Hi,

- I know you've reviewed the longer version (and I thank you!) but I think your question here about how he can say she is of no consequence deserves an answer...There are a lot of reasons why he'd say that she _wasn't_ anyone of consequence (his line is in response to Hermione's "Who was she?") - they're all kind of muddled because it's a muddly moment in a muddly problem, but the way I see it working is this:1.  It never happened, and it's something that on one level he'd like to forget.2.  He can't forget it, but, as it wasn't real, he'll try to keep it compartmentalized (he'll fail, of course, as comes out in the longer version).3.  He feels guilty that she was of such consequence to him when she was so young, although Molly's take on that (in the longer version) indicates that his guilt may be out of proportion to how others would have seen it under other circumstances.4.  He doesn't want to tell Hermione, on the surface of things, anyway, and is hoping to deflect her questioning (on one level).  In other words, he's lying, but not entirely.I hope that helps?Thank you, as always,~ Ari

Yes enornously. Thank you for that detailed answer.

Hi,

- I know you've reviewed the longer version (and I thank you!) but I think your question here about how he can say she is of no consequence deserves an answer...There are a lot of reasons why he'd say that she _wasn't_ anyone of consequence (his line is in response to Hermione's "Who was she?") - they're all kind of muddled because it's a muddly moment in a muddly problem, but the way I see it working is this:1.  It never happened, and it's something that on one level he'd like to forget.2.  He can't forget it, but, as it wasn't real, he'll try to keep it compartmentalized (he'll fail, of course, as comes out in the longer version).3.  He feels guilty that she was of such consequence to him when she was so young, although Molly's take on that (in the longer version) indicates that his guilt may be out of proportion to how others would have seen it under other circumstances.4.  He doesn't want to tell Hermione, on the surface of things, anyway, and is hoping to deflect her questioning (on one level).  In other words, he's lying, but not entirely.I hope that helps?Thank you, as always,~ Ari

Yes enornously. Thank you for that detailed answer.

Thanks so much!  ;)  ~ Ari

Thanks so much!  ;)  ~ Ari

*smiles*  Just a bit of a twist there!  Thank you for reviewing :)  ~ Ari

*smiles*  Just a bit of a twist there!  Thank you for reviewing :)  ~ Ari

*grins*  Me too, my friend; me too.  *waves*  Thank you!

*grins*  Me too, my friend; me too.  *waves*  Thank you!

I get that - it is a very weird ending.  Thanks for taking the time to review despite the weirdness and the ambivalent feeling it leaves you with - I appreciate it ~ Ari

ambivalent is definitely the right word.

I get that - it is a very weird ending.  Thanks for taking the time to review despite the weirdness and the ambivalent feeling it leaves you with - I appreciate it ~ Ari

ambivalent is definitely the right word.

Seems so!  Bit of a twist with that last line.  *smiles*  This one won't seem to let me go; there may be more coming.Thanks, Molly :D  *waves*  ~ Ari

See the little cheerleader girl <---She and I both would like to see this continued. I'll just bookmark it quick so you don't sneak by me.

Seems so!  Bit of a twist with that last line.  *smiles*  This one won't seem to let me go; there may be more coming.Thanks, Molly :D  *waves*  ~ Ari

See the little cheerleader girl <---She and I both would like to see this continued. I'll just bookmark it quick so you don't sneak by me.

Thanks so much, Beth!  So glad you liked it, and that the last line delivered the twisty punch I was hoping for ;)  ~ Ari

Thanks so much, Beth!  So glad you liked it, and that the last line delivered the twisty punch I was hoping for ;)  ~ Ari

Thank you,

(love your name, btw)...  I'm so pleased you liked it.  Cheers!  ~ Ari

Thank you,

(love your name, btw)...  I'm so pleased you liked it.  Cheers!  ~ Ari

Thanks,

.Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks,

.Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks much,

!  Bit of a twist, there - glad you enjoyed it.Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks much,

!  Bit of a twist, there - glad you enjoyed it.Cheers,~ Ari

*nods*  Thanks,

!Cheers,~ Ari

*nods*  Thanks,

!Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks, as always,

!  Pleased to hear that it touched you.Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks, as always,

!  Pleased to hear that it touched you.Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks so much,

!  Glad you liked it.  Pleasure meeting you at Terminus, too.  Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks so much,

!  Glad you liked it.  Pleasure meeting you at Terminus, too.  Cheers,~ Ari

I flourish my quill of white space, 'Lenka my dear, and am so pleased the sucker punch worked for you.And now I shall wander off to announce your lovely new fic far and wide.  :D*grateful bow*~ Ari

I flourish my quill of white space, 'Lenka my dear, and am so pleased the sucker punch worked for you.And now I shall wander off to announce your lovely new fic far and wide.  :D*grateful bow*~ Ari

*smiles*  Bit of a shocker for its writer as it was all evolving.  Thanks much, as always, blackaces - glad you enjoyed it!~ Ari

*smiles*  Bit of a shocker for its writer as it was all evolving.  Thanks much, as always, blackaces - glad you enjoyed it!~ Ari

Thanks much,

:)  I initially intended this one as a stand-alone becaue of the drabble challenge - but the characters have more to say, so it seems there's more coming!Cheers, and thanks!~ Ari

Thanks much,

:)  I initially intended this one as a stand-alone becaue of the drabble challenge - but the characters have more to say, so it seems there's more coming!Cheers, and thanks!~ Ari

Thanks,

... your reviews always make me so happy :)This one started as a response to a challenge and so I initially intended it as a stand-alone - but the characters have more to say, so there may be more coming soon.  Still have to finish No Loyalty, but I'll be putting the last chapter of AWS up where you're reading this weekend.Cheers!  *waves*~ Ari

Thanks,

... your reviews always make me so happy :)This one started as a response to a challenge and so I initially intended it as a stand-alone - but the characters have more to say, so there may be more coming soon.  Still have to finish No Loyalty, but I'll be putting the last chapter of AWS up where you're reading this weekend.Cheers!  *waves*~ Ari

Hi,

...He was already protecting her... this was one of those that started as a small response to a drabble challenge but has already outgrown its form.  And apparently the characters have more to say, so there may be more soon... so your question will get an answer even though initially I wanted to leave the backstory up to the readers... *laughs  The characters, they have other ideas.Cheers,~ Ari

Hi,

...He was already protecting her... this was one of those that started as a small response to a drabble challenge but has already outgrown its form.  And apparently the characters have more to say, so there may be more soon... so your question will get an answer even though initially I wanted to leave the backstory up to the readers... *laughs  The characters, they have other ideas.Cheers,~ Ari

Thanks,

... so pleased you enjoyed it, especially his confession.  Initially this was to have been a stand-alone under the rules of the challenge, with readers free to imagine whatever backstory they wished, but the characters have more to say, so there may be more soon.Cheers - and thanks again!~ Ari

Thanks,

... so pleased you enjoyed it, especially his confession.  Initially this was to have been a stand-alone under the rules of the challenge, with readers free to imagine whatever backstory they wished, but the characters have more to say, so there may be more soon.Cheers - and thanks again!~ Ari

Thank you,

:)  *waves*  ~ Ari

Thank you,

:)  *waves*  ~ Ari