Hi,

I just feel proud that I stumbled upon your fanfic. It was brilliantly and professionally written and way beyond the years. It has definitely set the bars higher for aspiring HP fanfic writers. Although initially it reminded me of Hunger Games a little bit, it took a different path later. You have provided amazing depth to all characters and your attention to details is amazing. I could easily visualize the grey shades of all characters with your beautiful description. This was unlike anything I ever read.

So original and gripping. I cancelled my weekend plans to finish reading this! :)

I really pray that you write a novel for real and publish it. We are in dire need of writers like you. :)

Good luck!!

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I absolutely love Tonks and Remus together! They're both funny and adorable. I was so sad when Mrs Darby asked if one bedroom would be enough. They should have been with Teddy, and then they would have needed another one..

I love reading about them together, as we don't get to see too much of it in the HP books. You're portrayal of their relationship is perfect! Although, this makes me worry about Tonks' future. It would be so cruel if they went through all this, if they bought a new house and settled in, and she'd end up dying. What would it do to Remus??

Author's Response: Tonks/Remus is one of my favorite ships, second only to Romione. :) I'm so proud of them for making the most of their new life. Lily is Tonk's parallel in many ways, as they've both left their sons behind on Earth. But Tonks is attempting to move on whereas Lily still isn't ready to accept that she's dead and no longer a mother. :(

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

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I liked this round of the Runs better than the first one. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, from the first word to the last. I don't think I've mentioned this before, but the idea of having the rounds take place in memories... wow. Hats off to you. It's absolutely brilliant. It was nice to see you tying the story together with historical events, like the Goblin Rebellion.

As ever, your writing is brilliant. You've added the perfect amount of detail to this chapter - it makes everything so vivid, but also leaves a little bit for the imagination (just how I like it!!)

As for the events of the chapter, you've surprised me. I had this theory that Snape would be the one to die, but he's out already! And Peter... I'm glad he didn't get the chance to cause any more pain.

I'm really worried about who'll end up in the final round. Don't let it be James! It would break my heart if it was him - he's the one who's been waiting for all this time to meet Harry when he gets there... I'll have to keep reading :)

Author's Response: Out of all five races, the second and fourth ones are my personal favorites, so I'm quite pleased that you liked this one.

Having the setting of duels take place inside of memories gave me limitless options, so I had to carefully pick and choose different types of races to depict. This one was more action-y in the sense that the game changes often. You have to pay close attention to see who's winning and who's losing because it changes so fast.

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

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I've been meaning to read this for such a long time now, and now here I am. Ready to immerse myself in this mystical world I've heard so much about!

Wow...just wow! I feel like I've fallen in Wonderland and I'm Alice, discovering a new world and following favourite characters adapt to this new world. It's amazing what imagination can do, and clearly yours is very rich. Otherwise, there'd be no way to create such an amazing start of something that I'm sure is going to be a grand journey.

I'm so happy to see my dead favourite characters again. Setting aside my sadness at their deaths in the books, I've always wondered (as I do in real life as well) what happened to them after they died. Did JK ever imagine what was next for them? I've allowed myself to believe that she has because that particular quote you used, the one Albus Dumbledore said is a very strong hint in that direction. At least that's what I like to tell myself because I can't bare the thought that death is the final stage of one's life and there is nothing beyond that.

I recently read your reply to the "Conflicting constructive criticism" thread on the forums and I remember you said that your reviewers usually fall into two categories: the ones that tell you that too much description can detract the plot and you should tone it down, and the ones that love it. Well, I will join the team that praises you endlessly for your descriptions. Not only the ones about the setting or the surroundings but the descriptions of the character's thoughts and feelings as well. I think description is an essential part of story-telling and one can never truly go overboard with it (well, you CAN overdo it but I'm certain this is not your case). Your story especially needs a great deal of description because you are presenting the readers with a whole new world, unlike what we've ever seen before and if we aren't able to imagine how everything looks in the 'beyond', we will only get confused when trying to picture it ourselves, and THAT would be a real turn off.

I'm really excited about "Run". I am really eager to know more about these races and what they mean. Can't wait to find out :D Amazing start!

