Once again, I don't know where to begin. In the past 2 days, I have spun out 20k words on another work unrelated. But I have only a few right now: epic, crushing, wrenching.
Four words define this whole tale: "Blood on his hands."
Yet the blood's on the wrong hands.
Your redemption of James is near perfect. The mysterious Jane is good, and not a Deus ex Machina at all. Piper was even elegant, through all her pain.
And our sacrificed Innocent, Flynn, is still alive-the metaphorical Christ-like figure that he's become.
You've also managed to make us do something seemingly unspeakable: right now, I hate Harry and Neville, and especially Dennis.
Absolutely epic.

Author's Response: I mostly talked about this in the email, but thank you so much for the review (as always). You've spun out 20k in two days?! It's hard enough for me to sit down and write 2k in two days.

Blood on his hands. Just perfection.

Ellie

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I am in awe.
This is probably the quintessential chapter of the novel, you know.
I will have to read this again later, and drop you a line, because right now, words fail me.
For those that want to yell about Flynn,yell at me, no iLuna. It was my suggestion. I am honoured that she took it! :)

Author's Response: I said more in the email, but basically Im just sitting here blushing and smiling like an idiot. Just thank you.

Ellie

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Excellent read! One of the best I've seen here, after wading through so much fluff and 'drama', and not the good drama, either. I have to admit, I didn't see this ending coming, and it's just perfect. 10's all the way! Of course, I'd be interested in a sequel - perhaps something along the lines of someone that Death that just can't have.

Author's Response: Aww, thank you! It means so much that you'd say that. I'm glad you liked the surprise that is the end, I wanted something different than "I did something wrong, I'm dead." :P

A sequel is a definite possibility, I've had an idea for a while, and I hope you like it as much as this one... Who knows what might happen in it? ;)

Thank you so much for leaving a review!

Sam.

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Typo: "I want my clock back." Sorry...
But other than that - MARVELOUS! God, I wish I'd come up with this premise,instead of resorting to time travel as I once did. But the deal is null and void now, right? Hm...on to the next!

Author's Response: Aww, yay! Thank you! I'm so happy that you like it so much!

Thank you so much for leaving a review!

Sam.

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Excellent! Very enthralling. Can't wait to see the next installment!

Author's Response: I'm so glad you like it. I've started the next chapter, I hope to have it up soon.

Thank you so much for leaving a review!

Sam.

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Great premise! Love the take on Death. Can't wait to read more.

Author's Response: Thank you. I'm glad you like the take on Death. :)

Thank you for leaving a review!

Sam.

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I found this by searching for Teddy-stories, and decided this probably wasn't going to be fluff. It's hard to find a TL First year story, I think? So I'll be very interested to see where this one goes. I have enjoyed it so far.

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Cute!

It could have been a bit longer, though. As it is, it's still a good capture of a touching moment. I searched the site for "Teddy Lupin", and yours was the 2nd hit. I was so glad to see the summary that it was not romantic fluff!

Having Godsons of my own, I can relate to the difficulty posed with certain questions. Thank you.

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Powerful, on so many levels.
I couldn't help but think of the DH2 movie when I read this, altering the images in my mind to fit your story here.
For such a brief piece, we ARE with Snape as he approaches the house. Any of us who have made a similar journey will know what he must be feeling.
Well written and deep without being verbose, which is a neat trick. It forces the reader to decide between "you got what you deserved", and "no one deserves this." Which do we choose?
A rare ambiguity here, seldom seen in fanfiction.
Masterful

Author's Response: Thank you! I wrote this long before the movie came out, and I admit I was very interested to see WB's take on this scene. I think Alan Rickman's portrayal of Severus's pain should have gotten him an Academy Award nomination. Anyway, I wrote this for two challenges. One in which there could be no dialogue, and the other had to be a scene through a window. Naturally, Snape and his stoicism came to mind. The rest just sort of fell together. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate the review so much!~GW

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As my friend in Liverpool would say, "Smashing!" (He says other things too, but I won't repeat that here.)
I LOVE this chapter! The plot is ripening into quite the apple! Louis, the bit with Kevin, all of it. I can't say how much I loved the summary, too! You're probably right, there. Just adored the bit about genetics, too. The old XYY Superman Syndrome, or V in this case, was perfect for Louis. The Weasley Y gene will NOT be stopped, Veelas or no. I'm sure that's it, you know. Now, about this 18th chromosome mutation??? :)

Author's Response: Is "Calm down, calm down, calm down" one of them (Harry Enfield reference)...?

