Thank you for the review and the rating.  Hermione is in trouble, you are quite right.

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Hermione is in trouble, you are quite right.

Thank you.  Unfortunately, this format was due to the use of drabble challenges before I started and as a result, the subsequent chapters will follow the original format.... sorry.  Bella gets slightly more scary, and then she will become awesome... hell hath no fury, etc...

Oh, the original format is fine. It's just rather restrictive when starting a new story because it's difficult to get a lot of information across in short segments. You have a rather complex story to tell. I think this set of drabbles answered a lot of readers' questions and now that we have the situation firmly in mind, it will be much easier to go forward one drabble at a time.

I'm relieved that you're fine with the original format :)  It is becoming complex; I just had an idea of what I wanted to happen, and it seemed so simple in my head! lol.  Next set of words should be available soon, and then I can crack on with answering more of your questions.  I'm thrilled that you're enjoying this :)

Thank you.  Unfortunately, this format was due to the use of drabble challenges before I started and as a result, the subsequent chapters will follow the original format.... sorry.  Bella gets slightly more scary, and then she will become awesome... hell hath no fury, etc...

Oh, the original format is fine. It's just rather restrictive when starting a new story because it's difficult to get a lot of information across in short segments. You have a rather complex story to tell. I think this set of drabbles answered a lot of readers' questions and now that we have the situation firmly in mind, it will be much easier to go forward one drabble at a time.

I'm relieved that you're fine with the original format :)  It is becoming complex; I just had an idea of what I wanted to happen, and it seemed so simple in my head! lol.  Next set of words should be available soon, and then I can crack on with answering more of your questions.  I'm thrilled that you're enjoying this :)

Thank you for the rewiew and the rating.  Be worried for Snape... be very worried!  He his in his own hell, and will never believe that he isn't.

Thank you for the rewiew and the rating.  Be worried for Snape... be very worried!  He his in his own hell, and will never believe that he isn't.

Thank you for the review.  I wish that he could, but the Ministry have taken his assets--Malfoy is on the equivalent of welfare!  Gotta smile at that!Basically, Draco wanted the snake in the hopes of identifying who sent it. 

Thank you for the review.  I wish that he could, but the Ministry have taken his assets--Malfoy is on the equivalent of welfare!  Gotta smile at that!Basically, Draco wanted the snake in the hopes of identifying who sent it. 

Thank you for the review and the rating.  I have this habit of talking through proposed chapters with my Mum (thankfully she's more Harry Potter potty than I am!), and while drinking tea and scoffing her biscuits one afternoon, she suddenly burst out laughing.  She looked at me and asked me to repeat what I'd just said; I did as I was told, and then it sinks in what I've just suggested--that is why the boys are in the story!  I know that doesn't answer your question in any way, shape or form, but I can say that there will be some... interesting outcomes as a result of bringing the boys into it.  Personally, I can only take so much creepiness and general murkiness, and I think that Bella provides more than enough tension and creepiness by herself that a few of the other characters could afford to have some fun and lighten some aspects of this tale a little.For the time being, the tone will remain as it is... I still have so much to write about, especially about the landscape (mindscape?) that Snape has created... and what do you think he could imagine to torment himself with? *evil smirk*Thank you for staying with this drabble, I know that it must seem agonisingly slow given that it comes out in 1,000 word snippets.... so my gratitude to your patience :)

Thank you for the review and the rating.  I have this habit of talking through proposed chapters with my Mum (thankfully she's more Harry Potter potty than I am!), and while drinking tea and scoffing her biscuits one afternoon, she suddenly burst out laughing.  She looked at me and asked me to repeat what I'd just said; I did as I was told, and then it sinks in what I've just suggested--that is why the boys are in the story!  I know that doesn't answer your question in any way, shape or form, but I can say that there will be some... interesting outcomes as a result of bringing the boys into it.  Personally, I can only take so much creepiness and general murkiness, and I think that Bella provides more than enough tension and creepiness by herself that a few of the other characters could afford to have some fun and lighten some aspects of this tale a little.For the time being, the tone will remain as it is... I still have so much to write about, especially about the landscape (mindscape?) that Snape has created... and what do you think he could imagine to torment himself with? *evil smirk*Thank you for staying with this drabble, I know that it must seem agonisingly slow given that it comes out in 1,000 word snippets.... so my gratitude to your patience :)

