Hi! I'm glad you had the time to relax and read, and, of course, I'm happy to hear you have enjoyed my stories and are liking this one. Because of my own RL stuff, the next update will be a little slower in coming than usual, but it will come. I'm glad that you like the suspense and bit of mystery!Thanks for reviewing!

Hi! I'm glad you had the time to relax and read, and, of course, I'm happy to hear you have enjoyed my stories and are liking this one. Because of my own RL stuff, the next update will be a little slower in coming than usual, but it will come. I'm glad that you like the suspense and bit of mystery!Thanks for reviewing!

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. My vacation is very relaxing. It makes me want to move from the city to somewhere more peaceful and green.

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. My vacation is very relaxing. It makes me want to move from the city to somewhere more peaceful and green.

Wonder whose idea the bite mark was--Robbie's or Poppy's?  Wonder how Robbie's marks compare to Albus's in the concluding chapter of AaoL? It was a joint thought. The little marks on Minerva looked nothing like the large, ugly, and apparently (though not actually) painful bite mark on Poppy's shoulder. The first were small discolorations, the latter looked like a real bite with teeth marks -- not something Poppy, Robbie, Minerva, or Albus would have found at all stimulating or appropriate.Poppy's come to like Robbie quite a bit over the last several weeks, and he relaxes with her more than he does with others. (There was some evidence of that in their interactions in this chapter.) She simply has come to have a good feeling about him, though you are right -- despite Severus trusting Robbie more than he did and accepting his presence and his role more, he still has some suspicion and discomfort with him.I'm glad you like my attention to detail. I try! I once was going through some rather tedious stuff with someone at work, an older guy in his mid-60s, and he remarked how very patient I am (I had to explain a lot of things to him), and I told him that actually, I'm NOT very patient, and am actually rather impatient, I simply work very hard at overcoming that particular flaw. It is the work of a lifetime! I think on the day I die, I'll still be working on patience, as well as several other characteristics that I wish I possessed in greater abundance. So I will consider this a gift to you! A great opportunity for you to work on that patience-thing! LOL!My vacation is going very nicely so far! Absolutely zero writing time, but that can be a good thing!Thanks much for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

We might be very similar tempermentally concerning patience!  I had a similar experience at work very recently.  Maybe your 60-something guy was my early-70s-gal's ex-husband!  (And after working w/ her for 2 weeks I can see why she's no longer married!!!)I meant to mention how interesting it was to learn the additional details about Albus's own deception of Grindelwald so many years ago, and that he was severely crucio'd but neglected to tell Minerva that part for many years (!!!)...He perhaps should have told Severus more before he died... so that SS would have known the Headmaster could empathize, not just sympathize, w/ him when he returned a trembling wreck...and that Albus did know what he was subjecting him to in more than a theoretical way, what the cost was...Perhaps at least now SS realizes that Albus had more of a clue about what he was forcing him to endure than he had perhaps previously understood. It probably makes him miss Albus all the more.  Poor Severus.

It actually wasn't many years before Albus told Minerva, only a matter of some months after their original conversation about the defeat. There is actually a hint of this additional bit of information in the chapter with Malcolm and Albus when they have lunch together -- 129, "A Mercurial McGonagall" -- so it's not entirely new here. He says something like, "you defeated him [Grindelwald] after two days of torture" (implying that this other thing shouldn't be too hard for Albus to do), and then Malcolm mentions that he knew Katherine Fellows well at one time, and that's how he knows about it. (She was one of the Aurors w/ AD, along w/ RS & AM.)BTW, I've decided that one of my favorite chapters of RaM is "A Spree" -- the second half of the chapter, to be precise. It was a bear to write, I remember, but I recently went back to look at something in it, and decided I rather liked it -- Malcolm is great and so very "Malcolm" in that chapter. But then, I tend to like the chapters that have a lot of Malcolm in them. :)As you say, poor Severus! Of course, at the time that Albus mentioned the Grindy stuff to him while helping w/ the Occlumency, it was relatively soon after Severus's defection from Voldemort, and their relationship was different. It would have been good for Severus to know, perhaps, and for Albus to have said something more to him about it before he died, but for various reasons, he didn't. I think it was probably better coming from Minerva, though it is a pity that Albus isn't there now for Severus to talk to about it now that he knows. Poor Severus!

