"An Act of Love" is a sort-of sequel to RaM, as it is set in the same universe as RaM, and it is set during the HP-Year-6, and is an AU version, though it isn't evident from it. Since RaM ignores DH (it was started well before it, and DH just doesn't fit with RaM or my image of AD which was formed from books 1-5/6), so does AAoL. I cannot imagine attempting to write RaM for another 40 years of story. I think I would be dead before we went ten more years! LOL! It's getting close to the end, though, very close. I have been following an outline for the entire story, and there is a well-planned story-arc, so it doesn't meander as much as might appear at a casual glance. It was very carefully planned and plotted. Once it's through, I don't think I'll be writing another chaptered story for a while, though I may write some RaM-universe one-shots, and there's a couple other short chaptered stories that I've been working on, as well.

I'm glad you enjoyed Albus's dinner with Wilspy & Fawkes!

Thanks!

You're welcome! ;)

Oh, heck! Or something stronger. I'm having major technical issues over at Lumos with the chapter numbering there, and now it seems that TPP has one too! AAAA! I wanna cry!

I will contact the Headmistress and ask her to look into it. Thanks very much for letting me know.

I'm glad that you liked the chapter! Thanks much!

Thank you to notsosaintly for so quickly figuring out and fixing the chapter numbering glitch! Thank you, and three cheers to her and her entire team of volunteers who make this wonderful site not only possible but wonderful!

Thanks,

, for letting me know about it so it could get fixed! :)

Oh, heck! Or something stronger. I'm having major technical issues over at Lumos with the chapter numbering there, and now it seems that TPP has one too! AAAA! I wanna cry!

I will contact the Headmistress and ask her to look into it. Thanks very much for letting me know.

I'm glad that you liked the chapter! Thanks much!

Thank you to notsosaintly for so quickly figuring out and fixing the chapter numbering glitch! Thank you, and three cheers to her and her entire team of volunteers who make this wonderful site not only possible but wonderful!

Thanks,

, for letting me know about it so it could get fixed! :)

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

Albus wouldn't have described his need during the war as loneliness; he was speaking of the time after the war, marked by his deciding to find a witch to woo and deciding on Gertie, who turns him down. His need during the war was different, and was in some ways deeper than loneliness. It was a need not for the companionship that he began to feel the absence of when he first began to fall in love with Minerva around the time of her Challenge, but one for comfort and understanding, and he got that from Gertrude, to the extent that he would allow himself to seek it. So although his love for Minerva grew over the years, he really fell in love with her a few years after the war's end, and that was when he began to feel lonely and sought to fill the gap first with Gertrude, then later with Valerianna, the pale imitation, as Gertrude put it. (Something like that, anyway.)

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! It will likely be at least a week before the next one, as RL is getting quite hectic.

Thanks for the review!

Thanks for the clarification.

I think Minerva, Albus Gertie and I would all agree that it was a good thing he had Gertie when he did. <g>

I would say that they would all agree, although Gertie was sad about having to turn him away a few years later. She wouldn't have if she hadn't seen that he was falling for Minerva and she believed that she was what he really wanted and needed. It is very good timing that Malcolm entered her life when he did, because although Gertrude was trying to do what she could to get Albus & Minerva to recognise their feelings for each other, there was still a wistfulness in her. She was fairly convinced that she would never meet another wizard, that two times lucky was already one time more than she could have expected, so when Malcolm blew in and saw her, it was just exactly what she needed at just the right time, and for him, as well.

Yes, that is fortunate for Gertie.  And Malcolm, and even Albus. I do hope that at some point she and Albus have a serious conversation and she can get him to truly understand what her rejection of him was about.  B/c it did hurt him on a deep level, even though they have remained loving friends. 

Since she has now found Malcolm, she can tell Albus of the depth and length of her love for him more easily, w/o either of them feeling bad about it they way they might have at an earlier time.  W/o Malcolm's entrance, Gertie might really be the tragic heroine of this story, giving up a love she richly deserved so that Albus might have his true soulmate. She'd perhaps be tied w/ Quin, but he has his businesses and his tykes to distract  and absorb him, while Gertie continues to work next to Albus day after day and still pours herself out for him devotedly.  And they do both truly love each other, just not in the special way Albus and Minerva do.

Angst-loving me can see an alternate-universe extremely tragic version of RaM, where Gertie and Albus get together and Quin and Minerva get together, and all truly love their partners but w/ a constant undertone of wistfulness and melancholy, b/c they are meant to be paired elsewise.  But MMADfan could and would never write such a story! 

Speaking of AAoL's reference to Albus and Minerva being married, I do  hope that one of your future RaMverse one-shots or sequels is the immediate prelude to that wedding and then the act itself!  Given Albus's lasting feelings about Minerva not tying herself irrevocably to him, which he even repeats in AAoL, it must have taken quite a bit to get him to the altar/registrar's office/secret binding ceremony!

