Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 12/19/10 Title: Chapter 1: Another Chance

GinGin!

The break-up fic of doom is finally here. EGADS!

Though - phew - I love you for getting them back together in the end. :)

This fic was a real treat. It had less romance than your other J/L fics, but it is a healthy mix of that and the fear and danger that they were facing for real during those times. I loved your characterisation of everybody, but James and Lily especially. (And my favourite is the embarrassing moment with the snarky Healer Price.)

Seriously, I feel like I got an early Christmas gift reading this. Please don't stop writing!

~Natalie

Author's Response: Natalie! This is NOT the break-up fic of doom, my dear. I did start that, but it starts on the train back home after Lily has dumped James. And as you know, I planned out a whole chaptered fic for that. This was not what I had sketched out for Christmas, but I might still work it in somehow, if I ever decide to take on another J/L chaptered fic. Anyway - thank you so much for coming by to read this one. I'm really glad you liked it. *hugs* ~Gina :)

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 01/28/11 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1

I have no other words to describe this except "brilliant". Honestly, Jess, I am even a little jealous because (a) I am personally invested in the pairing, and (b) I have thought about writing it, but nothing I have thought of matches up to this. This is just how rarepairs should be written.

You know, romance is not all about smut. It can be done so subtly, and the subtlety you have employed here is perfect. Romance doesn't always have to be appealing, too. What is shaping up here is as romantic as Filch/Anyone could get, but am I attracted to the idea? No. That said, it is still fascinating, mainly because it has been so masterfully, so aptly written.

And the setting is so realistic, the characterisation so utterly believable. This is just the kind of fanfiction which I like - credibile original, and enjoyable.

~Natalie

Author's Response:

Heart!

You know, when I got this prompt, I wanted to hide from it and quit SPEW just so I didn't have to write it, but then I got the idea to make it macabre and a bit disturbing, because, well, the idea of Filch and Pince is on that side in the first place. And this is what came out.

I'm glad it doesn't suck and that it even appeals to a specific audience, because I was more worried about it creeping out readers. :D

Lovely review, matey!

~Jess

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 02/16/11 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter One - How To Not Start The Day

Yes, you do like to beat him up. >.<

This was a rather interesting chapter - it makes me imagine so many things for what's going to happen next. I think it was the only Arithmancy class I've ever experienced in fanfiction ...and even HP fiction in general, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I loved Professor Wenlock, Gina. Nicely written OC there. Poor James, though.

One nitpick:

"That'd be Black," sniggered Jackson from in front of me.

"Lily Evans, of course," Penny smirked. "They've even got a lunch date."

I'd change the 'sniggered' and 'smirked' to words which are used in dialogue tags - say, tell, snap, offer, argue, etc., whichever seems appropriate, since we can't actually snigger or smirk words. Hehehe.

Cannot wait for the next update!

Ever your most-eager fan,
Natalie.

Author's Response: Hi Natalie! Thanks for the review!! I've changed those dialogue tags, so thank you for the suggestion. It's a habit of mine and I know those sorts of dialogue tags drive a lot of people nuts so I'll try to keep an eye out on them. I'm glad you liked Professor Wenlock, can you just imagine having a professor like him? Hee hee. Thanks for keeping up with this story, I hope you enjoy the rest! ~Gina :)

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 02/14/11 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter Two - Another Adventure With Amortentia

I swear, in the name of Boris' goatee, that this chapter alone is one of the best things I have ever, ever read in my life. Now, don't go denying my compliments as you always do - I mean it. I seriously mean it. I read the chapter thrice and thoroughly enjoyed every read.

I am still laughing at the Snames reference. See? That wasn't so hard. *sniggers*

This time, I do have a favourite part. Don't get me wrong, the whole thing was absolutely delightful, but this part was just...amazing.

I took a few steps closer, thinking she was going to be sick, but she stepped backwards, shaking her head. Her hair settled around her shoulders, and I was suddenly struck by a familiar scent: vanilla, laced with lavender. I stared at her, speechless, and she stared back, equally stunned. Students passed around us, oblivious to what was happening in this private moment that was ours and ours alone. I wasn't sure what it was, but I couldn't move and didn't want it to end.

