I wish I could kick myself for even mentioning it.

*Snickers* Being a snake can be so inconvenient when one wants to chastize oneself, can't it? LOL! I just love this story!

Author's Response: Poor Nagini, it blows not to have legs! lol

Very nice. I so needed a laugh tonight, and what do I find? You’ve added two chapters to this story that I didn’t even know about. The story is so funny from the first line—I love Nagini’s “voice”—but here’s an especial pleaser: “Also, I can't expect to travel without Mr. Snuggley-boo, my teddy. Did I just admit that?! Oh well, it's not like somebody is going to steal this diary and post it for a bunch of people to read....” The idea of Voldy’s snake with a teddy just cracks me up, and the second half of the passage…lol! It reminds me of those movies (like Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) in which one of the actors looks at the camera and shares a moment of pure irony with the audience; I can almost see Nagini doing the same.

Speaking of movies, whatever made you think up Nagini, the film director?! Wherever the idea came from, I’ve got to say, we’ll all be lining up to see Voldy on the Toilet for sure! (Though I do have to say, I’m completely with Nagini concerning the idea of Peter in a Speedo. :-P )

Well, since I’m in SPEW, I guess I should offer suggestions. (This is always the hard part, isn’t it?) I would like to see you clean up the spacing—that is, by putting an extra line between paragraphs, esp. in chapter 2. Oh, and also in chapter 2 you have a double comparative in the following sentence: “If it were to get any more livelier, I'd expect a funeral to break out at any time.” Just cut “more” so that you have “any livelier.”

O.k. now that that’s done…thanks so much for the laugh!

Author's Response: Hi! I had been wondering if you knew the story had been updated or not. :-) Re: Nagini the film director: I got that idea when I was on vacation. Just so happens I was in California, the land of Hollywood, and it just popped into my head! lol Thanks for pointing out that little error in chapter 2. I'll go take a look at it and fix it. :-) Chapter 4 should have been up by now, but because it wasn't 800 words (my other chapters were under 800 and they got approved) itgot rejected. :-( I'm not sure what I'm going to do to fix it.

I love the dialogue and poetry format. Surprising how much the former reveals about Regulus and Sirius' relationship and the loss they both feel. And love how nicely enframed that dialogue is within the lines of poetry.

Author's Response: Thanks. I wanted to show how they are somehow, not that different despite their lives going in different direction. Thanks so much for the review. I'm glad you like it.

I love Shakespeare, so I have a special place in my heart for this story even without the iambic pentameter--excellent use of couplets, though! You're parody really captures the fun of both Shakespeare and Fred and George. I could actually imagine them walking around talking like this for weeks on end just to get a laugh. And the scene from Much Ado with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny in I.i. was hilarious! (I almost heard Emma Thompson's voice--I also see her as Beatrice even when I read the play now-a-days--from Hermione.) I hope you update soon!

Author's Response: I could tell ^_^ you really know your Shakespeare to be able to tell that I skipped the meter requirement *L* Just thought it'll be too hard and thus no longer fun if I take things a bit too seriously. I'll be sure to update this after am done writing my 'Quarterly Challenge' entry. ^_^ Thanks for the long and well thought out review. It great to hear from someone who really appreciates Shakespeare.

Finished the story last night (stayed up till like 3 a.m.), and felt too overwhelmed to review. I cried too, esp. for poor Lupin. The interrogation scene was so powerful, with him being tormented with all those awful questions and revelations when he needed so badly just to grieve. And at the funeral Harry's "Moony" and "Bye Moony" were just heartwrentching. A very moving and believable story!

Author's Response: I LOVE reading fanfics into the night. Good call. I cried whilst writing chappie 7 & 8, I'm so glad that it's moved other people too! Thanks for this fab review, I'm really glad that you've enjoyed reading!

That was hysterical. I love how everyone is so polite to each other (even the people they hate) as they confess their deepest, darkest secrets. I laughed so hard my stomach aches!

Author's Response: Well, why not be polite, even if you're spilling your guts against your will? :) Glad you liked it!

What a fascinating look this story is at the character of Draco Malfoy; it also gives some really nice insight into what it means to be a Death Eater. I especially like this line: "At that moment, pain and pleasure flooded simultaneously through Draco." To me, that line really defines the new existence Draco has chosen for himself. There is the satisfaction of belonging and of making his father proud, but also the regret of losing a part of himself to his new Master. It's sad that Draco doesn't realize what he's lost until it's too late. But your story really sets the scene for his moment of indecision in Book 6 (and, if I'm not mistaken, it looks as though you wrote this story before that book even came out! Impressive.). As you show us here, his regret might have come almost instantaneously, but what choice does he have really once he enters the Dark Lord's lair? Sadly, as you show us, none. I truly enjoyed reading this story.

Author's Response: Thanks! Yes, I did in fact write this before book six came out (which is why I thought it really weird when I started reading about Snape's Unbreakable Vow and how the spell looked). I'd finished reading the series and had been looking at several fanfics and, for some reason, wanted to explore Draco's personality even more. He really is a character to be pitied, and I wanted to show that. Thanks again for the review!

“For the first time she felt tangible fear of him, felt the power of what he could do to her if he chose, and she regretted leaving Remus back at Harbour View, regretted her faith in her husband, wondered if she would die here with no one to know that she had found her nemesis in her own kin.” Oddly enough, I think this is my favorite sentence of this chapter. I love the moment of doubt. It follows nicely from Maeve’s expression of jealousy and humanizes her, reminding us that she doesn’t follow her husband blindly; the two of them have a connection that you have worked many, many chapters to establish and nurture, and a connection that Severus disrupted when he abandoned her to once again act the victim of the machinations that rule his life. (Another odd thought: Snape as victim!) This moment of doubt also makes their reconciliation moments later that much more sweet—as if it wasn’t moving enough . I also really enjoyed the moment of almost, but not quite, vulnerability on Severus’ side. The reader couldn’t help but want to reach out to him. What a magnificent couple your protagonists make!

Author's Response: Thank you! Maeve's been so steadfast in her trust of Snape throughout the whole story and until that moment she never believed he would do anything to physically harm her...and then he gives her a moment of doubt. I thought she needed that little reality check. And, of course, she was wrong....Severus would never hurt her. :-) I like VictimSnape... everyone believes he's either evil or Machiavellian or selfish...I think he was weak in his early life and is now paying for it, Life's just going to get harder in this story for poor Severus! Thanks for the review. :-)

You know, everyone has acted like Ron and Hermione were a done deal in HBP, but I feel like there is actually so much left unsaid and undone between these two characters before their relationship can be real to me. I like that you've taken that step to show them realizing how much there is between them that they need to address and addressing it. And how appropriate that it's Harry that pushes them into it. A pleasure to read!

I was so upset, I almost stopped reading in the middle! Thank goodness I didn't! Concerning Snape's status at the end: This was definitely a role I never imagined him playing--but, as DD thinks at the end, an excellent reason for the seeming treachery we see in HBP.