Author's Response: Hi, Debra! Eeep, thank you for stopping by! One of the first things I hear from new readers is that they've heard of this story before and come into it with somewhat elevated expectations, which quite honestly intimidates the beans out of me.

While this story is advertised as an action/adventure, since there is quite a bit of dueling, at its heart this story is really about "living on" after death. It's about all the characters we've heard about who have passed on, trying desperately to scrap together some semblance of a new life. Some people just can't move on, and it destroys them. Some people move on at such a speed that they forget all about life on Earth. The different ways these many characters react to their new immortality is what "Run" is all about. I really, really hope you enjoy the journey. :)

Eee, I'm so glad to hear that my imagery wasn't overwhelming! Sometimes I get so excited to paint a scene that I forget to stop doing it. I wanted this to be a visual experience and I want readers to become familiarized with every square inch of Cliodna's Clock.

Thank you so much for your review! I hope you continue to read and enjoy. :)

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I knew it!!! My poor heart strings!!!

Author's Response: :( Sorry! ♥ -hands you a teddy bear and some kleenex-

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

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"Daily departed" is really clever!!

Author's Response: Heehee, thank you! ^ ^ I'm rather fond of that detail.

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I really enjoy the love triangle going on with the founders! It reminds me a little of lily and Snape in this chapter

Author's Response: That's good to hear! That's exactly what I was going for. I loved illustrating the parallels between Rowena, Salazar, and Godric and Lily, James, and Severus. It is essentially the same triangle that plays out to much different results because the women at their cores are so different from each other.

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I'm glad you mixed the game! It really have a feel for the different generations of the characters. A little something for everyone. I hope it comes down to tonks and crabbe. I mean why isn't Crabbe in gotta anyway? He died trying to kill harry! I was surprised that James and lily weren't a little less forgiving

Author's Response: Quidbumps was fun. ^ ^ I got to invent a little instead of sticking to one particular game. Ooh, rooting for it to come down to Tonks and Crabbe, eh? Good question about Crabbe! I suppose his redemption is that he never really had a chance to grow up and realize that what he was doing was wrong. It's one thing for a fully-grown adult to commit evil acts, but for a boy who's been surrounded by Death Eaters all his life and really doesn't have the intellectual capacity to know any better, he was more a product of his environment than anything else. If he'd grown up with another family, another House, I suspect he would have gone a much, much different way - and I think Cliodna knows this as well. But who knows! Her decisions about who goes where are murky at best.

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This remind me of the hunger games only more people get to live, which is more comforting. I was wondering what was going to happen to peter! Very creative and exciting chapter!

Author's Response: lol, Hunger Games Harry-Potter style. Instead of one person living, only one person dies. Gotta have a lid on that population control!

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Oh no!! I don't know if I can handle it if lily and tonks go head to head! And yet I am so obsessed with this story

Author's Response: D: Lily and Tonks have so much in common. It would be hard for anyone to root against either of them. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! You are awesome. ^ ^

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I'm sure I'm not alone when I cry out a vindictive "yes!" To Peter getting what he deserves from those who deserve to give it to him.

Author's Response: Peter is the worst! I don't feel sorry for him at all. He's one of the few 'bad' characters in HP that I can't make excuses for. I just cannot sympathize with him, no matter what.

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I am finding the idea of death after death very uncomfortable. I'm anxious and excited to see what happens next. I have a feeling you are going to be pulling on my heart strings very shortly!

Author's Response: Death itself makes me extremely uncomfortable - the finality of it, the unknown. I'm a bit of a masochist for forcing myself to think about the afterlife for several months while writing this novel because the idea of the afterlife freaks me out a little.

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

- Sarah

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Wow!! What a unique and creative story idea! I am so glad I found this story!

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so happy you've stumbled upon it. :) I hope you enjoy Run!

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This chapter was really good! The flow was perfect - I just read it all, without even thinking about it, which is exactly how it should be :) Well done!

I enjoyed seeing the contrast between Dumbledore's advice and personality and Salazar Slytherin's. I feel kind of bad for both Crabbe and Colin. I hope you will reveal in the future why they signed up for the Devil's Duel, because netiher one seems to really want to be part of it.

