I’m guessing turnip for obscure Ravenclaw reference. I’m not even a Ravenclaw!

I loved this chapter so much! It was really funny and sad at the same time. Poor Marty. She’s such a lovely person. The Marauders can be tactless sometimes.

“Okay, now you totally just took those Gay Points back,”

I think Sirius should earn some more Gay Points for saying “totally”. LOL!

Sorry this is such a quick review, but I don’t have time to proclaim your brilliance and the wonderfulness of this chapter. I have a Science essay due tomorrow morning, and it is nine at night and I haven’t started.

My favourite chapter yet though!

Jennifer


Author's Response: *giggles* Yes, it was the turnip. I\'m glad you liked the chapter! The Marauders ARE very tactless sometimes, I\'ll admit, but don\'t worry, because they\'ll learn, and that\'s why we love them, isn\'t it? Good luck with the science essay! When I say that I understand completely, I really do believe it. =D

The chapter title was very interesting. It caught my eye before the chapter had even been validated, and made me keep checking back to see when it would be up!

I love the interviews. They always make me crack up laughing. Usually I would point out my favourite line in it, but they all made me laugh, so I can’t. :] You’re wonderful at writing humour, though. You always manage to capture the characters funny sides without making them OOC, which can be hard.

Marty cleaning the window was great. She doesn’t want to seem rude, so she cleans the windows. She couldn’t do the dishes like anyone else would, could she? She has to clean the windows. I love Marty. She’s so … unpredictable.

I’m just some random waif they pretty much found on the streets.

I loved that. I think if it was anyone other than Marty they found, it would be weird. But it’s her, so it’s different. :]

“James giggles from down on the floor.

I think giggling sounds a bit too girly for a teenage boy. I don’t think they really giggle. They laugh and chuckle and snicker, but I don’t think giggling sounds quite right.

Marty seemed a lot different in this chapter. I don’t know whether it’s because of her mum dying, or getting away from her aunt, or making new friends, but she does seem a bit different. She’s almost becoming a normal person!

I really loved this chapter. Long ones are great. I can’t wait for the next one!

Jennifer


Author's Response: Thanks! Marty is changing, but don\'t worry, because she\'ll still be herself ... and I\'m really glad you like her that way! You\'re probably right about the giggling thing ... I\'ve been brainwashed by my own male friends, who are sometimes a little more effeminate than your average teenage guy. Thanks for reviewing, anyway, I always look forward to yours!

What a great chapter!

I loved the beginning with the Marauders. Sirius hiding in a pond? You’ve gotta love him. :]

The letter to Marty was really sweet, and you characterised their different personalities really well. James’ long sentence made me laugh so much. It’s probably longer than this review!

You’re really making me feel sorry for Marty. It’s always sad when strong-willed people like her break down. I hope I can trust you when you say it gets happier, because this is about the third chapter in a row where I’ve almost cried!

I adore this story. It’s definitely one of your best. But not many people seem to read it. :[ They don’t know what they’re missing out on!

Jennifer


Author's Response: Ah, why would I worry about that, when I have you guys? =D Hopefully next chapter I won\'t make you cry! I feel so horrible, but I promise things will look up. Thanks so much for reviewing, as always, and I\'m glad you think this is one of my best, because hey, that means I\'m improving still!

This was a very powerful fic. I think how you had the flashbacks made us see how terrible most of Sirius' life (especially his childhood) really was, something that not many people understand when they characterise him as the fun-loving prankster.
It was really moving, and I liked how you added the darkness bit every now and then. It made the fic a lot more mysterious, and it lets you feel just how cruel and cold Azkaban really is. It was a wonderful portayal of Sirius and his time there.
Well done!

Author's Response: This review made my day--thank you so much for your comments!

You get some insane reviews on this story.

I'm sorry to ruin the pattern and give you an almost normal one. :]

I really really liked this chapter. Emma and Tyrone are just ... guh. I adore both of them. I want to get an "I ship Emma/Tyrone" banner made. They're very Lily/James like, actually. Was that intended, or did it just happen like that?

Sabotage, eh? I think it must be Vladislav (I have no idea if I spelt that right). Nobody would suspect him, and he came in first because of the mistake. *should be a detective*

“,i>You’re halfway through, four clues remain
Seek out Higgenbottom’s domain.”

A formatting error, sweetie.

For some reason, I always call people by pet names when I point out mistakes. I have no idea why.

Anyway, this is getting better and better. I can't wait for the next chapter!

