Not telling about the disgusting ingredient! It shall remain a secret for now. ;-) And yes, Edward's insults are supposed to be unjust. Calling a woman a slut is just not on. Thanks for the awesome review!Oh, and about the alcohol - trust me, considering how much the British drink on average, the amounts in my story are not 'masses.' They are the merest tipples...

Thanks for the lovely review! Sorry it has taken me so long to respond - I haven't been doing much in the fanfic world lately. I'm glad you enjoyed the description of the house, as it was one of my favourite parts to write. I'm also pleased that Hermione's parents' remaining in Australia comes across as convincing. I wasn't sure how that would be received. I hope you've liked the rest of the story! ;-)

I'm so glad to hear you like the story! Thank you so much for the lovely review. :-DAs to what happens as the story progresses... I make no promises. ;)

I'm so glad to hear you like the story! Thank you so much for the lovely review. :-DAs to what happens as the story progresses... I make no promises. ;)

Yes, how unfortunate that even bastards get to keep their mighty-fit bodies. There is no justice in the world. :)Thank you so much for the review - I promise to satisfy your curiosity soon. ;-)

Yes, how unfortunate that even bastards get to keep their mighty-fit bodies. There is no justice in the world. :)Thank you so much for the review - I promise to satisfy your curiosity soon. ;-)

Frankenstein: 'Hello, monster!'Monster: 'You could bring my body back to life, but you couldn't take away my existential angst?! Damn you, Frankenstein!'etc etc:-D

Frankenstein: 'Hello, monster!'Monster: 'You could bring my body back to life, but you couldn't take away my existential angst?! Damn you, Frankenstein!'etc etc:-D

Thank you so much! *giant squee* This is going on my list of favouritest reviews ever. :-D

Thank you so much! *giant squee* This is going on my list of favouritest reviews ever. :-D

Insults are never justified, that is true, but sometimes the logic behind them is. Although not in this case. :) I really hate the term 'slut' myself, which is why I included it as an insult in this fic. The idea that women should be ashamed of enjoying physical pleasure is outdated, patriarchal, and indicative of the prevailing belief that women are not full human beings with personal agency.But enough feminist rant. Perhaps Edward will be made to pay for his rudeness. We shall see. :-)

"I really hate the term 'slut' myself  . . .  The idea that women should be ashamed of enjoying physical pleasure is outdated, patriarchal, and indicative of the prevailing belief that women are not full human beings with personal agency."EXACTLY!  I'm not quite sure why Hermione bought into it . . .

Insults are never justified, that is true, but sometimes the logic behind them is. Although not in this case. :) I really hate the term 'slut' myself, which is why I included it as an insult in this fic. The idea that women should be ashamed of enjoying physical pleasure is outdated, patriarchal, and indicative of the prevailing belief that women are not full human beings with personal agency.But enough feminist rant. Perhaps Edward will be made to pay for his rudeness. We shall see. :-)

"I really hate the term 'slut' myself  . . .  The idea that women should be ashamed of enjoying physical pleasure is outdated, patriarchal, and indicative of the prevailing belief that women are not full human beings with personal agency."EXACTLY!  I'm not quite sure why Hermione bought into it . . .

I do like my cliffies. :)Thanks for being impressed by the Divination stuff - I did loads of research myself and kept my beta in the dark about the details until the chapter was ready for her to edit. This one, and chapter eleven, are probably my favourites out of the whole fic, specifically because they're the fruits of a lot of planning! :-D

I do like my cliffies. :)Thanks for being impressed by the Divination stuff - I did loads of research myself and kept my beta in the dark about the details until the chapter was ready for her to edit. This one, and chapter eleven, are probably my favourites out of the whole fic, specifically because they're the fruits of a lot of planning! :-D

Did you think Teach was Snape? Or something to that effect? I really tried to steer away from that, 'cause I've read too many stories where the 'original character' is Snape in disguise and we all know it from the outset - especially stories in which he's 'dead.' Part of the reason I got started on this fic was because I wanted to see a story in which Snape actually WAS dead. Of course, in some fics, he's a portrait, and that's cool too (but limiting).Thanks for what you say about the Trio as well - I, too, always saw their relationship as close but platonic, and got a little grossed out starting in GoF when it became clear that R/Hr was, so to speak, JKR's ship. ;-) But I'll save my rants about JKR's characterisations for a more appropriate time and place! Many thanks for the review. :-D

Well, yeah, I did think Teach might be Snape. What can I say, I have a terribly commonplace mind :) On the other hand, the story has had a ghost-story feel that's hard to deny (and even a bit of a vampire-story feel, too, with all that secret basement stuff). So no big shock!

