Mandy Brocklehurst

I do apologize for my sudden absence. As most of you know, Theodore and I had to postpone the wedding due to an unfortunate sudden illness and death in my family. We have pushed the wedding back until the spring due to conflicts with caterers and photographers trying to pick another date since we were in Indonesia for our original wedding date.

Theodore is acting strange

In all the excitement over the wedding, I can't believe I managed to forget Christmas is the day before. I have so much shopping to do now.

[Theo]
I'm going to attempt to go out shopping today. Is there anything you need? I will just get my family gifts and sign both our names.

My dress was delivered to Mum and Dad's house today. I had it sent there because I don't trust Theo not to peek. It's gorgeous, everything I wanted and dreamed of. Though, granted, I wasn't one of those little girls who dreamed of their wedding. I had other aspirations. I never thought I would marry, let alone marry someone as wonderful as Theo.

Everything is ready, and now all I have to do is wait. Getting married really will be the best Christmas present.

I am both shocked and dismayed that our Ministry is unable to protect its citizens. For months, we have been plagued with threats, including someone who is preying on innocent women and making us all feel afraid to go out at night, or even to be home alone. How many more witches have to be violated before someone finally says enough is enough?

[Friends]
It almost makes me feel guilty that I was so happy to try on my wedding dress today. I know that life does have to go on, or these people win, but it doesn't change the fact that I worry about being home alone at night.

Still, I am going to continue to work on my wedding. I am much happier planning it myself. The menus are done, the bridesmaid dresses are picked out and all I need to do is pick out flowers next week. I don't want it to be cliche, nor do I want to seem like I am copying the other royal weddings.

[Private]
Theo is acting strange. Something is wrong. I just wish I knew what it was. Why did I let myself fall in love again? This relationship was so much easier when it was just sex.

My wedding planner quit today. Told me she couldn't support a halfblood immigrant who probably was involved with dark wizards and the war as a member of the royal family.

So, let me clarify a few things:

1. My mother was born in Indonesia. She is the daughter of a muggleborn and a halfblood. There aren't many pureblooded wizards in Indonesia because they were hunted by religious zealots for years. The same religious zealots behind this horrible war in Iraq. The killed my grandfather when my mother was a small girl.

2. My mother and my grandmother have been a British citizens since 1974. My mother has been a British citizen longer than she ever was an Indonesian citizen. She has also been a healer at St Mungo's since 1970. She and my father married in 1971. My father is a pureblood from as far back as we can trace it.

3. I have researched the law, and only if I were a muggleborn would there be grounds to object to my marriage. I understand that many people do not agree, and that is their right to do so. However, to make accusations that I am somehow linked to the horrible people who killed my grandfather is not only a lie, it is slander and I will seek legal remedy for it if it continues.

I must admit, the content of the Prophet gets more and more interesting.

[Theo]
Seems I am being knighted next week.

I swear, I buy a new bra and Rita acts like it's newsworthy.

Honestly, there can't be a witch alive that hasn't bought something to boost what they have, is there?

[Theodore

My dear friend Cho has made the British Olympic team, and there is a party on Thursday. Will you please attend with me? It would mean so much.

[Theo]

Skeeter needs to die. We had a deal and the bitch violated it.

[Friends]

I know we have suffered a tragic loss as a country, but I can't seem to be sad. I feel guilty, I feel like a horrible person, but I can't seem to be somber. The council approved my engagement to Theo and I want to celebrate, but I realize it's not the time. It's going to be very hard to find a time to announce the engagement formally, with all the other things coming up.

I must admit, it feels very special wearing his mother's ring.

We have set a date! So please keep January 1 clear.

As of next Friday I will no longer be a reporter exclusively for The Daily Prophet. I have agreed to stay on as a columnist and do a bit of freelance work, however my first priority will be to my wedding and marriage to His Grace.

[Theo]
How is the vote going?

I got the Editor to agree to let me work as a columnist and handle two or three large stories a month on my own schedule. I will most likely be doing an advice column under a pseudonym as well. He is eager to keep me on board for my inside information.

That flat that was broken into was near mine. I am most likely changing my wards, I think.

[Cedric]

Will Thursday evening be acceptable?

[Private to friends of Mandy and Theodore...and Roger.]

I suppose I should share my good news before the papers get wind of it and ruin a beautiful thing. (And ironic I would feel this way, right?)

Theodore has asked me to marry him.

We are currently waiting on the Council's approval, and then we can set a wedding date. He gave me his mother's ring, which is so sweet and romantic. I swear, this all feels like a dream. Who would have believed that a halfblood girl like me would fall in love with a royal?

There is talk right now at work of the Prophet sending over a reporter with the new hitwizards being deployed. It should be an interesting position if the Ministry approves it. It would certainly be a career making move and one that I hope is given to a reporter with some talent and not someone who will over blow the whole thing.

[Theodore]
We need to talk. Soon.

[Theodore]
Rescue me, love? I miss you, and I need a break.

Ronnie was a nice guy, a good guy and a good co-worker. I don't understand why he did what he did. Since his wife died he has changed quite a bit. I suppose that might be why he did what he did. It just seems so odd. We were joking yesterday about his mum's birthday and to find out he's the one who did these horrible things just rattles me.

[Theo]

Can I... Can I sleep over tonight? Today rattled me and I don't want to be alone with the photographers outside.

I still do not understand why my relationship with Theodore is so interesting. We are quite possibly the most normal and boring couple alive.

[Anthony]

Can we get together soon? I assume you saw the paper about Theo and I.