Wonder whose idea the bite mark was--Robbie's or Poppy's?  Wonder how Robbie's marks compare to Albus's in the concluding chapter of AaoL? It was a joint thought. The little marks on Minerva looked nothing like the large, ugly, and apparently (though not actually) painful bite mark on Poppy's shoulder. The first were small discolorations, the latter looked like a real bite with teeth marks -- not something Poppy, Robbie, Minerva, or Albus would have found at all stimulating or appropriate.Poppy's come to like Robbie quite a bit over the last several weeks, and he relaxes with her more than he does with others. (There was some evidence of that in their interactions in this chapter.) She simply has come to have a good feeling about him, though you are right -- despite Severus trusting Robbie more than he did and accepting his presence and his role more, he still has some suspicion and discomfort with him.I'm glad you like my attention to detail. I try! I once was going through some rather tedious stuff with someone at work, an older guy in his mid-60s, and he remarked how very patient I am (I had to explain a lot of things to him), and I told him that actually, I'm NOT very patient, and am actually rather impatient, I simply work very hard at overcoming that particular flaw. It is the work of a lifetime! I think on the day I die, I'll still be working on patience, as well as several other characteristics that I wish I possessed in greater abundance. So I will consider this a gift to you! A great opportunity for you to work on that patience-thing! LOL!My vacation is going very nicely so far! Absolutely zero writing time, but that can be a good thing!Thanks much for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

We might be very similar tempermentally concerning patience!  I had a similar experience at work very recently.  Maybe your 60-something guy was my early-70s-gal's ex-husband!  (And after working w/ her for 2 weeks I can see why she's no longer married!!!)I meant to mention how interesting it was to learn the additional details about Albus's own deception of Grindelwald so many years ago, and that he was severely crucio'd but neglected to tell Minerva that part for many years (!!!)...He perhaps should have told Severus more before he died... so that SS would have known the Headmaster could empathize, not just sympathize, w/ him when he returned a trembling wreck...and that Albus did know what he was subjecting him to in more than a theoretical way, what the cost was...Perhaps at least now SS realizes that Albus had more of a clue about what he was forcing him to endure than he had perhaps previously understood. It probably makes him miss Albus all the more.  Poor Severus.

It actually wasn't many years before Albus told Minerva, only a matter of some months after their original conversation about the defeat. There is actually a hint of this additional bit of information in the chapter with Malcolm and Albus when they have lunch together -- 129, "A Mercurial McGonagall" -- so it's not entirely new here. He says something like, "you defeated him [Grindelwald] after two days of torture" (implying that this other thing shouldn't be too hard for Albus to do), and then Malcolm mentions that he knew Katherine Fellows well at one time, and that's how he knows about it. (She was one of the Aurors w/ AD, along w/ RS & AM.)BTW, I've decided that one of my favorite chapters of RaM is "A Spree" -- the second half of the chapter, to be precise. It was a bear to write, I remember, but I recently went back to look at something in it, and decided I rather liked it -- Malcolm is great and so very "Malcolm" in that chapter. But then, I tend to like the chapters that have a lot of Malcolm in them. :)As you say, poor Severus! Of course, at the time that Albus mentioned the Grindy stuff to him while helping w/ the Occlumency, it was relatively soon after Severus's defection from Voldemort, and their relationship was different. It would have been good for Severus to know, perhaps, and for Albus to have said something more to him about it before he died, but for various reasons, he didn't. I think it was probably better coming from Minerva, though it is a pity that Albus isn't there now for Severus to talk to about it now that he knows. Poor Severus!

I sure wouldn't want him in MY living room! brrr! Definitely a scary thought.Thanks for reviewing!

I sure wouldn't want him in MY living room! brrr! Definitely a scary thought.Thanks for reviewing!

No pressure, here.  You just hold all of my hopes in your hands that you will undo the wrongs done to my favorite characters.Phew! *wipes sweat from brow* For a moment there, I was feeling pressure! LOL!I do hope that the story feels satisfying to everyone at the end. The way it's outlined, and the way I have portions of the upcoming chapters drafted, there will probably be four chapters and an epilogue yet to come.Robbie's modified con game may or may not work. We will have to wait and see! Too bad old Mundungus was killed off a while ago at the Malfoy mansion raid, or they might have been able to consult with him -- without telling him any details, of course. But then, he was really pretty much a petty thief, and he might not have had enough sophistication to help with a problem that requires some finesse.Thanks for reviewing and sticking along for the ride!

