Target
linlawless88 Reviews | 6.9/10 (88 Ratings, 0 Likes, 2 Favorites )
When Hermione's safety is threatened by a suspected traitor amongst the Order of the Phoenix, Snape is forced to protect her. As they work together to flush out the traitor and win the war, a new understanding begins to develop.
A response to the long-ago HP Chapter Challenge; HBP and DH ignored (except for the challenge sentences included!).
Start ReadingChapters (10)
About linlawless
Author
linlawless
Member Since 2010 | 34 Stories | Favorited by 194 | 139 Reviews Written | 1,164 Review Responses
I'm a forty-something American woman who is addicted to the SSHG pairing, relatively new to this fandom. I'm also considering starting some original fiction soon...
Check out the story I co-wrote with Remarkable -- it's called "Hidden Attractions" and (as soon as it's through the queue) it's archived under the penname remarkable_linlawless.
For those who are interested, I've got two WIPs at my website (which I will eventually post here, but not until I have a complete draft). It's easy and free to join the website, so I hope you'll visit!
I am honored that my story, Witchy Woman, has been selected as a featured story for September 2010. Better yet, this honor came with the very awesome banner at the top of this post!
Here's a couple of banners my friend Atuliel made for the two WIPs at my website:
Reviews for Target
Well, in a family the size of the Weasleys, there's bound to be a bad seed somewhere. Hermione was smart to use the excuse that she didn't want Percy to kiss her as a reason for her friends to stick by her side all day. Not that it mattered in the end. I'm so glad she could activate the portkey before anything bad happened to her. Their walk back to her room, and her parting words and gesture was nice. When they finally are able to even think about furthering their relationship, they will have such a solid base of friendship there, that things should be smooth sailing.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Yes, Hermione was both smart and lucky in this chapter. The slow build of their relationship was fun to write (it's always tempting to rush it). Thanks for reviewing! :)
Idiot Percy.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Hehehe, yep. He's so lacking in self-awareness, isn't he? ;) Thanks for reviewing!
I love how worried Severus is about Hermione and the fact that he makes it plain to her. They have built this nice friendship which I think they know could blossom into more once the situation allows. Severus thinks that Hermione will be more careful if she knows he cares, and in the same fashion, I think that her letting on that she is interested as well will give him all the more motivation to watch out for her. I'm not worried *bites nails*
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Hehehe, don't bite your nails too hard! Yes, they are building a sweet friendship in this one (I'm tempted to duck lest Severus hex me for saying anything related to him is sweet). Anyway, thanks for reviewing! :)
faboo! love the pace of the story. thanks and mucho smoochies
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Glad you're enjoying! Thanks for reviewing, and smoochies back! :)
They seem to be inching closer and closer to each other. I wonder when they will make the leap, and which one will go first?
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Hehe they are inching. The leap will come eventually, but I'm not telling when ;)Thanks for reviewing!
I am happy to see that the relationship between Severus and Hermione is progressing in a way that would not adversely affect them as teacher/student. So many fanfics out there do that, and I'm happy this is not one of them They know they are starting to have feelings for each other, and now have a way to spend time with each other.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Yeah, although I do sometimes enjoy reading those fics if they're well-written, I'm usually not entirely comfortable writing that kind of relationship. The power imbalance is hard to write without sacrificing one or both of their characters. I'm glad you're enjoying this, and thanks for reviewing!
Still diggin' this :)
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
I'm very glad to hear it! Hope it continues to please! :)Thanks for reviewing! :)
This was another great chapter. I was interested to know how things were going to go once the students returned. Now that Hermione will still have her time with Snape, it will probably be easier for her to bear his usual temperament, knowing that outside of class she will still be able to enjoy her version of him. And speaking of, the exchange when he dropped her off at her door was interesting. It felt very intimate and promising of things to come, and yet, there was nothing inappropriate said or done. I have high hopes for these two.And Percy ... Now I can't decide if he is so arrogant that he thinks he can be so obvious in his interest in Hermione, and noone will suspect him of anything. Or is he truly interested in Hermione and meanwhile we are ignoring the real threat. Hmmm...
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Glad you like the way their relationship is developing. Severus has always struck me as an honorable guy, in his way, so I usually find it hard to write him doing anything outright inappropriate with a student (although some authors have certainly made that work just fine!). On the other hand, he's definitely capable of hinting at interest for the future, when it would no longer be inappropriate. ;)I really think Percy thinks no one would think anything odd about him wanting to date Hermione -- in a way, she's exactly what one might expect his type to be: supersmart, generally acknowledged as ultra-talented and powerful, and (through Harry as well as all the teachers who think highly of her) well-connected. On the other hand, his perceptions of himself, of how other people perceive him, and of the people he interacts with are not always as clear or accurate as one might hope ...
