Hello and thank you so much for the review,I love the way you called Ron the 'trusty side-dork'. That was ace.I think Hermione is a really sensitive and forgiving kind of person - she will want to forgive, to do her best to heal the breach if it is possible. She's not hard like some of the others, though she is a pragmatist and will let go if she realises that there's just no hope.I do think she is going to learn and grow tremendously at Hogwarts, having mature, intelligent company will be very good for her. She won't have to hide her brilliance any longer.

Hello and thanks for the review. Indeed, especially because there's so much more for her at Hogwarts :) *wink, wink.

Hello and thanks for the review,Harry and Ron have murdered and maimed, is it a wonder that their magic and auras are tainted by something that is dark and malignant. I think not - besides, they both had Voldemort as a part of themselves, the fact that it is now dead does not mean that it would not have left a mark on them. I think that is why they are especially harsh to Hermioe, her being Muggle-born and all that.

Erm, to add more, I'd never thought of Lily the way you described her, "a mother who gave up her best friend so she could marry into money, prestige and fame."  I mean, James is easy to pull to either side (rightous jacka** or misguided teen bully turned good), but Lily is held up as a saint by nearly everyone.  Harry should indeed have lots of dark potential, especially if he did (as in canon) carry a piece of Voldemort's soul for so long and live in an abusive household like the Dursleys'.  It may further benefit your story to bring out some of his darker behaviors in the past, if only to point out that he is not a perfect angel everyone assumes he is.  I would also love to know your ideas in making Harry meaner now that he has lost some of the pull to darkness in the horcrux.  If you can work it in to the story, that'd be incredible, but I would be thrilled to even get an e-mail or response with your ideas.  I'm glad to see the direction you are taking the story in.  Keep it up!

Hello and thank you so much for the review,As for Harry's darker behaviour, I might, but since the story is so focused [or is going to be so focused] on Severus and Hermione, I might not be able to go into it. But for making him meaner, by the time the war ended, he had cast all three unforgiveables - and that must surely impact on someone so young. Moreover, dispite having had the soul fragment removed, he now has to come to terms with the anger, hurt, loss and betrayal that he has had to endure from so many quarters and I think that too is resulting in his behaviour. At the end of book seven, he is only seventeen years old - that's very young to have done so many dark deads as well as to have survived an entire lifetime of war and persecution. I'm not excusing him but there is plenty of reason now for him to lash out at the people who he sees as trying to control him and direct his behaviour.Lily I think is seen as a saint but we are never really told of her by any of her personal friends. Lupin and Black were James Potter's friends, not hers, they didn't know her or her motivations until she started going out with James. That I think is interesting. Why did she not have any girl-friends? And Severus only recalls her as a fifteen year old boy who was infatuated with her - he never knew Lily the young woman, or Lily the fiancee of James. So we really only get a one-sided exploration of her character which for me leaves much to be desired. How could she be so very different from her sister ... and if she isn't then why isn't it picked up upon?Hope this helps - do keep asking me to clarify my thoughts if you think any of this needs more looking into.

I am always curious to learn more about the logic and background people see in characters.  Do Mr and Mrs Weasley ever talk about Lily and James, or do they also only see the adult version projected as being on the same side? Martyrs are often nto as perfect as their death may be.  Looking in to Lily and Petunia is also interesting as well.

Hello again,From what I understand of canon, Mr and Mrs Weasley did not know James and Lily, they being much younger than the Weasleys. Moreover, the Weasleys weren't part of the Order during the first Voldemort war - so I don't think they can impart any kind of unbiased opinion for our understanding of the Potters. All they know is of the martyrs is that they died for the Greater Good. That James was rash enough to change his secret keeper at the last moment without informing anyone of his plan just goes to show how very irresponsible and hot-headed he was [kind of ties in with his Golden-boy who thought nothing would come in his way personality] and Lily apparently was not strong enough to protest or to speak up against this decision - I mean, could she not have told Dumbledore or anyone else that James and Sirius were changing the set plan? Not even Remus? Seems odd if they were as close as they are said to be don't you think?I always think that the relationship between the sisters is completely ignored. For there to be a complete falling out means that Lily never really bothered to heal the breach that her going to Hogwarts caused. Did she not try to make her sister understand? For Petunia to hate everything about magic smacks to me of Lily showing off her magical talent and rubbing Petunia's face in what she could not do. Somehow that to me comes across as Lily being shallow, vain, show-off like.

