Thanks.  I worked hard to ensure she held to that sort of conflict through scenes like those.  Heck--after chapter 17, there's 3 whole chapters of angst!  ~Lotm

Poor thing...  Of course, there is more to a marriage than just sparks, a lot more--the high-heeled shoe analogy--but if it's possible to have both the passionate side of a relationship and all of the other things that make a relationship what it is......Geez, now I've depressed myself.  *THBBBBBBBPTs most rudely at her ex-bf...and knows that all of that spit will be the closest he'll get to taking a shower in 7 or *shuddeR* more days...EWWWWWWW*It could always be worse,~Lotm

P.S.  And sometimes it's a flat sheet, when you need a fitted one, or worse--a fitted one when you need a flat one!  ~Lotm, who agrees that sheet does, indeed, happen...

Yeah, well, after laying the blame of 'Clawing My Eyes Out' at your feet, over at Ashwinder...I think I can put up with you, hon...  I loved that scene, too--it was sooo 'dashing'  (*snerk*) of him to just swoop in and politely yoink her from her familial bosom, so to speak...and they have every intention of reading The Hobbit to each other.  *buttah wouldn't melt in mah mouth!*  ;->  ~Lotm

Well, Hermione wasn't quite comfortable with Ron, but it was a subconscious thing; she didn't realize that he was basically a birthday candle flame.  Russel, on the other hand, is a community bonfire blaze.  If you have chemistry, things will just 'click', sometimes.I'm glad the Grangers accepted Harry, too, but Hermione would've spilled a lot of what she knew about him to her folks, and just based on her canon personality--kind, caring, compassionate (setting aside the bossy traits for the moment)--I'd have to say the Grangers would be just as compassionate as her, which translates into welcoming.  ~Lotmsouthern_witch_69's response: I'd like to adopt another child one day. I went to some classes  before, but we had to cut them short as I ended up with ruddy medical problems. I'm thinking of going back soon though. My son is 7, and I doubt I'll be able to have any others. But it would great if things would be like this.

Yes, you did.  It will be duly noted down when it is time for the Duke's bastard brother to be hauled away for justice...whups, that's Much Ado About Nothing...  lmao!  Yeah, Ron, Hermione, and even Harry all have things they will have to deal with, and learn how to be mature about, before this tale is through...  ~Lotm, who loves tormenting her characters, mweheheh

The ring cannot coerce either of them to like or enjoy their relationship, alas; they have to do it the hard way, all by themselves...  Good question, though!  ~Lotm

Yep, good thing Harry is clueless!  And I loved writing Russel/Rorik's flirting...  Yes, RUSSEL is wearing his ring!  ~Lotm

Well, I write what I know, and my sense of smell is very acute, sensitive.  I can smell bad breath at two yards, within five to ten seconds of the person coming that close.  To me, the scent of sex is very...prominent.  Sometimes I forget that not everyone is plagued by a nose as unfortunate as mine.The Protean-Forging Charm...congrats, you're the first to propose a possible theory for its use!  However, I cannot say anything else about it, as it is a very key plot-point later on in the story.  As to split personality versus trickery...I'll let you decide in a little bit...  ~Lotmsouthern_witch_69's response: I was wondering if the other Order members sensed anything amiss with Tonks/Remus and then his zipper! hahaha!! Speaking of bad breath, that reminds me of the girl that used to sit next to be in my last class at uni a few years back. I hated talking to her for that very reason. I'd always try to offer her a bit of gum, but she usually didn't accept it! lmao! discreet!Southern

Actually, sex isn't central to this one, so much as the relationship is.  If you want to read what I consider to be a sex-central story, I'd suggest For Someone Special, over at RestrictedSection.org.  The plot IS sex, just to warn you...but it is an actual plot, and not gratuitous.  (And there is a relationship that evolves as well.) However, it is a lot longer than In Annulo, there is indeed a lot more smut (if that isn't your thing, then you'd be better off avoiding it), and the plot isn't quite as intense.

I myself didn't consider IA's conclusion to be all that hurried, considering it took up 5 chapters, but after the intense pacing of the buildup and the climax, I suppose it could seem that way...

~Lotm

P.S. Hermione's transformation from schoolgirl to woman is brilliant. I will try to remember to properly flatter you for that later! 

