06/22/09
soraya786.livejournal.com
Hi there! I’m Soraya. I’m seventeen years old and am a proud Muslim British Bangladeshi. I live in East London and have loved reading and writing from a young age. I’m rather obsessed with Harry Potter (aren’t we all?), tea (not a surprise considering I’m a Brit) and good grammar. Recently, I've also got into the Supernatural fandom. After watching the first episode, I had already fallen head over heels in love with Sam Winchester, so it's no surprise that I am now a huge SPN fangirl as well as a Potterhead.
My writing has changed quite a bit over the years, and I think you'll probably notice that, the further down my author page you go, the more the quality seems to drop :P I started posting stories on here at the age of fourteen, and at nearly eighteen, I can see how much my writing has improved since those Dark Ages. So, for that reason, I would advise you stick to the more recent stuff, if you choose to read anything of mine.
My Stories
Just so you know, these are posted firstly according to what kind of pairing, if any, is in the story, and then in chronological order in accordance to my own canon, not necessarily the order in which they were posted.
Canon Pairings
Checkmate (James/Lily)
My first chaptered fic. It’s terribly written, but I still have a place in my heart for it because of how much fun it was to write. This story has now been deleted on MNFF, but if you really, really want to read it, you can still find it on FF.net and HPFF. (I advise you don't, though :P)
Second Childishness and Mere Oblivion (James/Lily)
Written for Round One (Major Characters) of Madam Pomfrey’s Character Clinic Triathlon, this one-shot is about James and Lily’s relationship getting rockier and rockier after they left Hogwarts, especially when Lily is faced with the trials of being a wife and motherhood. A little smutty.
My Love is Always Here (James/Lily)
This was a belated birthday present for the wonderful Gina/Gmariam, aka the queen of James/Lily. This is mostly about Lily dealing with becoming a mother for the first time and the problems (as well as the joys) that come with that.
There's an Answer (Remus/Tonks)
Written for Sophie/The owl for SPEW Summer Swap IV. Tonks is sent on an interesting baby Auror assignment to do with werewolves. Remus and a dangerous Muggle are thrown into the mix, with interesting results.
Left Behind (Remus/Tonks)
An expanded version of one of my LoveNotes, written for SPEW. It's a missing moment set between OOTP and HBP, where in my head canon Remus and Tonks have been together, in secret, for a few weeks already and Remus is then told to go on his werewolf mission. Slightly smutty.
One and Only (Remus/Tonks)
Written for the lovely Alex/Ithinkrabis2people in the Ravenclaw Christmas Drabble Exchange. This is a missing moment set just after Tonks’s outburst to Remus in the hospital wing at the end of HBP.
Out of My Life (Harry/Ginny)
My only AU (kind of). I tweaked a small part of canon in this -- basically, Harry actually said goodbye to Ginny properly when he broke up with her. Very angsty, and this is only up for sentimental reasons, as I wrote it during The Dark Ages (aka when I was fourteen).
A Different Kind of Magic (Harry/Ginny)
Written for the You’re Having My Baby challenge at SIYE. Ginny finds out she’s pregnant, but Harry receives the news before her and therefore has to tell his wife. This was my first ever story at MNFF. It was written when I was thirteen, and it definitely shows.
A Different Kind of Magic 2: Parenthood (Harry/Ginny)
A sequel, obviously, to A Different Kind of Magic. Ginny goes into labour, and both Harry and Ginny realise what it means to be parents. Again, this was written from Back in the Days.
Same-Sex Pairings
The Caustic Ticking of the Clock (Rowena/Helga)
Written for the Great Hall Cotillion, this story is my only Founders story so far, and it’s about Rowena and Helga’s secret relationship. I am proud of this one, which doesn’t usually happen :)
Catching Fire (James/Sirius)
This was written for SPEW 007. My prompt was “Embers”, and it’s set just after Remus’s second transformation with the Marauders. James is badly injured, and he and Sirius realise, inadvertently, that they might just have feelings for each other. I like the pairing but still think the story needs work. One day I will go back and edit.
Flicker and Fail (Katie/Leanne)
This was written forSecret SPEW, and my recipient was the absolutely fabulous Alex/welshdevondragon. It’s my take on Leanne and Katie’s relationship from way before they were even at Hogwarts as well as what eventually happens to Katie in HBP, when she was cursed.