I do google-search the whole HPFF archive to check that my claim was accurate; it was. I hope I've not overcomplicated the genetics thus far... I know I have more to clear up in my mind before the climax. Need to take a step back for the moment: this afternoon I spent two hours writing maths questions, and I've plenty more left to do!

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I enjoyed the parallels with "The Breakfast Club"; it was well done. Now I will have to dig out my copy and watch it again.
Your capture of Al & Lily was spot on for siblings at odds with one another. It's never a comfortable or easy position in which to find oneself. Yours turned out exactly as it should have.
I also can't help but see a bit of disastrous foreboding for Flynn. Poor kid...
Anxiously awaiting the next chapter(s), as always!

Author's Response: I love the Breakfast Club. So, so much. You should definitely rewatch it. I'm really glad you thought the Lily and Albus scene was reasonable, because I'd had that scene in mind for months, but I wasn't sure how I was going to make it work. I also really feel bad for what's going to happen with him, but I feel even worse for giving the readers some hopeful chapters before. I'm glad you like it, but the next chapter might not be up for a week or so. I'm stuck on the middle chapter of the next set of three. As always, thank you so much for the review!

Ellie

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Interesting, as always. Can't wait to see where this DNA testing business goes. Sort of on the edge of the seat now, wondering what's up with the magical signature, and what'll happen to Connor. Great stuff!

Author's Response: Well Ch26 is in the queue and can't be too far away; afraid we're back to school now so the denouement may be rather slow in coming along, particularly keeping all of the plots clear in my head, and giving them viable, relevant resolutions into the bargain...

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Another update so soon, and good stuff it is! You and "RTS" in one day! What a morning.

I love how the plot is coming together, although I still can't figure it out.

Albus blowing up at his dad was great, and so was Harry's analysis of it. Very good.

Still wondering why our Muggle boy has a magical signature, though. Odd that Louis' outburst woke Nathan up too, or am I reading too much into that, there?

I can't say enough about how well you capture the reality of boys this age.

Can't wait to see more, and hoping you don't get too busy to do just that!

Author's Response: Amazing what you can do when you're not working 8am-8pm every day. I've finished C25 (in the queue) and C26 (which brings several plot strands forwards) - and as far as I can tell, there will be three more afterwards. Which probably means four. Might even wrap it up before term time... unlikely, however, as I need to do real work tomorrow.

As for why Charlie has a signature, well, that would be telling. Suffice to say, the process of working out the answer to that one is the method by which the next two chapters advance the plot...

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An update to "Snake Bites" and "RTS" all in the same morning? What will I do?!

I won't say too much, as I sent you most of it in that email.

You have an amazing talent, and your characters go above and beyond anything that I've read, with very, very few exceptions.

I am surprised at the turnabout in James, and the last bit with him running into Flynn was foreshadowing at its best. That, and he and Rose have finally realized that Al is in bad shape. On all counts - this surely cannot bode well. Masterful.

I keep seeing this "Lego House" you mentioned, built just so - until a bigger kid comes and kicks it to pieces. It's enough to make the reader want to see one of the flying blocks hit an adult in the eye, you know, so to say?

Author's Response: That update to 'Snake Bites'... it must have been quite the morning for you after that.

I know I haven't replied to the email, but I'm trying to figure out how. I'm speechless, because that sort of compliment coming from you... it's just not something I can say 'thank you' to, but I don't have the strong enough words to accurately say how grateful I am, for reading and leaving all of these reviews. (You also hit so many of the scenes I was already planning for that chapter that I was scared/amazed)

I know James's part in this is a little shocking, and I promise there's more with him to come. The Gryffindors aren't purely evil, just like the Slytherins weren't during Harry's era. It's all a mess of gray.

The lyric ingeniousness of Ed Sheeran gave me the Lego House idea, but it's true. They're building their hopes up only to have them knocked down again, and I promise at least one adult will be hit in the eye by a flying piece. :) Thank you so much for everything - all the help, the ideas, the support - but especially the review.

Ellie

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Great to see an update!
Also good to know that you have an ending. I usually like happy endings, but I don't know how you're going to pull it off here. I can't see the Potter's making up. I think it's all gone too far. Been there, done that...
As always, great characters that are so real that one feels for them. Can't wait to see the next chapter!

Author's Response: It's been a while, hasn't it?

If you wish to be put out of your misery regarding the ending, shoot me an email. :) I can't say much about the potters, but I promise you whatever happens will be major. And Albus isn't a forgiving person.i know it was a filler chapter, and thank you so much for sticking with this story and never failing to review.

