Lady Minerva fully agrees (and feels she deserves her own emoticon.) You don't have to wait long. Chapter 12 just posted. Enjoy!

Yipee!!! And she really does.  One that goes from tartan clad witch to bespeckled cat.

You are very much welcome!

I seriously fear that Lucius' only advice would be 'bend over for whoever gives you the best deal.' Draco's best hope at this point is a principled prince who shares his proclivities.*looks at that sentence* Um... I don't advise drinking and responding to reviews.

I think it was the review because I wasn't drinking and I just saw I wrote 'right' instead of 'write'.  Maybe I thought it'd be the right thing for Lucius to do.

So far, he's managed to come through this mess physically unscathed. I can't speak to his mental state!

Well, he did need the exercise...

Thank you, thank you. Severus really should have brought a magnifying glass along, 'way back when...

*snork* And for all that, he and the elf STILL make better guardians than Draco's parents! Thank you for the review!

It was a bit tricky to make this one funny. Poor Draco; he's a brat, but he's only a very wee brat, and it's therefore not entirely his fault. Thanks for reviewing!

With a parent like Lucius, one could argue that Draco has cause to sulk. This of course does not make Severus' job any easier. Thank you for the review!

You do make a very sound argument.  I hope it is pointed out before the end that Draco's hair is FAR superior to Lucius'.  I think it fair recompense.

I think he'd have to shave Lucius' head to distract him in this instance. The man is like a pit bull with a ham bone when it comes to his loopy plan. Thanks for reading!

Narcissa definitely knows what she's talking about. Thank you for reviewing!

*bows* Thank you! *Notes extraordinarily long string of reviews* Is it binge-reading Friday!?

Why yes, yes it is.  Procrastination is a beautiful (and entertaining) thing somethimes. 

*Nods vigorously* Hello, procrastination, my old friend (with apologies to Simon and Garfunkle!) The only question, really, is read, write, or drink? (Hey, it's beer week hereabouts)

You could certainly do two of them together and if you drink enough, you might be able to handle all three.  No promises on quality of content though.  Have a good time with whichever endeavor(s) you choose!

Thank you kindly my dear, and apologies to the resident domestic canine. Next up: We present The-Prince-Who-Lived. All of him.

Thank you kindly my dear, and apologies to the resident domestic canine. Next up: We present The-Prince-Who-Lived. All of him.

If the hat fits... If Draco can hold on, he'll soon have a chapter entirely devoted to his quivering.

The hat fits superbly. 

If the hat fits... If Draco can hold on, he'll soon have a chapter entirely devoted to his quivering.

The hat fits superbly. 

Draco preens at the compliment. Severus is in for a ride and a half--somewhat literally, as Chapters 10 & 11 make clear. Enjoy!

Thank you kindly, my dear. As to beta-reading, well, I have the most remarkable luck... sort of like the Marx Brothers and directors. No beta seems able to survive editing more than a half-dozen or so of my stories. Indeed, after a certain number of beta jobs, most find their real life grows so busy, they effectively leave the fandom. I've seriously considered advertising for a regular beta reader with the incentive, "Edit my stories and soon you'll have that job promotion, get married, and/or your offspring will become stars in their chosen extracirricular activity."For this story, I've been relying on the fact that it has lain around so long I'm effectively seeing it with fresh eyes; what I've learned from the corrections of my past betas; and pressing my dear, long-suffering spouse into service to check for obvious errors in the new segments I wrote to flesh out the years-old, partially-complete, basic tale. I sincerely apologize for oversharing. Enjoy the next chapter!

no, no no, you've been a jewel, my dear! That joke has been in there since the first draft, four years ago or so. It's a reference to a series of animated LiveJournal icons called, 'Things I am not allowed to do at Hogwarts', each one phrased in the form of lines set as punishments. (I get the impression they are based on an actual list somewhere.) The original was, "I will not ask Professor Snape if today's potion is suitable for use as a sexual lubricant."   Please, relax and as a proof of goodwill, accept Chapter 10.

LOL Indeed, the lack of foresight among these characters is the stuff of legends. I'm glad you're enjoying it--I might even have room for one more chapter than originally planned, if that helps? P.S. Chapter 9 is uploading as we speak

Oh gooooody good good! As u can see I am tuning in for your chapters to come! 

Draco has never been near a closet in his life, except to change into new robes. Truer words were never spoken! Severus, for his part, would rather lick the bottom of the cauldron than have to acknowledge to anyone, anywhere, at any time, that his ward has ANY sexuality--so, yeah... Chapter 9, currently posting, should get fun. (For the reader, anyway. ) Thanks for reviewing!

Thank you kindly! I shall add a little note to the final chapter about the curious history of this story (short answer: it's a 'cold case' that heated up a few months ago, and is at long last very nearly finished.)

If you have sympathy to spare, I'd say that could all use it!  Thank you for the review (and I'll remind the elves to keep it down--wouldn't want any of that celebration to result in hand-ironing....!)

*bows* Thank you kindly--I shall endeavor to fashion an ending that makes your curiosity worthwhile!

No doubt about it! Thank you for reviewing

Yup. Far from having a Blond Moment, Lucius is one long, blond lifetime.

Given how delightfully successful Lucius was at predicting the sex of his offspring, I have no doubt that what he contrived to do and what he succeeded at are two decidedly different things! [So far as fandom exclamations are concerned, 'Oh my Fred and George' has got to rank right up there with the time I told my Lily to moderate her language, and in response she invented the phrase 'Oh, FLOO POWDER!']