A/n: I'm so sorry I took so long to update. Over a month, the shame! The agony! Oh the humanity! But I'm starting to feel back to normal. My health is on the uptake and while I struggled a little to get back into writing, I'm back. I hope the next update will only take about a week or two.
Warning: Just wanted to remind everyone the story is rated M and that this chapter has some language, scenes and even references that some people might not care for. That being said, nothing too graphic. I'd even say it's more citrusy than lemony, maybe even just slightly tangy.
Prompt: Forked Road (#)
Life Can Be So Disappointing
Or
Aunt Marge's Big Mistake
She would have been nervous, she felt, though she would have attempted to cover that with a cockiness and lightness that he might have seen through (if he were not inebriated with Firewhiskey and male hormones). But instead of being nervous, her head felt as if it were spinning and filling with cotton candy- not the pink fuzzy kind but the electric blue kind that makes your body spark. Beneath her skin was the humming warmth of the blood in her veins, rushing to flush the surface, making her skin buzz.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, sense was was trying to tell her that this path she was embarking on was wrong. That the boy brushing kisses along the column of her throat while his deft fingers helped her own clumsy ones divest her of her clothing, was not what she wanted; was not what she truly desired.
But sense was beaten down and crushed under the weight of too much whiskery and reality.
The one she wanted would never touch her like she desired, and she absolutely refused to cling to a thin piece of membrane that meant nothing to her if she could not have him. There was nothing to hope for, no one meaningful to wait for... this was simply a right of passage, a fact of life ascribed far too much sentimentality and ridiculously romanticized.
Harley never cared for romance. She was too sarcastic and realistic to think of it as anything but a fantasy and joke.
And a true Slytherin had no place for sentiment. Just practicality. And this... this was Harley being her most practical.
At least Adrian Pucey was a decent man. And he was something pretty to look at. Something that felt satisfactory under her hands.
She didn't feel trepidation, following him to a room above the knew him enough, to know that he would not hurt her; that he was a gentleman in every sense of the words that mattered. That he would stop, if she found that she couldn't go on.
She didn't feel revulsion or discomfort as his warm hands traced patterns on the exposed skin at the small of her back, or when his lips tasted the tops of her breasts.
For a moment, as he pulled down her skirt and lace underwear and stared at her unclothed center, Harley cringed slightly at the realization that he was the first man to see her like this. Blood pushed to her cheeks as her legs twitched as if to shut, though she forced herself to do no such thing.
Instead, she lifted her eyes to look questioningly into his own darkened, greenish-brown eyes.
"You're gorgeous, Harley," Adrian smiled down at her, his fingers just ghosting over her thighs where he knelt nude between her knees.
Her heart seemed to coil tightly in on itself, aching acutely while her eyes burned with the knowledge that he would never see her that way, much less say it. And even if Adrian was merely flattering because she was going to fuck him... it was the first time anyone had called her gorgeous.
Offering a smile, she almost believed him.
Crooking a finger at him, she motioned him forward, wanting to taste his lips so her thoughts may once more descend into that haze of inebriated lust, that pushed everything else out of mind.
Time seemed to move in leaps and bounds as she lost herself to his touch and taste. To the nerve endings that seemed to short-circuit with every caress,every kiss and every light nip.
Adrian seemed to more than know what he was doing, and Harley wondered if the year since he'd left Hogwarts really allowed him to get that much experience, or if he was simply a natural. She knew that she was definitely not the eighteen-year-old's first. He was too confident and knowledgeable, for it to be his first tumble in bed.
He didn't falter or hesitate... until he'd begun to push his way inside her.
Then he stilled, lifting himself up on his arms, his pink lips open as he stared down at her with his hazel eyes shadowed slightly by his furrowed brow.
"Is this your first time, Harley?" Adrian asked, his voice full of concern as he held himself above her and stared down at her in questioning wariness.
