VV, thanks for everything! You are the most spectacular Beta a girl could ask for
Speaking of who, everyone should be reading everything by Vindictus Viridian. There is an spectacular fic by her called 'In the Eyes of Others' that is an in-depth very canon-like history of Severus Snape. It will make you laugh, cry, wince in pain and hate Lucius Malfoy more than you ever have or, if you go that way, love him even more. It's really quite a brilliant Opus that she's got going on. And if you're the kind of person who reads things because other authors you like recommend them (and I assume you're reading my profile because you like something I've written), then you should run to go read it. Now!
For those looking for author's recs, I'd personally check out the following one-shots first:
It's Easy
With You in Your Dreams
Return to Grimmauld Place
Mastering the Maze
Seasons of love
Summer Letters
The Phoenix Speaks
Come Hell
The Wolf
Founders Four
The End of the World
PadReviews? That's worse than WormStar. And now I want 25.
Author's Response: You greedy thing, you... No, now you want 28.
Umm? Cause he has issues?
Author's Response: Can't possibly answer this in less than 20 chapters.
How did you get so many chapters in over the weekend?!?!?!?! I'm going to have to pull out e-mails to pad these...
Author's Response: *shuffles to hide bloody mess of feathers on altar at Stonehenge*
Classically brilliant as always. I *almost* feel bad for James over here. Oh well, he was going to end up on the wrong side of someone's wand someday, wasn't he? *cackle*
And no dear, I'm still not jealous of him.
Author's Response: Wrong side of someone's wand -- oh, absolutely. A one-sided war is so very boring...
But that's because Harry is a moron and thick as a doorknob.
Author's Response: This is such a strange place to carry on a conversation. Also because when Harry has Pomfrey around, he requires no more watching -- he's not going to be getting into any variety of trouble whatsoever. Thus no Snape.
I still love the excerpt you have posted for this chapter. Poppy really is a wonderful character and I'm so happy that you've written her in a way OTHER than the person we've seen in canon or yells at people to get out of the Hospital Wing.
Author's Response: But not OOC, I hope. It helps that Severus takes an interest in what she's pouring down his throat this time, I think.
This made me cry the first time I read it and it nearly made me cry again now.
But let's review this chapter in order, shall we?
1) The very idea of Padtail or Wormfoot makes me want to puke. It sounds like a disease. <<<*this is not a bad thing*
2) You *almost* make me hate Sirius here. I suppose one runs into problems when one is a Wolfstar shipper and beta-ing the most brilliant Snape fic every written
3)The study group makes me laugh. Every time. As does the NVBL spell. I wish I had that when I'd been in school... *dreams*
4) They are terrible, the four of them, no? Attacking a man on the way to the bathroom. That is a low even I couldnt' have possibly thought of.
5)Lovely foreshadowing with the ropes, though.
6)I love Poppy.
7)My heart and soul weep for Severus. The poor boy.
8)Lily is, indeed a saint. Bravo on her absolutely brilliantly believable personality. The only problem is reconciling her with Petunia. Ech. I suppose there are some bad apples in every family?
Author's Response: 2) You betcha. 3) I could have used that one myself, particularly in History of Magic. 4) Pretty bloody thoughtless, no? 8) A saint who casts the occasional jinx and is allowing certain speech patterns to rub off on her... Remember, Petunia is a perfectly nice person if you are *hers* -- for instance, if you are Vernon or Dudley. Nosy, perhaps, if you are her neighbor, but a kind if indulgent mother and a perfectly adoring wife. She just has a real problem with wizards, particularly the one she really didn't want to be randomly stuck with for 16 years. I promise to display more of Petunia later. But families are indeed not cranked out with a cookie cutter.
*am speechless*
Author's Response: Improved from the beta level, then?
It is absolutely lovely, dearest VV, although I suppose it's unfair for me to review? *flutters eyelashes* The changes are well-noted. Bella is deliciously evil and I already hate Malfoy Sr. Actually, what in the world should I say besides for this? Your writing is brilliant and it's no wonder Magical Maeve is your fangirl. I think I shall simply post ramblings here to up your review count. What do you say?
Author's Response: Should I reply to ramblings? And of course it's horribly unfair to review, especially when I have to go study for finals and should not take time to return the favor (yet.)
