Yes, poor Minerva - she really is quite a softie under the pragmatic Scottish exterior.  She would have been devastated to realise how wrong she had been even if she had no way of knowing any better. 

Yes, poor Minerva - she really is quite a softie under the pragmatic Scottish exterior.  She would have been devastated to realise how wrong she had been even if she had no way of knowing any better. 

I'm sure there would have been some bright spots there - but we can't deny they would have been cold, hard times.

I'm sure there would have been some bright spots there - but we can't deny they would have been cold, hard times.

Well, it is reasonably out of the way ;o)  Sev did need some sort of closure with Lily - but he did show great restraint in not strangling Albus.

Well, it is reasonably out of the way ;o)  Sev did need some sort of closure with Lily - but he did show great restraint in not strangling Albus.

Hi!!  I set out to do something a bit different - hope the interest holds!  Thanks for reading and reviewing :o)

Hi!!  I set out to do something a bit different - hope the interest holds!  Thanks for reading and reviewing :o)

Would I do that to you? ;o)

Would I do that to you? ;o)

She's one powerful witch alright, but the world seemed to be against her - even magical people can lose heart and will when the chips are down.  Dementors in St Mungos yes!

She's one powerful witch alright, but the world seemed to be against her - even magical people can lose heart and will when the chips are down.  Dementors in St Mungos yes!

Hi Beth!  I had to split this chapter into three parts to stay safely within word limits.  You see, when I'd filled in my plot diagram and dialogue prompts chicken scratchings, I hit word count and immediately thought: Oops, I've done a Hermione.  I promise you, by the end of part three you will know the significance of the chapter title.  I toyed with the idea of a distinct chapter title for each of the three parts, but the whole thing really was meant to go together as the one item - and my brain decided it was going to stay hard-wired and flatly refused to think otherwise.  As for what Severus finds out - I shall be wicked (nicely) and say it opens Part 2 which is in the Queue ;o)  Thanks again for reading and reviewing!ps. a certain emperor's ghost tells me that the roads here are dreadful. 

Hi Beth!  I had to split this chapter into three parts to stay safely within word limits.  You see, when I'd filled in my plot diagram and dialogue prompts chicken scratchings, I hit word count and immediately thought: Oops, I've done a Hermione.  I promise you, by the end of part three you will know the significance of the chapter title.  I toyed with the idea of a distinct chapter title for each of the three parts, but the whole thing really was meant to go together as the one item - and my brain decided it was going to stay hard-wired and flatly refused to think otherwise.  As for what Severus finds out - I shall be wicked (nicely) and say it opens Part 2 which is in the Queue ;o)  Thanks again for reading and reviewing!ps. a certain emperor's ghost tells me that the roads here are dreadful. 

Hi

!  Thank you for reading and enjoying.  Sometimes I think I'd like a house-elf... but there would be constant worry about accidentally gifting something.

Hi

!  Thank you for reading and enjoying.  Sometimes I think I'd like a house-elf... but there would be constant worry about accidentally gifting something.

Thank you!  I'm enjoying writing it as well :o)

Thank you!  I'm enjoying writing it as well :o)

Hi Beth!  Sorry the update took so long, but I'm glad you enjoyed re-reading :o)  I've read a few sacred writings from different places and that is what struck me: they really do talk about the same things!  It's fun to include other cultures, there are so many fun details to explore - hopefully I won't make any insults or I'll be the one sent out to catch chickens ;o)  Next chapter coming soon...

Hi Beth!  Sorry the update took so long, but I'm glad you enjoyed re-reading :o)  I've read a few sacred writings from different places and that is what struck me: they really do talk about the same things!  It's fun to include other cultures, there are so many fun details to explore - hopefully I won't make any insults or I'll be the one sent out to catch chickens ;o)  Next chapter coming soon...

Thank you!  The next chapter is in the Queue so more is coming soon... Today has been one of those days so I won't guess on how soon in case I jinx it :oP

Thank you!  The next chapter is in the Queue so more is coming soon... Today has been one of those days so I won't guess on how soon in case I jinx it :oP

~hugs~ I'll send over another box of tissues!  Albatross International will get them across the ocean ('cause it's too far for owls), then a horned owl will pick them up on your shores and drop them off to you :o)Thanks, Tea, you're a gem!

~hugs~ I'll send over another box of tissues!  Albatross International will get them across the ocean ('cause it's too far for owls), then a horned owl will pick them up on your shores and drop them off to you :o)Thanks, Tea, you're a gem!

Hi Chris! Thank you :o)  It seems that once I fill out the chapter outlines, they always end up being longer than I thought...  Next instalment is with my beta.  Cheers and thanks for R & R

Hi Chris! Thank you :o)  It seems that once I fill out the chapter outlines, they always end up being longer than I thought...  Next instalment is with my beta.  Cheers and thanks for R & R

Good morning and thank you!  More is definitely coming so you are not hinting in vain.  

Good morning and thank you!  More is definitely coming so you are not hinting in vain.  

