That was a fascinating chapter. Glad it was Minerva on the other side of the door or the person might have been petrified. lolI'm so glad Poppy put her foot down and went to Minerva's office with everyone else. I think it showed that she truly does care for Snape and that he's willing to allow her into all parts of his  life. awwww.And Minerva was a hoot when she realized that she might have been interrupting them. Hope Moody and Snape can crack the case, soon. I'm getting really curious ... and a little worried!CFP,the GLM

I'm always a little in awe of authors like you who can make their stories very plotty and still very sweet.  Poppy was perfect in this chapter; every interaction between them seemed meaningful, especially as she implored him to believe in himself.

Oooh, lots of information in this chapter, lots of clues to sift through and think about. I might even have a list of suspects by now if I had just read the previous 82 chapters, but it's a little harder with a WIP fic. I've been thinking maybe Ginny, but the schedule doesn't seem to work.I'm enjoying how the relationship between Severus and Moody has been evolving. That he can take Moody's insinuations with humor now is an enormous change.And the chapter end with Poppy and Severus - so romantic! I'm all fluttery.

great chapter! for a minute there I thought about Helena being the one behind the attacks, just because her cloak was mentioned recently and because she's very light on her feet, being a humming bird would make for a quick exit too, but she doesn't seem the type. You never know!

I loved the little Severus/Poppy moments, is was really sweet and special. My favorite part was when she told him that he's worth it! I almost cried!Again great, brilliant chapter! I can't wait to read more and now I'm very into the whole attacks and someone after Severus thing, love the romance too of course lol. Sam

hey dearie!you're getting this review from the UK this time ;) I'm at Salisbury right now on holiday, and I really love it - just visited stonehenge!! The only thing I miss about Germany right now is (next to my girlfriend^^) the keyboard. It's really confusing, when a few things seem to be switched...but back to your story^^They really do need a lot of time until they will finally become a couple?^^ Severus is really cute with his wish to court Poppy properly. But I like the way they both enjoy just spending time together...and all those kisses, so cute :)Severus has developed a lot during your story. Although there are still traces from his old self, he kind of seems to have become alive. I guess the triumph over the Dark Lord and the accompanied "freedom" as well as his new place in society etc. are helping him a lot.So, tell me, how long will we, your devoted readers, have to wait for the grand duel?^^

looking forward to more!!

It was terrific to read some Albus and Minerva again.  I don't consider either one to be a good matchmaker/predictor of who would make a good couple, but it is fun to watch them plan and manipulate in their own sweet way.  Minerva's inside knowledge made her the winner of the place card arranging game, IMO . Interesting conversation about Albus' past relationship with Gareth.  I can only imagine how hurt and rejected Gareth must have felt to hear Albus say he should live with Melina.  And then hiring the Death Eater that terrorized his mother.  I think Albus is lucky the adult Gareth has anything to do with him.   Albus needs to try to have a different, better relationship with Gareth and Severus. I think it would be healing for all 3 of them. I liked the fluffy domestic which-shoe-to-wear scene between Poppy and Severus. Bring on the dinner party!       

Hi MMADfan.  Sorry it took me so long to review this chapter.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Severus and Poppy seem to have overcome almost all of the hurdles and are just so adorable together.  Severus seems to be feeling much more secure.  When they were discussing possible haircuts and Poppy brought up Murdoch, Severus didn't even seem to notice.  I am a little concerned about the big speed bump still to be crossed though- what he did to Gertrude.  That's just too major to not slip out at some point.  Severus is right, if Quin finds out he will make Severus' life hellish.  Looking forward to the dinner party.    

Oh my. I wouldn't want to be on the other side of that door. LOLAnd I'm really looking forward to Poppy practicing more of her wandless magic. I can already hear Marvin Gaye singing about SEKshual heeelin'.

I love this sweet romance between them. That he trusts her so much that he voluntarily pokes fun at himself at the same time he's romancing her. She can't possibly resist him for much longer.The interaction with Eoghan was fun, too. As different as he must be from the boy that Severus was, it was good to see him find enough of a connection that he could feel that little stab of empathy and do the boy a small kindness. I hope he gets to develop a family relationship that brings him joy instead of pain. Glad you're back to the story - I'm glad to be back reading it!