Albus wouldn't have described his need during the war as loneliness; he was speaking of the time after the war, marked by his deciding to find a witch to woo and deciding on Gertie, who turns him down. His need during the war was different, and was in some ways deeper than loneliness. It was a need not for the companionship that he began to feel the absence of when he first began to fall in love with Minerva around the time of her Challenge, but one for comfort and understanding, and he got that from Gertrude, to the extent that he would allow himself to seek it. So although his love for Minerva grew over the years, he really fell in love with her a few years after the war's end, and that was when he began to feel lonely and sought to fill the gap first with Gertrude, then later with Valerianna, the pale imitation, as Gertrude put it. (Something like that, anyway.)

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! It will likely be at least a week before the next one, as RL is getting quite hectic.

Thanks for the review!

Thanks for the clarification.

I think Minerva, Albus Gertie and I would all agree that it was a good thing he had Gertie when he did. <g>

I would say that they would all agree, although Gertie was sad about having to turn him away a few years later. She wouldn't have if she hadn't seen that he was falling for Minerva and she believed that she was what he really wanted and needed. It is very good timing that Malcolm entered her life when he did, because although Gertrude was trying to do what she could to get Albus & Minerva to recognise their feelings for each other, there was still a wistfulness in her. She was fairly convinced that she would never meet another wizard, that two times lucky was already one time more than she could have expected, so when Malcolm blew in and saw her, it was just exactly what she needed at just the right time, and for him, as well.

Yes, that is fortunate for Gertie.  And Malcolm, and even Albus. I do hope that at some point she and Albus have a serious conversation and she can get him to truly understand what her rejection of him was about.  B/c it did hurt him on a deep level, even though they have remained loving friends. 

Since she has now found Malcolm, she can tell Albus of the depth and length of her love for him more easily, w/o either of them feeling bad about it they way they might have at an earlier time.  W/o Malcolm's entrance, Gertie might really be the tragic heroine of this story, giving up a love she richly deserved so that Albus might have his true soulmate. She'd perhaps be tied w/ Quin, but he has his businesses and his tykes to distract  and absorb him, while Gertie continues to work next to Albus day after day and still pours herself out for him devotedly.  And they do both truly love each other, just not in the special way Albus and Minerva do.

Angst-loving me can see an alternate-universe extremely tragic version of RaM, where Gertie and Albus get together and Quin and Minerva get together, and all truly love their partners but w/ a constant undertone of wistfulness and melancholy, b/c they are meant to be paired elsewise.  But MMADfan could and would never write such a story! 

Speaking of AAoL's reference to Albus and Minerva being married, I do  hope that one of your future RaMverse one-shots or sequels is the immediate prelude to that wedding and then the act itself!  Given Albus's lasting feelings about Minerva not tying herself irrevocably to him, which he even repeats in AAoL, it must have taken quite a bit to get him to the altar/registrar's office/secret binding ceremony!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it. Those were among the first chapters written, though it took a long time for them to fit into the story. I changed it from a third-person account to first-person and fleshed out the descriptions from Albus's point-of-view, when I finally posted them. It was hard to be patient, waiting for the right place for them, but I felt that the timing of the appearance of the chapters and when the reader and Minerva both learn the story was important.

I hope you continue to enjoy the story! Thanks again!

Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it. Those were among the first chapters written, though it took a long time for them to fit into the story. I changed it from a third-person account to first-person and fleshed out the descriptions from Albus's point-of-view, when I finally posted them. It was hard to be patient, waiting for the right place for them, but I felt that the timing of the appearance of the chapters and when the reader and Minerva both learn the story was important.

I hope you continue to enjoy the story! Thanks again!

Yes, it will be hard for them, but they'll figure out ways.

I'm glad you find it hot but not sleazy. I know it's pretty explicit and probably not to everyone's taste. I'm glad you liked it! I figure after so many chapters of their frustrations and tribulations, they  -- and we -- deserve a bit of lemon zest! ;)

Thanks!

Yes, it will be hard for them, but they'll figure out ways.

I'm glad you find it hot but not sleazy. I know it's pretty explicit and probably not to everyone's taste. I'm glad you liked it! I figure after so many chapters of their frustrations and tribulations, they  -- and we -- deserve a bit of lemon zest! ;)

Thanks!

You're welcome! And thank you! I am so happy to know that the story has been able to perk up your days. It is very good to here. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Thanks!

You're welcome! And thank you! I am so happy to know that the story has been able to perk up your days. It is very good to here. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks!

I am sure that when he got home, he had to preen for the rest of the afternoon to return his feathers to their normal glorious state! 

Thanks!

I am sure that when he got home, he had to preen for the rest of the afternoon to return his feathers to their normal glorious state! 

Thanks!

Her mother is quite perceptive . . .

Glad you enjoyed it!

Her mother is quite perceptive . . .

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed it!

Thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed it!

Thanks! I agree!

Thanks! I agree!

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

*grin* I like "zowieeeee"!

