I am really, really enjoying is. :) I'm excited and sad and intrigued by everything that's going on.

Author's Response: That's great! I hope you continue (I think you're getting close to the end at this point) and that you keep leaving me these lovely reviews! Thanks so much once again for all of them - I rarely get random ones and it was a nice surprise (especially for a story so dear to my heart).

-Amanda

 Report Review

Oh man, I teared up for Severus and Lily. I'm glad he's happy but I don't think it'll last long. *heavy sigh*

Author's Response: Unfortunately, you're probably right :( I'm glad you're still enjoying the story and that it's sparking some real emotions for you!

Thanks for your kind review!

-Amanda

 Report Review

This is crazy (in a good way). Sirius and Lily with an interesting frindship/possible relationship going on, not much of Severus in her life, and maybe joining Voldemort. Wow. I'm definitely curious.

Author's Response: Ooh, glad it's good crazy. I know I shifted a lot and it didn't sit well with everyone, but it's great that you find it intriguing. Things will continue to be tumultuous for Lily from here on out.

Thanks for another awesome review!

-Amanda

 Report Review

I'm trying to figure out who the slytherin boy is. He sounds like trouble - sounds like Sirius. :) And now I'm wondering if the marauders are gonna show up. O.O

I'm very much enjoying this.

Author's Response: Good guess! And yes, he is definitely trouble. You may see a Marauder or two in there :)

Thanks for another lovely review!

-Amanda

 Report Review

Well that's very unexpected. I'm interested in seeing how this plays out. :)

Author's Response: Yep, I tried to shake things up. I feel like a lot is made of the Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry in fanfiction and I wanted to show Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw some love for a change. I hope you feel like the placements I chose are fitting :)

Thanks for another kind review!

-Amanda

 Report Review

Oh Lily, out shopping all alone; I just want to hug her. And I look forward to seeing how a friendship between them could form - seeing how her parents are about half-bloods.

Author's Response: Lily definitely deserves some hugs, especially since she's not quite as awful as her parents. Glad you're enjoying the story, and thanks for another lovely review :)

-Amanda

 Report Review

Love! I teared up seeing how happy Severus seems. Of course, I'm now sad seeing how relatively unhappy Lily is. I can't wait to read more. :)

Author's Response: Hi! Thanks for stopping by to leave a review!

Haha, I know! I felt kind of guilty making Lily's childhood so awful, but then again, it was nice to give Severus a fair shake this time around.

Thanks for your kind review!

-Amanda

 Report Review

Hi!

I'm dropping in for the duel. This is a different take all around and every bit as intriguing as your page-turner page.

Lily in Hufflepuff and not happy about it. That should be interesting :)

Take care!
~Ty

Author's Response: Hey Ty!

Ooh, I'm so glad this portion of the story grabbed your attention as well, early on as it is. Hope you get a chance to read on later.

Thanks for your kind review! :)

-Amanda

 Report Review

Does Narcissa still have her siters?

Author's Response: Hello! Hmm, I wrote this some time ago, so let me see what I remember. Andromeda does make an appearance here, but I don't think Bellatrix does, and Andromeda doesn't really factor in to Narcissa's life a great deal. Hope that answers your question.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the rest! :)

-Amanda

 Report Review

A happy ending! Thank you thank you thank you!!! I just loved this story so dearly, and this was just the most perfect ending I could have ever asked for.

I'm glad that you worked in how the relationship between the pair worked out over time, and that he didn't insantly trust her again after the death eater run-in. The personallities through this whole story just went together so wonderfuly, and I'm just so happy that things worked out for Severus and Lily in the end.

Seriously.. can you teach me how you write details and descriptions so amazingly? :) I just love your writing so much. Wonderful story, I loved reading this so much. Great work on this! I look forward to reading more of your writing in the future :)

Author's Response: Yes! It's great that you liked it and it didn't seem contrived. I wanted to put in one last roller-coaster moment between the end of the last chapter and this one, when you see that everything worked out okay after all. I think it would be a real challenge for me to write a Snily that didn't turn out happily in the end.

I initially didn't have much of an explanation in there, but I put it in because, as you said, I didn't want people to think that he was suddenly okay with what had happened. It's great that the personalities worked for you throughout the piece, even with all the shifting and turning going on the whole time.

Haha, unfortunately, I don't think so. I learned the importance of imagery from Toujours Padfoot; if you read any of her work, you'll see that she has a real gift for description, far beyond what I've ever accomplished. Detail, I don't know... I guess it's just my thing? Haha.

