Melanthe I. Grumman
Tyen Manor
Krasnoyarsk City, Siberia
Russia

Professor Ignan Storm
Staff Table
Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry

February 18, 2009

Dear Professor Storm,
In the spirit of the holiday, I have taken it upon myself to play matchmaker for you. Our luncheon conversation revealing how you are prone to spending your time saddened me a bit and I realized that you could do with more time spent in the company of a lovely, lady friend.

I have enclosed a package containing the dossiers of suitable older women who I feel could be potential matches. I stress that I have personally reviewed each and every one myself and I hope someone manages to catch your fancy.

Keep in touch,
Melanthe

Here are my top 5 prospects for you:

Professor Ignan Storm
Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry

Melanthe I. Grumman
Tyen Manor
Krasnoyarsk City, Siberia
Russia

February 21st, 2009

Dearest Melanthe,

I must apologise for the delay in responding to your kind and unexpected letter that arrived midweek. I am sure will understand that the content of your most detailed letter was not the appropriate reading matter of a Professor amongst his intolerably nosy colleagues...

Unfortunately matters were further delayed due to an accident while drilling the younger students in preventing forced side along apparition, where I lost my hand - albeit temporarily - and all the unusual excitement and unwanted attention meant that it is only now that I can dedicate my full and undivided attention towards it.

Why does the fact I spend my time away from classes marking, or further teaching students distress you so much? It is not much different to the days we knew each other at Durmstrang, you must understand. I am happy with what I have, but yes, you are astutely correct in that my life lacks feminine company, probably for good reason. I am sure I'm actually intolerable, given the years I've tried to educate the lazy magical youth of today - you are exempt from the description, I assure you.

Still, the five you have sent me intrigue me much. Even if Lucia Loizzo has a spunky zest for life, and writes engaging books, I still feel I've met her or her brother in a wig somewhere in Romania. She is unmistakably familiar for the wrong gender, much as I hate to judge a book by its cover.

I appreciate the time and care you have taken to put together these selections for me, very much, though I must admit I'm not in the habit of searching for companionship via owl. I am however flattered you selected Caryine Doyon, as I follow her writing in the newspapers and journals with interest and admiration.

Elvina Khoruzhenko is a former colleague, I remember her arrival at Durmstrang a year or two before I left for here. Excellent mind, I agree, and enchanting. I very much thought she was attached when I was introduced to her though, has this changed?

I am not familiar with Agnieszka Szczawinska, though I will look for the name from now on.

Aleida van Straaten - I knew her from my twenties, my, that is a name from the past, Melanthe. She will probably not remember me, she was very competitive as a fellow auror, commendable for her determination to work as hard as the wizards. She was not posted to the Black Forest with me, and I recall her being frustrated at our seniors claiming she would not cope out there, given that we were all wizards in the post.

I do not doubt she would have received more than her fair share of attention, you'll know from my diary that there were a fair share of quirky characters posted out there during the time I was. When I returned before I taught, I believe I heard she was heading up, or a deputy in the department. Do pass on my warmest regards, if she remembers me... though tread carefully, I did not receive the warmest of welcomes when I returned to Germany, news travels faster in certain circles...

One might think I should return a list of eligible young bachelors for you, but I do not doubt that you are fully capable of handling yourself and any attention you command of young men. Wizards are fickle beings, always retain your freedom, and for Merlin's sake, find one that will not flee should you get into dire circumstances. If they do in such a case, inform me immediately, and they'll regret it.

Do come and visit me at some point - though let me know a little in advance so I can warn the powers that be, they have been a little touchy of unannounced guests of late, for good reason. I am sure the news of recent events has reached Siberia.

Kind regards,

Melanthe I. Grumman
Tyen Manor
Krasnoyarsk City, Siberia
Russia

Professor Ignan Storm
Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry

February 23rd, 2009

My Dear Professor,

Even after all these years and despite my no longer being a student, I find that my calling you that is as close to a term of endearment that I can find. I am sure that I have told you often enough that my years at Durmstrang under your tutelage were some of the happiest of my life. After my father's death, I was very conflicted as to the direction I would take and I fear that had it not been for your guidance, my special talents would surely have been wasted. Because of this, I feel as though you will always be an important figure in my life.

As such, I care about your well being. How can I begrudge your desire to devote your time and attention to your students when you have a perfect example of what can come of it in me? I know you are brilliant at what you do but I can't help but wonder if even you might benefit from some activities that do not involve lessons or students.

My suggestions are just that and I would not be offended if you told me straight that none of them are to your liking. I promise if you are truthful with me, I will abandon my goal of having you settled and married within the year (I can be optimistic, no?). By all means, take your time sorting through these ladies and perhaps one will compliment you better than you will allow yourself to believe.

Alas, I shall say no more on the matter until I come to visit you. I know back in January we spoke of my coming to see you at school and now that you have asked me again, I'd love nothing more than to do so. Just let me know a day and time that would suit your schedule best.

As for my own love life, we can save that as a topic to discuss when I visit. Afterall, in my youth it is a classic tale of so many people to talk about and so little time. I'd hate to bore you with an endless roll of parchment. It might not do your heart well at all....

All my best,
Melanthe