No pressure, here.  You just hold all of my hopes in your hands that you will undo the wrongs done to my favorite characters.Phew! *wipes sweat from brow* For a moment there, I was feeling pressure! LOL!I do hope that the story feels satisfying to everyone at the end. The way it's outlined, and the way I have portions of the upcoming chapters drafted, there will probably be four chapters and an epilogue yet to come.Robbie's modified con game may or may not work. We will have to wait and see! Too bad old Mundungus was killed off a while ago at the Malfoy mansion raid, or they might have been able to consult with him -- without telling him any details, of course. But then, he was really pretty much a petty thief, and he might not have had enough sophistication to help with a problem that requires some finesse.Thanks for reviewing and sticking along for the ride!

No, not long left at all! We'll see how well Severus and the others do at keeping Riddle in the dark, and whether it's too late for Riddle!Thanks very much for the review!

No, not long left at all! We'll see how well Severus and the others do at keeping Riddle in the dark, and whether it's too late for Riddle!Thanks very much for the review!

Thanks! I love being an evil genius.

Thanks! I love being an evil genius.

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the ruse. It may not have bought Severus more time, but it did save him from being Crucio'd, so that's certainly something!Things are moving very quickly! I do hope to have the next chapter up within a few weeks, but we'll have to see how much writing time I can find.Thanks again!

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the ruse. It may not have bought Severus more time, but it did save him from being Crucio'd, so that's certainly something!Things are moving very quickly! I do hope to have the next chapter up within a few weeks, but we'll have to see how much writing time I can find.Thanks again!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and are having time to catch up with your fic reading!

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and are having time to catch up with your fic reading!

Thank you! I appreciate your letting me know you're enjoying the story. Thanks very much for the kind words!

Thank you! I appreciate your letting me know you're enjoying the story. Thanks very much for the kind words!

You're welcome! I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for waiting patiently! Hopefully you'll find the nextchapter worth the wait!

You're welcome! I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for waiting patiently! Hopefully you'll find the nextchapter worth the wait!

Nope, doesn't help! Teehee! The happy memory enables the person to produce the Patronus. The angry aspect of the Patronus reflects the fierceness that Minerva is currently feeling and the role that she's taken on. Her tabby Patronus would look pretty fang-bearing fierce, if not quite so hackles-standing-on-end angry, at any time she cast it during much of DD. And she's not just angry with Severus here -- she's angry with the entire situation, but especially at whoever cursed her former students, etc. (Think of Tabby Minerva in the tree at the end of HwtH -- pretty fierce, even facing a larger foe, making herself all big and snarly! lol)Poor Severus -- in such an impossible position. It's surprising that he doesn't completely give up trying to be a better human being and just settle for being on the side that will rid the world of Voldemort, whom he hates for killing Lily and against whom he wants revenge. But he has support from others, and he has some good, caring examples -- and, of course, the Adfectus did have an effect on him, too, making him aware of certain emotional sides of himself of which he had either been unaware or which he had suppressed, both intentionally and unintentionally.Yes, it was good that Lupin told Snape about Tonks. Think that just maybe that was one of the reasons he was hanging around Grimmauld Place? There might have been a part of him that knew that Severus wouldn't simply placate him and sympathize, but would cut through it all to the main issue, even if he wasn't very nice about it. Yet that may have been what Remus needed, and he certainly needed to let someone know so that Tonks wouldn't be sent on any more dangerous tasks. I'm glad you liked Poppy. She's a good one, and good for Severus in that state -- no over-fussing, coddling, persuading, or anything else, just giving him the opportunity and permission to let himself go for a little while without fighting it or her.Glad you liked the prophecy! Sybil really can be obscure, can't she? At least in her prophecies!Many thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you're still with me! Hope your vacation week was good!