Harley bit her lip, even as her chest heaved and she began to panic that her virginity would scare Adrian off. But she nodded her nevertheless, ignoring the prickling of discomfort she felt between her legs where the tip of his member seemed to have delved almost an inch inside and was spreading her uncomfortably.
"Harley... are you sure you want-"
Harley curled her legs tighter around him, her hands moving up to his shoulder, and to grip his light brown hair.
"I know, this is just a one-off. That's what I want. So yeah, I'm sure," Harley spoke, trying to be reassuring and not lose the moment by pushing herself up slightly to nip at his neck.
"Okay," he breathed, now sounding somewhat nervous even as he melted once more into her, now somehow more gentle and hesitant. "Tell me to stop, if it hurts too much."
It did hurt. Harley had expected that. But somehow she'd expected to hurt a lot worse. And after a few strokes, she found herself becoming increasingly adjusted to the intrusion, and in a matter of minutes, she found herself lost to the more pleasurable sensations.
What she hadn't expected, was the emotion that overcame her, the closer she came to orgasm. The way her chest seemed to tighten at the realization that she was connected to someone... someone she felt nothing remotely profound for. That the closest she'd ever come to someone and becoming one with them... two souls merging in one moment, and their hearts weren't remotely in synch. There was nothing.
Harley wasn't a romantic. And Harley didn't believe that love, no matter how deep and devoted, could make something so sweaty and carnal into something magical...but as her body shuddered and she fell back, boneless and sated, she felt curiously empty. Found herself wondering as her eyes burned and she shut them, turning her face in an attempt to regulate her breathing, if this emptiness was the reason an orgasm was called 'the little death'.
Harley woke, cursing. Scrubbing her hand over her face, she wondered not for the first time in the past couple months, why she was dreaming about her first time. But then... she really didn't have to think too long and hard about it, considering what occurred before the dreams had started up.
Harley's libido had never been quite as active as that of other people her age. Small wonder, considering the war and her lack of interest in most males- perhaps because of her long and deep focus on one male in particular.
Since her death... well sex had completely fallen off the map, so to speak. It never really crossed her mind, no matter how tangled her emotions were or how much she might pine for someone.
But then Snape had kissed her... and that changed everything.
Suddenly, she was once more aware that she was a young woman, with hormones and a sexual drive that was regrettably neglected in the face of everything else she had to contend with. Not the least of which being that she'd woken in another world and that she had actually died.
As it was... she'd only ever had sex once, and that was just over a year prior. And prior to that, there had only ever really been Theodore... a relationship that had left much to be desired both on an emotional level, as well as the physical one.
That kiss, Harley thought with a groan, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in her pillow, ignoring the fact that her "love life" was completely pathetic, even for a seventeen-year-old.
That kiss hadn't simply rocked her world in the best way conceivable, but had set off her mind and emotions like a Bombarda Maxima.
Sure she'd kissed her Snape before... but it was entirely different. For one, her Snape had never reciprocated; he'd only freeze up, his entire body going tense as his tight lips refused to mold against her own, refusing to accept what she was giving him.
For another... that had been her Severus. He'd always been there... always been so dependable... even predictable for her. She knew his moods, his reactions, his reasons most of the time. She'd respected and admired him, long before she recognized that she loved him.
She knew that the Snape from her world and the one from this one were similar to the point of being exactly the same. But she wasn't so sure that her Severus would have ever been able to act on any desire he might have for her.
And... what did the kiss even mean to this Snape?
Harley wasn't so sure, though she could make an educated guess based on what she knew of her Snape, and what she'd observed of this Snape.
Severus Snape, no matter what world he came from she felt, was not a man ruled by impulses or emotions.
He loved... he wanted... of that Harley was certain; after all, he was human. But she wasn't sure if he was capable of allowing himself to cave to those yearnings.
But then... he'd kissed her. It hadn't been the other way around, for once. And the kiss had been full of passion... full of want... full of desperation.
