This story has a mind of its own and will take all of us where it desires - I am only the humble teller of the tale.Thank you for joining me!!

Thank you so much !!  This piece requires me to do my "potions" homework -- assuming there are readers who have a familiarity with herbal healing, I am trying to be as accurate in those descriptions and remedies as possible.  I wouldn't want Severus looking down his nose at me and chiding me for being "incompetent" especially since it's his healing at stake.  Ye gods - the preesure !

He's still in a fog certainly - and now he's starting a journey with a guide he may find quite unnerving.   So pleased to know you've rejoined the tale !!

He's still in a fog certainly - and now he's starting a journey with a guide he may find quite unnerving.   So pleased to know you've rejoined the tale !!

You make me giddy with delight - to be welcomed back with such joy !!!  RL continues to be challenging (including a computer that has wheezed it's last wheeze !!!)  But, we shall remain stalwart and true to the path - and we'll get there come hades or high water !!   Hugs to you !!

You make me giddy with delight - to be welcomed back with such joy !!!  RL continues to be challenging (including a computer that has wheezed it's last wheeze !!!)  But, we shall remain stalwart and true to the path - and we'll get there come hades or high water !!   Hugs to you !!

Dear one - you have brought a wee tear to my eye - there is no greater gift to bestow upon an author than to know their words have touched the heart of their reader.  Thank you for giviing me this gift.  I am humbled by your praise.  Currently I'm on my own journey of discovery about my own Celtic roots - and in a small way  I think Severus and I are on the same journey.  I hope we both travel well.

I offer my fervent prayer that you and Severus will journey far and wide as you each seek your forebearslPerhaps we shall meet somehere along the way.  Be well, travaler.

My deepest thanks for your kindness and your prayer.  I will carry them with me on this journey.

Dear one - you have brought a wee tear to my eye - there is no greater gift to bestow upon an author than to know their words have touched the heart of their reader.  Thank you for giviing me this gift.  I am humbled by your praise.  Currently I'm on my own journey of discovery about my own Celtic roots - and in a small way  I think Severus and I are on the same journey.  I hope we both travel well.

I offer my fervent prayer that you and Severus will journey far and wide as you each seek your forebearslPerhaps we shall meet somehere along the way.  Be well, travaler.

My deepest thanks for your kindness and your prayer.  I will carry them with me on this journey.

When I was a child, it was the intricate imagery of well told stories that fascinated me and took me out of my circumstances into a place of magic - and that's what I hope to accomplish now with my own works.   Thank you so much for your review.  I'm glad you like my depictions of Hagrid and Minerva.  I thank Jo for creating them, and allowing me to borrow them.

When I was a child, it was the intricate imagery of well told stories that fascinated me and took me out of my circumstances into a place of magic - and that's what I hope to accomplish now with my own works.   Thank you so much for your review.  I'm glad you like my depictions of Hagrid and Minerva.  I thank Jo for creating them, and allowing me to borrow them.

So pleased to have ensnared you !! I am greatly enjoying Gareth as well - a man of many facets - much like Severus.  Hmnnn..... 

Hmnnnn.... does that mean we may see a ship? *Curious*

Now, now gentle reader - you must be patient. And remember, there is more than one kind of ship, yes?

True indeed. I shall be patient :)

So pleased to have ensnared you !! I am greatly enjoying Gareth as well - a man of many facets - much like Severus.  Hmnnn..... 

Hmnnnn.... does that mean we may see a ship? *Curious*

Now, now gentle reader - you must be patient. And remember, there is more than one kind of ship, yes?

True indeed. I shall be patient :)

Dear Hagrid - he has sheltered so many in those great arms - Harry, Dumbledore, and now Severus.  Thank you for your review - I'm pleased you like Hagrid's peception of Severus as a dragon - fierce, brave - and very lonely, something Hagrid could understand, given his inclination to spend time with creatures no one else would even attempt to get near.

Dear Hagrid - he has sheltered so many in those great arms - Harry, Dumbledore, and now Severus.  Thank you for your review - I'm pleased you like Hagrid's peception of Severus as a dragon - fierce, brave - and very lonely, something Hagrid could understand, given his inclination to spend time with creatures no one else would even attempt to get near.

Thank you so much...  very glad I have intrigued you.  Will endeavor to continue to do so....  life is crazy busy but hoping to post next chapter soon.  Welcome to this journey!!

Thank you so much...  very glad I have intrigued you.  Will endeavor to continue to do so....  life is crazy busy but hoping to post next chapter soon.  Welcome to this journey!!

Snerk !!  With Severus on top?  Well how can I refuse a request like that ????  And I suppose you'd like an extra side helping of Draco as well????  It shall be done, good lady - as soon as possible !!