Lol...I'm almost embarrassed to tell people how long it takes me to read In Annulo...!  (try at least a week, if not longer)  As for how Sev could keep up with Hermione, he is a Potions Master, nudgenudge, winkwink...I'm glad the warnings haven't turned out to be all that horrible for you.  It was intense to write, of course, and some might find it a bit intense to read, but I have to write what the plot-bunny-muse dictates, sometimes.  I'm very glad you enjoyed Hermione's transformation.  I worked hard on that one.  Too many stories gloss over the difficult choices we have to make, when we finish growing up.  I was rather proud of taking several chapters after ch. 17 to resolve her inner conflicts; to hear you thought I pulled it off nicely is a very big compliment to my characterization skills.Thank you!~Lotm

...Who says it's Snape?  (At this point, at any rate.)  Tut tut, for spoiler-ing!  ~Lotm  *winks back*southern_witch_69's response: It's not? haha! I just assumed since it was under this category that it was and never thought otherwise! too funny. haha! sorry bout that. 

You're welcome.  Unfortunately, there's going to be a little bit of a wait before the next update...  ~Lotm the busy

No, I figure the Fidelius Charm occludes all concrete knowledge of the location.  You can call The Burrow by its name, but you cannot describe its location (a couple miles outside Ottery-St.Catchpole) in any way, shape, or form.  This is supported in canon in HBP when Snape can say 'Headquarters' for the Order of the Phoenix when speaking to Bella and Cissy, but cannot tell any of the Death Eaters where it is located (12 Grimmauld Place, London).And since Dumbledore's freezing charm on Harry faded with his death, I must presume the same happens with a Fidelius Charm--otherwise, why the big fuss about keeping a Secret Keeper out of Voldemort's hands?  Sirius would've died rather than reveal it, and I believed him when he said that...and if he'd died, not revealing it, what would be the point of capturing and torturing it out of him?  (aside from Voldie's giggling, of course)  But that's my interpretation, at any rate.Regarding Hermione's handling of Ron the Lip-Locking Eel, well, you'll just have to read more, won't you?  ~LotmYes, I'm evil.  You love me anyway.southern_witch_69's response: Yes, I agree that the charm can be taken that way. And you know, I was wondering as I read HBP why Bella / Narcissa never thought to visit their cousin's home, especially after seeing Kreacher. I'm sure they would have known at some point where it was. I was just thinking that everyone that knew where the castle or Burrow was located would go to its location, being familiar already. Like say Fred wanted to visit his mum. And his house would be gone. LOL... I can just hear him going off! I did think about Dumbledore's charm on Harry, but it seemed a Fidelus Charm would have been stronger somehow. Otherwise, they are quite useless, needing only to kill the Keeper to see the homes, etc. And I'm not criticising. Just saying good interpretation of it since she never really explains things further to us and mine is completely the other way. Look how long we had to wait to find out about Veritaserum! LOL 

I thought so, too, but I really didn't want the trio to have to fight their way into the Ministry's holding cells...which would be at Azkaban, quite possibly...  As for Harry being able to cast the Killing Curse, well, you'll see later the results of a second such experiment.  ~Lotm

Isn't he?  I'm tempted to write a fic wherein he has a starring role...  An original fic, that is (with no discussion whatsoever of the HP universe)...  And Cupid and Psyche is also one of my favorite myths!  ~Lotm

I'm honored!  *dusts off chapters for ya*  ...Of course, there's a full 20 posted at RS.org at this moment (with more to come), and 23 at the Mobsite...  I'll get more online here in a little bit!  As for what Hermione plans to do about saving folk, you'll see...  ~Lotm

You're very welcome,

.  I'm glad I could captivate you; it was fun to write, if rather intense at times.Out of curiosity, what does

stand for?~Lotm(mine is short for Lady Of The Masque)

Well, to answer your question, its an adaptation of my msn handle 'sparkle star', which my twin gave me like...10 years ago.  You know, while I was reading this fanfic, I thought to myself, LOTM has written the most believeable, CANON Snape ever.  I think that how you depicted him is the truest version of who he is.  Most fics show him as repressed, or completely dark, or just make up some wishy-washy charcater and call him Snape.  Oh no, not you.  Your Snape is who I always believed him to be.  If I were a fanfic writer, its exactly how I would portray him (if I had the talent!)Again, you did a fantastic job.  I've tagged this as my fav fic on this site, but really, its my fav fanfic...period.