The best part about this chapter was the last section with Remus and Tonks. I love the fact that he tried to prepare her for the duels, and that he was hesitant to really try to defeat her. That's why it's a good thing Moody was there. Although, I'm a bit confused as to why Tonks was so 'bad' at dueling - like she stated, she IS an auror. The fact that Tonks refused to hurt any of her opponents was nice, and I'm glad that Remus supported it. However, if it comes down to her and one more in the finals... the other one has to die in order for her to win...

This is so interesting! I just want to read more!! :)

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so happy you liked it. :)

Salazar is a nasty seed. His advice versus Albus's advice really illustrates the sort of counseling given to Colin and Vincent all their lives. Vincent has always looked up to Slytherins, to Death Eaters, to people who do not have his best interest at heart, whereas Colin's idols are do-gooders like Harry Potter. I did give a glimpse of Colin's motivations for joining the Devil's Duel in this chapter (he wanted to visit Dennis and warn him about his early death), and if you keep your eyes peeled you might see Vincent's motivations a bit later on. ;)

Tonks really is good at dueling, just not at dueling her husband. She can't treat him like an adversary because she loves him, and is unwilling to hurt him even if it's for practice. She doesn't want to hurt anyone, really. In this respect she's not well-suited to something like the Devil's Duel. It's for more ruthless, cutthroat competitors. Hopefully she'll be able to internalize these concerns and put them out of mind so that they don't affect the duel outcomes.

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

- Sarah

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Another great chapter! Not that I'm surprised ;)

I love the amount of detail you've put into this story. Your descriptions of this world they're living in are so vivid, that I feel like I'm watching it, rather than reading about. However, a tip for future stories could be not to let it get out of hand. It's absolutely fantastic, but sometimes, just sometimes, less is more. There have been a few times when I've read this story that I've found that it didn't flow as well as it could have, because it focused a little too much on descriptions. However, this is just a tiny detail and all in all, I love the descriptions :)

Lily in your story is so interesting. I find that many authors portray her as almost perfect, the ultimate good person, without a single flaw. Which is not very believable. That's why I love her in your story - she has flaws, she's a regular woman - she likes the fact that Snape is in love with her. She appreciates the attention. I love it.

But in this chapter, I just fell in love with James. I've always loved that character, even in the original series, and congratulations, you've done him justice! Lily is a lucky woman to get to be his wife :) He seems so wonderful!

I was so sad when I read about Fred. It seems like he hates the quiet because he misses the Burrow... maybe he'll win, so that he'll get to hide in there somewhere for just one day, and be home again. I'd like that :)

I look forward to reading the rest of your story. It's so, so good!! ;)

Author's Response: Sometimes I let the details run a little wild and forget to rear them in. XD Sorry about that! Some passages, for some reason, came out extremely visual and it was important for me to describe exactly what everything looked like. And in other chapters it's more action-oriented, or dialogue-oriented, etc. I tried to keep a nice balance but my tendency to go on description tangents does appear every now and then. *hides*

Lily's characterization in this story is somewhat divisive with readers. She's usually portrayed a lot differently in other fanfics, but I wanted to try something new. After all, we really don't know that much about her - and what we do know, is from memories or hearsay years and years after her death. The afterlife changes people. Lily is not the same person as she was when she came here.

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

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I meant to keep reading this story a long time ago, but I haven't got around to it. But finally, I read another chapter. And it was as good as I had expected. Not that I'm not interested in the Devil's Duel and its outcome, but it was quite nice to get a break from it.

It was also very nice to see Sirius and Regulus get along. I see no reason why they shouldn't. Sirius must forgive Regulus after what he did, right? He was good, after all. So that makes me really happy.

Ariana was a nice addition too. I like how you described her fear of life on earth, and I hope we'll get to see more of her in this story.

It was also interesting to hear their speculations on the outcome of the Devil's Duel, to get a better insight on why they forced Peter to join and the rules of the imprisonment in the Grotta.

