A good chapter again!  Love the part about the Order; it's nice to see its inner workings; we never really got a sense of them, book-wise.  It's great that Severus is protective -still with him there-, but he doesn't listen (new evidence for pre-drawn conclusion, lol)....  Minerva  explained potential problems/fears he had.  And, she does trust him.  Sigh.  While still not necessarily liking how Robbie handled it in the library earlier (glad again it didn't lead to a problem), it's good that Minerva's trying to live in the world around her - if anyone will let her, even Robbie occasionally, lol.  (Will Thea come in, or is she really gone?  That would be interesting....)  Again, thanks for the update! 

This chapter was full of surprises.  I like what you're doing with the Hallows.  Your Albus' plan makes a whole lot more sense than what THAT OTHER WRITER put in her book.  As for the interlude between Robbie and Minerva, I have my suspicions based on what was said, the way it was said, and what wasn't said.  I shall keep them to myself until this plays out a bit more.Plans within plans within plans.

Good scene btwn SS and HG.  I'm not generally a sshg fan (though it makes more sense than HGRW!), but you're writing it believably.Poor Minerva.  I imagine Albus would be cooler with this situation than I am, actually. <g>  I know, Albus is dead, and Minerva is under a huge colossal pyramid-size heap o' stress, and she was used to lots of physical interaction and truly great sex on a frequent basis when he was alive, and had been for 40 yrs.  There is such a thing as touch deprivation and I'm sure she's feeling it big-time.  For all we and Snape know, Albus intended for Minerva and Robbie to get together, or at least foresaw it. But I can't help recall her comments to Albus at the very beginning of their relationship, that when he died she would not, could not possibly, look for another.  Ah, the changes wrought by age, experience, and stress, and trauma. But if she's going to use someone for comfort like that, and/or allow herself to be used (b/c, even filtering out Snape's considerable bias, at least right now it seems more like using than loving, IMHO), I wish it were Quin.  Quin had much better boundaries than Robbie seems to--he knew when and how far to flex, and when not to.  I feel he could comfort Minerva in a way which didn't leave her feeling conflicted.  If he's alive, and even semi-whole physically, and single, he needs to get his cute arse to Hogwarts, IMNSHO!  He and MInerva had real chemistry 40 yrs ago  and would again, no matter the level of physical expression.  (So he doesn't even need to be semi-whole <g> Pulse, check?  You're good....)  And Albus liked Quin and would consider him a good and worthy successor.  Just my NSHO.  But now we will return this plot to its actual author....

What an interesting web,I like the dance you are doing around the Hallows and Minerva, well I'm not to sure what to say about that.

A very sad, difficult chapter ... I liked Robbie a lot in RAM, about as much as I liked Quinn; I don't know if I do anymore, even for the past, knowing what he'll become - that's emotional abuse, if not more.  I doubt Gertie would like this.  (I wish he were someone taking Robbie's place....  He's been off the entire story, & I put it down to 40 years of change/war.  But, that's wishful thinking, as Minerva'd certainly know by now.)  I'm with Severus on this one. 

As for the rest of it, good for Severus and Hermione, dealing with Harry &c.  Maybe they'll win out after all - with those two, it would be difficult to see how they would not. S&H are a good match here, or will be.   

Ugh - Robert is really a manipulative bastard!  Sweet and kind one minute, playing the "puppy dog", then forcing Minerva to have sex with him.  Is he under the Imperius?  Or is it someone using Polyjuice to impersonate him?  And did he and Minerva ever have a relationship?  This line: “Minerva, Minerva . . . I missed touching you. Sitting beside you . . . watching you . . . it is wonderful, but it is insufficient.” makes me think that they did... but when?  Minerva first met Robert at Gertie's party, and he was married then, and then she and Albus began their relationship.  And what happened to Thea?I can't wait for the next chapter - hopefully it will answer some of my questions!

I am so happy to have a new update from you. This story has really drawn me in and I'm hooked!!The bits with Severus and Hermione were interesting on a lot of levels. Their interactions seem less acidic, at least from Snape's past experiences with Hermione, and she seems more willing to open up to him and give him a chance. I am guessing that's because they each learned a few things during Snape's time with the Adfectus curse. I can definitely see the groundwork being laid for a possible relationship once she's older and he's out of the woods with Voldemort and the Death Eaters (should that day ever come and he's still alive). I feel so sorry for Minerva in this story but even more so in this chapter. She seems so worn down, tired, grief-stricken and yet she's trying to hold it all together for the school, the Order, and even herself. I can't imagine how horrible it must have been to lose Albus, the love of her life. I'm a bit shocked that she would turn to Robbie so quickly, though I suppose she needed the familiarity he can offer as well as an understanding and comforting set of arms to fall into. Her tears after they made love really broke my heart, as well as her calling out Albus' name as she climaxed, though I have to say that Robbie was most understanding in the matter.Poor Snape...he just can't catch a break. First he sees Albus and Minerva making love in AAoL and now he's forced to watch Minerva and Robbie in the Library (almost sounds like a murder scene from the game of Clue...but I digress ). It's like Snape is seeing Robbie through the eyes of jealousy. I think he's been bitten by the green-eyed monster of jealousy since Minerva turned to Robbie for comfort instead of Snape. He even thinks to himself that she'd not accept that sort of comfort from him and only tolerated his touch because of the curse. Snape's not the best judge of chuman motivations in the most ordinary of circumstances, so I'm going on the assumption that his jealousy is clouding everything that he sees in regards to Minerva.And speaking of jealousy and its source...I think Robbie is a major part of Snape's problem (well not really a problem but you know what I mean). Robbie is taking excellent care of Minerva, as far as we can call. He's always beside her to be supportive (Snape even calls him her "Shadow"), makes her tea (meaning he makes sure she's eating and drinking when she might otherwise neglect the more basic needs), and offering comfort (on many levels, not just the sex). He was so tender with her in the Library, wiping away her tears, being comforting when she's just cried out Albus' name, and then promising to come to her and staying with her. It's good that he's around, I think, if for no other reason than to keep Minerva on an even keel and giving her an outlet for her emotions.Another fantastic chapter and as always, greedily awaiting more!Cheers,GLM