Your reviews have been a very sweet trip down memory lane. I had forgotten just how much I loved this story, and I'm so happy that you enjoyed it and stuck with it till the end. I hope you enjoy my other work just as much!

Thanks again for all your wonderful reviews!

Amanda

 Report Review

Such a powerful chapter.. just, wow. The details, I've mentioned previously, are just remarkable.

Sirius is gone. With the personallity switch you've given him, I can't say i'm too sad about that. Although I wish Sev would believe her! But I get it, stuff like that doesn't always work out. He seems like he really wants to believe her, but this attack just pushed him over the edge.

I really don't want there to only be one chapter left!

Author's Response: It's great that the details worked for you! :)

It's funny to re-read this along with you in responding to these reviews, because I'm just now realizing fully how many shocking twists and turns I built in, in the form of sudden deaths. I think we get that in canon, too; just one green flash and then it's all over for you.

It's good that you can sympathize with Severus. It tells me that I put equal emphasis into both him and Lily, which is what I wanted.

Thanks for another excellent review! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

yay! I'm so unbelievably happy right now :) This. This is why I love Snape/Lily. The way the emotion is just so strong between the pair of them (canon personallities or not) just makes me so happy. (and sad, and worried, etc.) I just love them dearly.

And I loved this dearly. It's intersting to see how the Order members don't really trust her, especially Molly and the Prewett twins. Except Severus, bless him. Sad to hear that Sev's dad died as well, but it's good to hear his mum is doing what she loves with potions. I loved the bit about the teacups at the end. It's just.. such a perfect comparison to their friendship. Very very brilliant work here. Not that I expected anything less :)

Author's Response: Agreed! It's great to find a fellow fan :) It's been great exploring the complexity of the emotions between them, for better or for worse, and that's why I love writing and reading them.

I'm glad you liked the teacups and the bit of symbolism I tried to incorporate with them. Lily definitely doesn't fit into the Order, and she experiences some of the same distrust that I'm sure Snape did when he joined. As for Eileen, I really like her and I wanted to give her a happy ending, since she really didn't get one as part of canon, either.

Thanks for another very kind review!

Amanda

 Report Review

oh god. Ok, that hit me by suprise a little! Narcissa's gone. My mind needs to process this for a minute.

There was one part, the paragraph that starts with Lily apologizing for what she had said. When I think back to canon, I think you captured the way Severus felt about calling Lily a mudblood so perfectly. (I do realize it's Lily feeling the remorse here, just thinking)

Narcissa's gone! god... Poor Severus. But he's letting Lily stay longer! This could be good for her. Or good for them. I should just read and not make guesses :p I loved the little smile at the end from Severus. Great chapter!

Author's Response: Yes, it was meant to be shocking. I wanted to capture that punch-in-the-gut feeling that Snape must have experienced when he realized that Lily and James were both dead. Poor thing.

It's great that I captured that well! I was trying to think of how he would apologize if he had the chance to properly do so, given that she died before he really could get her attention.

I've always wanted to try Severus/Narcissa, and while I could never quite make it work in canon, it was fun to give it a small try here. But yes, now it's Lily's time to shine, it seems.

Thanks for another lovely review! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

I loved your Dumbledore. I find him very difficult to get his personallity when writing him, but I think you did well. A great balance of wisdom and humor :)

It's great to see Lily is trying to help the good side! Just like Sev :) I seriously don't want to think in a few chapters about what's going to happen to Severus and Narcissa! Even though I know it has to "/ Brilliant chapter :) continuing now!

Author's Response: It's awesome to hear that you liked my Dumbledore. I really didn't feel confident about him when I posted this, though I tried my best :)

It is sad to think about, isn't it? But I was happy to see Lily make that turn for the good, like Severus did. I wanted to give her the moment that he never had, the one we didn't really get to see directly in canon (just in flashbacks). I'm glad you're rooting for her!

Thanks for another kind review!

Amanda

 Report Review

I loved all of the detail in the beginning of this chapter. The way you wrote about Lily getting into Grimmauld place was truly beautiful. I wonder what Bellatrix would think about Lily becoming so close to Voldemort :p

I liked your portrail of Voldemort here, you wrote him very well. Even though Sirius brought Lily to him in the first place, he still insulted him every chance he could. I like how she's taking the place of Snape, and I can't wait to read what you have planned for if she tries to save him.