You've done a marvelous job interweaving the lines into this story. Love the mystery of Percy. Can't wait to see that unravel, as well as Severus' walls. LOL!
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Thank you! Fitting those lines in seamlessly has definitely taken quite a lot of effort in some cases, so I'm glad you think that's been working.Poor Percy -- I don't actually hate him or anything -- I usually just want to smack some sense into him and/or let the air out of his ego, you know? In this story, however, he's the perfect suspect ... ;)Thanks for reviewing! :)
Yep. Percy is definitely a pompous arse. It's unanimous! :)
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
LOL! Yes, the only people I can think of who would disagree with that assessment are Percy himself and perhaps Molly (what woman would want to think that of her son?!).Thanks for commenting! :)
I love Severus's and Hermione's interaction. Wow, Percy is being a wee bit careless, there.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Thanks, glad you enjoyed their interaction. Yes, I can't help thinking that Percy's ego makes him careless. He can't fathom that anyone -- particularly the "brightest witch of the age" -- wouldn't want to date him, and I'm sure he figures he can fool everyone if anyone does question him.Thanks for reviewing! :)
Oh dear. I did come to the same conclusion mainly because he's the odd one in the Weasley family.I'm enjoying this!
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Yes, he really is the obvious choice, even if he doesn't realize it himself.Glad you like! Thanks for reviewing!
I love this chapter, It's good to see Snape loosening up a bit.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Aww, glad you're enjoying it!Thanks for reviewing!
I love the portkey hair barrette, Snape is brilliant. Percy is a fool if he thinks he can get passed Severus Snape.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Hehe, yes, Snape *is* brilliant! And Percy has no shortage of ego, so he doesn't even have a clue he's under suspicion. I've always seen him as self-absorbed and self-important, two qualities that tend to lead one to think oneself both untouchable and a lot more subtle than one actually is.Thanks for reviewing!
I do hope they address the issue of how things will change once the students arrive. Of course that conversation will be difficult to have without bringing up the current relationship... whatever it is. I think they'll find a way. Incidentally, I read the previous chapters in one sitting, and I think I missed reviewing them. That happens a lot lately as things are busy and I'm reading on the run. This whole story has been a great read so far. I hope regular updates continue
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Hehe, well, fortunately, Hermione is mature enough in this story to recognize that Severus has to maintain an image when other people are around, and Severus is sneaky enough to come up with a legitimate way for them not to *always* be around other people.Thanks for reviewing now -- I certainly understand how reading on the run can interfere with contemporaneous reviewing -- it happens to me a lot. I definitely plan to continue with regular updates. If I anticipate anything that is likely to interfere with that, I usually try to mention it in the previous chapter's author note, and/or in my author profile. That way, people aren't left wondering what happened ...Thanks, as always, for reviewing!
A bit of mutual awareness sneaking in... ;)
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Yes, indeed!Thanks for commenting! :)
A bit much for him, finding that she is fascinating and very grown up.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Yes, readjusting his thinking about her must be a challenge for him to deal with!Thanks for commenting! :)
Whew! Just in time! :)
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Hehe, yep. Our hero saves the day, simply by saying it's time to go! Thanks for commenting! :)
Percy was being a bit obvious. I wonder if it really is him.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
True -- although I think he'd be telling himself that everyone will assume he's just decided he wants to date her, and that she'll be flattered by his attention. Keep in mind that he has no idea he's under suspicion, so he would have no reason to think he needs to be subtle.Anyway, thanks for commenting! :)
Typical Hermione. Give her extra schoolwork and she's as happy as a sandboy! :)
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
LOL, so true! At least it will distract her from worrying too much! :DThanks for commenting!
What a decision to have to make in a hurry! :0
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
So true! Especially considering the person asking her to make it has never liked her much, nor had much patience for anyone or anything!Thanks for reviewing! :)
A most promising and intriguing beginning, I look forward to seeing where you go with this!
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Thanks very much! Next chapter is in the queue ... 
This is off to a good start. It'll be interesting to see how Hermione and Severus start their relationship.
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
Thanks! I hope you'll continue to enjoy it!
Sorry for the double review, I won't do it again...ever...promise...
Response from linlawless (Author of Target)
LOL, that's okay! I'd rather have a double review than no review at all! 