~Jennifer

Author's Response: Hello, Jenny! Imagine, it being weird to have a normal review! It\'s funny, I can\'t even remember anymore whether I intended to make the Tyrone/Emma ship a Lily/James one. I just remember wanting a contrast to the sweetness-and-light Ivy/Ted ship. I think I was actually thinking of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen-- Ivy/Ted is Jane/Bingley and Emma/Tyrone is Elizabeth/Darcy.

Whoopsies, sorry about the typo. I always call people pet names when I\'m picking their pockets. Watch out! ^_^

Author's Response:

I have been meaning to read this for so long. The Parent Trap is such a great movie, and you’re such a great writer, so I couldn’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon. I was only going to read the first chapter and review that one, but you got me hooked, so this review basically sums up all of the chapters. :]

First of all, I absolutely love how you’ve managed to characterise Callie and Lia. Their parents are such different people, with such contrasting personalities, yet you’ve managed to bring out both sides in the twins, and they’re nothing like each other, either. I’m sure their upbringing had a helping hand in that, but it’s interesting to see the little quirks they have that remind Draco and Hermione of each other.

I loved how you put Callie in Gryffindor and Lia in Slytherin. At first I thought it a little weird, considering who has brought them up, but now I’m starting to realise how suited they are to their houses. Callie is so headstrong, and Lia is so evasive.

The only problem I’ve found is with Dionelise and Kia. I think its a little clichéd how you’ve made both girls find friends so easily within their own house, and those friends begin to fight straightaway. Also, sometimes I get confused as to who is who and who is in which house when you write, because a lot of the time you write almost all dialogue and not much description. Maybe I’m just being slow, but it makes my head spin a little. ^_^

Draco and Hermione are fabulous, in my opinion. I’m insanely jealous of your ability to write Dramione. I love how Hermione has single-handedly broken down years of the Malfoy’s traditions and beliefs. It’s so Hermione-ish. :] Draco is such a different person to how one would think he would be after the war, and I just adore how he is with Callie. I’ve always fancied the Malfoys to have a loving, familyish side to them, and she brings out the best in Draco.

My favourite parts of this fic would have to be the little things, though. Things like how Ginny is so hormonal and terrifying, and how you’ve included Pansy in there. It’s nice that Draco and Pansy managed to get over their history together, and she tuned over a new leaf too and married a Muggleborn. Also, I love how all the Weasleys dote on Lia, even though her father is their former worst enemy.

Thank you for such a wonderful fic, Joanna. It was much more enjoyable than an afternoon of revision for my Maths exam. If I fail, I’ll know who to blame. ^_^

*squishes*

--Jen

Author's Response: Jen! *squish* Thank you for such a lovely afternoon gift as well. Thanks a lot. Your review is such a boost. I\'ll always think about the little things now, since someone does notice them.

Oh, Dionelise and Kia, they had to be there, couldn\'t get past the cliche. I like to think it\'s kismet which makes us meet friends-to-be easily; we just have to work to keep them.

I'm Australian, and this made me laugh so much. I didn't really find it offending like Silver Whisper did, because I know you didn't mean for it to be.

I just laughed every time I saw the word 'ya', and every time I saw improper sentences. We can speak properly, you know. :] Neighbors isn't the best potrayal of Australia.

I really liked this chapter, and the first three, for that matter. I was going to read the last one before I reviewed, but I wanted to comment on the rather ... interesting ... attempts at portraying Australians.

I love how you characterise Ron. He's very IC, and you managed to make him overprotective without going over the top.

Well done!

~Jennifer

Author's Response: Thank you for yet another Australian perspective. I\'m glad I made you laugh! I *did* get a lot of flack over that chapter, but you are absolutely right, I did not in any way mean any offense. I realize that Australians can speak correctly but I still say that not everyone in any country {continent! - see I\'m not a complete ignoramus ;) } would speak with perfect diction. I mean, look at Hagrid - many English people speak well and with good grammar - he does not. Ms Rowling did not mean to stereotype all English-speaking people with that character, and I didn\'t with my character. I have made changes to that chapter in my own computer; I\'m just not decided yet whether to post them. I\'ll have to think about it. I\'m thrilled that you enjoy my characterisation of Ron and I\'m pleased you think him in-character. Thanks for reading and reviewing! cj

Oh my Godric. I’m crying.

You’ve made me speechless, so just wait a moment until I stop bawling my eyes out.

