There are not many people who I would read poetry for, let alone about Bella so feel privilaged... It was very well written, regardless of my ranting and raving. So simple yet complete. Nice job, Elle. I wish I could write more but I think that sums it up for now.

~Nicole

Author's Response: Thank you, Nicole. I\'m glad you liked it. And I\'m honored that you would read Bella related poetry for me.

Ahhh, Jacie... First of all, might I say that I LOVE the way you brought in more than one person? When I first noticed, I was wondering how you would keep the focus on Neville but you did it and you did it with style. Secondly, I was so very impressed on your use of inferi. I always forget about them! It kept up the pace of the story and made me grasp the endge of my (keyboard) with white knuckles. I look forward to the next chapter.

Oh, yeah... Multiple chapter reviews for my Slyths... *winks*
~Nicole

Author's Response: Hey, Nicole!

As I said before, I do best writing dialogue, so bringing in more than one person was a must for me. Plus, it would be a lot more boring otherwise. The Inferi was something that just came to me. I was listening to Marilyn Manson at the time, so I guess I can see why...

- Jacie the Cat

Holy cow, that had a lot going on... I can't believe you killed Ron! *sniffles* (this is why I would be useless in SPEW) I had been waiting to see how you would seperate everyone and now I eagerly await to see the fate of our remaining travellers.

The dragon was a great touch. *wishes my version wasn't so narrowly written* Your imagination astounds me, Jace. Now, off to chapter 4! woohoo!

Author's Response: I\'m sorry, Nicole.. I just never liked him... and he had it coming....

- Jacie the Cat

Oooh, that gave me shivers. It was nice to see them after the fact as epilogues are often times my favorite oart of the stories. They can tie up loose ends and you did that for the reader here. I liked how they changed their mind about going to see Harry, hehe. I enjoy the friendship you are establishing between Hermione and Neville also, not making them romantically involved (yet) but giving them that common bond.
Very impressive story, Jacie! Best of luck!!
*huggles*
~Nicole

Author's Response: Shivers? Wow... Never done that before..

With them changing their mind, it was more of them trying to feel more normal again. See, they thought that they would feel better of they just stayed in, not interacting with anyone, but then why did they even come back? I wanted to give that a bit more explaining, but I played the subtlety card instead.

And as for the romance thing... That\'s not happening. *sees a new bunny in corner of his mind\'s eye*

Well, not in this story anyways..

Thank you so much for these reviews, Nicole. They really brightened my otherwise cloudy day. It\'s actually one of the few times I\'ve smiled all day, reading your reviews. I can\'t thank you enough

*huggleslikemad*

- Jacie the Cat

Excellent job. I LOVED how well you took each (book) and walked the reader through each one, keeping it canon. The best part was watching the relationship between the two (D/Hr) grow in a very realistic way, bringing them together in the end in a way that was refreshing and new. It was something that should have been predicatable but - for me anyways - it was a pleasant surprise. As I said above, excellent job. Best of luck in the challenge.

~Nicole (NikkiSue)

Author's Response: oh, thank you, nicole! i myself was giddy when the idea came to me. seven tips, seven books, so there you go... hey, you too, good luck with the challenge.

You know, whenever I beta read a story for other people, the one thing I find myself preaching about is the lack of descriptive details and how easy it is to just write something that contains nothing but dialogue. Obviously, written in the way that you have yours done, dialogue really isn't an issue but, my gosh Evie, the first few paragraphs BLEW me away. It was so beautifully written, I couldn't felp but reread them several times. Your writing style in this fanfic is like a drug - very easy to get drawn into and you just can't seem to get enough once you have experienced it.

It was just an added bonus that you used my absolute favorite poem of all time! *grins* (I memorized it in the 8th grade)

I love how you took each stanza of the poem and made it into something so totally yours and very unique. It was great how one who is familiar with the poem could see it throughout your story. I think one of the coolest parts was the way that, in the beginning everything was so serene and peaceful. As the story concluded, the scenery was still there (and still beautiful in its own ways) but it was not as majestic as it was before the "gold" was gone.

Incredible work, my dear. Absolutely amazing.

~Nicole

*was very tempted to leave a 'It's great. I love it' review, just for laughs*

Author's Response: Nicole!! **Loveth** What did I do to deserve so many lovely reviews from you? :D **huggles** Thank you so much - I love this poem to, I have it written all over my school books and stuff. ;) Thank you again!!! ~Evie

Wow, Elle... I didn't know you had it in you, hehe. I'm not used to you writing my Draco! Let's see here...

I appreciate the way you showed how each of the two main characters showed such great pride in their families and the values they held. I also respect the fact that you kept them in canon and didn't pull one of those, "Draco decided 'to hell with the Dark Lord' and wanted to spend the rest of his life with Susan who looked more beautiful than ever in the moonlight as it shone through the classroom door..." *gag*

I think the only thing that threw me for a loop was Draco's personality. He was under a LOT of stress by that point in the book (if I am on the same page, hehe) and I'm not sure he would have taken the time to find her and apologize for his behavior. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE that he did that in your story. I personally am partial to seeing Draco written with some sort of conscience but it just kind of took me a minute to grasp what was going on. *hopes I am making sense* It was refreshing to see his thoughts regarding Bella (in true Elle persistance) and how he showed her in a more positive light which most people never see or even think to show in stories.

Nice job, my Modly one.

~Nicole

Author's Response: *hugs Nicole*

Thanks so much.

Hmm...you have a good point about Draco\'s stress level, but in a way, I think he just needed someone to talk to.

Thanks again! *more hugs*

OH. MY. SALAZAR. Evie, that was one of the most heart-wrenching, most incredible stories I have read on the site in a long time and I must say . . . if you don't place in this . . . I will cry. I *did* cry, actually, as I saw the interaction between Harry and Lily. Knowing the inevitable was coming and then watching as Harry asks his mother questions about how his family will fare once he is gone. *quiver*

You know what really sealed the story for me? When you mention the plate of roasted chestnuts falling and shattering on the floor. It was so final, but having Harry and Lily walk away together once he understood he would be reunited with Ginny and his loved ones, it made it very appropriate.

Absolutely fabulous piece of work, Evie. I could learn a thing or two from you, that's for sure. Best of luck in the challenge! *hugs*

~Nicole

PS: The only constructive piece I could think of is in your end Author's note. I find it more productive to read AND review than to read A review, personally. You might want to fix that! :-)

Author's Response: NICOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! **tacklehugs** You have no idea how warm and fuzzly and full of Slytherin pride that made me feel!! Thank you so much!!! :D Heh. I will go fix that now. :o ~Evie

Hi!
So, I was the mod who approved your story here and I must come clean. First and foremost, had I not been in the queue moderating the stories which had been sitting for a while, I NEVER would have picked this one to just sit and read. Rarely do I willingly pick up something going that far back; I think I have read maybe two stories centering around Minerva. Ever. Regardless, I paroosed through your little one-shot here and as the reviewer above me said, "I was smiling." It was so much fun to see the interaction within such a loving family, all within just one chapter, and you closed it up so nicely in the end. You did an amazing job and I have it bookmarked and I am also recommending it to my Slyths. (I'm their HoH here on the boards)

Excellent Job!!

~Nicole

Author's Response: Thank you so much! It's really lovely when someone for whom a story wouldn't ordinarily be "quite their cup of tea" reads it and enjoys it. I've had some of my best reading experiences when I venture outside my "normal" circle of preferences. Thanks for modding!