Glad you're looking forward to more Quin! The next couple chapters are "Quin-heavy"! Thanks for the review -- and good luck on your exam!

Thanks!

Thanks! For everything from the "tease" comment to the one about the flow of the chapter. I do try! *grin*

It might have been nice if Minerva had Apparated right back to Hogwarts to take care of the lonely Headmaster , but then we'd miss out on the next couple of chapters with Quin, which I hope you'll enjoy!

Thanks very much for reviewing! I always enjoy reading your comments! There will be another update either Friday or Saturday. 

It does seem to be an immutable law of the universe, doesn't it?! And there is a bit of resemblance w/ Hermione there, isn't there?I do hope you enjoy yourself. There's a lot of story to this story, if you know what I mean, and it's not just a "getting together" romance. It's quite fun, or so I've been told. I've also been told it's addictive and like potato chips, so you're forewarned! Thank you for the review!

It does seem to be an immutable law of the universe, doesn't it?! And there is a bit of resemblance w/ Hermione there, isn't there?I do hope you enjoy yourself. There's a lot of story to this story, if you know what I mean, and it's not just a "getting together" romance. It's quite fun, or so I've been told. I've also been told it's addictive and like potato chips, so you're forewarned! Thank you for the review!

Well, perhaps he's not coming to lunch, but his second letter is sort of a step forward, I think. We'll have to wait and see! *grin* And I'm sure those nice sheets will be needed at some point!

Thanks! 

Thanks!

Thanks very much! Glad you liked Egeria's little push there! 

Well, this is definitely a story with a great deal of plot , and so I can pretty much guarantee that a lot will happen! And since I like happy endings and can absolutely promise a happy ending to this story . . .

And she has come quite a ways since the first few chapters, I would say! She's just working very hard at being "sensible." 

Thanks for reviewing! 

I wasn't entirely sure what you were referring to in your  question. I don't think there were any characters who Minerva got confused or whose ages she didn't know. Minerva's mother, Egeria (if that's who you're talking about, and I'm not sure), is currently 82; Merwyn is 88; Minerva's brother Murdoch is 44, and Melina, Murdoch's daughter and Minerva's niece, is almost 21. Siofre, Minerva's grandmother (her father's mother), is 112; Maisie, Siofre's daughter by her second marriage, is 46, and Dorcas, Maisie's daughter, is about the same age as Melina. Anyway, the question confused me, but I figure the answer to it must be in there somewhere! If it's not, let me know, and I'll try to answer more precisely! (I wasn't sure who the pronouns referred to, so even after re-reading the chapter, I couldn't figure out exactly what people you were wondering about -- as far as I could tell, all the characters mentioned who would be mothers and daughters were relatives whose ages Minerva knows. Very confused -- *scratches head*)

Glad you liked the chapter. 

Lolz. I just meant did Minerva think that her mother was going slightly off in her "old age" when Egeria was giving her the romance talk that Minerva thought was for Melina and I was wondering why Minerva would think her mother could mix-up a daughter and grandchild.

Pronouns can be quite complicated when both persons are the same sex, I agree. Maybe the above clarifies my question.

I think a reread of that section would clarify it for you. Minerva didn't think that her mother was confusing her and Melina -- don't kjnow precisely where that came from -- haven't you ever had someone tell you something and you begin to think, "Is this person quitting their job/terminally ill/whatever, because this conversation makes no sense to be having with me unless that's the case"? She never implied or said that she thought that Egeria confused her with Melina -- they were both completely aware of to whom they were speaking. I htink that what Minerva said was something like, "it's not as if I were Melina, about to get married" or something of the sort -- she's contrasting situations, not implying she thinks her mother thinks she's talking to someone else. She's trying to get to the impetus for her to make the speech that Minerva thinks would be more appropriate for soeone in Mleina's position. I've had conersations like that -- on both ends (Minerva's & Egeria's sides). I think a quick reread would make it clearer for you.

