It was a very convenient place to end the chapter...

Poor old Albus. Even though I actually like him, I don't cut him a lot of slack.

Thank you! It was a very difficult chapter to write, particularly with the emotional parts. I'll do my best with the rest.

That's one way to put it! It would be even more complicated if Hermione was less ruthless.

Thank you! I've only got about a paragraph of the next chapter written so far, but it should be easier to write than this one was. As for cliffies, expect at least one more. 

Thanks! I did my best to keep the hints veiled, so I'm glad to ear that you didn't see this coming.

Thank you! When plotting out when their paths differed, I worked back through the various life threatening points. The troll didn't immediately occur to me...

Cliffie? What cliffie? I never write cliffies. 

That question is already more or less answered, by the implications in the sentence before it, but it won't be the last heard of it!

I'm currently working on chapter 14. It's fast turning out to be the trickiest... but I'll get it finished.

I kinda thought that was where you might be going... oooh... the suspense is killing me! :D

Thank you! I do my best.

As a reader, I hate waiting. As a writer, I just can't sit on chapters for long.

Thank you! I'm glad to hear that. I suppose it's a bit like continually baiting the hook as I reel the reader in... 

She could do that... if the Room of Requirement wasn't so much rubble! But there is more than one way to skin a cat.

It's difficult to properly answer without letting a few too many spoilers slip... but Hermione does have a ruthless streak, and she's the only one in the know.

The Atropos issue will be (largely) resolved in the next chapter or so. So tempting to let more slip, but I shouldn't!

Oh yes, I completely forgot that Hogwarts is nothing but a big pile of ash.I decided to forego begging for more hints. ;-) I love to be surprised. I'm looking forward to the next chapters. It's nice to know the issue will be resolved soon, yet it also sad that this means the story will come to an end soon. What will I do...

There are a fair few complications... I just hope I can manage to resolve all of them, or at least as many as I initially planned to.

Thanks for commenting! I'm always pleased to hear from my readers, particularly those who've followed this from the beginning. The next chapter is in progress. With any luck I'll be able to post it by the end of the month. 

When Atropos last had a conscience depends on when she became a Necromancer... or rather when she fell from grace. Answers in the next chapter, to be posted soon.

Thanks! I think I've killed enough, really, although I make no promises! They did conveniently get injured in a hospital...

It was close with Dumbledore! Up until I wrote it, I wasn't sure whether Hermione would manage to counterattack before he died.

Thank you! I'm glad to hear that only maiming the odd character keeps it within the bounds of realism.

As for more chapters, the next is out of my hands. What might be the penultimate one is being written, albeit slowly.

That question will get a definite answer in the next chapter.

Hee! It could be seen as a reaction to DH, what with almost every Weasley dead and Severus still alive... if I hadn't written that bit a couple of months before there were any leaks!

If Atropos didn't have any weaknesses, she'd risk being a Mary Sue. Shudders. Thank goodness I've managed to avoid that, even if it's a close thing!

Not so much a plan as just an attack, really!

Thanks! I'll try my best.

Hermione possibly does need more reminders, but this time it's to think before acting.

Ron's fate is up in the air, but he certainly chose the right place to be bitten by Nagini. Convenient that he won't need to hobble far to get treatment!

Thanks for reviewing, glad you're enjoying the suspense. 

Thanks! Good to know that I succeeded with my aims in this chapter. 

That's one possibility! You'll find out in the epilogue.

He should have taken more notice of himself: CONSTANT VIGILANCE! Seems to be a case of 'do as I say, not as I do'...

I suspect that a great many of us will wish the same thing! JKR has said that she expects quite a lot of fans to loathe the book.

Absolutely! I can't imagine Tonks going out any other way. She's not an Auror for nothing!

I'm happy to hear that stories like this are keeping you in the Potterverse, and hope that they continue to do so.

Thanks! If I'd dragged it out to be longer, it may have been a little too grim.

You're welcome. I don't have another chapter on hand to divert you from it again, sadly. These things are tempting, but I've managed to keep away on the whole.

What drives Atropos is a good question, one which I do intend to answer, at least partially. Poor Tonks indeed! No one is really safe with an insane Necromancer on the loose...

Thanks! There may be a while to wait before the next chapter, due to Deathly Hallows cutting my inspiration off, but I will complete this fic.

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it, despite the not-so-lovely events.

screwed up royally... That's one way of putting it! Well, I don't think either of them will do that again.

It may be a while before the mystery of the Death Chamber unravels. I currently have a worrying lack of inspiration...

I think all of us are a little on edge at the moment, wondering what DH will bring.  I have faith that your inspiration will return!

Saturday seems both awfully close and far away at the moment...

It's reassuring to hear that. The fact that this is AU should help with ignoring DH, too, if need be.

Thanks! I aim to please. 

...Or is it because cliffies make convenient stopping points?

Dumbles was a lot younger then.

Atropos would be more stoppable if she was sane, as that would limit what she would do, I think.

Voldy as Barney...