Nope, doesn't help! Teehee! The happy memory enables the person to produce the Patronus. The angry aspect of the Patronus reflects the fierceness that Minerva is currently feeling and the role that she's taken on. Her tabby Patronus would look pretty fang-bearing fierce, if not quite so hackles-standing-on-end angry, at any time she cast it during much of DD. And she's not just angry with Severus here -- she's angry with the entire situation, but especially at whoever cursed her former students, etc. (Think of Tabby Minerva in the tree at the end of HwtH -- pretty fierce, even facing a larger foe, making herself all big and snarly! lol)Poor Severus -- in such an impossible position. It's surprising that he doesn't completely give up trying to be a better human being and just settle for being on the side that will rid the world of Voldemort, whom he hates for killing Lily and against whom he wants revenge. But he has support from others, and he has some good, caring examples -- and, of course, the Adfectus did have an effect on him, too, making him aware of certain emotional sides of himself of which he had either been unaware or which he had suppressed, both intentionally and unintentionally.Yes, it was good that Lupin told Snape about Tonks. Think that just maybe that was one of the reasons he was hanging around Grimmauld Place? There might have been a part of him that knew that Severus wouldn't simply placate him and sympathize, but would cut through it all to the main issue, even if he wasn't very nice about it. Yet that may have been what Remus needed, and he certainly needed to let someone know so that Tonks wouldn't be sent on any more dangerous tasks. I'm glad you liked Poppy. She's a good one, and good for Severus in that state -- no over-fussing, coddling, persuading, or anything else, just giving him the opportunity and permission to let himself go for a little while without fighting it or her.Glad you liked the prophecy! Sybil really can be obscure, can't she? At least in her prophecies!Many thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you're still with me! Hope your vacation week was good!

I'm glad you found that passage with Severus to be so affecting. He does have a hell of a time of it, poor soul. But although he may feel entirely alone -- and in some senses, he is -- he does still have support and the human warmth of those who care about him, even if he doesn't always recognize it.I thought the Draught of Peace would be welcome for both Severus and the reader -- a bit of levity in a difficult part of the story. Of course, Hermione had no idea what they were talking about in the kitchen, although Severus did, he just liked making Moody feel insignificant. As you say, the git! Moody to me is one of those characters on the edge (or potentially so): in some ways, quite likeable and rather amusing at times, but also with a hardness and mercilessness that is dangerous, and not just to true criminals and villains, either. I think that he believes himself righteous, and I don't think he's somehow "deliberately" bad, but that doesn't make him good, either. Anyway, those meanderings aside, you're still right: the git! LOL!Thanks very much!TTFN!

I'm glad you found that passage with Severus to be so affecting. He does have a hell of a time of it, poor soul. But although he may feel entirely alone -- and in some senses, he is -- he does still have support and the human warmth of those who care about him, even if he doesn't always recognize it.I thought the Draught of Peace would be welcome for both Severus and the reader -- a bit of levity in a difficult part of the story. Of course, Hermione had no idea what they were talking about in the kitchen, although Severus did, he just liked making Moody feel insignificant. As you say, the git! Moody to me is one of those characters on the edge (or potentially so): in some ways, quite likeable and rather amusing at times, but also with a hardness and mercilessness that is dangerous, and not just to true criminals and villains, either. I think that he believes himself righteous, and I don't think he's somehow "deliberately" bad, but that doesn't make him good, either. Anyway, those meanderings aside, you're still right: the git! LOL!Thanks very much!TTFN!

Robert was just a teenager when his father was killed in 1935, and that's one of the reasons that Albus stopped him. However, he was born in 1919, and as soon as he left Durmstrang, he joined the fight against Grindelwald. Somewhere in RaM, I mention that Grindelwald moved to his secured, warded castle shortly after Reginald was killed and that's when he began his overt efforts to take over Europe, etc. (I'm fairly sure that's in chapter 103, though I'm not positive, and Quin also talks to Minerva about it in chapter 46, "More Relatives," right after Minerva first meets him.)I'm glad you like Gareth. He's kind of a complicated guy, but he is thoughtful and fairly insightful, and he's good w/ Severus, certainly.Yeah, I was not thrilled w/ the entire Slytherin House, w/ the exception of Slughorn, abandoning Hogwarts, in canon. And were there no DE-wannabes in any of the other Houses? And Zabini -- he might not describe himself as being on the side of Light, except incidentlly so. He just doesn't want to serve a megalomaniacal psychopath. His Slytherin ambitions are a bit higher than that. LOL! But he's not a bad guy.Thanks very much for the review! Hope your vacation is enjoyable!(BTW, the "internal Transfiguration" is another RaM concept -- from Minerva's Animagus training.)TTFN!