No idea of how that review ended up here in chapter one...Hmm..
I think I can work something out with her.... *evil*
Author's Response: That's all right; it gives me the chance to observe that nobody has yet remarked on the fact that Severus has one set of audible lines in the whole chapter, directed to Mr. Ollivander when his mother is not listening. I didn't even do that on purpose; it just happened that way, long before I'd ever even considered writing "Eileen Loves Toby." My muse is far cleverer than I.
*does happy dance* It has begun!!! *crazy laughter.* But VV...nothing? *sniffle*
Author's Response: Ack! Never upload stories when tired and in a hurry! Attention all: my wonderful detail cop, beta, and all-around debate partner is Slian Martreb, who rocks!!!
Yes, well. Until they realize what a 'mamzer' is and banish me from the site forever....You'll let me read it, right? Or shall I get to be surprised? Going to find comments on Carter...
Author's Response: Well, the drabble is still up, last I checked. I'm not in a hurry to spend any more time with MWMNBN, to be honest.
Did I say I wanted to WRITE something about him? *evil*
Oh. And Ravenclaw SOARS!
Author's Response: What Carter does on his own time is his own affair (and Annie's). Negotiate as you wish. Ravenclaw rules!
Your ability to come up with original spells amazes me, as well as how genuine you make the relationship between Lily and Snape. You manage to give him a friend and keep him in character, as always, perfectly. Your grasp of Severus, Snape and the Professor is brilliant. Bravo!
Author's Response: Aw shucks... And here you haven't even gotten to the DADA class where the professor makes Severus and Lily duel each other (shameless promotion of future chapters).
Darn right I do!
Author's Response: I think I'll let you finish with the others first. And did I read that email right? A YES??? (Hey, let's go totally public here...)
Oh, yeah, right. Hours of going at it while Severus is stiff beneath her. Terrible reconditioning. My heart bleeds for her. *not*
Author's Response: Well, there's a big difference between understanding evil and condoning it. I'm certainly not doing the latter.
I love your Severus/Poppy dialogue. Brilliant as always.
"Make her go away." *tears*
You are amazing....
Have I said this already?
Author's Response: I really had fun making Poppy a person, and if you think about it she's probably the staff member Severus ought to get along with best -- related fields and all. Harry just happens never to have seen them interact.
Having read all the chapters before and up until twenty (right?) I can say, without a doubt, that this is absolutely my favorite. Your dialogue (even for lack of description on it-heh) is fast-paced, catchy, entertaining AND believable.
I LOVE Carter. May I have him, please? *stuffs secret ingredient chocolate chip cookies into modem* Thanks!
As always, though, I fear for nasty happenings. "They only let you get so far before they take everything away." Right?
Author's Response: Thanks! *takes break from Chocolate Frogs to snarf cookies*
And what exactly do you have in mind for Carter? Now you have me curious. I certainly don't mind if you want to recycle my Slytherin a little. Just remember, he's sort of a Ravenclaw on the surface but there are all sorts of good Slytherin-y things going on underneath. I just put his own little ficlit in the queue!
I have never beforefelt prouder to be a part of anything in my life. *raises espresso* To many long nights and longer comments; to Severus, Snape, the Professor, Professor Snape, Professor Severus and The Prince! *adds bat* To Blattigrew and Snonks; to Mark and Carter and Annie and PWP moments! To tears and laughs and snorts of shocked disbelief; to carrots and potatoes that don't kill you; to the things that don't kill you and only serve to make you stronger (or stranger...). To the obvious and the obscure; to never tying Lupin up again if Severus values his life. To pictures being worth a thousand words and a wizarding portrait being worth a thousand regrets....To Eileen, Toby, Narcissa, HWDNDTBN, DD, Hawk, Black, Potter, Bella, LeStrange and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. To Lily and Lily Jr. To the eventual Sabrina. *nudge, nudge* Ladies and gents and faithful reviewers: To 'In the Eyes of Others!'
Author's Response: Interesting location of DD in there... *takes bow* I'd like to thank my mother and my father and Ed and my beta reader and... *trips on formalwear and resumes normal personality* Thanks for the review, and yes, Sirius may tie up Remus all he likes.
Silly. Of course you should reply to ramblings. You've been very good about them up until now and I expect you to continue to be so.
*?*
Author's Response: Reply, reply...