Next Generation
Skinny Love (Louis/Lily)
Written for the 2013 Great Hall Cotillion. Set during Teddy and Victoire's wedding, Louis helps Lily come to terms with her bulimia. This one was pretty difficult to write.
Blood and Roses (Scorpius/Rose, Scorpius/Dominique, Dominique/OC)
Written for the Great Hall Mysterious Maychallenge, this was my first Next Generation fic about Scorpius, mostly, and the trials he faces after his daughter is murdered.
Broken Glass (Louis/Lily)
This is the story of when Loulily really began. After the deaths of his immediate family, Louis is finding it hard to cope, even six months later. Lily somehow helps. It’s a little smutty. I’m proud of this one, too :)
The Highway of Regret (Scorpius/Lily, Scorpius/Rose, Louis/Lily)
Also written for the Great Hall Cotillion. It’s my one and only Scily. This is all about secret relationships and mistakes people make. Lily’s angry at Louis, and Scorpius has just broken up with Rose; when Lily gets drunk in the pub, things... happen. :P
I Will Lay Down My Heart (Albus/Rose, Scorpius/Rose)
Written for Round Two (Minor Characters) of Madam Pomfrey’s Character Clinic Triathlon. Albus has been in love with Rose for years, but what happened with them when they were younger has put a dent in their relationship. It doesn’t help that Rose is actually in love with Scorpius, either. This is smutty too.
One More Night (Albus/Rose, Rose/Scorpius)
Companion piece to I Will Lay Down My Heart. This goes into more detail about Rose and Albus's changing relationship as well as the aftermath of the events in said companion story. Probably the smuttiest thing on my page. :D Written for the Great Hall Cotillion 2013.
Glass (Louis/Lily)
This was written for the Great Hall-iday challenge for the Operation: Mistletoe prompt, and this was where my love for Loulily began.
Poetry
Excruciatingly Painful
This is about how five men in Potterverse dealt with remorse in different ways.
Always
This poem is about how Remus feels about Sirius (not slashy, btw).
Regret
Written for the Magic in Music challenge over inPoetry, Anyone? This was set to the track “Obliviate” in DH1 and is about Hermione modifying her parents’ memories.
Farewell
Written for the Goodbyechallenge in Poetry, Anyone? This was about saying goodbye, and how difficult it could be.
After All This Time
Written for the Deathly Hallows challenge inPoetry, Anyone?. I ship unrequited Snape/Lily, and this is probably the only time Snape will be on my author page, lol.
Hush, Dominique
Written for the MC Kreacher challenge inPoetry, Anyone? This was written from the POV of Bill Weasley after his wife’s death.
Miscellaneous
Bruises
Written for the Great Bannermakers’ Hallchallenge. The banner I picked had Merope Gaunt on it, and it’s probably my darkest story; it’s definitely the only one to have a dubious consent warning. It’s about, as you might guess, the abuse Merope suffered from her father and brother.
In Care (Marlene/OC)
Marlene McKinnon, as a care kid, eventually falls in love with another care kid, Jamal Olawumi. But he's a Muggle, and keeping her world secret proves difficult. This is definitely a story I would like to revisit and tidy up.
Just Across the Bar (Sirius/Rosmerta)
Sirius is just about of age, but obviously Rosmerta has misgivings about having feelings for Sirius, who is still a student. Written for the 2013 Great Hall Cotillion and also smutty.
Butterbeer Bottles
Written for SPEW 007. My prompt was “Juggling”, and it’s just a silly piece of dialogue-only banter between Remus and Sirius. Sirius realises Remus likes Tonks, and he tries to persuade Remus to act on his feelings.
Hanging by a Thread (Katie/Oliver)
Written for the lovely Jess/ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor for Secret SPEW VII. Katie is grieving and drowning her sorrows in alcohol and Oliver is trying his best to save Muggles, while trying also to bury feelings for Katie that he thought he had long since forgotten about. There is also, surprise surprise, some smut in this.
And that’s it! Along with being a moderator, I’m also a member of SPEWand SBBC. I hope to see you around on the forums; feel free to contact me via PM or review if you have any questions or comments about my stories!