Harley wanted to believe it meant more... more than just the physical passion of a man full of pent up sexual energy. Wanted to believe that he was not risking his reputation... his job... his whole life merely for sexual gratification with anyone willing to let him spend it on them.
But Snape didn't care what people thought of him, so long as they thought him capable of being a Death Eater. And Dumbledore would never fire his Spy... he had to keep him close. So in truth, Snape wasn't really risking anything...
But... he would never use her like that, would he?
Harley did't think so, but then her assumption could only be based on the man who had always protected her because she'd been his student... and more than that, Lily's daughter. His respect, his caring... it had been hard earned over years. Her Severus would never use her that way, even if he'd been a man inclined to sexual liaison's with no form of attachments.
But this Severus?
Harley didn't want to believe so, but the fact was, she didn't really know. Perhaps he would never bring himself to use someone who was his student, and so significantly younger and that was why he'd stopped and kicked her out. But that didn't have to arise from sentiment.
And... what if he did... care for her?
The thought made Harley's stomach flip. It made chest feel warm, and her skin feel as though it had caught fire.
But she worried if that were the case... knowing how deeply the man, both from her world and this one, was capable of feeling. She didn't want to be the cause for any of his pain. And Severus Snape... the one now in her life... he deserved to be loved for himself, and not because he was so much like the man she so loved.
And Harley... she didn't know what she felt towards him. She cared for him, she was attracted to him... she admired him. Not because of who he reminded her of, but for his own actions- protecting the son of the man he hated, and the woman he loved. Treating her, however grudgingly, as if what she said mattered. His intelligence, his strength, his talent...
She didn't lie when she'd wrote to him that she felt as if she would come to love him. She could feel tendrils of the emotion wrapping themselves around her and becoming tangled in her emotions for the other man. But were they the same feelings or separate entities? Would they become as strong? Would it be a betrayal if they did? Would it be unfair if they didn't?
Harley didn't know what to think, or how to feel. She was confused and frustrated. She'd kept her distance, hoping to untangle the mess of thoughts and emotions.
She could not abide being too near him as she attempted to sort through the mess in her head and her heart, even though she wanted... no, needed to reassure him that she wasn't giving up on him. But the passing months didn't really bring any clarity and she felt as she rolled and flipped back onto her back and stared at the ceiling, that she'd run out of time.
Career Advice, Harley thought, once more scrubbing her hand over her face, finding it somewhat incredible that in the two years since her last Career Advice meeting, she was still no closer to knowing what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. And... how was she even supposed to act after a kiss like that?
X
She was thinking about it again for some reason. Thinking about that night.
Feeling aggravated with herself, Harley stared down at the notes that she was pretending to take as Binn's droned on and on about some Goblin battle or other, and raked the nib of her quill repeatedly against the groove on her desk top.
Winter Hols, sixth year. She doubted that she would ever really forget.
She'd heard, from gossip sneered about in the dorms, that your first was impossible to forget. In a sense, Harley could sort of accept that fact. But she didn't really feel warm and fluttery about it, and she preferred not to think about it... it just seemed really irrelevant.
Not that Harley regretted it, even if the act itself had been rather emptying. Harley felt well and emotionally prepared, considering she didn't have romantic inclinations and din't think she'd love anyone like Severus, so what would have been the point in waiting? Her body felt ready... it was something she wanted... practicality and her own sense of mortality told her in was the most reasonable course of action.
Adrian had been a complete gentlemen, even after the act. A sweetheart, even.
She'd so wanted to run... to avoid any awkwardness as soon as she'd recovered, but Adrian hadn't let her. Had convinced her that she needed to sleep off the alcohol, at least for a little while longer because he couldn't in good consciousness let her go home at the late hour on the Knight Bus alone. In the morning, he checked in with her emotionally, and even made sure that she made it home safely by riding with her on the Knight Bus until she got off.
But... it hadn't been the night, or the time she'd spent with Adrian that most struck out at her. What she remembered with complete clarity, and made her heart clench was the morning-after and it's aftermath.
