Oh my god I love Lee. And arghhhh I am fangirling this fic already. HOW DO YOU DO IT.

I really loved the scene with the few Slytherins all sitting in a row at Dumbledore's funeral, especially Theo and Daphne being there against their families wishes and the small flashback to Daphne's meeting with Dumbledore *sniffs*

Eeeeeee I cannot wait for the next chapter. This is amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Julz xoxo

Author's Response: I love Lee as welllllllllllll !!!!!!! But I think I love Daphne more ... and Scorpius .... mwahahahahah.

I have written 4 chapters, plus the prologue, and anticipate it will be around 8 in all ... I hope ... but I'm hopeless at sticking to plans. I'm rather hoping Jane Austen's book will keep me on track - heh heh. She was a bloody genius!

Thank you for reviewing. Hope you like the rest of it. ~Croll~

Ahhhh I absolutely love this backstory with Tracey. But now I am worried about Kevin because... I shan't put a spoiler in here since it seems many people haven't read the magnificence of Persuasion.

Also, Horace at the beginning was deliciously hideous. I love the way you have transferred Mary's ridiculous hypochondria onto him.

Author's Response: EEEP - just realised that I put the wrong name there. It's HECTOR, not Horace - hahahahah (I have altered now). Glad you like the back story with Tracey because she's going to feature a lot more as you can probably deduce as you know the book so well. :D Thank you for the reviewwwwwww. ~Carole~

I can sit here no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within typing distance. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that this is the end, that such a precious fic is over forever…

I haven’t felt so excited for a fic since Lavender Blue or High, and each time you updated I got that lovely warm fuzzy feeling of anticipation. It reminded me of why I still adore fanfiction, and the talent that our fandom holds no matter how derisive the outside world may be of what we do. I know that I will be returning this fic often, because it is truly brilliant. I cannot thank you enough, Carole, for writing this for me. This has spanned nearly an entire year, but it doesn’t feel that long at all because you are a master at sustaining tension, chemistry, compelling storylines and wonderful characters. This will sound selfish, but I am really sad to see this end. At the same time, no one could ask for a better ending. It has come full circle. It has left me with tears in my eyes and a squiggly fluttery warmth in my heart.

The way you begin the epilogue had me smiling already. Ending the way it all started with Hector reading his bloody book! But there was something almost touching about this scene, no matter how infuriating and ridiculous he may be.

She smiled - her first smile in weeks. “Then my cousin and his new bride may find they inherit-”

“A sheaf of debts, yes,” Hector replied idly. “What a shame.”

I’m going to admit that I burst out cackling when I read this. THANK YOU. It makes me so happy to see Byron get his comeuppance. You are right, it has always niggled me that William Elliot got away in Persuasion, and maybe it’s because we saw the inside of Hector’s mind in this fic, albeit briefly, but I was a more sympathetic towards him and Thalia compared to Walter and Elizabeth. The moment where he sees Honoria in Daphne did redeem him somewhat--just a little. I am glad to see them continue their trivial little lives all the while lumping their debts on Byron. Muahahaha.

Dennis!!!! See, this is why your fics are always so deliciously wonderful. You slot bits of Potterverse so naturally into your own narrative. Just that one comment about how Professor McGonagall has faith in him to do well as Muggle Studies teacher, while both Daphne and Septima don’t really know who he is. WE DO. We know who he is and just the one comment makes all the difference and guhhhh. Why yes I am totally fangirling over something as inconsequential as Dennis being Muggle Studies teacher.

I really enjoyed the begrudging and awkward scene between Septima and Daphne. Too much has happened for it to be tied up sweetly and tidily. It wouldn’t do either of their characters justice, so I love the way you left it. Things are on the mend but are far from healed.

Okay.

I take back everything I’ve said before about proposals. I want to be sitting by a lake in the rain with a Spice Girls special request playing on the radio. Look what you’ve done to my poor future fiancé! Look at the expectation he has to live up to!

