Thanks so much, gulimargrethe.I know Lucius has been out of canon, so to speak, but I have always had a soft spot for him and felt it unlikely that such a powerful man would really play second fiddle to anyone, even Tom Riddle.Thanks again.Scaranda

Thank you,

.I grieve for him too.Scaranda

Thanks so much, Rose.I have a soft spot for Arthur, but as a man of humble strength, one who is aware of his own worth.You're right, Rose, but not only will Arthur stand up to be counted, all those who matter will too.Thanks as always for your wonderful support and insight.Scaranda

Thanks for that!It was difficult to write, and when I wrote it first, quite some time ago, I thought long and hard about posting it. But Tom Riddle's evil is total; he has no redeeming features.Thanks for dropping by again.Scar

Whisky is always needed!Thanks for that.Scar

Oh, thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for dropping a line.Scaranda

Well, you know what they say about forbidden fruit.Thanks againscar

Now, now, we're just shaking the dice cup. Let's see where they land first.Thanks so much for dropping another line.Scar

Indeed! Lucius isn't too keen on being upstaged; it's not something a Malfoy is good at.As to Tom, well, he's as bogey as a bogeyman can be.Thanks again.Scar

Oh, it is. Try asking your heart to pump anything else around your body.Thanks for that, and thanks for reading along.Scar

It's a tangled web indeed (one I have read back about a zillion times to make sure I hadn't trapped myself too).Even now I keep waiting for someone to say 'Hey, how come so-and-so said that when you killed him off ten chapters ago?'Thanks for that.Scar

Oh, lots more to come from Ethel.Thanks,

. I hope you keep reading.Scaranda

Typical too that it's only when it suits him!Thanks for that.scar

I know, but his options, even if had consciously thought them through, were limited to what his actions were. It weighs heavily on him though.Thanks for that, Rose.Scar

Well, he thinks he does, but in the end it was Riddle who got what he wanted... then again, perhaps he only thinks so too at this point.Thanks again.Scar

It's one of his more endearing features, that and the way he finds it so easy to back down once he's been hoist by his own petard.Thanks for that.Scaranda

Andromeda or Sirius for Snape? Well, this one isn't a slash fic, but there are many sorts of love. I shall say no more just now.Thanks so much for coming onboard, and I hope you enjoy the rest.Scar

Hi Steel. Nice to see you're still onboard!Posting as quickly as I can here!Thanks for dropping a line, and most of all for reading along.Scar

Indeed. Just let us hope the right people are holding the loaded dice.Thanks again.Scar

Thanks so much, gurliemargrethe. It's a very difficult time for everyone in the story, and a lot of it was hard to write, but thanks so much for reading along.Scar

I've got to keep checking what you've actually read in case I post a spoiler in my reply to you!!That stone is important though; I'll say that much.Thanks again.Scaranda

Thanks Rose. Actually I hated doing what I did, and I had considered changing it a bit before I posted the story first time around, but it just didn't want to be changed.Riddle is bad, and he just can't have any redeeming features, and Severus is young, and he makes mistakes.Thanks so much, as always, for your support.Scar

Thanks again,

.I don't want to say any more about Lucius until the next couple of chapters are posted.So pleased you're still reading along.Scar

Thanks so much for that,

. I'm about to restart regular updates now that the busy period is over. The story is mostly complete now, and I'll be posting about twice a week all things being equal (which, of course, they never are).Thanks againScaranda

Thanks, Rose. Sorry I'm so far behind in replying.Scar