Thank you so much. I like Rowan, she's got many good qualities, but you can tell she's still a teenager.

There is a good deal more of Snape in the coming chapters, I tried hard to keep his 'voice' believable, even in the teeth of everything I put him through.

Thank you. Sorry I've been so dreadfully gafiated. DH just kicked me over, even if I was going to ignore it for purposes of this story.

I'm glad you are enjoying it, thank you. Next chapter should be up very shortly.

Yes indeed - it has good points and bad points. Being a better kisser than your average teenager is definitely to the good!

Thanks so much for writing! You'll be glad to hear there are two more chapters all ready to go when TPP is caught up, and the remaining chapters are drafted to the end. You *will* get to find out how it ends!

Yes, we have reached a breathing space. One needs those to hang onto. muahahaha. Thanks for writing - I love to hear how folks react to my twists and turns.

Yes, they've reached a balance point for the moment. I'm glad you like the ring, I imagine the serpent as pretty cute.

Edgar and Rowan might have worked out, if there were no Snape  to be all mysterious and magnetic. Two more chapters are in the queue. I suppose I should confess that there are more chapters at other archives (see my profile) but not to the end of the story.  I'm revising and polising a bit as I post to TPP. When TPP is caught up to the existing chapters, I have more ready to go - and the final chapters are now drafted.

Now there is a wonderful compliment. So glad to hear you are enjoying the story.

I suppose it was an extended slide into darkness rather than a single mistake. Rowan is entirely not at fault, but life is not fair.

You know how sometimes it takes a little while for a shock to sink in? She's brave, but she's still human.

:looks innocent and whistles:

Yes, it's necessary - and neither graphic nor glorified. Something very important happens, apart from the obvious.

Yes, he's not a happy camper. Not exactly what he was imagining with Rowan, is it? And, will she even speak to him again after this? Good thing she's made of hardy stuff.

she's a smart girl, too.  She's already figured out he's a victim just like she is.

Yep, even Snape is scared. Not that you can tell from looking at him. :)

LOL.  It's weird I can sometimes tell how a person feels without looking at them.  It's more of an auditory/movement thing.  If my husband is annoyed or stressed I can tell from another room.  Usually his feet are a bit heavier when he walks.  There's a thumping noise.  I don't think he really believed me until recently but then just to see if I was telling the truth he walked up the stairs in a way that would be similar to what he does when stressed and I immediately when up and asked, "Are you okay?"  He said, "I'm fine, I just wanted to see if you would notice."  ROFL.Poor Snape.  I hate the deal he's gotten in life up to this point.  JKR is totally MEAN!  LOL.  I just finished reading The Princes Tale from book 7 in the last few days.  I've read all the books but I'm reading them to my daughter now so she'll know the books before the last movie.

I'm up to book four with my kids, I'm not sure they are ready for the later ones yet, we'll see how the deal with Cedric's death before we start losing characters they care about.  I just reread books six and seven for myself. JKR has certainly rigged it so any happiness to come Snape's way has to be in an alternate universe. I will happily wallow in mine for the remaining chapters.

My daughter is 11.  She did well with all of the deaths so far.  Better than I did, actually.  For some reason reading to her about Dobby and Fred requires lots of deep breathing and gulping of water.  Snape's death is hard but not as sad as his memories.  I think I cried off and on for about 2 days about The prince's tale.  Of course it didn't help that my husband would bring up stuff about it.  He hasn't even read the books but he read a bunch of spoilers so knew what was coming.  He knew that I was right about snape's motivation.  OMG, I figured that out in book five.  The "worst memory" chapter sealed it.  I KNEW he loved Lily.  Nobody could convince me otherwise from that point on.  LOL.

I'd meant Edgar only to be a prod to Snape's jealousy, but I wound up liking him and kept him around. Snape will be rather more difficult to make happy than Edgar :o)

Weaving is very contemplative, I tried to give a picture of that - but it does no harm to the plot to slide over it.

I figured they needed a little calm by that point, no to mention my poor suffering readers.

Snape has quite the tightrope to walk, doesn't he?

Yes, while Rowan displays some inevitable teenage tendencies, at the core she's the quietly competent sort. She'll need it. :evil cackle:

You are likely correct. The first few chapters were very early efforts for me, I should consider revising them a bit. I know Hagrid doesn't really cut it either. Thanks for sticking with it, if you do - it improves steadily. :o)

I will stick with it.  I love the ideas and I don't want you to quit!  :)  No doubt I'd have trouble with similar things.  I haven't actually written any stories!  I read tons of them, though.  LOL.

Welcome aboard. Have a cup of tea, knitting by the fireside is encouraged. :)

Thank you. Severus has a bit of practice by now, knows when to talk and when to shut up. As for the relationship, that's an awful lot of baggage to get around, but I have faith :)

Thank you. Yes, Severus knows how to play to Voldemort's prejudices. You know it could come back to bite us though, right? :)  Yes, well spotted. What a pity that wasn't a Rickman movie.