I may or may not be blasting 2 Become 1 right now. There is a severe thunderstorm going on so when I say blast, I do really mean it. Have you ever seen that video of Kristen Bell reacting to the sloth? Go watch it because that is basically what I did when this whole proposal started playing out OH MY GOD PERFECTION. And he asked Susan to help pick out the ring nyeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I apologise. This review was supposed to be epic and completely serious but it’s descended into emotional drivel.

Thank you for this amazing story. You have brightened so many of my days with it.

Too good, too excellent, Carole! You do us readers justice, indeed.

Now have a glass of wine to celebrate.

Julia xxx

Author's Response: I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. And maybe write another fic. A follow up. Smirk and Snarkiness awaits!

Giggling over this review and delighted at the response. This was such a joy to write. I was on a serious high for the majority of it, only getting stuck towards the end as I pondered that darn Harville speech and who I had most sympathy for out of Hector and Byron (Hector as it turned out, but I think that was 'cause I loathed Vanessa as well - ha ha)

Thank you so much for all your reviews and for reading and squeeing in equal measure. I'm pleased you appreciated the Septima and Daphne scene. I couldn't end it totally happily because I don;t think that would have suited either of their characters. Daphne was too hurt and angry, and Septima still thinking no one is quite good enough for her. Really, I think she just wanted Daphne to be a 'better' version of Honoria who wouldn't marry and would stay at Hogwarts.

Ah, Dennis, yes ... that was a little last minute, so I'm glad it fits. Knowing Charity had been a part of Septima's life meant I was loathe to not mention her in the epilogue. And I want Dennis to have some resolution and purpose in his life -sob-.

Oh, right, i don't know what else to say except I'm annoyed with myself for not hooking them up earlier because Daphne and Lee aren't in my other stories :(

Thanks again ~Carole~

This is lovely, Gina. Sad, of course, and a little bit heartbreaking, but lovely. The way you built up their friendship (or their relationship, rather) was really well done. I believed in them. It's like a series of missing moments that could fit right into canon.

And ending on that hopeful note at the end made it even more poignant.

Julia x

Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading this, Julia! And for the lovely review. I'm so glad you believed in them, that means I wrote something right, at least, lol. Yes, it's sad, but there is that bit of hope at the end. Rosmerta really is happy for him, and she does find someone. Maybe I'll make a claim on it, lol. I'm thrilled it fit into canon so well. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!! ~Gina :)

I was a bit nervous when I started this fic. I'm not usually one for Student/Teacher romances and Oliver is so young at the beginning but you blew my expectations out of the water with the way you develop several sensitive storylines. The development of Charity and Oliver is spaced out over many years, and the way they go from a purely student/teacher dynamic to something more is very tastefully done, which I wasn’t sure would be possible. Serves me right for doubting the Great Croll! What was I even worrying about?!?!

The chemistry between Charity and Oliver in the later years is deliciously sexy, and, well, I certainly enjoyed that aspect of the fic haha. But that's hardly news.

I also thought the backstory of Charity really fleshed her out from a character we know not much about apart from her occupation and death, into someone who not only fits into the Potterverse, but was interesting and emotionally compelling. I was moved by this fic in many parts and while it is not a comforting read all the time, it is unputdownable.

By the last chapter, I was dreading the end, knowing what we do about Charity's death, but I love the way you finish things on such a hopeful and happy note. It's bittersweet in the scheme of things, of course, but I love it all the same.

Author's Response: Sorry I've taken so long to reply. I won;t lie, not only did your review blow me away, but I have a lot of emotional connections to this fic. (No, I haven't had a student/teacher relationship - ha ha)

Basically, I've always felt that Charity's death was so empty and sad. We never know the woman, never get to see her POV except that she defended Muggles and Muggleborns and her death is so horrific.

The other reason is that (as you probably know) the proverb about the Walnut Tree is used in Foyles War. I was watching that and wrote the proverb down because I really wanted to use it somewhere. So basically, I have Charity and Foyle tugging at me.

I couldn't end this on a sad note, just as I couldn't end DNW with Oliver grieving for Cedric, or Teenage Witch with Charity's death. I don't like sad endings, but knowing they are there does make you rethink the ending of your own stories.