Robert was just a teenager when his father was killed in 1935, and that's one of the reasons that Albus stopped him. However, he was born in 1919, and as soon as he left Durmstrang, he joined the fight against Grindelwald. Somewhere in RaM, I mention that Grindelwald moved to his secured, warded castle shortly after Reginald was killed and that's when he began his overt efforts to take over Europe, etc. (I'm fairly sure that's in chapter 103, though I'm not positive, and Quin also talks to Minerva about it in chapter 46, "More Relatives," right after Minerva first meets him.)I'm glad you like Gareth. He's kind of a complicated guy, but he is thoughtful and fairly insightful, and he's good w/ Severus, certainly.Yeah, I was not thrilled w/ the entire Slytherin House, w/ the exception of Slughorn, abandoning Hogwarts, in canon. And were there no DE-wannabes in any of the other Houses? And Zabini -- he might not describe himself as being on the side of Light, except incidentlly so. He just doesn't want to serve a megalomaniacal psychopath. His Slytherin ambitions are a bit higher than that. LOL! But he's not a bad guy.Thanks very much for the review! Hope your vacation is enjoyable!(BTW, the "internal Transfiguration" is another RaM concept -- from Minerva's Animagus training.)TTFN!

Glad I was able to give you a little *squee*!Thank you!

Glad I was able to give you a little *squee*!Thank you!

Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it so well. Severus can certainly do certain things that he would have been unable to do in the canon version, since he is not assumed (by the Order & the HOgwarts staff) to be a real DE who killed AD, and so, too, can Minerva & the Order better prepare for an attack. Although even if SS had killed AD (in an alternate AU), because he wasn't truly loyal to the DEs, I think he would have turned a blind eye to any preparations that the rest of the staff (minus the DEs) were doing in anticipation of an opportunity to oust the DEs and defend against a DE attack on Hogwarts. I'm glad you like Rolanda & her flying squadron -- and her musings about Minerva, etc.Thanks very much for your review!

Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it so well. Severus can certainly do certain things that he would have been unable to do in the canon version, since he is not assumed (by the Order & the HOgwarts staff) to be a real DE who killed AD, and so, too, can Minerva & the Order better prepare for an attack. Although even if SS had killed AD (in an alternate AU), because he wasn't truly loyal to the DEs, I think he would have turned a blind eye to any preparations that the rest of the staff (minus the DEs) were doing in anticipation of an opportunity to oust the DEs and defend against a DE attack on Hogwarts. I'm glad you like Rolanda & her flying squadron -- and her musings about Minerva, etc.Thanks very much for your review!

I'm glad you liked the chapter and all the preparations. It was a "busier" chapter than most, lots of activity by lots of different folk. Thanks for the review!

I'm glad you liked the chapter and all the preparations. It was a "busier" chapter than most, lots of activity by lots of different folk. Thanks for the review!

Glad you like calling him the toe-rag! Minerva certainly enjoys it! ;-) Thanks very much!

Glad you like calling him the toe-rag! Minerva certainly enjoys it! ;-) Thanks very much!

Oh, don't worry, they will be thinking about those things -- though "fixing" would be beyond their capabilities, and hard enough for a Healer. Heard the term "friendly fire" before? That will be one of their chief concerns. They've all learned and practiced the basic shield charms that can be used to keep a curse from hitting them; what they are concerned about here is taking out the Death Eaters using something other than the little jinxes and hexes they already know, the strongest of which are ones such as Stupefy and Petrificus Totalus. But the kinds of jinxes they might use in a brawl or a schoolyard fight are different from ones that would be effective in battle. I'm glad you like Robbie! Minerva's relationship with Albus was exactly as Hooch described it. :-)Thanks for reviewiing! Glad it is engaging you!

Oops! Forgot to address Neville's being irritated with Hermione. 1) sure, Minerva's not Umbridge, but Neville remembers that clearly and so anything that looks like a betrayal of their promises bothers him, and (more significantly) 2) Hermione does have a bossy, take-over tendency, and Neville is chafing at Hermione acting unilaterally by telling Minerva without even talking to him about it first. He wants her support, etc., but not for her to take over -- not that she was, but he was feeling his toes being stepped on a little.