She hadn't really expected anyone to be waiting up for her that morning when she came home, even if she'd only told Kreacher to tell Remus or Sirius if they asked, that she'd gone out to meet some friends. Remus and Sirius didn't hover... and they trusted and believed in her enough to use her head and be able to look after herself. She'd assumed that they wouldn't think she'd stay out all night, and so they wouldn't stay up, undoubtedly expecting her to get in before midnight.
Severus Snape... sitting on the bottom of the stairs in the entrance hall, looking as if he hadn't slept a wink and been sitting there uncomfortably all night- had really been such a shocking sight that she'd frozen completely in the open doorway. Her heart had leapt in her throat in fear as her eyes widened, just as he looked up and glared at her after exhaling in relief.
And then he was grabbing hold of her arm, dragging her inside, shutting the door, and dragging her into the library.
"Where the hell have you been all night?" he'd snarled viciously, face inches from her own and she felt her body flush from her cheeks to the base of her throat. Burning so hotly she thought she might just be glowing in the dark library.
"I..." Harley had faltered, unable to say anything, squirming under his gaze and his hold, ignoring the wincing soreness between her legs and in her thighs. "It's not really any of your business!" She snapped hotly, hating that he could make her feel like a child and make her feel so ashamed.
He frowned and pulled away, letting her go, his nose scrunching up as he did. "Have you been drinking?"
"What are you even doing here?" Harley asked, avoiding the question because she was not of legal drinking age and it would have pointless anyway, considering he clearly knew she had.
"There was an Order meeting last night... when it was over your elf informed your dogfathers that you went out with to meet friends... it was already late and as neither of your guardians saw fit to concern themselves over it-"
"You decided to?" Harley asked, grimacing, wondering why she hadn't known that there had been an Order meeting.
Snape straightened uncomfortably, even as he stubbornly clenched his teeth and continued to glare down at her. "Where were you last night? It isn't safe for a sixteen-year-old girl to be wandering about, drunk, all night! Anything could have happened to you-"
"I can take care of myself! And I wasn't drunk or wandering around ALL NIGHT long," Harley snapped, her temper flaring, feeling confused and flustered. It was the worst possible scenario she could think of... running into Snape after she'd lost her virginity... finding him angry because he'd been concerned, seeing that protectiveness flaring as if he had any right to.
Snape seemed to pull back then, his brow furrowing and she was sure he was dissecting her words, trying to find the hidden meaning in them. Flushing she was sure an even deeper red, Harley crossed her arms over her chest.
"Where I go, what I do... it's none of your business outside of school. You're not my dad, you're not my guardian, you're not..." Harley snapped, her anger rising almost to the point of hysteria as her chest tightened with every second she stood in his presence, with someone else's essence imprinted all over her body.
It was too much to take, and she turned on her heel, marching towards the library door. Severus didn't stop her, not even when she'd thrown it open.
But as if it couldn't get any worse, Remus stood in her way.
"Harley?" he asked both in surprise and concern, his brows rising and quickly furrowing over his warm eyes as they took in her expression. "Are you all-" and then his cheeks started to turn red, and he was staring at her with a dawning comprehension that seemed discomfited, concerned and perhaps even, melancholic.
"I'm fine," she muttered angrily, glaring down at the floor and cursed Moony's timing and his superior sense of smell, cringing at what he might be thinking. She didn't waste any time once Remus muttered a soft 'All right', and moved aside to let her pass, all but running up the stairs to get to her room and shut herself in.
And if Harley wondered, agonized even, in the hours that followed over whether or not Severus had deduced what she'd done that night, it was all cleared away with a potion and a note that very evening.
In case you were completely irresponsible.
She could hear the words, as if he'd spoken them to her instead of writing them. Hear them spoken alternately with disgust, derision and disappointment. Heard the emphasis she was sure he would have put on the word 'completely'.