Terrific date Severus set up. Poppy should feel very special and lucky. I'm glad she persevered in telling Sev about her status with Quin. Severus needs more practice/occasions with news not always being bad.
I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I love Poppy's character. ABC Family was showing all of the HP movies recently and when I saw Madam Pomfrey in a scene with the Matron's hat on, I thought of how far you've developed a minor character. She wasn't one I ever gave much thought to but I'm enjoying her now. Curious as to what her middle name is. Thanks for another 5 star chapter.

What a romantic date for Severus and Poppy. Love how Severus is opening up and letting other people help him-not an easy thing to do. His conversation with Flitwick about the creepiness was funny. It was great to see Siofre and Johannes in the present day whlie also reading about how they met in Charming the Scottish Garden. I'd been saving this chapter to read and it was worth it. Thanks.

Aaah, tagging so far behind again with my reviews... I've read them all as soon as they came out, but well...
At least here is one for this lovely chapter. Things seem to be working really well for Severus and Poppy now, and he seems to slowly get the hang of this "dating" thing. It's so cute and lovable how you show his insecurities and his thoughts again and again, and I really thinkt that - at least in this story - Poppy is the perfect match for him. I like your characterization and deepening of her character very much, too.
Now I just wonder who is daring to interrput this perfect hour *g* and what he/she will say to seeing the stern Potions Master with unbuttened cuffs and half-buttoned shirt - and WIHTOUT waistcoat, coat and even robes! *faints* *lol*

Author's Response: Hi, Alcina! I'm glad you were able to run along and catch up a bit!

I'm glad you like the characterizations of Severus and Poppy here, and that you find them perfect for each other. When I first wrote Poppy into Resolving a Misunderstanding back ages ago, I thought of her as a handy "placeholder" kind of character, one that Minerva could interact with, but as I wrote her character, I came to like her and see her as a potential primary character in her own right.

A very inconvenient interruption! But you won't have to wait too long for the next update, I hope! And Severus does look a bit "in the middle of something," doesn't he?

Thanks for the review!

WONDERFUL!! absolutely brilliant! I loved it!. It was such a great date, and they enjoyed each other so much, I can't wait to see how he courts her, and how slow they can take it, admit it! they have great chemistry in the bedroom lol. Gotta love that wandless magic!! LOL It was great that they talked about Quin, Severus was very worried and jealous. I'm curious! who's on the other side?? should I be worried?? Ooooohhh!! Sam

Sounds like Poppy and Severus had a wonderful date night. Too bad it was cut short. Darn whoever it is knocking at the door at this hour of night. I'm with Severus ... snarl!!!! I'm glad they had the conversation about Quin and dating others, though. That's a great first step for them becoming a real couple and forging ahead with their romance. Now, hurry and update so we can find out who's knocking on Snape's door and interrupting what was a lovely little interlude!!!

Poppy is lucky to have a sister as caring as Violet. I liked the description of Severus "tall, dark and moody", funny and appropriate. As I was reading how Severus and Eoghan are related I kept thinking how amazing it is that you can create all of these characters and then keep them straight. Don't know how you do it. Sounds like Gareth didn't inherit his father's musical talent:). Hope you're surviving the heat wave.

I loved seeing all of the different characters in this chapter.  It was like "old home week" as my father would say.  Severus was pretty funny in this chapter, from his interactions with baby Teddy to his frustration with not getting any alone time with Poppy.  I hope they get that time soon.  I'm trying to figure out who the killer is.  I remember one character recently asking Severus for a change in her dinner schedule on certain nights, but I'm hoping that is a red herring you are throwing at us.  I love that you have thrown us a little murder mystery as well.  Hope RL is going okay.  Looking forward to the next update.   

A-ha! Samuel!This re-reading has been very interesting. I seem to have missed a lot of clues the first time around, and have forgotten a number of other little developments. Like the planned wandless duel between Severus and Albus and the duel with Gareth. Those should both be fun!

Again, a wonderful chapter and a lovely read. Poor Severus has it difficult again to try to be with Poppy; everything seems to have conspired against his odds! ;o) But it still doesn't seem to cause harm - not from her point of view. I particularly liked how you let him try to avoid Madam Gamp and everything.

