I liked that you addressed that Molly was present at some point during Lily's Hogwarts career. I always wondered if they had known each other. And I really liked the idea of putting the prologue in Lily's POV.
I know that I've read your stories kind of out of order in which you published them (not that it really has much significance), but I can already tell this one was written a fair while earlier than, say, "I'll Pick You Up." There are a few obvious spelling/grammar errors, and it's not as clean as some of your other work. But seeing as this was written nearly four years ago or whatever, I won't really nitpick like that.
I also have to ask...Is this story really written with much disregard to the 7th book? I mean, there really wasn't that much in there to disregard as far as James and Lily go, not without going AU. Or is that warning on here simply because you started writing/publishing the story before DH was released?

Author's Response: I always like to imagine that Lily and Molly knew one another in some capacity! Yes, this story was written much, MUCH earlier -- it was the first fanfiction for any genre I ever tried writing! I began before DH was released, so that's why it seems to disregard it. DH came out when I was about three/fourths of the way through. Truth be told, I sometimes cringe a little when I re-read it and some of my other older fanfictions because there is so much I would change and do differently and better. I hope you like it, anyway, though! I think that both in this and in my fic "When Darkness Did Surround Us" the writing gets better as the story progresses because I wrote both of them over about two and a half years. Thanks for the review!

Of course I checked (right away, in fact). Well done. And, I'd like to say that, despite your claim at the end of the prologue, you've published here an entire chapter in Lily's POV. That's alright though, because I think it was a wonderful chapter. Fun, but revealing, and well written (despite the few jarring typos). But I have to let out a big "What?!" to Andy. Oh well...moving forward.
Also, Lily's Muggle-isms to counter his Wizard sayings: great!

Author's Response: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it -- and I apologise for the typos. Some day I need to go back and fix all of those!

I agree the balance between the two parts of this story has been, well, not even, at least. But I think that comes from not only publishing this one chapter at a time, but writing it the same way. You might have the over-plot figured out, but it's these small details that arise in writing that tend to make it take longer, but also make it so much more interesting.

By the way, which one-shot are you referring to in the A/N here?

Author's Response: I'm glad you like the small details! I think it all starts to come together eventually. And, honestly, I have no idea which one-shot I meant at the time, I have a handful of Lily/James ones I've written over the years, some better than others (in my opinion). Thanks for the review!

I actually thought Emma (and by extension, you) was fairly obvious. Especially, since you capitalized it. I got Lily's though too.

Lots and lots of fluff. Penguin pajamas? Comical tooth paste drool? Peanut? Of all the nicknames, PEANUT?
Eh, who am I kidding? It wouldn't be Lily and James if it wasn't a bit abnormal. Who else could produce a son like Harry?

Author's Response: Haha, that's true, Harry couldn't have come from two normal people ;) The fluffliness comes and goes, sometimes a little strong. But if you're a fan of angst, there will be plenty more to come!

Another good chapter. I like that you can so easily transition between fluff and something that moves the story forward. Will Lily figure out that James is an Animagus? What will her reaction be to his coming home so late? Might he reveal it to her in some desperate act of heroism? Exciting things surely await in chapters ahead.
I should probably be doing more constructive criticism in these reviews, though it's kind of hard, when the biggest problems I'm finding are small typos. I really don't have the knack for plot or characters that you seem to. But I'll keep reading and reviewing all the same.

And by the way, I'll start looking for typos and things. Unless you have another suggestion, if you could provide me a way to contact you, I can email Word documents with corrections.

Author's Response: Thanks! I'm glad you're excited for what's to come -- I hope it doesn't disappoint! I'll send you a message over mugglenet with my e-mail if you'd like to point out typos (I don't want the populace at large with my e-mail!), and I'll fix them when I can. (I do have a break coming up!)

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I would like to think that, had I been reading fanfiction from this site three or four years ago, I would have followed the story, waiting faithfully for each new chapter.
I really liked the personalities that you gave to James, Lily, Sirius, and Emmeline. Despite the few things that disagreed with Book 7 (an unavoidable circumstance), I thought that you did a wonderful job taking what Rowling put forth for these characters and expanding it to fill the rather large character roles you created. We've always heard that Harry is so much like his parents but were never really given any support to understand what exactly that meant. I thought you did a great job showing us that, and an even better job developing the character of Emmeline Vance to more than just a member of the Order.
So many of the emotions in this story seemed not only plausible but real. I liked that you didn't let a desire to publish faster hamper the inclusion of the small details that added to this feeling of...well, of a kind of reality.
It is obvious how much your writing improved over the course of the years, and I think you did James and Lily more than justice with this story. Thank you so much for sticking with it to the end!

Author's Response: Thanks very much! I'm glad you liked it and could appreciate the emotions and the development of characters -- two things I always strive for! I really appreciate your reading and reviewing and even editing old mistakes for me (I plan on making your changes as soon as I have a few free hours!)

Hmm...slightly more AU than "Someone to Watch Over Me," but I'm still intrigued. If I remember right, this is another one that was written a fair while back, so I won't really comment on the typos and small grammar errors much, since I know that (whatever you did to do it) those have gotten a lot better over the years. I really like the way you've set up this story, and I think that the characterization of all these people is wonderful.

Author's Response: This is definitely a but more AU, as it was entirely written before DH. And thank you for overlooking the typos and grammatical issues! One day I'll go back and try and fix everything. :)

Harry is also an Animagus? Interesting take on it. It would explain how he saw their party without being seen, and it would explain the behavior of such a strange stag. It'd also be fairly similar to "Someone to Watch Over Me" and the scene where Lily runs to the forest where a stag (James) listens and comforts her.
I actually WAS interested in this chapter. I think it's important that the kids inherited their father's and their mother's (former) brashness. And I think it's important that Lily and Ginny each cry it out a little bit.

Author's Response: It always made sense to me that Harry would end up becoming an animagus, although I'm not sure why. I'm glad you liked this chapter!

An update is a long way off? After THAT cliffhanger? Wow, that takes guts...or just a really busy schedule. I can't blame you. It's not like it doesn't take many times over the amount of time to write these chapters as it does to read them.
I thought this chapter was great, although I was caught off-guard by Luna. I know that 3 years with Death Eaters must have an effect (or, at least, I know it as well as we Muggles can know something like that), but I didn't expect her to be quite so cold and callous. But I can understand it, I suppose.
And I have to say...I imagine Ginny is going to be pissed! I mean, Harry's there, as a stag, but doesn't talk to them? After the initial shock, I think I'd be a little ticked off.

Author's Response: I think some readers probably went crazy waiting for updates for this, but I think back then they usually came quicker than they do now, so there's that, at least! Thanks for the review!

Much lighter cliffhanger than some of the previous ones, for sure. I don't know that I'm really getting the explanation yet, past that she was lost in despair (which we already knew).
I do want to say though (and I meant to say it in my last review, in light of that comment about drowning in mustard) that I'm really impressed with your ability to get inside the mind of this 13-year-old little girl. In the midst of a somewhat heavier tale, Lily's commentary on the situation brings a spark of humor to it. It's great.

Author's Response: Thanks so much -- I'm glad you like how I've written Lily. I kind of got overly attached to her as I was writing her, so I always like knowing that people think she's well portrayed for her age :) And, trust me, clearer explanations will come on the Ginny front.