Welllll, since Lucius is supposedly in Azkaban, I guess I'll have to settle for Draco. ^_^

Snerk !!  With Severus on top?  Well how can I refuse a request like that ????  And I suppose you'd like an extra side helping of Draco as well????  It shall be done, good lady - as soon as possible !!

Welllll, since Lucius is supposedly in Azkaban, I guess I'll have to settle for Draco. ^_^

Thank you so much for your review.  You know JK once said Sev was a "gift" of a character.  I am hoping that Gareth will be a similar gift for me.  Glad you enjoyed the depictions of Hagrid and Minerva too - always felt there was so much about some of Jo's most interesting creations that she just did not elaborate upon in the series.

Thank you so much for your review.  You know JK once said Sev was a "gift" of a character.  I am hoping that Gareth will be a similar gift for me.  Glad you enjoyed the depictions of Hagrid and Minerva too - always felt there was so much about some of Jo's most interesting creations that she just did not elaborate upon in the series.

Indeed, he's having a rough go at the moment, but as you see Gareth seems confident of his waking, and begiinning to heal - at least in body.  The rest will take the support of those committed to breaking Riddle's curse.

Gareth seems the only hope.  I like this character.  I'm looking forward to how it all plays out.  I always want Severus to have SOME sort of peace at the end of a story.  It doesn't always happen and isn't part of canon, but it just seems so unfair!  Amazing how much we can feel for our favorite fictional characters, though.

Thank you so much - I'm so glad the tale has piqued your interest and pulled you in !!!

I am happy to know that readers are enjoying the exploration of the mysticism of magic, and believe me, I'm enjoying the discoveries as well.  As for the 3rd keeper, who knows?  Perhaps sooner than we think.....  I expect our ol' Dumbly already knows..... he just can't resist his knots, can he? 

RL has gotten much more challenging and demanding these days BUT I am currently working on Chapter 11 and hope to have something to my beta in about a week.  I'm absolutely eccstatic that you're still with me !!

Draco has made his own decision - but to what end?  And poor Minerva - she's going to spit nails very soon if those around her, even as well-meaning as they all are, don't just shut the bloody hell up !!!

You've made my day with such a detailed and generous review !! I will confess some of Neirin's "wandering" is very real for me as well.  I have a loved one in similar circumstances - and writing some of this is my own catharsis.  I did feel the only way that Hogwarts will survive is with some shifts in concept and attitude... Minerva is strong enough to draft some critical decisions and make them stick. 

Thank you !!  I was never qute happy with the depiction of Narcissa in canon.  I felt it took incredible courage to take the risks she did for her child - both by seeking the Vow and then lieing to Riddle.  So that was my perspective here - to show the light that was part of Narcissa's nature - and also to allow Minerva that moment to accept the darkness in hers.  Acknowledgemnet of self is often the hardest thing we accompoish. 

Minerva took quite the chance, telling Gareth so much - but I believe she understood the strength of both worlds, magical and muggle, would be needed here.  Thank you, indeed, for being such a kind and loyal supporter of "the tale".

Two cultures with such rich and diverse spiritual traditions - and yet, in some aspects, very similar.  I've always had a fascination for both so what fun to bring them together.... a bit daunting though - I sometimes wonder what I've gotten myself into !!

This was a challenge to create and write - it seemed the Fidelius would be considered one of the most honored of all Wizardly vows - so I'm pleased it transported you into another place.  I did want the reader to have that sense of sacredness here, a true sense of timeless ritual. 

In my mind, the world all of these characters inhabit would be so deeply steeped in their spiritual and emotional traditions - for gods sake, they live in a world of magick !!  And being of the Isles, how can they not be saturated with some of the most ancient and epic aspects of their craft through the Celtic and Pictish traditions - which of course saw their influences of the Greek and Roman - and the Christian as well.  Imagine what Joseph Campbell could have done with all the HP books?  He could have created an entirely new series of lectures !!    And oh, do rest assurred, Minerva has a lot to say as we move forward -- as does Hagrid -- and others....

I think we've all experienced some of that - being invited into someone's home and being absolutely amazed at what their choices of personal surroundings reveal about their deeper nature.  I imagine almost all of us who read and post on TPP have at least one thing in common with Severus - BOOKS ! LOTS OF 'EM !!!

Her heart had been broken, not once but twice - she'd lost two people she must have loved dearly - one thru death, and the other thru what she believed was the cruelest of betrayals.  And still Severus protected all of them, clouding their perceptions, even hers, so that all would see only what he needed them to see.   Jk may not have written their story as well as we would have liked, but boy, did she ever lay some great groundwork for the rest of us to build on !! I'm so happy my humble efforts have pleased you.