Oh, don't worry, they will be thinking about those things -- though "fixing" would be beyond their capabilities, and hard enough for a Healer. Heard the term "friendly fire" before? That will be one of their chief concerns. They've all learned and practiced the basic shield charms that can be used to keep a curse from hitting them; what they are concerned about here is taking out the Death Eaters using something other than the little jinxes and hexes they already know, the strongest of which are ones such as Stupefy and Petrificus Totalus. But the kinds of jinxes they might use in a brawl or a schoolyard fight are different from ones that would be effective in battle. I'm glad you like Robbie! Minerva's relationship with Albus was exactly as Hooch described it. :-)Thanks for reviewiing! Glad it is engaging you!

Oops! Forgot to address Neville's being irritated with Hermione. 1) sure, Minerva's not Umbridge, but Neville remembers that clearly and so anything that looks like a betrayal of their promises bothers him, and (more significantly) 2) Hermione does have a bossy, take-over tendency, and Neville is chafing at Hermione acting unilaterally by telling Minerva without even talking to him about it first. He wants her support, etc., but not for her to take over -- not that she was, but he was feeling his toes being stepped on a little.

Mmmm - the last line is quite good; it must have been very satisfactory to write it and to leave it there. Yes, that was one of those "ahhh" moments. Quite satisfactory, indeed! I'm glad you liked Neville and his inspiration! Glad you like the other various plans and preparations!Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Mmmm - the last line is quite good; it must have been very satisfactory to write it and to leave it there. Yes, that was one of those "ahhh" moments. Quite satisfactory, indeed! I'm glad you liked Neville and his inspiration! Glad you like the other various plans and preparations!Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

So much to love in this chapter, not least of which a bad-ass Neville and his hero, Severus!  I'm out of order in my reviewing for DD but this one really grabbed me:Oh, yeah, Neville and his new hero and source of inspiration! I'm glad this chapter really grabbed you -- I'm looking forward to your out-of-order reactions, too!  Thanks!a.  Robert is on Refuge Island but Robbie is at Hogwarts, by Minerva's side?  Niiiiiiiiiice.  Hmm? I dozed off for a moment there. What was that? The island would be a good place to work, would it not? b.  Gareth is quite the full-dressed Scot, skein dubh, sporran and all, but, does he wear the kilt in the "traditional" manner?  He is such a lovely blend of his Mum and Dad.Of course he does! Just like his dad and every other true Scot. (He might change his manner of dress when it gets really cold, of course. hee!) But he finds the kilt convenient -- wherever he goes in the world, whether wizarding or Muggle, he's only seen as slightly eccentric, so no changing robes to Muggle clothing, and he likes dressing as his father did so much of the time, since Gareth really looked up to him and really missed him when he died. After Malcolm died, he refused to dress in any other way, though he would wear his school robes over his kilt.c.  I love Melina's training of Hermione (and her relief at not having to cover Muggle A&P);  your phlebotomist past is useful, ain't it?  Hmmm, how do you know about that? I have so many "past lives" in this one life, I sometimes am stunned, myself. It has made things very interesting, though! Yep, phlebotomy and other such things were in one of my earlier lives! hee! d.  Air cavalry!  Apparition by Broom, Hippogriffs, and perhaps dragons?  Pleasepleaseplease?  Just a few small ones?  Small dragons are still pretty big, you know. You and Hagrid would get along well, you know! lol!e.  Will we get to meet Grandmother Siofre's new hubby?  I'll be he's cute, tall, and very smart...such a mensch!  A mensch, indeed! But no, that will wait for another story. But he's there making sure that Siofre doesn't decide to take off for Hogwarts and exercise that temper!f.  The last line from Severus was brilliant, and very very funny.  I would so love to see this on the big screen, anywhere, anytime.Very glad you liked that last line -- Severus really can be a hoot when he has his little moments of cynical understatement and sarcasm. Heheheh!