Overall, a very good chapter. I have no complaints, and I'm eager to keep reading :)

Author's Response: The Devil's Duel is a grueling, time-sucking, stressful occasion. As much as I liked writing the various rounds, the real meat and mystery is in the in-between chapters. You'll find as the story progresses that there is a whole lot more to this island than meets the eye.

I loved giving Sirius and Regulus the opportunity to have family again. The brothers had a great many years to reflect on what was important and what wasn't, and in my head I think they embraced each other fairly quickly after Sirius arrived in Cliodna's Clock.

Ahh, the speculations. They are endless. If there's one think you can say about the afterlife, it's that they have very, VERY little to do. So they will talk certain subjects to death.

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

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It was a good chapter but I believe someone hacked your account. Many of the words have been replaced such as wand with banana, eyes with puppies, love with Tinky Winky, and face with purse. There's a few other ones including underwear and eyebrow that I can't quite decipher. Just thought I would let you know, however I am very much enjoying your story and really appreciate your creativity and attention to detail. Thank you!

Author's Response: I would recommend reading the printer-friendly version of this story. As an April Fool's joke, HPFF has gone through and substituted certain words for other ones in everyone's stories. XD It'll all be back to normal tomorrow.

Thank you for reading!!

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I have just read this story from start to finish in about four hours, absolutely loved it! A specific highlight for me was the prologue bit to chapter 22, it was beautiful! Your descriptive writing and imagery was perfect and it literally made me cry. I loved your idea of Run as a whole and am sad to see it end!
Lots of love x

Author's Response: Four hours!!! Oh my goodness, I am so pleased that you sped through this that quickly. You must have really enjoyed reading it!

Thank you so much for reading and for your wonderful words about Run. It amazes me to see the positive feedback I've gotten from it, and every review reinforces how happy I am that I ever started it.

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This was absolutely brilliant. I'm astonished by your fantastic writing every time I return to this story to find out what will happen. I can only dream of becoming as good a writer as you are someday.

The chapter was intriguing. I like the fact that you revealed why Snape and Pettigrew entered the Races, and I suppose you revealed why James did too. He wanted to defeat Lily before the final rounds, so that she wouldn't die. It seems like something that James would do, and I thought it was perfect.

I keep speculating about which two people it will come down to in the end. My latest theory is that it will Snape and James, and that Snape will sacrifice himself for Lily, so that she'll get to keep her husband. I guess I'll have to keep reading to find out :)

Author's Response: Oh wow, thank you so much!!

You're correct, James wanted to get in there and throw Lily out of the races while he still had the chance. He is trying to keep her safe since she doesn't have the good sense and clarity to keep herself safe.

Snape and James would be a fun match for the end, but since they're on the same team it can't be them in the final round. The last round will be one person one one team, Victus, vs. one person on the opposite team, Mortuus.

Thank you so much for continuing to read and review!

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Ooh! This is a very exciting concept. I'm excited to see how this will progress.

Author's Response: Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy it. :)

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Wow. I can't believe it's finally starting. You chose the perfect ending to this chapter, because it makes me feel like I have to go on and read the next one right away.

It will be very interesting to read everyone's motives for joining the races, and of course see who wins and who loses.

Also, don't worry about changing the setting from Titanic. This was absolutely perfect. And, as always, wonderfully written.

Author's Response: The Devil's Duel will soon begin! I'm so excited to see what you think.

The Titanic would have been fun, but I'm glad I didn't go that route. Since the Titanic is very Muggle, it would have lost some of its magic - and I wouldn't have been able to use some of the things I inserted. :3

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

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This chapter was really great. Getting an inside look on the Grotta was intriguing, and I really hope we'll get to see a bit more of what I guess is your version of hell. It was perfect, and I loved that little touch of having people who are 'mentally dead' be ghosts of this world, like Barty Crouch or the Longbottoms.

And the contenders, finally! I can't wait to see how the Races will go. I also really hope that we'll get more of an explanation as to why Pettigrew ended up in Cliodna's Clock rather than the Grotta.

I'm a bit confused about James' motive to sign up. Was it because Pettigrew was in, or because Snape was?

