::blushes::  Why thank you very much.

::blushes::  Why thank you very much.

Indeed she is, but her history with Ron has left her exceedingly wary of crossing that line with Severus.

Indeed she is, but her history with Ron has left her exceedingly wary of crossing that line with Severus.

I hate it when I write a comprehensive review only to have it eaten by the internet.  I can never quite recapture that first one, although I have tried.In any event, thank you for reading the story and enjoying it enough to have left me wonderful reviews.  Thank you!

I hate it when I write a comprehensive review only to have it eaten by the internet.  I can never quite recapture that first one, although I have tried.In any event, thank you for reading the story and enjoying it enough to have left me wonderful reviews.  Thank you!

I'm giggling at your concept of poor Lucius' tombstone.  I see him as a little formal, and plebeian language from a woman (even a Muggle-born) would throw him for a bit of a loop.  I imagine him cringing at Bellatrix's coarse language.Having said that, I had a lot of fun with the Lucius/Hermione dynamic.  They're not a natural pairing in terms of friendship or romance, but it's a fun challenge to find common ground for the two.As for the ghost council ... hmmm ... well, if I said something it would be telling!Thanks, as always, for your very kind comments.

I'm giggling at your concept of poor Lucius' tombstone.  I see him as a little formal, and plebeian language from a woman (even a Muggle-born) would throw him for a bit of a loop.  I imagine him cringing at Bellatrix's coarse language.Having said that, I had a lot of fun with the Lucius/Hermione dynamic.  They're not a natural pairing in terms of friendship or romance, but it's a fun challenge to find common ground for the two.As for the ghost council ... hmmm ... well, if I said something it would be telling!Thanks, as always, for your very kind comments.

Your suppositions all have merit, and yet, I cannot say because it would give too much away.  I'm very pleased you're so intrigued.  Thanks for letting me know.

I am rethinking her weapon: red wrapped with gold, Griffindor colors.  In chapter one when she remembers the man who betrayed her, I thought Voldemort.  Now I am thinking Godric Gryffindor.  Perhaps that is why he felt like a kindred spirit.  Perhaps she is the model of the Griffindor mascot, perhaps the knowledge he gained from her is what propelled him to the top of the wizard heap.  If this is the case, I wonder if she were alive or already a ghost then.  Could she have died while awaiting his return... well, hell hath on fury like...An unlikely theory, but interesting to think about...

It's really funny you should mention the trend in secondary characters.   When I started The Summoning (years ago now) I implied a Ron/Pansy pairing.  Recently I got a review telling me how overused the pairing was.  I laughed aloud because when I wrote it, I was the only author who had paired them as far as I knew (and I read a lot in the fandom).  I strive to use prevalent characters, but also highlight one or two of the less popular.  It's fun to flesh out a lesser known character. Thanks also for enjoying my Hermione/Lucius dynamic.  I think they're intriguing together ... as colleagues, or even eventual friends, and possibly more intimate.  But it's a delicate road to walk. Thanks very much for appreciating the story!

I'm so very pleased to keep you intrigued.  I hoped to create an onion-like story, so that each layer is distinct but only when you reach the middle do you see its entirety.  And I'm blushing at your reference.I strive to keep the characters true to themselves, but also extrapolate where they might plausibly be eight, ten, twenty years post-war.  I think Severus will always have 'bite' to his comments, and will always be a little insecure about his own worthiness (I was NEVER a fan of Lily Evans Potter).As always, it's quite wonderful reading what you think as you experience the story.  Thank you!

Lucius, Penny, and Hermione all have a lot at stake, and I think it helps them to have a common goal.  I'm so pleased you liked how I have Lucius and Hermione working together, but not quite.  I hoped to keep a little realism in their dynamic.Thank you very much for your kind words.

Thank you so much.  I can't quite say about the ending, because that would be telling, but ....

I'm not sure whether to feel guilty for enticing you to read my story while you should have been writing, or utterly delighted I was able to entice you at all.  I think I'll just bask in delight for a moment!I'm so pleased to have made Lucius believable and even a little sympathetic, especially as he's not terribly easy to like.  He was a great cardboard villain until the moment in the Department of Mysteries when he attempted to persuade Harry to give up the prophecy before resorting to hexing.  Had Bellatrix not been there, we might have had a different confrontation.  At the end of DH, he is a broken man.  What happens to him in the following five to ten years is rife with potential.Thanks for your marvelous review.

I'm absolutely delighted you've been hooked!  Thank you for letting me know you're enjoying it.

I am absolutely delighted you're writing and thank you for another chapter. ;)