Ellie

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Good to see an update!
I like the idea of dominoes, and no, they've not left many standing. Great interplay, as always, with these realistic boys. Can't wait to see how Albus fares with his dad.

Author's Response: The chapter title was the last thing I managed for that one; midway through writing Ch24. Making a little more progress now, but I really have given myself far too many plot strands to make it straightforward to tie them all up AND keep the story's momentum...

The next bit should be up soon.

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I love it! It's a great capture of mischievous little boys ever! I think poor Teddy is in for a rough ride, and George helping the kids was a perfect touch.

Author's Response: Teddy is definitely in for a rough ride. I'm glad you liked it. Thank you so much for leaving a review. :)

Sam.

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It's a nice piece, it really is. And I'm not just saying that. (I know, he who has written a body count probably higher than canon in the past!) Hey, I read it! And that, as our old Headmaster would say, IS saying something. OK, enough of being a smart aleck. Yes, it's a bit fluffy, but it's good fluff, as you say. You're right, after a while, all the dark stuff can get to you. Badly. This is a refreshing read with excellent characters!

Author's Response: Oh, it's so awesome to see you back here after so long! And thank you so much for taking the time to review this story of mine, too. I write largely angst/dark stories, too -- it's been ages since I'd written proper fluff before this. So I know what you mean!

Thank you so much, again, just for doing this. Seeing your name again made me smile, and a review from you is always very much appreciated. I hope you're doing well!

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Apparently I don't get the meaning of some of the words here, but you've done a great job with 2 passing canon characters that we don't know much about. It's a wonderful piece that captures the "boy provokes girl then ends up with her" scenario so perfectly. It very much reminds me of a similar girl in jr. hi and up that I once knew, much like Eloise. Touching.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for the amazing review, as always. I wrote this pairing as a dare, but I really enjoy it. Cormac is just such a prick in canon, and as the person who told me to write it said 'I want that b* to learn how to love for real'. I am thrilled you enjoyed it, but I'm not positive what you mean by the first sentence. Thanks again for always reading and reviewing. :)

Ellie

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This is even better the 2nd time around. It's nice to see a story story depicting Hugo as something more than a blockhead, pervert, or a helpless victim. I also like that you don't depict him as, well...the actor they used at the end of the DH2 movie. I love the depth of the characters as they play chess, Hugo's insecurities, the very mirror of his father. It's just perfect.

Author's Response: Thank you! So nice to know you're still hanging around and willing to read my edits of an old story. I do love Ron, and always wanted him to get a little hero worship of his own. I imagine with Arthur as a role model, he'd be a pretty good dad, even though he thinks he's not as good as Hermione at solving his children's problems. Hugo is a chip of the old block here, which I also love. Who better to understand his insecurities than Ron Weaasley, third wheel extraordinaire? I appreciate your review so much! Thanks BK!~GW

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Good job with the tension, during and after the attack. The characters are fitting here, not at all sappy or over the top. Nice touch with Charlie too; he has a Magical signature, huh? Hmmm, speculation...anyway, well done and well worth the wait. Thanks for the update.

Author's Response: Thanks. We are getting there, slowly. It might be Easter by the time we get another update, though: sadly work and reality must take precedence...

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As always, well worth the wait! Thanks for the update, and more of the ever-memorable characters.

Author's Response: Thank you so much. :) It was more of a filler, but it'll make a lot more sense in the chapters to come.

Ellie

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Loved it! The interplay here is so great, and the kids are well...kids! So well done. I would never have thought to use Nott for anything, really, and it's nice to see him fleshed out and not a typically evil Slytherin.

Author's Response: I love writing Theo - he's much more complex in my head than just a Slytherin, you know? It makes him fun to write.

Thank you for reviewing. :)

Sam.

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Great follow up to the last chapter, and as always, can't wait to see more. It's really coming together now, isn't it?

Author's Response: It is. And it doesn't get any either to hold all the subplots together in my head (or on paper) without letting the kids drop out of character or falling into the Deus Ex trap. C22 is getting there, however I am struggling with the exact genetics of the theme, and I can't rush it!

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Love where this is going, and the excitement is building. Trash the Statute? Are the boys going to bend it, perhaps into a pretzel?! One thing - what's a "cookie"? I thought you lot had "biscuits".

Author's Response: Cookies are generally softer and chewier than biscuits. Ben's Cookies are the kind of thing I'd want as part of my last meal. That and South African steak.

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