Hello and thank you so much for your review,I shall try to weave the animargus lesson-plans in if possible. I don't know about Crooks - but we'll see. It depends on how things go with her parents in Australia and if they are willing to give Crooks back. xxx

Hello and thank you so much for the review.I agree with most of your readings of the characters, though I don't think Harry is a complete git. He is however the child of his parents, a father who was big-headed and glory-seeking, and a mother who gave up her best friend so she could marry into money, prestige and fame.

Hello and thank you for the review.I'm so glad. I hope to update fairly shortly.

Hello and thank you for the review.Yes, though I think I may not have time to go into that at present. Perhaps in the next year of Hermione's teaching. She is so busy afterall.

Hello and thank you for the review.I'm really pleased. I read some of the stories here and the quality is so outstanding that I'm really pleased people are finding this intriguing and interesting.

Hello and thank you for the review.I'm so pleased you're enjoying it :)

Hello and thank you for the review.I'm so glad you're finding the plot/story interesting. Ron and Harry are going to continue to make trouble - that's for sure, though I think they will eventually just learn to live with it - although they might be totally different people because of it.As for the Animagus lessons - I hadn't planned on going into it - but perhaps I shall later on in the story.

Hello and thank you for the review.I like the idea of an occasional meal with the headmaster - though given how Dumbledore was usually present for most meals at the Great Hall, it seems unlikely. Snape isn't just a professor anymore, his responsibilities have changed.

Hello and thank you for the review.Indeed, I think Severus has learned a fair bit of how to manage the professors by watching Dumbledore and his manipulations.

Hello and thank you for the review.Indeed,  I think the sooner Hermione is out of there the better really.

Is Hermione becoming Martha Stewart a good thing? Who is she anyway? I don't watch TV so don't really know.Glad you liked the story though :) I do appreciate the reivew. It is always great to hear back from readers.

You are very welcome. I am so pleased you enjoyed it and that you took time to leave a review. I really appreciate that. It is so nice to hear back from readers.

Thank you. I hope you enjoy this. It is quite different from Dark Veela. [more sex for one thing]

Hello. Thank you for the review and the stars. Yes, poor Ron. He can't really understand that people are moving on. I think though that Bill's not going to let Molly get all stired up. Besides, because Percy saw what happened, that the Weasleys will have an acurate account of what actually took place.

Thank you for the review and the stars. Mm... yes, Ron does have more growing up to do. But he is trying, at least, in his own misguided way, he did attempt to get in touch with Hermione.

You're welcome. Thank you for the review and the stars. I'm so glad you've decided to read this story and let me know what you think. Reviews help me grow as a writer, so each and every one is very special.

Thank you for the review and the stars. Yes, Percy was nice to do his best to make up for his brother's behaviour. I think Severus is mature enough to not react openly, but sure, he might feel the need to prove to himself, if not to Hermione that he is enough for her. But then, he's never really had someone of his own.

Thank you. I'm so pleased you think so.

Indeed. And we mustn't lose hope. I believe there's still good in Ron, Molly and Ginny. It might take time, but they will sort out their inner demons.

Thank you so much. I was so worried that the meeting with Harry would seem too contrived, but I really wanted to show them starting afresh for Hermione's sake. I'm glad it worked.

You're welcome. Yes, it is sad that Ron is still being dim, but at least Percy is being a man, finally. So there is hope that Percy and Bill will work to get the rest of the Weasleys out of their darkness. I'm sure Ginny's time in France will really help sort her out. I can't imagine Fleur's mother going easy on her.