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Orphans of the Storm by Equinox Chick
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary: On the run for nine months, Dean spent his time deliberately not thinking of his friends as he struggled to survive, but he could not control his thoughts at night.
In his final year, Seamus longed for release from the daily torture of the Carrows' regime.
In her room, Parvati had made a list of all the things she wished to do if she survived, but wasn’t sure she could carry it through.
After the Battle, the three of them relax by the lake.
Who knew their thoughts had been so intertwined?
Disclaimer: I am no JKR, JFK, J-Lo or whatever initials are famous.
Jess (ToBeOrNotToHaveTheLongestUserNameOnTheBoard), this is for you. Happy Birthday, mate.
Ta, lots, Gina, for the speedy beta job and Emma for the Irish help.
Date: 06/07/11 Title: Chapter 1: Orphans of the Storm
LOL. I loooooved the grass reference. So funny, Carole. And you didn't just mention it once, either :) I really liked this story -- it was great. Sorry for the fangirly review. I will definitely be SPEWing you later in the month. Let me just get these silly exams out of the way first...
Author's Response: Ha ha - thanks, Soraya. Yes the grass was especially for teh flist. I might write about magnetic swords or something next. ~Carole~
Facades by lucca4
Rated: 6th-7th Years •
Summary:
When a lavish engagement party ends in tragedy, Teddy Lupin takes on the case, despite its personal ties. What begins as a search for the killer soon turns into something much more, and Teddy is startled to witness the personas of the people he thought he knew melt away in light of the crime.
It doesn’t take long for him to realise that nothing is what it seems to be.
Nominated for a 2011 QSQ - Best General Fiction and Best Same Sex Pairing Story
Nominated for a 2012 QSQ - Best Same Sex Pairing Story.
This is lucca4 of Gryffindor writing for the 2011 Mysterious May Challenge in the Great Hall, Prompt 2.
Date: 07/01/11 Title: Chapter 4: Emergence
Ariana, I still can't believe I haven't read this before!! Just wow. This was an amazing fic. And that's coming from someone who hates Teddy paired with anyone but Victoire and hates Scorpius paired with anyone but Rose.
But you convinced me and you completely won me over here, Ariana. This fic was amazing, brilliantly written, with plenty of twists. You kept me guessing until the end. And then the end itself was magnificent. Just wow. You characterised Teddy perfectly and your characterisation of Victoire was... interesting. I mean, I'd never characterise her like that, but it's all to do with interpretation, isn't it? So yeah, well done and good luck with the challenge -- your fic has made me rather intimidated and has paled my challenge entry in comparison. Just wow.
~Soraya~
Author's Response: Thanks for reviewing this, Soraya! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Teddy/Victoire is one of my OTPs, but when I started writing the role of Teddy's lover just seemed so much more…James. I'm happy you still enjoyed it (even if James/Teddy isn't in either of our personal canons). I haven't gotten a chance to read the other entries to the challenge, since I wanted to do that after my fic was completed, but I will definitely be reading/reviewing yours! Thanks again, xx Ariana
Never Let Me Go by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary:
Louis Weasley had always assumed that the worst of his problems had been falling for someone he wasn't supposed to. This was, however, until that very someone turns up missing from one the biggest societal events of the century.
He was willing to break every rule and taboo to find her, but could he succeed where the entire might of the Ministry's Magical Law Enforcement Department failed?
Date: 06/08/11 Title: Chapter 1: Prologue
Oooh. This is interesting, Jess. I haven't caught up with all the Mystery fics yet, but I just had to look at this one. I really like your portrayal of cousin!love and of all people, Percy as Minister??
Anyway, what's Lucy's condition? Either I've missed it or you'll refuse to tell me, LOL, because it will be revealed later. Looking forward to the next chapter!!
~Soraya~
Author's Response:
Well, in all fairness, Percy is the consummate politician, and Harry wouldn't be caught dead running for MoM. If Percy can take, of all things, faulty cauldron bottoms seriously, he has it in him for the minutia of running a country.
Lucy's condition will be revealed in the next chapter, as well as where she's gone. Also, more details of hers and Louis's feelings will be explored, among other things.
Thanks for reading. I somehow thought I'd be getting a visit from you, hehe. :)
~Jess
Date: 10/20/11 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter 1 - A Leap of Faith
Yes, it was very very dangerous, Jess!
