I look at the argument and the judge's not stopping it this way: I put myself in Harry's shoes and considered what I would do in his position. Harry had the chance to tell his nasty relatives just what he thought of them for abusing him all his life -- and the judge sensed this, so she didn't try to stop him. He needed to be able to vent his spleen without fear of punishment, such as starvation or being beaten. She would, of course, have put a stop to it if it got out of hand. In this way he achieved closure once and for all. I don't know what other parts you were unsure of, plausibility-wise; all I can say about them is the fact that that is how the story happened to flow as I wrote it. What matters is that you liked the story overall, whatever your reservations.

I look at the argument and the judge's not stopping it this way: I put myself in Harry's shoes and considered what I would do in his position. Harry had the chance to tell his nasty relatives just what he thought of them for abusing him all his life -- and the judge sensed this, so she didn't try to stop him. He needed to be able to vent his spleen without fear of punishment, such as starvation or being beaten. She would, of course, have put a stop to it if it got out of hand. In this way he achieved closure once and for all. I don't know what other parts you were unsure of, plausibility-wise; all I can say about them is the fact that that is how the story happened to flow as I wrote it. What matters is that you liked the story overall, whatever your reservations.

Believe me, rape is rape, whether or not the woman reports and testifies about it--but don't worry, Ginny WILL eventually find out and testify about it. I'm sure I put in something where Harry is advised that she must testify about it in order for there to be a good chance of those responsible being convicted. That and his promise to her to tell her what happened are what mainly what prompts him to finally give her the whole story. He didn't intend to tell her until absolutely necessary in an attempt to spare her any further trauma. As it is, she's going to to go through nightmares, which will require counseling. Also, Harry can stand to file charges because he knows he's not responsible for her rape experience and relishes the idea of going after Draco and his lowlife cousin...in the end, for himself as well as Ginny.

Believe me, rape is rape, whether or not the woman reports and testifies about it--but don't worry, Ginny WILL eventually find out and testify about it. I'm sure I put in something where Harry is advised that she must testify about it in order for there to be a good chance of those responsible being convicted. That and his promise to her to tell her what happened are what mainly what prompts him to finally give her the whole story. He didn't intend to tell her until absolutely necessary in an attempt to spare her any further trauma. As it is, she's going to to go through nightmares, which will require counseling. Also, Harry can stand to file charges because he knows he's not responsible for her rape experience and relishes the idea of going after Draco and his lowlife cousin...in the end, for himself as well as Ginny.

No, Ginny doesn't really know that Draco and Dudley raped her. Draco has blindfolded her, given her some love potion and an hypnotic suggestion that it's Harry doing these things to her. He wants her to think it's Harry assaulting her in an attempt to sabotage the Harry/Ginny relationship...but continue reading and you'll learn how things eventually play out.

No, Ginny doesn't really know that Draco and Dudley raped her. Draco has blindfolded her, given her some love potion and an hypnotic suggestion that it's Harry doing these things to her. He wants her to think it's Harry assaulting her in an attempt to sabotage the Harry/Ginny relationship...but continue reading and you'll learn how things eventually play out.

The reason Harry knew who took Ginny so soon was because Neville had witnessed her abduction and came to tell him as fast as he could. I'm sure I mentioned that in the story. Oh, Harry was furious when he realised at had happened, but once he calmed down a bit, he knew it wasn't worth getting in trouble by going after Draco and Dudley as he originally intended to.

The reason Harry knew who took Ginny so soon was because Neville had witnessed her abduction and came to tell him as fast as he could. I'm sure I mentioned that in the story. Oh, Harry was furious when he realised at had happened, but once he calmed down a bit, he knew it wasn't worth getting in trouble by going after Draco and Dudley as he originally intended to.

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Thank you most kindly! (blush) Too many more reviews like this and I'll get a swelled head ... hehe!! But so glad you enjoyed it. Makes an author feel their time was well- spent writing a story to get such praise. Thanx again!!

jmlane57

It may have seemed docile, but if you read the sequence where Harry and Ginny argue over her needing counseling, you should know that she did not just blithely accept his declaration. He had to all but threaten her with Stunning to get her to agree to it...and even then, it was reluctant.

Also, did you read the entire sequence of events from the time Harry officially renewed his relationship with Ginny that day at Diagon Alley (Chapter 4)? If so, you should know that they are keeping their relationship on the Q.T., have since the day by the pond (Chapter 6).

If Molly’s figured out what’s going on, it’s because of her mother’s intuition, not because the couple is being too open and obvious about it … because they both know how she would react if they were. [Because your reaction was what it was, I can’t help getting the impression that you haven’t.] In addition, at least officially, they have separate bedrooms. Ginny has hers, and Harry is staying in Fred and George’s old room. BTW, Harry is seventeen (Chapter 11) and Ginny will be sixteen not long after that (Chapter 13). Even if they were slightly underage when their intimacy began, things like that can happen in the wizarding world, sooner than in ours, if only slightly.

The only ones who really know of said intimacy are Ginny’s counselor, who’s sworn to secrecy anyway, as are Ron and Hermione. Besides, they are acting responsibly, using contraception and all that, so I don’t think there’s too much to worry about. I see nothing wrong with it as long as that’s the case.

I intended it to be different, mainly since it's darker than the kind of fics I usually write. As for repeating the thing about Dudley, the first time Harry is telling his friends about it, the second, he's telling Ginny.As you may note, completely different people. If he was telling them all at once, I could understand your objection...but he wasn't.Neither Ron nor Hermione told Ginny anything about what happened to her before this because Harry thought it best...and besides, he'd promised Ginny that he would do it at the proper time--and at this point in the story is that time. They're only with him here because he needs their help and strength to be able to tell Ginny everything she needs to know.As for butt-kicking, Harry may not have been able to do it literally (although he was certainly tempted--but it would likely have landed him in prison and he has better things to do in his life). However, don't worry too much--he's going to get the chance to do plenty of verbal butt-kicking very soon, in both Draco and Dudley's trials!

ok. i misspoke...this isnt a happy ending..yet...but it seems to be leading to one. so im happy.

Harry's wondering where Ginny is, naturally, but is fully expecting her to show up any minute with an explanation. Also, Neville didn't tell Harry immediately because he was witnessing the abduction and wanted to make sure to get all the details of same so Harry would know what to do to rescue her after he told him. Then after Draco and Dudley left with her, it took him a few minutes to get to the Quidditch pitch to tell Harry what had happened, which would also take some time.

It also took Neville a few minutes to tell Hermione and Ron what he had told Harry, then a few minutes for them to fetch their own brooms and take off after Harry, so as I said, they were indeed just a half hour behind him.

Harry was quite upset, and if he had forced his way in and hexed Dudley as he wanted to, that hex might have hit Ginny too, and she was being hurt enough as it was.

Besides, Draco had already assaulted her, so what would have been the point to Harry's forcing his way in? As he told his friends, the damage had already been done, no matter what they did. That was the main reason none of them just burst in--not that they didn't want to! 

Hope this clears up at least some of your questions--and even so, I'm glad you like the story in spite of them.

Didn't mean to make it difficult to follow; it was just the way the story happened to come out as I wrote it. But even at that, what matters is that you were intrigued enough to want to read it. There are seven chapters up now, one of which is rather ... racy, if you get my drift ... although I hope you review at least one of these at your earliest convenience.

jmlane57