Oh Thank you Lyn!  I'm really pleased you have enjoyed the story so far :o) More chapters are coming, promise.  I have to say that without the standards set by TPP (a real education), and enforced (great fun!) by my beta, the story would be lacking a certain polish...

Oh Thank you Lyn!  I'm really pleased you have enjoyed the story so far :o) More chapters are coming, promise.  I have to say that without the standards set by TPP (a real education), and enforced (great fun!) by my beta, the story would be lacking a certain polish...

Hi Duchess!  Yes, I'm an Aussie :o)  I've travelled through, and beyond, the 'Great Divide', and there are a quite a few towns that could fit the description of the one in the fic.  I've avoided singling out any particular one.  Some common features are: it has an old pub, a war memorial, a local heritage association, looks at novel ways to keep itself alive (vis. the re-enactment society's annual visit), and a fine stamp of a cattle dog who seems to know everyone!  Thanks so much for enjoying the story and for reviewing.  If you have any questions about the country, feel free to ask. 

Awesome, I thought you must be with the amount of accuracy you described it with and exactly what the small country towns are like ;) I just had Werris Creek in my head while I was reading it haha. I just love to see Australia being used in writing, books, movies, anything, we don't get enough recognition for the beautiful country we live in :)

Hi Duchess!  Yes, I'm an Aussie :o)  I've travelled through, and beyond, the 'Great Divide', and there are a quite a few towns that could fit the description of the one in the fic.  I've avoided singling out any particular one.  Some common features are: it has an old pub, a war memorial, a local heritage association, looks at novel ways to keep itself alive (vis. the re-enactment society's annual visit), and a fine stamp of a cattle dog who seems to know everyone!  Thanks so much for enjoying the story and for reviewing.  If you have any questions about the country, feel free to ask. 

Awesome, I thought you must be with the amount of accuracy you described it with and exactly what the small country towns are like ;) I just had Werris Creek in my head while I was reading it haha. I just love to see Australia being used in writing, books, movies, anything, we don't get enough recognition for the beautiful country we live in :)

Whoa! Make a cup of tea or coffee and calm down!  Your neighbours might get the wrong idea...  Next chapter is in the Q.  :o)

Whoa! Make a cup of tea or coffee and calm down!  Your neighbours might get the wrong idea...  Next chapter is in the Q.  :o)

Hi June!  Yes.  You will see exactly what has been spooking him (evil grin).  Crooks is officially a sweetie.  Cheers and thanks for the review!

Hi June!  Yes.  You will see exactly what has been spooking him (evil grin).  Crooks is officially a sweetie.  Cheers and thanks for the review!

Muse away and enjoy the activity (it's one of my favourite passtimes).  The next chapter will answer your first set of questions.  I checked its position in the Queue - I won't say where it is in the Q in case I jinx it :oP  Thanks for reading, reviewing, musing, and enjoying (sounds like fun!).

Muse away and enjoy the activity (it's one of my favourite passtimes).  The next chapter will answer your first set of questions.  I checked its position in the Queue - I won't say where it is in the Q in case I jinx it :oP  Thanks for reading, reviewing, musing, and enjoying (sounds like fun!).

Hi

!  The answer is in the next chapter which is having a nice, quiet snooze in the queue.  Cheers and thanks for reading and reviewing :o)

Hi

!  The answer is in the next chapter which is having a nice, quiet snooze in the queue.  Cheers and thanks for reading and reviewing :o)

~ stops weaving for a moment~  Hi Beth!  The answers to your questions will take shape as the story progresses - the next chapter is somewhere in the queue.  Hee!  Leeches creep me out like no other animal.  With apologies to leech enthusiasts, it was a natural thing to have a Dementor behave in a similar way.  Thanks for reading and reviewing!  ~ trims off excess wool and continues weaving ~

~ stops weaving for a moment~  Hi Beth!  The answers to your questions will take shape as the story progresses - the next chapter is somewhere in the queue.  Hee!  Leeches creep me out like no other animal.  With apologies to leech enthusiasts, it was a natural thing to have a Dementor behave in a similar way.  Thanks for reading and reviewing!  ~ trims off excess wool and continues weaving ~

Hi

!  Thanks for being intrigued, and for reading and reviewing!

Hi

!  Thanks for being intrigued, and for reading and reviewing!

There is more!!!  Thanks for reading and enjoying :o)

There is more!!!  Thanks for reading and enjoying :o)

Thanks Beth!  The next chapter is in the Most Hallowed Queue.  I cannot tell if the Spirits of the Queue will be appeased by the Offering of the Update - I usually have to do penance before the alter of Grammatical Precision :oD

Thanks Beth!  The next chapter is in the Most Hallowed Queue.  I cannot tell if the Spirits of the Queue will be appeased by the Offering of the Update - I usually have to do penance before the alter of Grammatical Precision :oD

Thank you!  Yes, I'm afraid getting those two in the same room is inevitable ;o)

Thank you!  Yes, I'm afraid getting those two in the same room is inevitable ;o)