I'm glad you finally updated -- I really wanted to know what would happen in this story. And you really captured the aalmost cop-show feel with it, the whole mystery aspect, which balanced oout the romance subplot too.
Above all, though, you dealt with what I know is a very sensitive issue effortlessly, and for that I'm glad because Louis's love for Lucy (and she's a squib!) seems so genuine.
My only sort-of criticism is that you made a big time-jump between the party and when Louis had to go to Hogwarts. Well, I don't remember when you set the party and how soon after Louis left for Hogwarts, but it seemed a bit abrupt. But then, I guess you had to keep the plot moving and stuff so it does make sense.
Excellent chapter, Jess, and I can't wait for the next!
Author's Response:
Honestly, if the pace didn't move so quickly, the story would never get finished due to length. While I did skip over a year's time, I did so because nothing actually happened. They looked and didn't find. A year of Louis angsting would've been a bit tiresome to both write and read, so I shifted to the next timeframe where new developments were made, and that was Bill telling Louis that the search would be discontinued.
Jumping from trains and running off from school . . . what will our intrepid boy do next?
Truth in the Dare by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: Passing a few hours in each other's company while waiting for their mates to escape detention, Sirius and Remus embarked on a good, old-fashioned game of Truth or Dare. But which one had the most potential for tension between the two: honesty, or the courage to do something that had thus far only occurred in his wildest imaginings?
Date: 06/11/11 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
I actually really hate this ship, but you made it really believable, Jess. It was dialogue heavy and it definitely worked -- it was bantery and Maraudery and that's what kept them in character. I really like the whole Truth or Dare arc and how you showed their confusion. Lovely fic, Jess, and that's coming from a Remus/Sirius shipper hater :)
~Soraya~
Author's Response:
Lol, it is a rather polarising ship, isn't it? It's nice to know that I could write something that was believable to non-believing eyes. So far, Carole has liked it, as well. Still not her cup of tea, but it's yay to build at least a speck of plausibility. :)
Thanks for the review and the read, despite it being out of your like zone!
~Jess
Of Freckles, Fireworks, and Funny Things Muggles Say by jennyfiveshoes
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: Post-DH, pre-Epilogue. Ron/Hermione one-shot. Ron and Hermione have a discussion following the trio's visit to the Headmaster's office at the end of DH. Revised July 6, 2014.
Date: 06/30/11 Title: Chapter 1: Of Freckles, Fireworks, and Funny Things Muggles Say
Hey! You told me you were writing a fic a while back. It's probably not this one because you mentioned something about George being in it, right?
Anyway, I thought it took a lot of courage to write in first person Ron, because he's such a difficult character to get into and everything. Kudos to you for that. This story was really sweet and cute. I've stopped reading fluffy fics but this was an exception -- because you've reviewed Checkmate and beta'd that tiny part.
My only issues, really, were the Americanisms here. Things like "gotten" and other stuff just got in the way, really. "Alright" isn't exactly a word, so "all right" is better. And occasionally you were a little repetitive but that's not really a big deal. Overall I really enjoyed the story -- Romione is such a popular ship that often, there are really bad stories in fanfic and you have to sift between the good and bad. Obviously, your story is in the former category but that's what's a little off-putting for Romione for me.
Great story and keep it up!
~Soraya~
Author's Response: Nope, it's not part of that chaptered fic, no. I took a break from it because George was driving me up the wall and decided to post SOMETHING, you know? So I did this little one-shot in which I did not have to mess with George. Yay. :)
Ron is rather difficult, especially because I like to use bigger words and such, whereas he does not possess the brains for that. I don't think I manage to quite control that, but I do my best. So thanks.
Thanks for the criticism. I really need it from you British people since I'm American ("alright" is a word in America). And I know I'm repetitive; I think it's my least favorite thing about my writing. :/ I'm glad, however, that you enjoyed it despite its shortcomings and your lack of enthusiasm for fluff. And I promise I will respond to your email eventually. ;)
Thanks for reading and reviewing!!!
Raindrops by Gmariam
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary:
He returned with a quiet sadness and a surprising new responsibility to keep him focused. She returned with a misplaced bitterness and the matching position that forced them to work with one another. Yet fear, resentment, and stubborn arrogance kept pushing them apart, even when they were meant to be together.