Thank you for the rating.  This is my dilemma with this challenge and it is prodding me in the bum to stop and continue this as a regular story with wonderful, long chapters.  I'll tell you this, the snake was killing Draco, and Draco needed it because he wanted to see if he could find out who had sent it--quite simply, who his potential murderer was.  Now that the Malfoy family are worse than the lowliest wizard, their allegiances well-known, and the apparent lack of suitable punishment being rubbed in the face of the suffering populace, there are those who are not satisfied--they wish the Malfoys to suffer the same. 

Thank you for the rating.  This is my dilemma with this challenge and it is prodding me in the bum to stop and continue this as a regular story with wonderful, long chapters.  I'll tell you this, the snake was killing Draco, and Draco needed it because he wanted to see if he could find out who had sent it--quite simply, who his potential murderer was.  Now that the Malfoy family are worse than the lowliest wizard, their allegiances well-known, and the apparent lack of suitable punishment being rubbed in the face of the suffering populace, there are those who are not satisfied--they wish the Malfoys to suffer the same. 

I can see this lasting for years!  I have so much going on now--my fault as I tend to delve a lot--that writing the short chapters is almost painful... like dying to tell that secret! lol  Hope you enjoy the next... it's not quite as creepy, but has another little mystery in it :D

I can see this lasting for years!  I have so much going on now--my fault as I tend to delve a lot--that writing the short chapters is almost painful... like dying to tell that secret! lol  Hope you enjoy the next... it's not quite as creepy, but has another little mystery in it :D

I love creepy!  *evil grin*

I love creepy!  *evil grin*

Thank you

:)

Thank you

:)

Thank you for the review.  Ermmm... Oh dear!  Let me have my fun with him first :D

Thank you for the review.  Ermmm... Oh dear!  Let me have my fun with him first :D

Thank you for the review and the rating.  The next one is in the queue; I hope that you enjoy that one too... more snakes in it! :D

Thank you for the review and the rating.  The next one is in the queue; I hope that you enjoy that one too... more snakes in it! :D

Thank you for the review.  Thank you... it made me thirsty writing about it.

Thank you for the review.  Thank you... it made me thirsty writing about it.

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Thank you so much; I'm having great fun with this... but I am wondering whether to bypass the challenge and write this as a regular story; what started out as a bit of fun has really grown into something a bit bigger than I expected... bit like a puppy that was supposed to be a terrier but ended up a rottweiler... lol.

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Thank you so much; I'm having great fun with this... but I am wondering whether to bypass the challenge and write this as a regular story; what started out as a bit of fun has really grown into something a bit bigger than I expected... bit like a puppy that was supposed to be a terrier but ended up a rottweiler... lol.

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Perfectly normal, in my opinion; in fact, obsession is too a strong word for it... how about... anticipated? lol

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Perfectly normal, in my opinion; in fact, obsession is too a strong word for it... how about... anticipated? lol

Thank you for the review.  Sorry about your slow death, but this is a drabble challenge and all chapters have to be less than 1,000 words.  I just said in an earlier review that so much is being shunted onto the next chapter that I'm having trouble keeping my patience with it.... I so want to go wild and write a decent length chapter... lol.  See how the next chapter (in queue now) goes, and if you still feel threatened by nibbling ducks, then I will withdraw from the challenge and write this as a regular story.Thank you for the compliment :)

Sorry, didn't know or (more likely) forgot about the challenge. **so embarassed**

Awww... don't be :)  I'm still smiling that despite the short, killer duck chapters, you're still reading this story :D

Thank you for the review.  Sorry about your slow death, but this is a drabble challenge and all chapters have to be less than 1,000 words.  I just said in an earlier review that so much is being shunted onto the next chapter that I'm having trouble keeping my patience with it.... I so want to go wild and write a decent length chapter... lol.  See how the next chapter (in queue now) goes, and if you still feel threatened by nibbling ducks, then I will withdraw from the challenge and write this as a regular story.Thank you for the compliment :)