Remembered how she'd clutched the vial of emergency contraceptive potion, while her heart filled with anger and hurting, and her eyes teared up at the thought that he was judging her. Remembered the way the vial cracked in her hand as she shuddered to contain the sobs that wanted to escape her.
She hadn't needed the potion. Adrian was too responsible to not cast a contraception charm. And even if he hadn't, Remus had been up to talk to her earlier... to make sure it had been consensual... and to make sure she knew that he wasn't disappointed, that what she did wasn't wrong, that they still loved her.
"It's just hard... you're growing up... you're not a little girl anymore. But we'll always love you, and if you need to talk, we'll always be here for you."
And that was hard to remember too... because she didn't have that anymore.
"Are you okay?" Mina asked in a whisper from where she sat next to her, nudging Harley with an elbow.
Harley nodded her head, ignoring the lump in her throat and the mistiness of her eyes, turning to look at Mina and offering a smile.
"Year," Harley whispered back. "Just bored as hell."
"Well, it's almost over at least."
Harley knew she made a face, to which Mina couldn't help raising a brow in question at.
"I've got to meet Professor Snape after this. Career advice, you know?" Harley complained lightly, offering a smile to her friend.
Mina rolled her eyes. "It won't be so bad."
Harley bit on her lip, and shook her head. Famous last words, Harley thought, her lips twisting. Because Career Advice wasn't what was on her agenda for her meeting with Snape- not with the Summer Hols coming closer. She'd already let more than enough time pass, and there were uncomfortable question she'd have to ask Snape... about both herself and Harry, and she had a sinking feeling that things would not go well.
X
"I'm assuming, as you've done this before and it's been two years since- that you at least have some idea about what you want to do with your future, and even perused the pamphlets in the common room on your options," Snape spoke, not looking up at her as he took a seat behind his desk and started to shift parchments around his desk.
He was pretending nothing happened between them and for the time being, Harley was willing to play along.
"No actually."
Snape looked up at that, glaring at her. "NO?" he hissed, staring at her almost incredulously.
"No," Harley said simply with a shrug, sure that she was being aggravating but what else was she supposed to say? She had no idea what she wanted to do with her life, and with all the other concerns that cluttered her mind- Harry, the locket, the kiss, her homelessness, the kiss, Mina's offer, Harry, Adrian, Sirius, Remus, Kreacher- she didn't want to think about what to do with her rest of her life.
She wanted a break! She just wanted to spend time with Harry, and bond with him, show him that someone care for him. That someone would look after him. That he could trust her.
"Are you telling me you have no idea what you want to do with the rest of your life?" Snape asked irately. Harley shrugged, nodding slightly as she did so. "You're seventeen! How can you not have any idea what you want to do?"
"Well, a war started in my world before I even started my fifth year. Last year, Voldemort was still gaining power and there was no end to the war in sight. I didn't know if I'd live through to see the end of it, or if the end of the war would even be favorable to us. My parents and Sirius and Moony... they all put their lives on hold to dedicate themselves to the Order during the last war. My parents didn't make it... Sirius only went on to Auror training until Voldemort was gone. I sort of figured there was no point for me to worry about my career when I'd probably end up the same."
Snape was staring at her with something akin to empathy in his eyes as he stared at her, his face still emotionless. But all emotion was quickly brushed aside as he nodded his head, conceding perhaps that she had a point.
"But we're not at war. You've been here for almost a year and still you've not thought about what you may want to do?" Snape asked looking at her as if he still felt she was being ridiculous.
Harley bit her lip.
"Voldemort isn't gone... impending war seems inevitable, if he rises again," and Harley hated the idea of that. Hated the thought that he might rise to power again, and that war would break out in this world as if had in her own... and that Harry would carry all that weight. More than anything... she hated knowing that Voldemort would be coming after Harry.