Did you think Teach was Snape? Or something to that effect? I really tried to steer away from that, 'cause I've read too many stories where the 'original character' is Snape in disguise and we all know it from the outset - especially stories in which he's 'dead.' Part of the reason I got started on this fic was because I wanted to see a story in which Snape actually WAS dead. Of course, in some fics, he's a portrait, and that's cool too (but limiting).Thanks for what you say about the Trio as well - I, too, always saw their relationship as close but platonic, and got a little grossed out starting in GoF when it became clear that R/Hr was, so to speak, JKR's ship. ;-) But I'll save my rants about JKR's characterisations for a more appropriate time and place! Many thanks for the review. :-D

Well, yeah, I did think Teach might be Snape. What can I say, I have a terribly commonplace mind :) On the other hand, the story has had a ghost-story feel that's hard to deny (and even a bit of a vampire-story feel, too, with all that secret basement stuff). So no big shock!

No regrets, please! I love reviews. :) Especially ones that compare my stuff to a slowly-unwrapped present. Delayed gratification is my favourite, so I like to know that other people feel the same way I do. :-D

No regrets, please! I love reviews. :) Especially ones that compare my stuff to a slowly-unwrapped present. Delayed gratification is my favourite, so I like to know that other people feel the same way I do. :-D

He's really Mr Teach, but he's taking the gloves off now. And he's a lot smarter than he's admitting, which we'll see later on. But enough! I mustn't give too much away. :)

He's really Mr Teach, but he's taking the gloves off now. And he's a lot smarter than he's admitting, which we'll see later on. But enough! I mustn't give too much away. :)

Thank you! I am really enjoying Mark, too. :)

Thank you! I am really enjoying Mark, too. :)

More coming right up! :-)

More coming right up! :-)

Oh yes, Teach has 'connections' - all rich people do, especially Americans. And, of course, he's turning Hermione into a connection by funding her work. Networking, you know. :-D

Oh yes, Teach has 'connections' - all rich people do, especially Americans. And, of course, he's turning Hermione into a connection by funding her work. Networking, you know. :-D

I'm relieved to hear that you like the pace - that was one thing I was slightly unsure about, but it seems to have worked out well. I was really unsatisfied with the pace and direction of my previous fic, so I wanted to make sure that I gave this one a lot more care and attention. So I'm very happy that it's paying off! :-D

I'm relieved to hear that you like the pace - that was one thing I was slightly unsure about, but it seems to have worked out well. I was really unsatisfied with the pace and direction of my previous fic, so I wanted to make sure that I gave this one a lot more care and attention. So I'm very happy that it's paying off! :-D

Sweet, you came back for more! Yes, I always figured that Hermione would need some serious recovery time after the war - even the most motivated and ambitious of us can't leap right into a busy bureaucratic post! Hell, I needed about eight months of down-time after leaving university and I was only studying, not destroying Horcruxes and fighting a Dark Lord. At least, that I knew of... :-D

Sweet, you came back for more! Yes, I always figured that Hermione would need some serious recovery time after the war - even the most motivated and ambitious of us can't leap right into a busy bureaucratic post! Hell, I needed about eight months of down-time after leaving university and I was only studying, not destroying Horcruxes and fighting a Dark Lord. At least, that I knew of... :-D

I figured that since the house would be such an important feature of the story, it was worth describing in detail. Thanks for coming along and leaving a review! :)

I figured that since the house would be such an important feature of the story, it was worth describing in detail. Thanks for coming along and leaving a review! :)

You will not have to wait long, I promise! I'm working on the next chapter now - be sending it off to the beta in no time. Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews - they really made my day! :-D

You will not have to wait long, I promise! I'm working on the next chapter now - be sending it off to the beta in no time. Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews - they really made my day! :-D

Wonderful - thank you! :-D

Wonderful - thank you! :-D

Poor Draco? Well, perhaps. I tried to show that theirs was a hook-up of circumstance, rather than undying affection, but yes, he would not have enjoyed hearing another person's name while he was giving somebody the business. Thank you so much for the lovely compliment! I'm so glad you think it's brilliant. :)

Poor Draco? Well, perhaps. I tried to show that theirs was a hook-up of circumstance, rather than undying affection, but yes, he would not have enjoyed hearing another person's name while he was giving somebody the business. Thank you so much for the lovely compliment! I'm so glad you think it's brilliant. :)

Thank you so much! :)

Thank you so much! :)

I doubt you would pass out - fear (i.e. adrenaline) makes you alert and on edge, not light-headed. It wouldn't be a very useful reaction to a threat if it made you more vulnerable! Relief, however, does make you pass out - or so I'm told. :-D

I doubt you would pass out - fear (i.e. adrenaline) makes you alert and on edge, not light-headed. It wouldn't be a very useful reaction to a threat if it made you more vulnerable! Relief, however, does make you pass out - or so I'm told. :-D

I should think Snape would be very adept at ruining tender moments. We always see him prowling the corridors at Hogwarrts, so it makes sense that he would prowl the corridors of his own home, too. :-D Thank you for continuing to review!

I should think Snape would be very adept at ruining tender moments. We always see him prowling the corridors at Hogwarrts, so it makes sense that he would prowl the corridors of his own home, too. :-D Thank you for continuing to review!

You were right - good guessing! :-)

You were right - good guessing! :-)