Winner, Quicksilver Quill for Best Canon Romance. Thank you!!
Date: 11/10/11 Title: Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty-Three
Yay, they're together! And they're going a date. I love how while they have a bit of awkwardness, they're also kind of comfortable with each other too. I'm also glad James's dad is okay, and I'm hoping he stays okay :S
And James made me laugh when meeting Lily's parents, but I'm glad Mr Evans finally warmed to him in the end.
I'm looking forward to this date! (Though I suspect something else will go wrong there...) Lovely chapter, Gina :)
Date: 11/21/11 Title: Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty-Four
:O And here was me, thinking Gina would at least allow them to have a date without being interrupted!
I must say, though, I loved this chapter. I think the James/Lily interaction and awkwardness was written really well and realistically, with a wintry feel which is perfect considering the weather at the moment, lol. And I can't say I was entirely surprised when the Death Eaters attacked out of nowhere -- I knew you wouldn't leave them in peace, hehe.
You wrote the action scenes so, so well, and I'm glad Frank Longbottom came to the rescue :D
Anyway, this review is becoming more and more useless, so I'll just stop my ramblings here and say well done and update soon!
~Soraya~
Author's Response: Your reviews are never useless - I so look forward to them! Thank you so much for leaving another, I really appreciate it. I guess you are getting to know me, since OF COURSE I couldn't let them have their first date in peace. Hee hee. I'm glad you were not surprised by the DE, though, since I did hint at it, I think. Glad the action worked - I thought it would be harder than it turned out to be. Once I can see it like a movie in my head, it usually just trips out. Update is with Lea, and it's a long one! Thanks again! ~Gina :)
Date: 10/15/11 Title: Chapter 20: Chapter Twenty
Gina! Yay, I love Sirius/Arlienne so much now I know more about them. I really like your OCs, too -- they never fade into the background and all have their own distinctive personalities, too.
I thought this chapter was a necessary one as it answered a lot of questions I had. Plus, Sirius got to say sorry to Lily, which was nice. And then the end... I swear you're torturing me, Gina. I really want to know who will make the next move now they're starting over.
Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that ending. Such a Jamesy thing to do, sending Lily a pic. And that's one of the many, many reasons James is my husband. He's so... thoughtful. XD
Please update soon! I need chapter 21.
~Soraya~
Date: 09/04/11 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter Two
I loved this! But you already know that, I bet, Gina :)
You have Lily's characterisation to a tee, I swear. And I love James in this. I've prolly said that already, hehe, but he is just so lovable to me that I'm falling for him all over again. You just can't help but sympathise with him.
What happened in June, has it already been mentioned in another story, or are you going to come back to it? I don't mind either way, only I would like to go back and read that story before continuing here.
Oh, and I loved the prank. Amazing, and just so funny! You are a genius, I tell you! Sorry, this is definitely not a SPEW quality review, but I'm not really coherent at the moment :S Onto the next chapter!
~Soraya~
Date: 09/04/11 Title: Chapter 3: Chapter Three
Ooooh. This is getting interesting! (Not that it wasn't interesting before; it was, but the set up in this chapter was brilliant in particular.)
"Stick that in your cauldron and boil it" is a brilliant, brilliant line and it definitely made me LOL. And I love James' characterisation here, although Lily seems to have a lot of secrets :S Onto the next chapter!
~Soraya~
Date: 11/01/11 Title: Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty-Two
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. She's finally accepting that they're together, lol. And so sad about James's dad! I hope he's okay, and that James and Lily finally have a good talk... amongst other things, hehe.
This is a very silly and horrid review, but anyway, excellent chapter as always and I can't wait for the next!
Date: 10/24/11 Title: Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty-One
Gina!!!! I can't tell you how happy I am that they're finally getting along! :P This was an excellent chapter and a lot happened. I thought James was so, so sweet, sending drawings to Lily. *hugs James* See, it's reasons like this that he's mine (well, in his fifth/sixth year lol).
But argh! You're killing me here. I really want them to actually kiss and stick together... though I don't know when that will happen. I'm really looking forward to the next chapter -- and I hope James's dad's okay.