"You're concerning yourself with something that hasn't happened, that may not even happen-"
"You don't believe that... you know he will come back," Harley interrupted with conviction, her voice stern because she didn't want him to lie to her like this. But she knew that he wasn't going to say anything in response to that, so she brushed past it. It didn't matter that he didn't after all, she really did know. "I can't be a ministry drone, and I don't feel like becoming an Auror and fighting anymore than I have to. Maybe I'll make a fortune playing Quidditch and retire after. I really don't know.
"More than concerned about a future that might not even be mine to have... I'm more concerned about this summer," Harley deadpanned.
"What about it?" Snape asked with a frown.
"Well I'm homeless... where am I supposed to stay this summer?" Harley asked with distaste, trying to keep herself from flushing in embarrassment that she had to depend on someone who really shouldn't have to be responsible for her.
"Why are you asking me?" Snape asked through narrowed eyes, causing Harley to shift uncomfortably that her stomach to flop around sickly.
"Dumbledore said I'm your responsibility... that it's up to you-" Harley trailed off in a mutter, her cheeks burning. She pulled her spine straighter and clenched her hands in her lap where she sat across from him. "It's all right if you don't- Mina invited me to stay with her for the holidays."
Harley didn't really like the fact that Mina had looked at her shrewdly when she invited her. Mina was a smart girl... Harley was sure that Mina had figured out by now that Harley didn't have family and she got the feeling that was the reason for the offer. But as Mina didn't comment, and would never comment on it to anyone else, much less bring it up with Harley if Harley didn't initiate- she could allow herself to push aside her pride and let her pragmatism to take over.
The Harker's had a place in London, which would be where they would locate if Harley were to accept the invitation. Harley was very interested in getting the opportunity to visit Grimmauld.
"That's too dangerous," Snape growled, his thin lips twisted into a grimace as he scowled... clearly not wanting her for a whole summer... but also hating the idea of her being near the Harkers and any possibly dead guests of theirs.
"Mina says, if I accept, we'd be staying in their place in London... where their immortal friends tend to steer clear of."
Snape still looked uncomfortable as he continued to frown, but she knew that he was considering it as he wasn't saying anything.
"I also wanted to talk about.. well about Harry," Harley spoke her voice hesitant while she bit on her bottom lip.
At that Snape's face contorted to one of rage. "I don't see what-"
"The Dursley's are not a fit home for him," Harley spoke, cutting across Snape because she needed him to listen to her. "He's twelve years old, and they treat him like a slave. They neglect him, it's probably even abuse, and he can't go back to that place. It isn't..."
Snape's expression flittered between a grimace of would-be-concern if Harry had been anyone else and rage. Though Harley didn't know if it was rage at Dumbledore, or at himself, or at Harley.
"Potter must go back-"
"There is no reason for Harry to go back there!" Harley yelled, jumping to her feet, her fists clenching at her side, tired of hearing this excuse and feeling both hurt and disappointed that Snape would spew it at her. "Blood wards aren't the only strong wards in existence. Harry needs a better home. Somewhere he can feel safe! No child should have to be starved, or hit, or talked to like he's a flesh-eating slug! And if the Blood wards are so indispensable, why can't you just test my blood and see if it's compatible enough to work instead of using Petunia Dursley?!"
"While in theory, your blood should work... you're forgetting the fact that you're indigent. Shocking, really, as we were just discussing the fact not five minutes ago," Snape retorted sarcastically in deadly quiet tones.
And Harley felt as if she'd just been slapped. Straightening back, she stared at Snape with open hurt and disappointment, her heart plummeting.
She wasn't sure what she was expecting. She felt stupid for having expected anything else, when she knew how much Snape hated Harry.
"You know... I thought because Harry's her son that you might care about the quality of Harry's life, not merely whether or not he's alive or dead," Harley bit out in an angry whisper. She ignored the way Snape's face turned blotchy with indignation and rage, pushing aside any fear she might feel at how he'd react to her bringing up Lily Potter.
Turning on her heel, she made her way towards the door in furious strides.
"Contrary to what you may believe," his voice called out, stopping her as she reached the door. "I can't remove every abused child from their home. I don't have that power, and Potter especially is a difficult case, being who he is to our world."
