Parvati]
Where were you the other night?  You usually say if you're working late.
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[Ward: Paresh]
I'm worried about Parvati.  I think having her partner on desk duty might be pushing her over the edge.  She's been a bit... flighty, lately.  Well, more-so than usual?  It may just be an odd hunch, I'm not certain.  Do you treat patients with paranoia at St. Mungo's?
[/]

( Padma Patil! )