Author's Response: Yes, poor guy is feeling as though the fates are conspiring against him. They did have a few nice moments alone there after Flitwick sent him to get Caroline for him, though. ;)

Thanks for the review! Glad you enjoyed the chapter!

I'm so happy that Severus is going to spend some quality time at the Tyree estate. He and Siofre are both as sharp as a sgian dubh so I look forward to him relaxing enough to engage in some brilliant conversations with his distant family. And I can't wait to find out what was in those letters that Gareth found! You make me wish I was a Tyree 

Ah more about the mysterious island and the mysterious goings on there. I really enjoy how you lay the ground work for things and then slowly unveil more and more detail. I'm even more intrigued now. I enjoyed the appearance of Harry and Snape's reaction. It's good to see him see things from Harry's side. Love that he reads the note upsidedown. (Old habbits..) I almost snorted Diet Coke through my nose on the 'idioit boy' line. Brilliant!So he is in love with Poppy! :D And Gareth's got a thing for Hooch! Love it! I miss Hooch. Curious to see if she makes an appearance in this story. Great chapter. Thank you.

I love the descriptions of the 'one witch rodeo' I could really see all those tricks in my mind. Very impressive. Also love that she flew in rodeos in the US. Absolutely brilliant detail. It totally makes sense if the muggles are having rodeos, the wizarding community would have something similar and the added bonus referench to Area 51 was hysterical. So that explains it...Nice detail mentioning the 'trip to Mongolia.' It's telling that Severus feels comfortable enough to tell her it wasn't him but doesn't say any more. I'm really enjoying the Severus - Gareth friendship you've created. Snape needs someone like him to just simply state the truth as he sees it. It helps that he can speak from experience that Snape really isn't as different from other wizards as he thinks he is.

Well, Severus has learned quite a lot about his rival for Poppy's affections. I doubt it will put him off romancing Poppy, but I wonder how he will make use of it?I can sympathise with both Melina and Gertrude in the conflict over the wards. Brennan has only a few years left and it would be hard to be separated from your daughter and grandchild at such a time. To Melina, keeping the wards up may feel like outdated bigotry and an insult to her husband. But I can see that Gertrude may be taking a longer view of the situation, and a pragmatic weighing of the short term benefit of bringing down the wards for Brennan vs. the possibly unknown consequences of destroying irreplaceable wards. They're in a tight spot. Seems like it'd be easier to move Rosemary.

A dragon called Isolde! *rofl* Brilliant!
Good idea to have Moody trying to make  peace between himself and Snape. Of course Snape has difficulties to believe in Moody's sincerety. But I hope it did him good to at least hear the other's words.

Author's Response: I always forget for a while that you don't know RaM, then I'm reminded again. :) Yep, Isolde is from there. Glad you like her! *grin* (If you read nothing else in RaM, read the chapter "Apres Spree." For one thing, I think you'll like it -- though not as much as you would if you'd already gotten to know Malcolm from previous chapters, I suppose -- and for another, it will eventually pop up again in LVS.)

It stunned Snape, certainly, but I think it did do him good. It just takes a while for it to sink in -- and for other events to make him more open to others' apologies like that, feelign more comfortable in his life, etc.

Thanks for the review!

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: Sorry I hadn't time for your mails yet - after a nasty stomach bug I'm having a bad head cold, and that with Easter and my hubby having birthday and so on... and I will read RaM some day; I just want to save it for a time when I have lots of leisure for reading. I suppose the next holiday or so ;o).

Author's Response: Oh, that's a one-two punch! First the stomach, now a head cold! You have my sympathy.

:-) I also gave you the wrong chapter name: it should be "A Spree." ("Apres Spree" is the one after that.) Isolde is in it. :D

Hope you feel better soon! It's getting very warm here now, and my body's having a hard time adjusting to the temperature changes. I have the strangest dreams at night. But I'm glad spring is here!

I enjoyed the exchange between Snape and Gareth very much. Quin, though, seems to be quite the character...

Author's Response: Quin was a favorite among the RaM-readers. I had people crushing on him, LOL, wanting Minerva to switch over to be with him, all sorts of things. He's different, though. ;P

Thanks!