Date: 12/13/11 Title: Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty-Seven
Yay! They're back together! Gina, it's been such a wonderful ride and I will miss this story very much :(
I'm glad James decided to heed Aberforth's wise advice as well :) Erm, this is a really useless review and I have to go now. Lovely lovely chapter and I can't wait for the next one!
Date: 10/05/11 Title: Chapter 19: Chapter Nineteen
I must admit, Gina, that I loved the James/Sirius hints in this. Soooo funny.
And yay! They made up. I think you did a really good job depicting James and Sirius's relationship in this as well as explaining Sirius's actions before. I'm glad my husband decided to be forgiving for once, though Sirius definitely deserved to be locked in that room all night.
Finally, I don't think there's any reason for you to apologise. At the end of the day, it's your story, as you said, and this is the way you have planned it -- for James and Lily to have lots of disagreement. This, I think, is realistic and I personally know a few couples who have taken far longer to get together, so this is no surprise.
Wonderful chapter, Gina, and I shall pester you to update soon.
Author's Response: Hee hee - I think I giggled to myself at times whilst writing James and Sirius. I do adore them. *sigh* Thanks so much for the lovely reviews and all your support. I hope you enjoy the rest! ~Gina :)
Date: 11/25/11 Title: Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-Five
:O Gina, Gina, Gina. This is so brilliant!
Of all the things I expected to happen in this, I did NOT expect that. OMP. That's just... just... perfect. The curse was a great way of having a sort of flashback, but it fit in seamlessly with the story without being confusing.
I just loved James here. He's so gallant and brave and so very Gryffindor in this chapter, and I love him for that. I just wanted to hug him after Sirius recounted how much he'd been through in the last few days.
I think the most brilliant thing about the curse is that it's unique and it's deadly; a perfect example of Dark Magic, and a sick one at that. Imagine, being locked in your own head! Just thinking about that gives me the shivers, so that curse was a clever invention on your part.
Lovely chapter, Gina, and I hope things improve with Lily and James in the next chapter :)
~Soraya~
Date: 12/06/11 Title: Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Six
Ginaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I was so glad you lowered the rating -- I needed that J/L fix today!
I think this was an excellent chapter, as usual. Even though there wasn't any James/Lily action, I loved the interaction at the beginning between them. It was so realistic and the whole chapter had such a raw and real and emotion feel to it.
And Aberforth! Wow, I never would have guessed that he would intervene like that, but he had me laughing -- what he said to James was so different yet kind of similar to what he said to Harry. I loved your characterisation of Aberforth -- if I didn't know any better, I would have thought you were JKR in an American disguise!
I can't believe there are only two chapters left :( Update soon!
~Soraya~
Date: 09/28/11 Title: Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen
Gina!!! You are pure evil, I tell you. I knew something suspicious was going on, I just wasn't sure what. But typical Sirius for thinking up something like that!
Sorry this review isn't longer/more substantial but it's time for me to eat so I'll leave a more coherent review some other time. Update soon, pretty please?
Author's Response: Thanks Soraya! Heh heh I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm enjoying the reaction, lol. Thanks again for reading this story and all your lovely reviews! I really appreciate it. Hope you enjoy the rest, update will be soon! ~Gina :)
Date: 10/02/11 Title: Chapter 18: Chapter Eighteen
I snorted at the end notes LOL.
Gina, you are killing me here! I really want them to properly get together, but of course, you're far too evil to allow that to happen.
In all seriousness, though, this was a lovely chapter after the erm... unexpectedness of the last one LOL. It was well-written (as per usual) and I just loved my husband even more in this chapter. I could really feel the awkwardness and the tension between James and Lily and I thought you did really well with it :)
I can't wait for the next chapter!
Date: 12/20/11 Title: Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Eight
*sniff*
ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG! Gina, what a wonderful end to a wonderful, wonderful story. I have enjoyed the ride, and I thought you ended it wonderfully.
I thought this chapter was just lovely, and a perfect end to the story, with a finality about it that I liked. And even though their ending, ultimately, was tragic, I loved that you maintained optimism for James and Lily til the end. And you still had that aura of mystery about the story as well -- just what was in that box? I don't think it was a ring, but I'm not sure what else it could have been. I shall pester you on AIM until you tell me, lol.
Once again, an excellent story, Gina, and one that I'm sure I will raed again at some point. Great job!