So much to love in this chapter, not least of which a bad-ass Neville and his hero, Severus!  I'm out of order in my reviewing for DD but this one really grabbed me:Oh, yeah, Neville and his new hero and source of inspiration! I'm glad this chapter really grabbed you -- I'm looking forward to your out-of-order reactions, too!  Thanks!a.  Robert is on Refuge Island but Robbie is at Hogwarts, by Minerva's side?  Niiiiiiiiiice.  Hmm? I dozed off for a moment there. What was that? The island would be a good place to work, would it not? b.  Gareth is quite the full-dressed Scot, skein dubh, sporran and all, but, does he wear the kilt in the "traditional" manner?  He is such a lovely blend of his Mum and Dad.Of course he does! Just like his dad and every other true Scot. (He might change his manner of dress when it gets really cold, of course. hee!) But he finds the kilt convenient -- wherever he goes in the world, whether wizarding or Muggle, he's only seen as slightly eccentric, so no changing robes to Muggle clothing, and he likes dressing as his father did so much of the time, since Gareth really looked up to him and really missed him when he died. After Malcolm died, he refused to dress in any other way, though he would wear his school robes over his kilt.c.  I love Melina's training of Hermione (and her relief at not having to cover Muggle A&P);  your phlebotomist past is useful, ain't it?  Hmmm, how do you know about that? I have so many "past lives" in this one life, I sometimes am stunned, myself. It has made things very interesting, though! Yep, phlebotomy and other such things were in one of my earlier lives! hee! d.  Air cavalry!  Apparition by Broom, Hippogriffs, and perhaps dragons?  Pleasepleaseplease?  Just a few small ones?  Small dragons are still pretty big, you know. You and Hagrid would get along well, you know! lol!e.  Will we get to meet Grandmother Siofre's new hubby?  I'll be he's cute, tall, and very smart...such a mensch!  A mensch, indeed! But no, that will wait for another story. But he's there making sure that Siofre doesn't decide to take off for Hogwarts and exercise that temper!f.  The last line from Severus was brilliant, and very very funny.  I would so love to see this on the big screen, anywhere, anytime.Very glad you liked that last line -- Severus really can be a hoot when he has his little moments of cynical understatement and sarcasm. Heheheh!

You have me chuckling here! Yes, such a fine sense of prophecy you have there! I'd love to take tea with you!But I'm afraid to have my tealeaves read -- it's bound to say I'm going to die!) -- so I will have to decline today!Yeah, let's use our water pistols against folk carrying machine guns, or a wooden sword against people with machetes.That makes as much sense, as you point out, as using a batbogey hex against a gang of murderers who fling serious hexes.Neville's new hero: Severus Snape. Who would have thought it? And perhaps the inspiration for learning the disemboweling hex? Horned toads, anyone? lolThanks for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the chapter and the new, improved DA!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I'm developing a crush on Gareth.  I'm so pleased he's not taken.*hauls out beater bat to drive off other women*

Gareth is the cute one, isn't he? You would need that bat, I'm sure. Right now, he spends a lot of time on that island, so he's not meeting many new people, so if you keep the bat handy, you may have a chance! LOL!

You have me chuckling here! Yes, such a fine sense of prophecy you have there! I'd love to take tea with you!But I'm afraid to have my tealeaves read -- it's bound to say I'm going to die!) -- so I will have to decline today!Yeah, let's use our water pistols against folk carrying machine guns, or a wooden sword against people with machetes.That makes as much sense, as you point out, as using a batbogey hex against a gang of murderers who fling serious hexes.Neville's new hero: Severus Snape. Who would have thought it? And perhaps the inspiration for learning the disemboweling hex? Horned toads, anyone? lolThanks for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the chapter and the new, improved DA!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I'm developing a crush on Gareth.  I'm so pleased he's not taken.*hauls out beater bat to drive off other women*

Gareth is the cute one, isn't he? You would need that bat, I'm sure. Right now, he spends a lot of time on that island, so he's not meeting many new people, so if you keep the bat handy, you may have a chance! LOL!