I loved this story so much! I think I began to cry when he told Lily about not getting many presents, and I really started sobbing at this line:

It was red and gold — the colours of Gryffindor, he thought, but at the same time realised that it didn’t matter, because it came from Lily and she would always be there for him, even if she was red and he was green.

That was definitely my favourite line. It was a beautiful way to word their relationship. The whole fic was really descriptive with emotions, and you didn’t just skip over them or write them down bluntly like some people do. Your writing is so beautiful. You know you can write well when you make people cry!

I only found a few mistakes:

… but he would but forth his best efforts.

I’m guessing you meant put forth.

He creped into the bedroom …

It should be crept.

… sleeping under a think layer of earth and snow,

That should be thick.

I can’t find any criticism for this story. It’s really good. The ending in particular was amazing. You made me want to hug Severus. Before DH, I never would have thought I’d say that. :]

~Jennifer


Author's Response: Hey! Oh, I\'m sorry if you got too upset! Thanks for the very lovely review, for saying what you liked and so forth. And thanks a ton for pointing out my typos! I went and corrected them immediately, thanks! ~Nez =)

This was absolutely beautiful. You wrote Teddy very well. You portrayed his emotions brilliantly. They were very realistic, and I feel like I know him now!

Your style of writing is amazing. I like how you tend to use short, incomplete sentences, because it puts emphasis on every sentence, and it lets the words sink into your mind better. The repetition from one sentence to the next is a fabulous tool to use, and you pulled it off very well.

Sure Ana was exotic, if exotic meant not being able to carry a conversation.

I loved Teddy’s humour. Even when he was upset, or angry, he still made me laugh. It reminded me of Tonks a little. I think you did very well at characterising him. I could see a bit of both of his parents in him, but not too much that he was just a clone. Well done!

Did those words make sense to anyone but him?

This part confused me. With the paragraph in front of it, I think it should be her.

The interaction between Teddy and Victoire was lovely. Even with their open hostility at the beginning, you could see the chemistry between them. It was like they couldn’t stop loving each other, no matter what happened to them.

Your dialogue was really good. It was very real, but still romantic. I absolutely loved the part: ”So I got transferred and didn’t look back. I should have looked back.” :]

That whole speech by Teddy was wonderful, though. It was like all the thoughts he had had in the past few years were just pouring out, and he couldn’t get his apologies out quick enough.

This was a gorgeous story, and I look forward to reading more of yours.

~Jennifer

Author's Response: Thank you! I\'ll take your suggestions. This story needs a little work. I\'m glad you enjoyed it, though!

Kelly –

Guh. This was absolutely beautiful. I loved the style you wrote this in. It’s so poetic. I’ve seen a few fics written in this style, but yours … it’s wonderful. You pulled it off very well. Every single sentence you wrote seems so important to the story, which they are, I suppose. There are no filler sentences in there, and none that seem like they’re there to add to your word count. That’s why I loved this so much.

Albus can be tricky to characterise, especially with his teenage years. There’s so much confusion and desire that nobody imagined in him, and we don’t have much information on it. Yet I think you did well in making him a confused teenager, but still the Dumbledore we knew.

Gellert is very interesting in your story, even if he’s only seen through the eyes of Albus. I think (and correct me if you didn’t mean this at all) he seems to know of Albus’s affections even before he knows them himself, and he uses this knowledge to twist Albus into using his wisdom for his plans, even though it goes against what Albus normally would have done.

I’m glad you didn’t make this a weepy fic. It could very easily be altered to make me bawl my eyes out, but I think that if you made it any sadder it wouldn’t fit in with the detached feeling this fic has. It’s a good detached feeling, though. :] It really makes you think.

I don’t usually read same-sex pairings, but I made an exception when I read the summary of yours. Like the rest of the fic, it’s very powerful, and it drew me in straight away.

I don’t have any criticism for this, because it truly is one of the most amazing fics I’ve ever read. Well done!

~Jen


Author's Response: *huggles Jen* Oh my gosh. Thank you SO much for such a fantastic review! I’m really glad that you picked up on the writing style. I tried very hard to make it as impersonal and detached as possible. I suppose that the term would be…simplistic. That way, it really contrasts with the complexity of the story and the feelings. Yay for noticing! You know, I don’t usually read or write same-sex pairings, but I was inspired quite suddenly to write this one and I’m very glad that it turned out so nicely. And, no criticism? From a SPEW-er? I’m completely floored that you liked it that much. I’m also very, very pleased. Again, thank you so much!