:O I have a feeling this baby won't have red hair!!!

Author's Response: Jules, it's been foreverrrrr! Ya know, it's weird, because right after DH came out, this fic has been getting reads/reviews left and right. *basks* I hope you're enjoying the story thus far. It took a turn for the weird, that's for sure, hehe. Thanks for the review, dear. ~Jess

Natalie, this is brilliant. You are such a talented writer. Everything seems to flow so well. I loved the way you told this fic. In my mind it was as if Rabastan was remembering this while in Azkaban, trying desperately to hold onto this one (not so happy?) memory. I don't know if that's what you intended but it really seemed like that to me.

Your characterisation was excellent. Rabastan felt so real to me. I'm not always a fan of first-person but it really worked for this. I didn't just feel like a spectator but as if I was in his head and that really stood out for me. Regulus was also incredibly well written. You kept him consistently mysterious (I suppose that is the right word...) and the way you ended the fic just drove his characterisation straight home.


And it astounds me to this day that all that time, I was discovering only myself, while he continued to be lost to me.

This ending really rendered me speechless and is probably the reason I'm leaving a horribly incoherent review right now.

Natalie, this fic is superb. I hope someone nominates it one day for the SBBC as it would be a fantastic discussion piece. There are so many layers to explore. I love it!

Greenleaf

Author's Response: JuliA!



Thank you so, so much for this lovely review. :) *I am late, but I thought I had already responded. How odd.*



To hear that you aren't a fan of 1st person narrative but still loved the fic is such an awesome compliment. :D I did want the readers to get inside Rabastan's head, and and to be unnerved because he is going to be a cruel DE, after all. *wink wink*



You have given me great encouragement and happiness with this "incoherent" review, Greenleaf. :) I will be sure to finish the second chapter as soon as I can.



~Natalie.

I've just listened to this on Audiofics and I have to say it was just as funny as I remember it being way back when I read it in... 2010! Gosh has it been that long??? I'm sitting here giggling into my yoghurt and trying not to choke.

Wow, Natalie, I can't believe I hadn't read this before now! I am such a failure at keeping up with my must-read list. Argh. Anyway, this is fantastic. Beautifully written, as always, and beautifully structured. I love the way you can write in small snapshots and blend them together in such a way that they flow perfectly. You did this in The Receding as well. What struck me was where you placed Albus' sorting. I love how you didn't place it as the beginning, but left it until you had exposed Albus' character enough to make his sorting justifiable. You built and built his characterisation up until you finally revealed his sorting.

That is another thing which you mastered. You managed to make this a completely plausible AU. You haven't changed Albus' character in the slightest, merely focusing on the parts of him which would place him in Slytherin rather than any of the other houses. It makes me think that, yes, he could well have been a Slytherin. There is the underlying current of Albus' belief, or rather faith, that the end must justify the means. If that wasn't true in his mind, then the struggle between his conscience and actions would be so much harder for him to bear. He will do what is necessary for his desired outcome even if it means the loss of an innocent soul.

It is necessary, Albus told himself, even though the thought alone hurt him.

This, I think says it all. You’ve captured his character perfectly. It is truly Dumbledore and yet, you have portrayed him in such a way as to lend his characteristics to that of Slytherin. And what you have the sorting hat say rings so true. It doesn’t matter whether or not the end is noble and moral and just, Albus will still do whatever means necessary to get there. And he does, as we all know.

The comparison between Dumbledore and Snape that ran right through the fic was also a nice touch. It created a sort of balance between the canon of the fic and the AU. When you think about it, as you obviously have done when writing this fic, Albus and Severus are both rather similar in certain aspects, and I think that Dumbledore saw a bit of his young self in Severus.

Anyway, I’ll stop rambling now. This turned out to be a lot longer than I intended but I am so glad that I’ve finally read this fic. It is a wonderful piece of writing and your exploration of the characters was truly insightful. I hope we can discuss this in the SBBC!

Greenleaf x

Author's Response: “There is the underlying current of Albus' belief, or rather faith, that the end must justify the means. If that wasn't true in his mind, then the struggle between his conscience and actions would be so much harder for him to bear.”

Yay I was looking forward to this one because I remembered Ernie casting a Patronus during the battle in DH. You really caught his character, Neil! He was pompous and full of his own self importance but his loyalty and desire for good trumped the flaws. And I loved the way you built up the story until you reached the end when he and the others save the Trio. Another great chapter as always :)

Author's Response: Thank you. I wasn't sure how my version of Ernie would be received. I tried to make him self-important and rather frightened. Itried to make him a bit of a Captain Mainwaring (not certain whether many people will get that reference). But despite this he 's a good friend and a staunch ally. This particular chapter was intersting, because Ernie seemed to take on a life of his own. -N-

I can't believe I've missed three chapters of this! Where have I been?! First of all, Voldemort Doesn't Play Quidditch was such a touching chapter. It brought tears to my eyes! Also, I generally enjoy Oliver Wood fics and your take on his post-battle character was great to read.