Author's Response: Natalie, I took out the line about Sirius barking, since someone would definitely call me on it, lol. But I left the Snames just for YOU! LOL! I'm glad you picked up on it, I was laughing madly to myself when I wrote it. I even IMed you but you missed it. Anyway, thank you for the amazing review. I am going to deny your compliment, just because I'm not sure this is as tight as some of my other J/L stuff, but then, what do I know? I've already got more reviews for this one than the wedding fic that buried me! Don't get me wrong, I quite like it and am having a blast, it's just funny what other people like in my writing as compared to what I see and like. I hope you like the next bit, I managed to work in some Arithmancy after all, and beat James up pretty bad. Thanks again and Happy Valentine! ~Gina :)

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 02/11/11 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Hahaha! This was another engaging read from you. Actually, the entire thing was fun and didn't have a single moment where the sense of urgency slowed down. I found Harry's testimony was a great thing to experience, a real treat. Although this is a complete story by itself, you could take it further. *wink wink*

The only thing which I thought could have been there was that moment at Malfoy Manor where Draco refuses - more or less - to recognise Harry. No doubt you had a good reason for not bringing that up.

Keep writing, and see you soon on the list!

~Natalie

Author's Response:

This was just good, old-fashioned fun at Draco's expense. It's a moment I'd planned to incorporate into my giant Draco fic, but seeing as what I have written of it is complete shit, I've decided to piece together the story in a series of one-shots or maybe a shorter chaptered fic at some point.

I know what you mean about the Malfoy Manor thing, and I thought hard about that before deciding to leave it out. I sort of think that Harry mentally gives Draco a pass for anything that happened after Dumbledore's death, because he knows Draco isn't a killer and is in a really crap situation, so it really isn't his fault. Since Draco's also a bit spineless, he never could have brought himself to sell out Harry, since reality hath already made him less naive about what would come of that and what death looked like. I think Charity Burbage's death changed everything for Draco and how he perceived his own lot.

That's enough ramble. I'm glad you enjoyed the story, and thanks for being a great e-bestie. :D

~Jess

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 04/15/11 Title: Chapter 1: Part One

Holy Prongs! Every time you write a James/Lily, I think: This is it. This is how much I can love James Potter. And then, you write something new, and I fall in love even more. How do you do it ?

This story was so... fresh. I really, really loved everything about it. Lily was so amazing, and I think that in three chapters, you managed to tell a really wholesome story. It is so tragic that they don't have much time left with each other.

Gina, this is one of those fics which I'll be returning to read over and over again. I love it so!

~Natalie

Author's Response: Look at me, responding six months later! A very belated thank you, Natalie. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and really do appreciate the review! ~Gina :)

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 03/18/11 Title: Chapter 1: Curiosity

Hello Katrina!

Tom Riddle 'romance' is something that draws me in - especially the type in which the characterisation is done as well as you've done here.

Because I'm a closeted McGonagall/Riddle shipper, my first instinct was that it was Minerva. But as we moved along, the character didn't sound like Minerva and my interest heightened. I must be very slow today because I didn't guess Myrtle until the Chamber was mentioned. Intriguing choice there! It puts a rather nice twist to the whole history behind Moaning Myrtle.

The only thing I kept asking myself was...Why didn't Myrtle haunt Riddle? If she had had a 'boyfriend', I imagine her coming to talk to him. So, I'd have liked to see a little bit of that. Perhaps Riddle did something to stop her haunting him?

That is the canon-stickler in me speaking. I think the story as a whole was brilliant, and I loved you went against the grain and chose Myrtle. That Riddle wanted to explore his sexual side is a very interesting topic to examine, and you have explored that here so well!

Keep writing!

~Natalie

Author's Response: Hi Natalie,

Thanks for the lovely review. Thanks for saying you liked my characterisation of Tom Riddle - in general, I found it a bit difficult to write him because as a character I don't really feel any empathy for him. So I'm glad a "canon-stickler" like you thought he was in character!

I guess I've always wondered why Myrtle was the one who died - after all, Tom made a Horcrux from that murder, and generally he seemed to like making Horcruxes out of significant deaths - and also why she chose to become a ghost. I actually started exploring these ideas in a fic I wrote about 6 months ago, called "The Wrong Secret"... and as to your question about Myrtle haunting Riddle, the answer to why she didn't is basically in that fic. So I won't elaborate here because I'd be giving away the story lol.