Author's Response: It is interesting to think about Bella's reaction, isn't it? I think I tied a little of her up in Lily here, given that Voldemort clearly separates her from the other Death Eaters, but I didn't give her that edge of madness, but instead made her distant. I'm glad you liked my security measures!

Yes, that's it, a combination of Bellatrix and Snape, two of Voldemort's most trusted. I'm glad that you liked Voldemort, because he was super hard to write. (I feel like a lot of authors struggle with him and Dumbledore, me included.) And poor Sirius! He tries too hard.

Thanks for another very kind review!

Amanda

 Report Review

heartbreaking. the end of Lily and Sev's friendship was so sad! I like that you chose to do it a little differently, although if I think about canon, I could see Lily asking Sev to come to her and James' wedding. So excellent work, it's all so wonderfully believable.

I did love the inclusion of the "love is friendship set on fire". usually the addition of quotes (for me personally) takes away from the story, but I think this fit so well here.

The initation ceremony was really neat :)
I'm so torn. I really love seeing Severus happy, but I just wish it was with Lily! Again I loved Sirius here, I think you've written his character so well. Great work! on to the next chapter :)

Author's Response: Hey! Sorry these responses have taken so long; midterms were last week and they sort of ate my brain. Better late than never, right? :)

I'm very pleased that you liked the quote; this scene, and that little bit at the beginning that involved the quote, was one of the very first pieces of the plunny that came to me. I thought it would be a nice little change-up there in the middle, and I'm glad you thought so, too. It is very sad to see them part ways. I'm happy that you liked how I did things a little differently and that it made sense to you.

It was fun writing the initiation ceremony. I'd always kind of wondered what it was like to be formally invited to join the Order, and I guess this is what I came up with :)

It's good that you're torn -- that's what I was hoping readers would feel, because I felt a little of that. I'm glad that you still like Sirius, as cruel and heartless as he can be.

Thanks for another lovely review! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

Awwh.. Poor Lily "/ Pinning after Severus. I really like what you've done with Sirius, his personallity is just so different it's so intersting to read. I like how your showing her 'decent' into the Dark Arts with asking Sev to get her books, and Sirius inviting her to join Voldemort, I really love the plot here :)

It's cool how Frank sort of took James' spot, and Severus sort of got a mix of James and Remus. This is such a brilliant idea, I really love this story so far :) Great work!

Author's Response: Poor Lily indeed -- I wanted to generate a good mix of pity and disdain for her, in order to try to approximate what I think JKR wanted to do with Severus in canon. It was tough for me to get her to fit into this mold, though, considering how warm and positive she seemed to be in canon. I'm happy that you liked how I showed her getting into the Dark Arts and how Sirius is a catalyst for all that.

Your reviews have been wonderful, especially since they were "random", which are the kind of reviews I love best. I really appreciate you taking the time to read the story and comment as you go. I'm so excited to see what you think of the plot to come -- I look forward to reading those reviews, and I sincerely hope that you enjoy it! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

Sirius' personallity is a really intersting take on his character, sort of the exact opposite he is in the books.
Severus seems to fit right into Ravenclaw! It's so nice to see him so happy. And I liked that you still kept him good at potions as well :) It seems as if Lily is thinking about Severus a lot, it's just so adorable. Great work! All of the effort you put into this really shows through your attention to detail with the way you write. Amazing chapter!

Author's Response: Definitely! I like to think that I've characterized him as he might have been if his parents had succeeded in exerting their dark influence on him. His personality seemed a bit more forceful than Regulus's, at least in my mind, and I think that combined with Voldemort could be scary!

I don't think I can separate Potions from Severus in my mind, haha :) She definitely is thinking about him a lot and I'm glad that came across in all of the details here.

Thanks for yet another lovely review! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

I really loved the personallites shown in Lily and Sev on the train ride, she seems so snippy towards him, but the Sorting Hat didn't lie when it said she was loyal to her friends :)

and then wow... such intersting sorting :) Pureblood-Lily in Hufflepuff; with the way her parents seem to be towards her I hope she doesn't get disowned! Sev and James are in the same house as well! The red haired twins, were those the Prewett boys?

Intersting how Remus and Peter stayed in Gryffindor, as well as Sirius going to Slytherin. I think you've got a lot of intersting things set up for future chapters, and I'm very drawn to this story for all of the wonderful details you've brought to play here.

Brilliant work on this. Stupid RL I can't read more 'till tomorrow! Great chapter!

Author's Response: She definitely is snippy, largely because of her upbringing and tendency to keep to herself, but this is a role reversal, so I made sure that she cared about him from the start (as he seemed to care for her from the start in canon).