Haha! I like the advice to the house-elves! And Egeria does have some good advice and ideas for Minerva, doesn't she? We'll see what happens next!

Thank you for reviewing!

Minerva is letting out more and more of her feelings, isn't she?

Glad you enjoyed the chapter. I hope to have the next one posted over the weekend, and since I'm now well ahead of where I wanted to be, writing-wise, rather than behind, as I was a couple weeks ago, there should be no barriers to that -- unless I lose the internet, or something!

Thanks for reviewing! 

Glad you enjoyed it! I think you'll like the next chappie. It should be up this weekend. Thanks again for reviewing! It warms my heart!

I had to laugh when I read the first line of your review! I am very glad that you enjoyed the story so much, and I'm glad you found it a page turner, so to speak! But it's only been less than a week since my last update, hence the chuckle! I try to update at least weekly, though occasionally RL or illness has interfered with that schedule. You will be happy to hear that the entire story has been plotted out for many months, and there's an outline of the story all the way to the end -- some bits more detailed than others, and it does undergo occasional changes, but unless I die or something else drastic happens in my life, I plan on finishing RaM and not abandoning it, even if there may be times when it may be a bit longer between updates, so rest easy!

 I am very happy that you find the story so enthralling and that you like the detail I put in. I hope you continue to enjoy the story! Thanks so much for reviewing -- I look forward to your thoughts on the story as it progresses!

Thanks! I do love to weave the different elements of the stories together, hopefully helping to create a multidimensional world that has a "real" feel to it.  I'm glad you do find it organic and consistent.

Thanks! I do love to weave the different elements of the stories together, hopefully helping to create a multidimensional world that has a "real" feel to it.  I'm glad you do find it organic and consistent.

Thank you!

Thanks!

Wilspy is trying to get the two humans together, but they are rather dense! Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

Thanks! Minerva's curiosity certainly does land her in some unusual predicaments! Thank you for reviewing!

Yes, well, beyond her first blurt asking him what he'd done to himself and the little joke about nightmares, she did try to be diplomatic about it, despite the shock. Yes, silly wizard! But she was very glad it was only a particularly powerful Glamour! Thanks for reviewing!

Silly, silly! as Wilspy would say. I'm glad the chapter gave you some chuckles! Thanks for reviewing!

Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it so well! You put a big smile on my face.

No, he Flooed to his office, not to St. Mungo's & the Ministry. The only Floo that has an open connection with the outside world for anything more than a conversation is in the Headmaster's office, and he has to open it to Floo in and out anywhere other than internally within the castle. When Minerva got her rooms, Gertrude told her the different Floos within the castle that she could access from her room, and that the Headmaster could add others if she wanted them -- like one to the antechamber of the Great Hall.I never have the Floo-Network at Hogwarts open to the outside in my fics. I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that there is only very limited access to the external Floo-Network, and that people can't just Floo in and out of the castle whenever they feel like it -- except for the headmaster or headmistress, and even then, I think they'd have to open the Floo to the outside first. But that's just the way I construct my fics. I think it's congruent with canon, but I can't say it is canon, since I can't point to anything in the books that specifically states that's the way the Floo works in Hogwarts.

Ahh, that makes sense.... perfect sense.

Yep, never occurred to me that Merrythought wouldn't be male, actually. Don't know why! lol!

Actually, I do remember why now -- he had originally had another name in my outline, but then I decided to keep Merrythought when I realized that Merrythought had taught Minerva (and Riddle), but just didn't bother switching genders for him. 

No, not at all! I'm the one who wrote the darned thing, and I couldn't remember whether it was the chapter before or after "Seduction," after all! So I led you astray by mentioning it in the context I did!

Aye! You did, you horrid tease you! *winks* While I don't think you intentionally wish to drive me insane, I think you get some tiny bit of Slytherin satisfaction from teasing your hapless readers... hehe.

Nah, I'm such a Ravenclaw, that doesn't occur to me until after the fact! LOL!