I'm very glad you're enjoying the story. Neville certainly did take Snape's words to heart, didn't he? I am glad you like the various characters. They can be quite fun to write. Most of them either appear in an earlier story of mine or their antecedents are there. Robert Crouch is an example of that, as he is a relatively minor character from Resolving a Misunderstanding. Robert's father was a Crouch who was mentioned in RaM, and his mother is a fairly prominent character in that story. Robert is in this story because of the role he plays -- it really has nothing to do with his name, since he's been around for a while before I envisioned this story. I don't know if I mentioned that before either in author's notes or in review responses, but I'm sure I've talked about some of the other characters in various review responses. But since it isn't essential, I may not have put info about Robert in any author's note, and I don't know whether that particular point was ever brought up before by anyone else. His being named "Crouch" may, however, have some happy coincidences associated with it, so your observation isn't wholly off the mark. I enjoyed structuring the story as I did. The primary Severus-storyline has proceeded fairly chronologically, with only one step back that I can think of (maybe 2?), and that was only when there was an overlap with the other storyline. But you're right that the Severus storyline has predominated for most of the last four or five chapters. There is still the other storyline to be picked up again -- it's really popping between storylines more than it is back and forth in time, though it certainly does do that too, particularly the other storyline, as various bits are revealed. This nonlinear structure is pretty tame in comparison to some novels I've read. Besides, where would the fun and mystery be if you knew everything from the start? Or if there was only the one storyline with no development of the other story, which is actually the primary engine, like a locomotive engine propelling the story from behind, unseen by those watching the approaching train until the very end. Or something like that. My metaphors and similes are a bit tired today. LOL!Anyway, I hope you continue to enjoy the story! It's getting toward a climax, as you can probably tell, so I hope you enjoy the ride! Thanks very much for your review! Happy reading!

I'm very glad you're enjoying the story. Neville certainly did take Snape's words to heart, didn't he? I am glad you like the various characters. They can be quite fun to write. Most of them either appear in an earlier story of mine or their antecedents are there. Robert Crouch is an example of that, as he is a relatively minor character from Resolving a Misunderstanding. Robert's father was a Crouch who was mentioned in RaM, and his mother is a fairly prominent character in that story. Robert is in this story because of the role he plays -- it really has nothing to do with his name, since he's been around for a while before I envisioned this story. I don't know if I mentioned that before either in author's notes or in review responses, but I'm sure I've talked about some of the other characters in various review responses. But since it isn't essential, I may not have put info about Robert in any author's note, and I don't know whether that particular point was ever brought up before by anyone else. His being named "Crouch" may, however, have some happy coincidences associated with it, so your observation isn't wholly off the mark. I enjoyed structuring the story as I did. The primary Severus-storyline has proceeded fairly chronologically, with only one step back that I can think of (maybe 2?), and that was only when there was an overlap with the other storyline. But you're right that the Severus storyline has predominated for most of the last four or five chapters. There is still the other storyline to be picked up again -- it's really popping between storylines more than it is back and forth in time, though it certainly does do that too, particularly the other storyline, as various bits are revealed. This nonlinear structure is pretty tame in comparison to some novels I've read. Besides, where would the fun and mystery be if you knew everything from the start? Or if there was only the one storyline with no development of the other story, which is actually the primary engine, like a locomotive engine propelling the story from behind, unseen by those watching the approaching train until the very end. Or something like that. My metaphors and similes are a bit tired today. LOL!Anyway, I hope you continue to enjoy the story! It's getting toward a climax, as you can probably tell, so I hope you enjoy the ride! Thanks very much for your review! Happy reading!

Haha! I'm glad you enjoyed the exchange between Minerva and Gareth. They are funny together, and Gareth knows how to get her to smile -- or roll her eyes. The conversation with Snape did get Neville thinking, for sure -- Severus does more good than he realizes, even if he isn't warm and cuddly when he does it -- like with Neville and with Remus.Well, Grandmother Siofre is a few months younger than Aberforth, so she might just sneak out of the house to try to join the fight if her husband isn't careful! Of course, she'd have to know that it was time, and that would pose a problem! haha! She's a feisty one, isn't she?Poor Rolanda, all upset on Albus's behalf! But still doing the right thing, of course.Glad you liked the end of the chapter! Thanks for reviewing!

Haha! I'm glad you enjoyed the exchange between Minerva and Gareth. They are funny together, and Gareth knows how to get her to smile -- or roll her eyes. The conversation with Snape did get Neville thinking, for sure -- Severus does more good than he realizes, even if he isn't warm and cuddly when he does it -- like with Neville and with Remus.Well, Grandmother Siofre is a few months younger than Aberforth, so she might just sneak out of the house to try to join the fight if her husband isn't careful! Of course, she'd have to know that it was time, and that would pose a problem! haha! She's a feisty one, isn't she?Poor Rolanda, all upset on Albus's behalf! But still doing the right thing, of course.Glad you liked the end of the chapter! Thanks for reviewing!