I seem to be able to have a moment of privacy to enjoy a special weekend with the man I love. I'm not nobility. I did not grow up with this, and I have no idea how to react to my private life being splashed across the press. I have been accused or horrible crimes, and now when I try to escape it with my Theodore, to have a very private weekend, something he had been planning for a while, that gets put out there like it is real news, and my parents did not even know.

Theodore, it was lovely of you to think of my mother's homeland for our special trip. I can't think of a more perfect place.

[Michelle]

I know it has probably been since school since we have really spoken, but your uncle speaks highly of you, and I was wondering if I could get your help. I am sure you have heard by now that Theodore and I are dating. We've actually been dating for quite a while, but have tried to keep things relatively quiet. Even though I work for the Prophet, it doesn't spare me from Skeeter.

I was wondering if maybe you could help me out? I'm now expected to attend all these events, since it has all come out rather publicly thanks to my arrest that he and I are quite serious. I really have no idea what I am doing? Do you think maybe we could have lunch some day and you could at least give me a brief idea of how to handle this? I've been to events before, but never as an escort to anyone more important than Cedric, and that was just as friends.

Holy Rowena, Skeeter just quit! She just told the editor to shove it, she got offered twice her salary at Witch Weekly

Seems there is about to be a staffing change at the paper. We have a new Society Editor starting Sunday.

It is wonderful to be a free woman, to sleep in a real bed and have a home cooked meal. My parents are insisting I come for Sunday dinner tomorrow. I suppose I can't really blame them. This week was hell, and I hope no one else has to experience such a horrible ordeal.

[Theodore]
First, my father is insisting you come to Sunday dinner. Since our relationship is officially confirmed, I suppose he has that right.

Second, like my OpEd? No one but the editor knows who wrote it.

The fact I am still incarcerated with zero evidence suggesting I had anything to do with the vicious and horrible attempted assassination of Prince Draco is a mockery of justice.


[Hexed Extremely Private]
Fuck, this is getting old. I haven't been able to get a hold of Theodore, and he's my bloody alibi. I know he had to leave the country on business, and he always forgets his journal.

Shame the assassin didn't succeed. One less person in our way, and even before Draco knocks up the Parkinson bint.

I am being detained because some moron thinks I had something to do with the incident at the quidditch match. How I managed to cast a hex from the press box when I was sitting in the nobles box with my boyfriend is beyond me.

I've sent for a solicitor, but he seems to be unable to do anything.

The idea of a shuntbunt league sounds like a lot of fun. My brothers and I used to play at my Grandmother Brocklehurst's home. I am tempted to sign up.

Theodore, love, I am sorry I was busy all weekend, but we have three people out with that sparking flu. Can I make it up to you this week?

I am quite proud to be the half blood daughter of a immigrant. My mother came to Britain in 1970 and is now a successful healer in the Accident and Emergency ward at St Mungo's. She and my grandmother lived in a one room home in Indonesia after my grandfather died. To know she went from that to the lovely home she shares with my father is a brilliant thing.

So, if those phrases were meant to insult myself or His Grace, I believe you missed the mark.

[Theodore]
So lovely to see how easy it is to get Skeeter to bite. I suspect your letter to the Prophet will be brilliant as well.

So, I heard at work the Diagon Reader is for sale.

Too bad someone can't buy it and turn it into a respectable paper.

[Friends]

I need a new job. My boss just asked me to try to break into the records department at Mungo's to prove the prince's girlfriend is pregnant.

Only had one story make the front page today. I had another, on a recall of hundreds of pewter cauldrons because of weak alloys that was pushed to the fifth page because of the nonsense they are reporting now.

So if anyone owns a Stone Industries #4 Cauldron bought in the last six months, you can owl it back to the factory in Leeds for a replacement free of charge.


I really need to brush off my resume, but there isn't a better place to work, unless I want to go to that tiny Indonesian language weekly.

[Theo]
You can thank me later. Though nameless models were a good start.

Liam, do we still have plans this week?

[Theodore]
I have something for you. We should get together soon.

There are days I hate my job.

I've been given a features piece for the Sunday paper. It is slated as front page news, and well, a front page clipping always looks good, however the subject matter isn't that important in my opinion. Sure, I guess in the grand scheme of things it could be, but there are far more pressing topics, like the Sparking Flu outbreak or even the new cauldron taxes being proposed.

Of course, the boss doesn't want a real article, he wants a fluff piece. For once, I am envious of Skeeter. She could get away with being critical. Why couldn't the boss give it to her? Oh, right because I'm willing to work weekends.

Two words:

Senior Reporter

I'll be editor before I am 30 at this rate.

I am going out tonight, and there will be alcohol involved. Anyone want to keep a pretty witch from drinking alone? I've worked 24 hours since Sunday. I need a break. Between the special edition of the paper, my normal work load and the fact my upstairs neighbor somehow managed to flood mine and his flats, I swear this is not my week.

Today is one of those days I miss school. It was easier when all I had to worry about was homework, and I always had my friends around.

Evening edition of the Prophet has gone to press. I am going to go home and pass out now.

When I wake up, I have to figure out who I am asking to this party, or if I should just go stag.

I love being dragged out of bed at midnight by my editor to go cover a story, really, especially when he is incredibly vague about it, except to say there is a press conference at the Ministry.

I would say someone should be dead, but I fear that might be the case.

Do you worry that you're not liked
How long till you break
You're happy cause you smile
But how much can you fake
An ordinary boy an ordinary name
But ordinary's just not good enough ( today )