(You're making me blush, here!)Sparkle Star...lol, cool.  Makes me think of House Sparklypoo.  (pardon my giggling--of course, I also qualify in a way, since I just got sparkly tape put on the fingerboard of my brand-new violin--yes, I'm 34, and attempting to learn to play the violin) 

is cool, too.  Sort of like my Lotm, it's quick and easy and, O.o  mysterious...I enjoyed writing Snape for this story.  He's clearly a complex character.  Yet we're constantly forced to see him through Harry's eyes, and Harry is still too young to understand there are thousands of shades of grey, not just the black-and-white-and-maybe-some-medium-grey he's capable of seeing.  More than that, Snape's motivations are complex.  If you don't give his motives proper treatment, you cannot give his character proper treatment, for they go hand-in-hand.Real people are complex, too.  Some more than others, some less so, but if you make the character realistic, the reader can identify more with that character...and one of the main purposes of writing a story, of story-telling, is to engage the reader with the story, to draw parallels and create understandings.So I'm glad you found him engaging!  *whoops, mind wanders off into a fanon-Snape fantasy...maybe shouldn't have used the word 'engage' whilst discussing such a dreamy fanon character...whaaaaat?  I honestly do like 'em snarky-smart!*

Considering that In Annulo was directly--literally--responsible for my receiving a 4-book contract with The Berkley Group, in their Sensations line of romance novels...~Lotm

Wow, what a compliment!Truth be told, though,

...I'm writing this as my recuperation-therapy from being gut-kicked by HBP.  I literally have only read that thing once, and haven't been able to crack it open since.  (And I was literally physically ill, couldn't eat much of anything for 3 days afterwards, because of the emotional nausea...)  I've been relying upon the Lexicon (bless 'em!) for my HBP info, and on those who are willing to read book 6 for me to find info and stuff....I've been relaxing my brain, before attempting the final hurdle of gathering up all the loose plot-threads and weaving the final stages of this incredibly complex tapestry.  You might think that, because it's shorter than FSS, it's not as complicated--but it is JUST as cram-packed with plot-twists and sub-stories and Merlin knows what else, and possibly even a titch or to more!  (Less sex though, that's for sure, lol...)I'll try to get more written and posted soon--and I must admit, Lana's beautiful artwork has been very inspiring for me to view!  She's on my list of people who get first crack at Catnip Man.  (Russel, wink wink)Hugs,~Lotm

Wow, what a compliment!Truth be told, though,

...I'm writing this as my recuperation-therapy from being gut-kicked by HBP.  I literally have only read that thing once, and haven't been able to crack it open since.  (And I was literally physically ill, couldn't eat much of anything for 3 days afterwards, because of the emotional nausea...)  I've been relying upon the Lexicon (bless 'em!) for my HBP info, and on those who are willing to read book 6 for me to find info and stuff....I've been relaxing my brain, before attempting the final hurdle of gathering up all the loose plot-threads and weaving the final stages of this incredibly complex tapestry.  You might think that, because it's shorter than FSS, it's not as complicated--but it is JUST as cram-packed with plot-twists and sub-stories and Merlin knows what else, and possibly even a titch or to more!  (Less sex though, that's for sure, lol...)I'll try to get more written and posted soon--and I must admit, Lana's beautiful artwork has been very inspiring for me to view!  She's on my list of people who get first crack at Catnip Man.  (Russel, wink wink)Hugs,~Lotm

...Whoops, sorry about that; my finger slipped and I double-clicked!  ~Lotm

Ah.  I see.  Well, may I mweheheh over your suffering, or would that be a tad impolite?Lmao, and yes, I'm an Evil Author Git™ for even suggestign it,~Lotm

Titania, haven't you gone to the Mobsite yet??  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MoITWFGo!  Sign up, and open up "Files".  Scroll down, and DO NOT LEAVE SQUEE-PUDDLES ON THE FLOOR!!  It's very slippery and dangerous, and there are others who need to access those archives, too, you know!Hugs & (usually benign) Insanities,~Lotm

I have to concur.  JKR is trying to force the two of them together.  Characters, when tapped into strongly, take on a life of their own, and they do what THEY want to do.  Circumstance may throw Ron and Hermione together, by the end of HBP, but character, intellect and personality will prise them apart--it's three-against-one, and Hermione is the only one of the two who *might* be mature enough to apply a little emotional martial arts.  I don't think she will, though.  Not once she wakes up to the fact that she and Ron have distinctly different personalities and needs.And I'll throw in another set of updates tonight!~Lotm

Wow, what praise!  I could wish I were JKR, too (I could use an influx of cash in the holiday season), but I do this (write the "parody" of a fanfic) for the love of writing, not the love of money.Luke and Leia, though?  Lol!  Ohhh, that's a good analogy!  And a flattering one, too!  (I've been a Star Wars nut since I saw it in 70mm film in Seattle--this was the ONLY format in which we got to see the original *human* Jabba the Hutt on the big screen when it first aired; the scene was indeed cut from all 35mm versions, but we were lucky enough to have a 70mm wide-screen showing within driving distance!)Alas, Luna, Hannah, and Lavender do not make appearances in this fanfic, as of chapter 34.  Nor does Susan Bones, nor even Pansy or Millicent.  Come to think of it, I don't think Myrtle shows up, either!  Hmm...Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of it!~Lotm