Oh, you can't just leave it there!  I am glad that all is peaches and cream with Severus and Hermione.  It's about time.  Now onto some serious putting into place for the Weasleys.  Go Minerva!!!  and Poppy and Pomona!

I love, love, love this story.  I did want to point out a missed word "but my mother came from one the wizarding world’s best families".  I think there should be a of between one and the.  Otherwise, great update. I agree with Indigo_Rose, Molly and Ginny are giving her a lot of power. I am looking forward to the confrontation!!!!

Glad to see they're returning to a sense of normality to their relationship. I wonder how long it'll be before Lucius has the betrothal contract finished and it's all made public?Gah, Molly, Ginny & Ron- they're really in for it from Minerva, Poppy & Pomona aren't they?Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Oh Molly, Molly, Molly... open mouth, prepare to insert foot (and ankle...and knee...and...)!  Well, it's pretty much a given that people are going to be talking about this Halloween Ball for years.    In an odd sort of way, Molly and Ginny's certainty that Hermione is responsible for all their problems is kind of a back-handed compliment--I mean, she must be amazingly powerful and competent to be able to make all these people do her bidding!  And so clever to be able to manipulate the feelings of everyone around her without them realizing it!  Without realizing it, they're pretty much saying that when it comes to magic and intellect, Hermione's all that and a bag of Dumbledores!  They'd be horrified if that were pointed out to them.  My favorite line of Ginny's tirade was, "It has to be her bloody influence. No one else has the ability to make him think things through"--so she admits that there's no rational reason for Harry to want her as a wife!  Too funny!At least things have gotten back on track with Hermione and Severus.  And not a moment too soon...can't wait to see what happens next!

please let molly go down and take her brats with her!

loved the update

more please

oh my, what will happen now? They are so out of reason that everything could happen, hopefully no bloodshed. Love your story

I was so glad to find this story here (I had been checking Ashwinder in vain for updates)!  I love the details of the formal customs of pureblood society, and the exploration of how Dark Magic can change one's personality and behavior.  I also appreciated that Harry, Arthur, Bill, George and Percy are using their principles to guide their behavior.  It will be interesting to see what you do with Molly, Ron and Ginny.

love the win-win situation!  i can see ginny going after all those things given her family but good for harry!  super update.  thanks and mucho smoochies

THank you so much for an absolutely perfect and wonderful update!

It's good to see Ginny finally getting what she deserves. I'm also very happy for the Weasley's. At leas the Weasley men, considering what it took for them to approach the Malfoy's. I'm also very happy that Lucius talked with Severus; hopefully we'll be seeing a make-uip between Severus and Hermione.

Making that decision for Ron, stupid plan.  So going to back fire.  If they'd asked him he might have said oh sure, I want to stay with my family, but as it is he's going to see it as they didn't even think about him. Not to mention feeling replaced by Luna of all people.  Ouch, considering his opinion of her.  I also don't expect them to explain it all that well.  He'll mostly just feel ousted from the group; he's emotionally torn up right now as it is.  I do not forsee good conseuences.  I love Luna always.  The End :)Oh yes, I also think Snape is going to be outraged.  Spilling all of that extremely personal information that he has kept hidden from everyone for decades directly into the waiting claws of Rita Skeeter... Not to mention making him look all romantic.  Harry meant well, but I think he may lose his scalp. :)  Which would be hylarious to read.

I love this story, but at the same time it really frustrates me. The story is so well written and has such an excellent storyline that I every time I get to the end of a chapter I am frustrated that I can't continue reading until the next chapter is posted. I always want to know what happens next!This story really is a gem and is one of the best ones I've ever read in this fandom. Keep up the good work, but also update a little quicker!

Everything worked perfectly in this chapter!  Makes me worried for what comes next :)  I'm glad that Harry had the sense to break things off with Ginny before it went any further.  And he gave good reason for doing what he did, even if Ginny doesn't think so.  It's good to see that some of the Weasley's have their priorities straight.  I don't envy Arthur's position at all.  And while I think that Molly and Ron are acting  rdiculously, I hope that they can get some help and realize that they are wrong before the family completely falls apart.  As for Snape, how could he refuse Lucius' offer?  It was the best plan to get things back to good.  There is hope for breaking the Dark Veela curse after all!

Well, thankfully you had that end part in there, the rest was so full of venom that it was hard to take.  Shame on the 'bad' Weasleys for acting so petty in every case!  At least some of them had their heads on straight and did the right thing.

"Win-win situation" is right!  This chapter has been made entirely of win!    Glad that Harry was able to make the break with Ginny before things got too out of hand with her, and I also enjoyed Arthur taking a stand with the older kids and starting to mend the breach between the Weasleys and the Blacks/Malfoys.  He was also able to let Hermione know that because of her adoption into the Malfoy family, she's now even more a part of the Weasley family than she was before (at least as far as Arthur is concerned).Lucius was a treat the whole way through!  Loved it when he told Severus, "You look like shit."  A bit blunt for a Slytherin, but Sev needed it.  Can't wait until the details of the marriage contract become public!  That should put most people in their place regarding Hermione's purity and character.  Woo hoo!

I adore this story.  You have done a fantastic job.  Please keep it coming!

Love Lucius's conclusions at the end. :)

Love this story and this was a great chapter.  Glad that Harry dumped Ginny.. what a spiteful bitch!  I know there is going to be more trouble with her.  Can't wait.  Finally Hermione & Severus will be together.  Or will they? :)

"It is an entirely win-win situation." I think that about sums up the chapter!  Lovely chapter with great development!Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Dark Vella is definitely on my top 5 fav fics of all time.  The more I read the better it gets.  I love that you are showing all different aspects of everyone and how they have developed.

great great chapter..horrid Molly, she's going to loose everything really loved it and looking forward to the next

now we're cooking!  i love the idea of being able to speak and hear the castle...brilliant!  thanks so much for the wonderful update and mucho smoochies

Hmmm... somehow I didn't review this when I read it.  So I don't remember too many particulars, except that Hermione told Ginny off.  And quite nicely, I might add.  If Severus and Hermione could just sit down and talk about things without all of the pent up emotion it would be quite helpful.  But that isn't happening any time soon, I fear.  Looing forward to more chapters and presumably more drama!

Another excellent chapter!  And the curse rears its ugly head yet again...it's bad communication on both sides, but I must say that Hermione was the instigator on this one and not the curse.  The curse just took advantage of her immaturity and built upon it.  However, on the plus side she's learning to listen to the castle which should help her learn to listen to others in general.  That alone should hold her in good stead for the rest of her life, if she never learns anything else at all.  Draco's letter to Astoria was great--I snickered my way through it, and could just hear his voice saying the words.I'm eager to see what Hogwarts itself will suggest to Hermione to mend the breach with Severus, and what steps it will physically take in order to help her!  One can't help but wonder at this point if the castle would "out" their relationship if it gets back on track, or would it keep the secret simply because its existence would be so central to the Headmaster's spiritual well-being?  It will be fun to find out...

Another fantastic chapter.  I like the whole scenario with the Malfoy heirloom and all that it being gifted to Hermione entails.  It is very original and interesting.  I think it was good for Severus and Hermione to be able to get away for the evening, and not worry about who is watching, or what they are thinking.  In the end, when things got a bit heated, he tells her, "We can't do this here."  He probably means, "we can't do this at all," but I am still hopeful that they might just move to another venue.  Probably not, but a girl can dream, right?  Looking forward to more!