I guess Fred and Cedric want to see their families, right? And maybe Colin too. Well, I guess I'll have to keep reading. I think that this is my favorite story on this site, and I'm so glad to have found it. Great job! ;)

Author's Response: I was excited to show what the Grotta looked like on the inside. The interesting thing about it, though, is that it's not really the equivalent of hell. There are people in there who probably shouldn't be in there (Walburga, for example, who was undeniably nasty in life but not bad enough to warrant this kind of harsh fate), just like there are those who slipped through the cracks and ended up in Cliodna's Clock (Igor, Peter, Salazar, etc.). It's not divine selection that assigns people to where they'll end up, as you'll see eventually. There are things about Cliodna's Clock that are not quite right. ;)

You'll see more about James later! And you'll hear his motivations for entering. Everyone's motives are different, and some aren't known. You'll get to see why certain people entered and with others, they more or less keep that information to themselves.

Your favorite story on this site?! :O You seriously do not know how floored I am to hear that. There's so many awesome stories on HPFF, so it feels nothing short of wonderful that you should think highly of mine.

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

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This has absolutely been the best piece of fanfiction I have ever come across! So original, and well written, and just freakin awesome. I loved the idea of the many afterlives, and shifting time, and living memories... the Devil's Duel also as a concept was very Hunger Games and super interesting. It's tough to write action adventure, and in so many different perspectives too. The twisted paradise of Cliodna's Clock being undone by a boy like Colin Creevey was supremely satisfying by the way, definitely a top moment. My favourite element though has to be the bit where Fred and George switch - just brilliant. I'm sorry for gushing so much but I can't help myself! Loved loved loved it I hope JK Rowling for whatever reason will read this some day.

Author's Response: Thank you, Terri!! I'm so thrilled you liked this. There's literally millions of fan fiction stories out there, so I don't take it lightly to hear such wonderful compliments.

Action/adventure really is tough to write. I get one chance to paint an image in readers' minds and if I don't segue from one character to another in a fluid way, it will jar readers and become confusing. Colin Creevey ending up being the one to plumb Cliodna's Clock's secrets brings a smile to my face - I always root for the underdogs, the innocent ones.

Thank you for reading and reviewing! And oh my, I think I would be too terrified to have Rowling read this. I can't imagine anyone playing around with my own original characters and it would probably irk her to see what I did to her creations!

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Once again, I'm amazed by how brilliant your writing is. It's very inspiring and I really admire it!

I'm not sure if I understood this right, but is the Memory Garden of people who have died in Cliodna's Clock? Although that doesn't make any sense, because Albus and Aberforth's tomb stone said 1899, right? Hm... I guess you'll explain it later on. Anyway, I thought it was a nice touch. I also really loved the fact that we got to meet Luna's mother, and how refreshingly special she is, just like her daughter!

But the best part of this chapter was definitely the part with Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin. :) Their characters are amazing and it's really intriguing!

Author's Response: Thank you!

The Memory Garden is the reverse of a cemetery - it's for the people left behind on earth. It's a tangible memorial for people who miss their loved ones who haven't passed on yet. Dumbledore and Aberforth's parents were already in CC with Ariana and the only two who hadn't joined them yet were Albus and Aberforth, so they made a kind of tombstone for them; loved ones can go there and 'talk' to them and it can help with closure. I hope that cleared things up! ^ ^

There's so much of Luna in her mother. :)

I'm glad you liked the Founders bit! Salazar was one of my favorite characters in this story to write.

In the next chapter, you finally get to see who was selected to compete in the Devil's Duel!

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

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The part with Tonks and Remus was so sad. Especially them wondering what would happen if she'd just sneak in and hold Teddy one last time... I almost cried when I read it. I'm so eager to find out who gets to participate in the races and who'll win. I really, really hope it won't come down to Tonks and Lily.

Author's Response: I feel so bad for Tonks and Remus. :( I don't even know what I would do if I were in that situation. I don't think I would be able to participate in the races at all just for the fact that I can't imagine seeing my little baby for only 24 hours and then having to turn around and leave again. Sometimes too far is better than so close but not close enough.

You'll find out who the contenders are very, very soon! :3 Thank you for reading and reviewing.

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