Ahh, it was so good to see more of Mark Moon. This chapter was intense to say the least. I loved it. And it was interesting to see another reaction to Voldemort's demise. While people around him are celebrating, Mark's life is still in turmoil. He can't find his sister and the celebration just fades into the background. It doesn't even seem relevant. I loved the way you showed that. And thank you so much for the dedication. It brought a smile to my face.

I see you have another chapter up now but I'll read and review later after I get some sleep!

Author's Response: Julia Thanks for the review(s). Oliver is such a Quidditch fanatic I really could not see any other way to drag him to the battle. I’ve been trying to write a “Lee Jordan Show” story for some time, too. This was not the story I’d intended to use, but it seemed appropriate. I give poor Mark a hard time in this chapter, and his future girlfriend an equally hard time in the next. I find that OC stories get very few reads (perhaps it’s just me). I rather like Mark and your championing of him persuaded me that this chapter was worth writing, and deserved some recognition. There will be more of Mark, eventually. Neil

Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Another great chapter, Neil, and another plot-point that seems as if it could fit into canon. I especially enjoyed Neville's characterisation here and his reaction to his Gran's letter. Very well done. I'm loving this series and can't wait to read the rest :)

Author's Response:
Oh, good.

I try to add something unexpected, but still possibly canon, though this is the only thing I've ever written which is set in the future (beyond 2010) and it's even post-epilogue.

The next four: Good Bones, Ernest Endeavours, Abbot Ails and Justin Time are being beta'd (you may spot a theme there) and so is Voldemort Doesn't Play Quidditch.
-N-

Oh I hadn't noticed this was up! What a nice surprise. I particularly love this chapter. Cho is a character I love reading about but she is often given a bad rep in fanfiction and your characterisation was very refreshing. You wrote her desire to prove how she had changed very well. It wasn't too over-whelming, instead it was more of a subtle undercurrent, rising to surface at the end, and tying everything together with the scene in the Room of Requirement that we are all familiar with. I've always thought about what her life was like after the final battle, but this has really made me think more about what her life was like during the war, as well. Thanks for another great read, Neil. I look forward to the next installment.

Author's Response: Julia Thanks. Cho turned up for the final battle. She did this despite the fact that she and Harry barely acknowledged each other after their split. That shows a certain strength of character, I think. I tried to make this story understated, because that’s how I see Cho, she’s really quite a quiet girl and (in my view) not particularly self-assured. I think that she’s a bit like Hermione without the bossiness. Her final school year was the year of HBP, so this story barely scrapes the surface of what she did. Next, the story which almost turned my brain to blancmange – Good to be Back. I’ll be very interested in what people think. Neil

Wow, Gina, this has to be one of the best fanfics I've read. It's such a beautiful story with the most wonderful characterisation. I loved the way you wrote James, it felt fresh but just so... right. You say in the end notes that you wanted to explore a deeper side of James and you truly excelled at that. And the way that Lily comes to see a whole new side to James was paced so well. I really feel like you built this wonderful journey for the two of them even though it's over a relatively short time.

Everything about the fic is perfect--the characterisation and pacing and flow, I loved it all. This is certainly going in my favourites.

Julia x

Author's Response: Er, one of the best?? Wow, thanks Julia! You really are on a J/L kick, aren't you? Hee hee, do I sense another OTP coming your way?? They are fun, aren't they? I love writing them. I loved writing this. I was up in the middle of the night once with insomnia and Natalie came on and said something about James getting drunk and I said - ooh, can I borrow that idea? And this came out. I was in a big dialogue phase then, lol. I'm glad you liked it even though it was really just a lot of talking! Thanks so much for reading this, your reviews have made me want to keep working on the story I started a few weeks ago, heh heh. Thanks again! ~Gina :)

OMG. This was such a great chapter and the perfect antidote to four hours of neuroscience study! You're amazing, Carole. You've brought Draco and Hermione together in such a way that it feels so right. The Dramiones I usually read are AU when Harry and Ron are dead (or thought to be) but this is really great. You had me cheering for both Draco AND Ron in this chapter O.o and I loved the ending. How is Draco going to react?!?! I think I have a pretty good idea but you never know...

Author's Response: Thank you. I hope this was a welcome respite from neuroscience at least. Mmm, I didn't want to kill Harry and Ron, and thought it would be so much more deliciously awkward if Ron turned up again - ha ha ha. How will Draco react ... hmmm, well I could tell you, but I think I'll make you wait - heh heh heh. Thanks again ~Carole~