Hrm.... often pondered which house I'd be sorted into... but I'll let someone else decide that... after all, I tend to be a bit biased and I rather doubt I could clearly see all my qualities, or faults.

I found one test that was actually made by a psychology testing group that was pretty good, and it ranked me this way:95% Ravenclaw, 88% Hufflepuff, 69% Gryffindor, 49% Slytherin. If you want to try it, there's a link to it in the left sidebar on my blog -- it's easy to spot because there's a Ravenclaw shield marking it. It's long, though.

I'd love to check that out - I've taken silly facebook surveys and since my favorite color is green, I often get sorted into Slytherin, which is ridiculas - color preference has nothing to do with it - I think I'll take a peek at this psychology test - not sure where your blog is....

It's just mmadfan.com, so it's easy. :-) And there's a link on my TPP page.

Found it, I'll let ya know.

Cool -- and I think my headache is finally forcing me offline.

95% Gryffindor89% Hufflepuff72% Ravenclaw51% SlytherinSo there you have it - Lion. Not surprising, low on Ravenclaw, and higher on Slytherin than I would expect.

Scratch that - I was wrong - I wrote out my daughter's results - http://www.personalitylab.org/cgi-bin/ccq_hogwarts_process.cgi98% Gryffindor91% Hufflepuff78% Ravenclaw57% SlytherinThat's much higher on Slytherin than I'd ever have suspected... eeks.

Maybe you're just more ambitious than you thought you were, or something! But 98% Gryffindor is incredibly high, so that sounds like it must be so -- How do you like being a Gryffy? The company looks interesting, anyway!I was actually surprised my Hufflepuff number was as high as it was, but that's not a bad thing, I think. Wish I were more Slytherin -- then maybe I'd be more ruthless and materially ambitious and make more money! lol!

Honestly, I'd be shocked if I was sorted anywhere but Gryffindor - I'm extreamly stubborn and outspoken and tend to lead, whether folks wish me to or not, and I can be terribly bossy and opinionated - though I thought there may be a chance I'd be sorted into Hufflepuff as I can't lie worth beans and I'm overly protective, almost obnoxiously so... but I concur! If Dumbledore was sorted into a Goblin house, I'd want to be right there with him.

LOL! That reminds me of something Minerva says at one point in RaM -- when they're having that unintentionally romantic picnic up on the mountain, she says something about . . . found it!“Are you Muggle-born, then, Albus?” Not that it mattered to her one way or another. He could be half-troll and half-merman, and she wouldn’t care, as long as he was Albus Dumbledore.I wasn't surprised by the Ravenclaw for me, though I'd thought that Hufflepuff & Gryffindor would be reversed.

I think Hufflepuff is the most noble house, being they are so loyal and unselfish, working hard without desiring lots of attention or glory - that's pretty honorable. AYE, Albus can be half what ever, I wouldn't care either way *nods sagely* concurs completely with Minerva.

Well, I wouldn't say that his confessing that he thought he was falling in love was completely opening up, but it was pretty big for him. But he isn't as opaque as Minerva thinks, either. After all, it's not as though he told her about the time that he and Gertrude spent when they made love the first time. (He was just reflecting on it, remember, not telling her about it.) Minerva will come to know her brother much better in the near future, now that he's close by and they're both adults. Gertrude will be good for Malcolm and vice versa, I think you'll find! So I'm glad you liked them together there.

Aye, I do, I like the pair of them - he's just outlandish and audacious enough to strike her fancy and weird enough to go for an "unconventional" witch - where the average 50 year old wizard would never approach her, she'd be far too intimidating, but a guy like Malcolm - I like how he had planned to seduce her and then the tables were turned - because she's so subtle and sly, and he didn't see it coming until it was right upon him.Still seems a stretch he'd be so open with his feelings to Minerva - but hey's YOUR boy! You made him up! HAHA! I like him, however, of all of Minerva's brothers, he's my favorite, but I've always been fond of oddballs.

Yep, he is quite the oddball, and just as you're fond of them, I am rather fond of them, myself! He's what I might call "good strange"!