Being able to share thoughts and feelings, fears and hopes, is fundamental to our species.  Here at Spinners End they have taken the early steps on a journey that will either heal them both or damn each of them to torment and death.This chapter made me wonder if I ever fully appreciated the degree of unmittigated evil that was Tom Riddle.  From his earliest days he was a source of anguish for many who crossed his path, but I'm certain that I never understood the horror that was at his core until now.  Smashing chapter!!!!!Beth

“I will do this with you,” he whispered into the warm air around them. The words flew from him as if they had their own will. “If you’ll have me, I’ll search with you until we figure out what to do... how to make the darkness stay away.” His arms tightened around her, this young woman who had unknowingly pulled him from his hiding place and exposed his fear and loneliness. “No matter what happens,” he murmured, “I will stay with you until the end.”I dare say that these words– "No matter what hapens, I will stay with you until the end."– are among the most powerful one can ever speak.  What an incredibly moving chapter!  Beth

I really love Molly and Minerva as you have depicted them here.  And I can't wait to find out more.  Lovely.

OMG.  Now I begin to understand.  A little, but I know that is much more to discover.  I find that I'm not surprised that Dumbledore chose not to alert those whom he chose for the daunting task of seeking out and destroying Voldemort's horcruxes to the danger they would face down the road.  Did he not realize until it was too late to tell them, or was his a sin of omission for the "greater good?"I am excited that Hermione and Severus will have to team up with this Muggle fortune-teller to defeat the darkness that is overtaking so many who survived the war.  Many hands make light the load. I'm off to the next chapter now!Beth

The room's cognizance and woundedness were so poignant.  This chapter left me weeping.

But nothing was simple with this woman, neither the labyrinth of her Darkness nor the vibrancy of her Light.What a wonderful summation.  Just perfect.This chapter reminds me of "Member of the Wedding"; "they are the we of me." 

Two things came to mind when I was reading this chapter: one was a quote from an Indian movie called "Water," when a widowed prostitute repeats a teaching that we are all supposed to be like Lotus flowers--living in muck and still managing to blossom and beautify, uncontaminated by the dirty water it is forced to live in.  The other was David Richo's "Shadow Dance."  Brilliant, almost painful story.  Scratch that almost--this is very painful, and very beautiful.

Machshefa, I just began reading your excellent story this morning.  I apologize for not reviewing the previous chapters; I have been so swept up in the imagery and the plot that I haven't been able to coherently express how brilliant this is.  It's almost painful, almost too real, but too beautiful and too hopeful, as well.  Gorgeously and evocatively written.

Wow what a place to run out of chapters.  I egarly await the next one though I can only imagine there's going to be a lot of yelling and turmoil.Excelent chapter

Again a visually brilliant chapter, very good.

Very good description of the R of R and what happened.  very visual, great job

What a great explination and description of the room of Requirement. Gooed job.

Nice home coming chapter.  Good to see that they will go to Hogwarts for help.

good chapter with Neville, I like him a lot :)

Great last line.  I really find this story somthing Id never want to imagine for them but extremely well written.  Probably one of the best I've read in ages.

Nice chapter, I look forward to see what they do and how the others will react to them being there and together.

While I am skimming the card readings because they are just not somthing I'm into, I am enjoying the moments of closeness with Hermione and Snape.

This is such a powerful story, I started it ages ago and for some reason couldn't deal with it then, tonight glimpsing ch 16 first few lines I decided this story was amazing and I need to go back and start over.

Wow powrrful scenes. Amazing ideas

again an amazing chapter I really love this.  Is a very different an excellent idea.

Oh, my. What a cliffy. I'm sure the emotional fireworks in the next chapter will rival Fred and George's exit from Hogwarts!

I used to read the Tarot back when I was young and foolish.  I wsa warned off and took it to heart.  But your story my dear has the very same flavor I still remember.  Please continue with your weaving.  I've always preferred the way that Black sets off all the other Colors so vibrantly.  Lovely story. 

I really liked the concept of magical healing for the Room of Requirement, and burying some ashes for Crabbe was a very tender touch, something that canon really needed and never got.The whole plot is very creative and logically follows from an adult understanding of the series....much better than the original, IMO.

brilliant and intense.  thanks so much

Another brilliant chapter. I can see how it could have ended up confusing, so my hat is off to you and your helpers. Spirituality and Love are difficult concepts for many to understand, and their healing properties are hard to put into words, much less weave into a narrative.Great job. Uplifting tale.