You are correct, those are the Prewett boys! Good catch. It's great that you liked my sorting. Some people found my choices odd, but I'm pretty tired of the Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry and wanted to do something different. By the way, that's not James -- if you remember from the first chapter, he's actually a Muggle in this story and makes only the briefest of appearances. The boy I was referring to is actually Frank Longbottom.

Thanks for another kind review! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

Great chapter :) I thought it was neat how you had Lily in robes and Sev in muggle clothes, with the role reversal. I like how he immedetly noticed her eyes.

God just, Sev having just a wonderful, loving mother figure just makes me so happy. I liked the bit of chemistry (chapter title.. i know :p) between Sev and Lily right away, it was very cute. Brilliant work with this!

I was going to ask in my review last chapter how many people didn't read the summary and corrected your details/characters in reviews, so I laughed a little when I saw you had mentioned it here :p

Great work :)

Author's Response: Yep, I love the way Lily is always associated with her eyes. I'm glad that you found their little first meeting cute and liked the interaction between them, however brief.

I did get an oddball comment or two from people who clearly hadn't read the summary. Evidently people get very defensive about Sirius turning out to be a Death Eater! Haha. I'm glad you approve of my creative license and actually bothered to read the summary :)

Thanks for another kind review!

Amanda

 Report Review

This was such a fantastic start. I really enjoyed the part about the owls flying together, and seeing Severus in such a happy family setting just made my heart melt.

This is such an intersting idea, and they way you set the stage for James, Lily, and Snape with their personallites and family structures was very well written. Great chapter one!

Author's Response: Thanks! I agree, it's about time Severus got a small taste of a normal, happy life at home. I'm really happy that you like the changes I made with Snape, Lily and James in this chapter and that you find the idea fresh and original.

Thanks for your kind review :)

Amanda

 Report Review

In my opinion, Lily might be a little young at eleven for full make-up, but this is certainly a choice a character might make when she is trying to change her image upon arrival in a new place. (plus it's the 70s and I'm sure that look was 'in')

Sirius in Slytherin, too? Fun! (I suspect this Sirius had a rather happier childhood than his canon companion :( )

Oh, I made a mistake in an earlier review -- I assumed the apothecary was Professor Slughorn's AU double. Oops!

This story is such fun, I'll be going along and reviewing as I have time :)

Author's Response: Oh, I totally agree with you. You nailed it on the head, though -- she's trying to be bigger and badder than she really is, as a survival mechanism. Unfortunately, this behavior doesn't always attract the most savory sorts of people, as we can see here with Sirius's introduction. (And yes, if you consider his parents not wanting to throw him out happy!)

Yes, I didn't respond to that bit once I saw this review. Slug and Jiggers are actually canon, I believe, as the real owners of the Apothecary.

Thanks so much for another lovely review!

Amanda

 Report Review

Interesting choices for the sorting! You've painted such vivid scenes of King's Cross and the Great Hall, I think that's my favorite part of the story so far. You've used just enough detail to make it come to life. It's tricky to come up with that sense of "reality" in an AU where the circumstances are so radically different than readers are accustomed to -- nice job.

Author's Response: I'm so glad you like the detail. It's great to hear that it works for readers even though it's AU. I certainly had fun twisting things around and playing with details we know from canon.

Thanks for another kind review! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

The descriptions are so clear, I loved your scene setting for Diagon Alley. The Snape family are reminding me of the Weasleys, I wonder if this is intentional. :)

(I like the alternate fate for Slughorn as an apothecary, I wonder how he got there in your AU... you certainly don't have to answer, I'm just curious!)

Author's Response: You're so sweet for coming by to check this out! Actually, no, that wasn't intentional, but I can see the similarities -- Eileen is certainly more motherly here than we remember from canon.

Thanks so much for your kind review! :)

Amanda

 Report Review

I'm so intrigued by the flips & twists you've put into this AU! Lily as a full-blood with prejudiced parents and James as a Muggle, and Severus as a loved and cherished child! So much potential. I am a huge Snape/Lily fan as well as an AU fan, so I'm excited to dive in. Great beginning.

Author's Response: Thanks so much! I did try to mix things up a bit in this piece, and the twists keep hitting even in the later chapters. I tried to keep it interesting :)

Thanks for your kind review, and I do hope you read on and enjoy the rest of the story! It's always lovely to meet a fellow Snily fan!

Amanda

 Report Review