Anyway, thanks very much for all the compliments and praise and taking the time to review!!

~Katrina

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 11/03/11 Title: Chapter 4: Chapter 4

OH MY PRONGS! This is seriously one of the most enjoyable fics I have ever read in my life. You write Draco so bloody wonderfully it's insane. I was laughing throughout the whole thing, and just ... LMFAO you crazy woman! There were so many lulzy moments in the fics I was nearly in tears. Going straight to my favourites! Great work, and I can't wait for the last chapter.

Author's Response:

I torture Draco for sport, ngl. I'm glad it could bring you so much amusement, hehe. Heartsssss!

~Jess

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 04/20/11 Title: Chapter 1: Not Alone

Hello!

I have never read Teddy/Victoire this way. It was an interesting and refreshing take.

You know, I don't really favour second-person POV - can't write it well either. But it was done nicely here. It almost sounds like Victoire is with Teddy, and thinking about this, not saying it out loud.

One thing that intrigued me about your characterisation was Victoire's Veela-temper. I tend to see her as a female version of Bill, cool and collected, and now I am thinking: why? I think it's reasonable to expect some hot-headedness from Fleur's daughter.

Teddy was great. I do think of him as a guy who doesn't shy away from crying. That scene in the Shrieking Shack was sad, though. :( I felt somewhat teary when he thought of his father's transformation.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this. Hope to read more from you soon!

~Natalie

Author's Response: Hi Natalie, Thanks so much for reviewing, I'm glad you liked it and thought it refreshing and interesting! That means a lot. I actually like second person a lot, I quite like trying out different perspectives and tenses, but this one sort of came from the song. So you're right, it's like she's thinking these things when she's with him. I've read a lot of interpretations of Victoire - some where she's just like Fleur and some where she's quite different. To me, being a Weasley and part Veela, she'd probably have a temper (because even though Bill is calm and collected, the rest of his family aren't quite so good at staying calm). I think she's probably fiercly loyal and very protective of Teddy because of how much he's suffered. In a way it's like how Molly treats Harry, though obviously different because that's a mother/son sort of relationship, but that kind of thing anyway. I'm glad you liked Teddy, I've always been drawn to him as a character because Remus and Tonks are great characters and he is, in many ways, mirroring Harry. I think he would go to the Shrieking Shack, because it's a physical place which he can connect particularly to his father. I'm glad you enjoyed this! I hope to keep writing, I'm currently about halfway through my first Marauder-era fic, so hopefully that will be up soon. ~Katrina

Reviewer: hestiajones Signed
Date: 04/15/11 Title: Chapter 1: My Kingdom for a Broomstick

Hahahahahahaha.

Oh Prongs, I was laughing so hard last night when I read this. This is just amazing! SnapeHart, of course.

I really thought the story was brilliant because all of them were in character. I find Lockhart the most obnoxious character in the HP series, yet he provides me so much entertainment. No wonder I can't let go of my current banner.

The plot was genius! I love that you made it a Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw thing. Sprout's Hufflepuff nature showed in her hesitations, but even badgers have to be nasty once in a while. WE BITE if we have to!

Sevvy was rather fun. Haha! I love the camaraderie between the staff members; it's written in the way I imagine it to be. Although...er...what happened to him in the end? I mean, Lockhart is certainly not James Potter. *Snigger*

The sense of humour with which the story was written was fantastic. It had me laughing throughout, but when Lockhart jumps on Snape, dear Merlin, I nearly died.

Yes, it was seamlessly written - I couldn't tell which part was whose until I saw the end note. Fabulous work, guys! Good luck for the challenge.

~Natalie

P.S. Thank you for dedicating it to me. :D

Author's Response: Of course we had to dedicate it to you; it was the first thing we agreed on because we know you're a huge fan of this ship. *giggles and runs away*. Natalie, thank you very much for the review (and the impromptu beta work) Both Gina and I had a great time writing this (well, I hope she did), so it's good that you enjoyed it. ~Carole~