Sorry, didn't know or (more likely) forgot about the challenge. **so embarassed**

Awww... don't be :)  I'm still smiling that despite the short, killer duck chapters, you're still reading this story :D

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Hmm...getting everything out in under 1,000 words is proving to be tough, especially when I have several things going on.  The next chapter is in the queue, and if that seems in some way too... small, then I will think about quitting the Dictionary Drabble Challenge and write this as a normal story, using the drabble challenge words as a prompt rather than a directive.  I have oodles of stuff that keeps getting shunted onto the next chapter... lol.  Anyways, thank you and I hope that you enjoy the next chapter :)

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Hmm...getting everything out in under 1,000 words is proving to be tough, especially when I have several things going on.  The next chapter is in the queue, and if that seems in some way too... small, then I will think about quitting the Dictionary Drabble Challenge and write this as a normal story, using the drabble challenge words as a prompt rather than a directive.  I have oodles of stuff that keeps getting shunted onto the next chapter... lol.  Anyways, thank you and I hope that you enjoy the next chapter :)

Thank you again :) All ready for the story to begin in earnest now.  Next drabble is in the queue; hope you enjoy it... it's a little more optimistic and gentle than the previous chapters, but still hints that all is not well. Thank you for the lovely compliment :D

Thank you again :) All ready for the story to begin in earnest now.  Next drabble is in the queue; hope you enjoy it... it's a little more optimistic and gentle than the previous chapters, but still hints that all is not well. Thank you for the lovely compliment :D

Thank you for the review and the rating.  I am so glad that you're enjoying this.

Thank you for the review and the rating.  I am so glad that you're enjoying this.

Welcome back :) So glad that you managed to sneak away from real life for a few minutes.  The next chapters will tell you, but I think that you'll guess before you get that far.... I'm really enjoying this challenge, and I'm utterly thrilled that you're enjoying this ramble.Thank you for the review, the rating and the lovely compliment... have fun!

Welcome back :) So glad that you managed to sneak away from real life for a few minutes.  The next chapters will tell you, but I think that you'll guess before you get that far.... I'm really enjoying this challenge, and I'm utterly thrilled that you're enjoying this ramble.Thank you for the review, the rating and the lovely compliment... have fun!

Meadowes is the elderly orderly who led Hermione out of sub rosa; he is the widower of Dorcas Meadowes.  I hope that helps :)It is a scary thought... sometimes I worry me.

Meadowes is the elderly orderly who led Hermione out of sub rosa; he is the widower of Dorcas Meadowes.  I hope that helps :)It is a scary thought... sometimes I worry me.

Thank you for the review, the rating and the compliment :) More is on the way, I just have to wait for the next word list.  Thanks again.

Thank you for the review, the rating and the compliment :) More is on the way, I just have to wait for the next word list.  Thanks again.

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Surely anything is better than summer television? lol.  I'm thrilled that you are staying with the story despite its potential danger :), and I'm even happier that you're enjoying it.  I will update as soon as I get the next word list.  Thanks again :) 

Thank you for the review and the rating.  Surely anything is better than summer television? lol.  I'm thrilled that you are staying with the story despite its potential danger :), and I'm even happier that you're enjoying it.  I will update as soon as I get the next word list.  Thanks again :) 

Thank you so much for staying with the story despite the murk; I'm still fairly new at writing and have learnt something important through writing this, and that is, 'be clearer'... lol.  Next word list should be floating around pretty soon, and then the story will carry on...

Thank you so much for staying with the story despite the murk; I'm still fairly new at writing and have learnt something important through writing this, and that is, 'be clearer'... lol.  Next word list should be floating around pretty soon, and then the story will carry on...

Thank you for the review and the rating :) Everyone is in place, and they know what needs to be done... sounds simple, doesn't it? lol.  Thanks for staying with the story.

Thank you for the review and the rating :) Everyone is in place, and they know what needs to be done... sounds simple, doesn't it? lol.  Thanks for staying with the story.

Hello :) The next chapter (three drabbles in one) is up--I hope that it sorts things out.

Hello :) The next chapter (three drabbles in one) is up--I hope that it sorts things out.