I’m not sure how coherent this will be tonight with my “festive” Spring Break 2008, but I’ll give it a shot anyway…I honestly don’t remember much of what I read last July in DH, other than my “huh?” reaction over the craptacular epilogue (oh, and camping.  Riiiiiiiiight).  With that in mind, I think I’ll just skip the re-read I had planned for now, and carry on with “Death’s Dominion”. 

Of the three main kid characters, Hermione was always the one I tolerated best in the books, but NOT in the films.  She really can accomplish more for their cause in DD by staying at Hogwarts, possibly working with Snape.  Harry and Ron always struck me as “testosterone-poisoned” by the time Book 5 rolled around.  They still pretty much are in your AU-version as well.

I enjoy your portrayal of Minerva, here as always.  She never really got to show us how tough and smart we know her to be (and I won’t even get started about how Dame Maggie is wasted in the films—her best scenes have been ending up on the cutting room floor, I’d wager).  Minerva napping as "Raggles" brought a big smile to my face;  she certainly would be more comfortable in her tabby-form, and the students’ lack of attention that a cat was nearby was funny.  They deserved detention!  I confess that I love cats and notice when one is near me.

Oooh, I like Robbie already (it took me a little while to figure out who he was from RaM).  I am taking a perverse satisfaction that Snape will have conflict with Robbie (although I don’t want to get ahead of myself and say why in this chapter ).  I have to ask my usual question, though:  whom would you have play Robert Crouch?  And Alroy MacAirt? 

I have spent the majority of two weeks reading RAM, AAOL, and DD and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  I found RAM on accident over at ffnet and began to read them here.  The events on RAM was driving me nuts - partially because it took 34+ chapters on ffnet to get back to the day Albus overheard Minerva and her comment fuck Albus Dumbledore.  I loved all of your characters.  Carson was someone I cried for, I laughed every time we saw Quin, I couldn't stop chuckling at Albus' realization that he was checking out Minerva and his reaction to a bare leg!  

There were so many things to love and hate about RAM.  Valerianna was one, for example.  She was definitely one I loved to hate and I couldn't help wonder what happened to her.  I didn't know what to think about Philomena Yaxley at first, but I liked her own puzzlement of Morag the cat and Albus' reaction to it.  I was pleased to see her reappearance in DD, no, more than pleased - in fact it was a pleasant surprise to learn that she was the witch who Voldemort intended to use to poison Minister Scrimgeour.  

I have to admit that AAOL creeped me out a bit, but that didn't deter me from reading to the end and moving on to DD.  As for DD I suspected Albus was Robbie but kept wavering in my decision until Severus caught them having sex.  I knew straight away that Robbie was Albus and I had a delicious moment of torment trying not to go to the end to find out.  I managed to read straight through though, and the relevation to Poppy had me almost jumping in joy because it was confirmation at last.  So, it was of no surprise to me that Albus was Robbie when the actual relevation occurred.  

I loved that Harry came around in the end and I was touched by the Order of Merlin Severus received.  It was very vexing to read that he had only gotten a Third Class award, and I almost wanted to throttle Harry as much as Severus did when Harry announced that he talked the award committee out of a First-Class award for Severus.  

Ron was another surprise - a Snape Slytherin? I definitely didn't see that one coming, and the monetary award for SPEW had me chuckling.  I had only a few sips of coffee by that point.  I was also very pleased to see Quin hale and whole again, and to learn that little Alroy was Gryffindor's Head in DD was pleasing.  I wondered what happened to a few of the characters I read about in RAM.  

Gertrude was a surprise too, and I was sorry to hear about Malcolm - though very pleased about Gareth.  The Gertrude/Snape history is very disquieting to me but I was pleased to see "Gertie" out on the battlefield and even more so when she visited Severus in his quarters.  I realized that Murdoch and Poppy didn't make it as a couple here in DD, and I was actually kind of sad it didn't happen.  I was also sorry to see Molly die and was pleased that Percy seemed to be where he should.  

All in all, I was glad to have read such a lovely and intriguing story with so many twists and turns and lovely characters.  I guess all that remains are the other side stories to catch up with the others like Pomona/Filius!  Thank you for a lovely read, especially with my internet out for a time.  It made my few days to the library more fun (especially since I saved a few chapters to take home with me to read) and the anticipation to read the following chapters (after I devoured the saved chapters) definitely helped to brighten my days.