Harley paused, staring at the door, lowering her eyes, knowing that to an extent, Severus had a point. He'd never been able to have Theo removed from his father's custody. And Harry... if Harry became a ward of the Ministry... the vulture would gather and the Weasley's would never be able to contend because they would be deemed to poor to become his guardians. Harry could too easily, fall into the wrong hands.
"But you could try something... you just don't care to," Harley whispered, before throwing open the door and marching out, not bothering to shut the door behind her as she marched away, trying to bury her heart to know that in her interest for Harry, she was apparently alone.
TBC...
Aunt Marge's Big Mistake - Write about someone loosing their temper. Alternatively, write about someone running away from home.
mwinter1- Thanks so much for the review! As for the whole Gringotts blood test, that's not really the direction that I want to take the story. There are just so many stories that use it, and I've never been terrible fond of the idea. I'm not entirely sure why I don't like it.
Onyx Thanatos Theodore Lerins- Lol, thank you so much for the review! It made me laugh, least the part about you wanting to drop everything to read an update. :D And yeah, Snape is a stubborn bastard, but would we have him any other way, really?
Ferocious Mouse- Thanks so much for the review, I'm glad you're enjoying the story and how their feelings are developing, especially Severus. :)
devilin- Thank you so much for the thoughtful review! :) I really love it when people can emotionally feel for the characters in what I've written, it makes me feel like my writing isn't garbage. I've found only really powerful stories can do that, and I always love to feel that way when I read something, even if sometimes I'm a bit embarrassed if a story makes me cry. So I feel really grateful to hear that my story does that for some people. As an American... I don't think age gaps rub everyone the wrong way, but what really bothers people is if one of the people involved between 16 and 20 and the other is between 4 or more years older. And they usually get far more outraged when the younger person in the relationship is female, which is such a double standard and totally wrong.
sunsethill- Yeah, I don't like to make my stories with too much angst. I think it's a fine line between having a story with true emotions and feeling, and emo-like melodrama. So yeah while Snape is a dumb jerk, and Harley stubborn and Harry doubtful, I like to make sure they're strong and resilient and have enough hope or just bull-headedness to keep pushing forward while keeping their chin up. And OMG, I have no idea how or when I should have Harley come clean with Harry. I'm sorry that there is no Harry in this chapter, but I wanted to focus this chapter on where Harley is at emotionally and pushing the story towards the end of Harry's second year. As always, thank you for the review! I love hearing from you!
Martha van Vires- Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying the different faves of the story, and the story as a whole! :) Hopefully, Moony will come in the next couple chapters or so, as I'm fairly certain next chapter will be getting into the summer months after the school year.
Selyne Nightshade- Thanks for reviewing! Glad you enjoyed the last update! Sorry it's taken so long though.
Ambrosia Ice- I think, as the story progresses there will be more flashbacks into Harley's former life and maybe when I finish this story, I'll add in excerpts (as chapters) that will take place in Harley's world. But I don't think I'll be writing a prequel about Harley's former life. This story is going to be long and probably cover a lot of the important stuff anyway, so it would be kind of pointless. But thank you so much for taking the time to review! I'm glad that you've enjoyed the story enough to be interested in Harley's world and what her life there was like. :)
Lil Miss Sunshine14- Thanks so much for the review! :) I'm glad you've enjoyed Harley's character. I was also fond of Dumbledore when reading the series... but after I read DH... it's a bit hard to think of that Dumbledore as the same one from the first three books... you know? Anyway, I hope you continue to enjoy the story. :)
Charlie Browne- So glad you love the story so much! And I really enjoyed writing the Halloween chapters. :) Thanks so much for taking the time to review!
Emily- I'm glad you love the story and thank you for taking the time to review! I actually think both Snape's will find a way to kind of interact in future chapters. ;) Even I don't know when the next chapter will be poster, and I agree, it's a problem. XD
Review please!