Yeah, the "bloody marvellous" just kinda slipped out -- sort of an Albus-oops-moment. ;)

I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up, but I hope you won't have to wait too long!

I hope that your keyboard recovers from the melting on it!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you still do well on your tests.

Vielen herzlichen Dank!

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Malcolm is a fun guy to write.

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Malcolm is a fun guy to write.

Glad you enjoyed the chapter! You may have forgotten that Albus actually knows her parents relatively well already, and they will be going there on Weds, and the wedding (which is a registry office marriage, remember -- it's not going to be anything worth writing home about, although the little party afterward may possibly be more interesting) is on Friday. "Today" is Tuesday, so they go to the McG's very soon. ;-)

Why doesn't anyone think that Minerva is being obstinate and unreasonable about the holiday? Albus has brought up all these different options, and Minerva is fixated the cottage -- I think it's really amusing how people take sides! :D It's great! (The readers haven't really heard most of the conversations they have had about it, including Albus's side of things, which is likely part of the reason for the greater sympathy for Minerva.)

Don't worry -- there will be Lemons! And more Lemons! ;D And, of course, the duel that you are looking forward to! I hope it lives up to expectations.

Thanks much for the review! 

oh i know he knows the parents...but meeting them THIS time will be nothing like before i'm sure!especially given his fear they will think he had designs on minerva when she was his student...that should be interested.and yes im' on minerva's side on the holiday.  i wouldn't want to hang around strangers either.xx

Yeah, neither would I -- not on the first holiday after that roller coaster they've been on, especially!

Albus is nervous about their dinner! But we all know how Egeria and Merwyn actually feel. The only question is, how will they all behave and what will happen! ;D That might, indeed, be interesting!  

Very glad you like Malcolm. He's my personal fave OC (but don't tell anyone! LOL!), so I'm happy when people appreciate him. He's a bit less "perfect" than Quin (not that Quin is perfect), but I like him.

I figured people might have forgotten about Minerva's piece of amber jewelery and her musings over when and why she bought it, so I put it in again. Glad you liked the chapter title. Some are better than others! 

I am glad that the chapter came at a good time for you. The next update will likely be next Friday or Saturday.

Thank you for your review! :-) 

Very glad you like Malcolm. He's my personal fave OC (but don't tell anyone! LOL!), so I'm happy when people appreciate him. He's a bit less "perfect" than Quin (not that Quin is perfect), but I like him.

I figured people might have forgotten about Minerva's piece of amber jewelery and her musings over when and why she bought it, so I put it in again. Glad you liked the chapter title. Some are better than others! 

I am glad that the chapter came at a good time for you. The next update will likely be next Friday or Saturday.

Thank you for your review! :-) 

Glad you found it worth the rest of the story! ;D

Thanks for reviewing! 

Glad you found it worth the rest of the story! ;D

Thanks for reviewing! 

Well, I'm very glad you aren't sobbing! haha!

Thanks for the review! I hope you continue enjoying their stimulating chess games -- er, their hot sex, I mean! LOL! I'm glad you found it hot!  

Well, I'm very glad you aren't sobbing! haha!

Thanks for the review! I hope you continue enjoying their stimulating chess games -- er, their hot sex, I mean! LOL! I'm glad you found it hot!  

'And I'm *thrilled* this was not another "let me stop now and go slow" cliffhanger!'

I think Minerva would have imploded if we'd done that to her! (Meaning Albus and The Author! haha!)

'LOL at Albus turning around the "misunderstanding." That was GREAT. And so perfect, with all his worries and self-restraint, to let go and have fun.'

You know, take out the middle 125 chapters, and you'd have the PWP that I was avoiding by writing RaM! haha!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks very much for the review! 

'And I'm *thrilled* this was not another "let me stop now and go slow" cliffhanger!'

I think Minerva would have imploded if we'd done that to her! (Meaning Albus and The Author! haha!)

'LOL at Albus turning around the "misunderstanding." That was GREAT. And so perfect, with all his worries and self-restraint, to let go and have fun.'

You know, take out the middle 125 chapters, and you'd have the PWP that I was avoiding by writing RaM! haha!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks very much for the review! 

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm pleased you found it erotic but not crude. (And even when I'm crude, I try to be tastefully and imaginitively crude! )

Thanks for reviewing! 

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm pleased you found it erotic but not crude. (And even when I'm crude, I try to be tastefully and imaginitively crude! )

Thanks for reviewing! 

That will happen -- there are stages and stages. Now folk can look forward to Albus being more active, and to Minerva getting him out of his clothes, and other various stages. Should be fun. And hopefully even hotter!

I hope you managed to cool down on your walk! Glad you found it hot. 

Thanks! 

That will happen -- there are stages and stages. Now folk can look forward to Albus being more active, and to Minerva getting him out of his clothes, and other various stages. Should be fun. And hopefully even hotter!

I hope you managed to cool down on your walk! Glad you found it hot. 

Thanks!