Thank you again ~Carole~

This is amazing. I cannot believe you only had one other review. It is dark, of course, but the voice you captured, the structure, the way it is both compelling and disturbing at the same time - these all add up to something brilliant. I particularly loved the structure, the way you separated it into the stages of pregnancy. I've read a number of Merope fics, all fantastic and moving, but there is something different about yours. Perhaps it is the way you built up Merope's character. I pity her but unlike other fics, I don't like her. I think you gave a new take on her and I really enjoyed that. Or perhaps it is because you didn't focus on the relationship between Tom and Merope but only showed the end. I just really think the way you chose to structure the fic, the narrative voice you chose, and the characterisation are all brilliant. Sorry to repeat myself.

Keep up the great writing. I can't wait to read more from you.

Julia :)

Author's Response: Hello Julia :) Gah! What an amazing surprise review! I certainly wasn't expecting any more reviews for this story; perhaps the subject matter wasn't too appealing to many readers. Oh, I'm so glad you liked the structure and characterisation! This is indeed supposed to be a very character-focused fic; I did have some trouble portraying Merope, and I sort of felt like wasn't writing her with sufficient empathy and all. And I wanted to write Merope without all the trauma and unrequited love and her failed marriage - just as herself, alone and pregnant in the world. I'm glad this turned out well! Gah, you've just heaped ALL THE LOVELY COMPLIMENTS on me :DDDD Thank you so much for your wonderful review again! - teh

Fall??? What on earth would Carole say... Ah hahaha just read her review ;) In all seriousness, I love the way you are building up their relationship with lovely interactions such as this. Also, Rosmerta heheheh.

Author's Response: Yes, Rosmerta - hee hee. And I was trying to build things so I'm glad that came across. I left fall in there just to get a rise from Carole, of course. ;) Thank you so much for the review! I hope you enjoy the rest! ~Gina :)

Oh I think you captured the tragedy of unrequited love so well, Jess. My heart went out to both Lily and Teddy. I'm curious if this fits into the canon of any of your other fics.

I really loved this, Jess :3

Author's Response:

Eeee!

I think we've all been there, and we've all known how much it sucks to love someone who is in like with you. :/ It was an impossible situation for both of them. As for other canon, no this doesn't particularly fit with any other story canon of mine, as Teddy is 28 in this and not dead. (yay) Thanks for stopping in. :DDDD

~Jess

This is so beautiful, Minna. You always handle structured forms so well and this one is no different. There is something truly lyrical about this poem so I love that you have called it a lullaby because it certainly reads like one. It also reminds me of 'i carry your heart with me' by e.e cummings, which I love. Your poetry gives me so much pleasure, Minna. Never, never stop writing. That is an order.

Julia x

I am so sad to see that this has no reviews. I am also ashamed that I haven't been here earlier.

Your prose poems are always a joy to read, Lafonna. A joy to discover. I love the way you create a compelling narrative, along with your beautiful language, style, and rhythm. Each one unfolds as the story unfolds as the words unfold as the characters unfold... you did it with The Absent Guests, and this is reminiscent of that poem while being an entity of its own at the same time. I don't think I am making any sense here. The thing with your prose poems is that they are still very much poems. I think a lot of people struggle with where prose leaves the poetry behind, but you never do.

I love that you chose the Hairy Heart challenge and I love that you chose Umbridge. I love that, while I still despise the woman, you gave me something more to think about.

When you think of Umbridge, you cannot think of Jane: once, a whole.

This is such an apt observation for any character that has fallen from grace, or is despised and seemingly without redemption. It reminds me of the Untold Stories challenge from the Great Hall so many years ago.

Keep on keeping on, Lafonna, because you are as talented as fudge.

Greenleaf x

Author's Response: UHM. APPARENTLY YAHOOMAIL HAS BEEN SENDING REVIEW NOTIFICATIONS TO MY SPAM FOLDER, DUE TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN DRAGGING THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT THE GLORIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF GREENLEAF REVIEWING MY POEM. WHAT THE EVERLOVING FUDGE.

Oh, that's me. Hehehehe. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am so pleased you liked this, especially as I am nervous of prose poetry :)