AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm back and it's the longest chapter yet – and the story is now over 100 pages in word and longer than either of my dissertations, heck its longer that the two of them combined!
I've finally resolved my little dilemma - I hate stories that move things too quickly - one moment Harry and Draco hate each other, the next they are madly in love, and I didn't want too fast a transition between chapters. But I finally realised that a long chapter is just that, and if it happens over a few long chapters, then it is better than over a few short chapters. Does that make sense - it does to me!
Thanks to everyone who volunteered to be my beta - I'll be sending you chapter 20 onwards so thanks a load.
I also noticed that I've totally screwed up on the lessons they are taking, so lets just assume that they need a basic grounding in charms and potions regardless of whatever subjects they are taking for there NEWTS. Kicking myself for screwing this up. Damn it!
Also, to all you Brits out there, did you watch Charles II on BBC1, Sunday night. Two Harry Potter people in it – Moaning Mrytle and the ever so, never so hot Christian Coulson!
Anywho, on with chapter nineteen.
Chapter Nineteen: Growing Up
Another ball of parchment landed on the floor, tossed aside by an increasingly frustrated Blaise Zabini. It joined several others, his attempts at writing up his latest potions assignment getting worse as he tried to ignore the way his mind really wanted to go, the thing his mind wanted to dwell on.
Determinedly he picked up his quill and headed up yet another sheet of paper.
"Week 3: Polyjuice - the theory behind the potion"
So far so good.
Sadly, he was wandering again, and when he looked down the carefully underlined heading actually read:
"I don't have a crush on Hermione Granger."
Screwing up yet another piece of paper he let his head fall on his desk and his thoughts run free. 'God she looked amazing today,' he mused absently. And she had done. The jeans fitted...well and the woollen jumper, while fairly modest, was fitted will enough to create quite a picture. It was then that it had hit him, as he saw her laughing with Seamus by the lake, carefree. She had looked so...unobserved, laughing like that. 'I could never make her laugh like that.'
'It's not your job to make her laugh like that,' a more reasonable voice countered.
'Weasley doesn't know how lucky he is,' he scowled back, enjoying the insanity of arguing with himself.
'Because it isn't luck it's fate.'
And that was the sad truth. Hermione belonged with Ron Weasley as much as...well he couldn't think of an appropriate comparison but the truth was there non-the less. He remembered when they first started going out, how she had glowed with happiness as they walked to class hand in hand, as Weasley carried her books for her - no mean feat - and kissed her goodbye outside the Prefects Room. And he wasn't even interested then, it was just the school hobby, the fabulous Gryffindor trio were the local soap opera, your daily entertainment.
He hadn't intended to fall for her, of course he hadn't. It was totally bizarre. 'I mean even if we entered bizarro world and she went out with me it wouldn't be a case of will my parents like my girlfriend, rather will they kill her before or after the starter. Oh yeah, that'd be a great romance, the thing of legends. Can't see why she isn't here right now, begging me to give us a go. And I would, because she would be mine, just for a moment.'
He groaned again, banging his head on the table.
'Get a grip Zabini,' he scolded himself, 'you're a Slytherin not a Hufflepuff. This is a crush, lust not love.'
But he knew it could be love, so easily. If she showed even an iota of interest in him then he was a goner, and he knew it.
Reaching for another piece of parchment he headed it
"Reasons I can not fancy Hermione Granger:
1. She is muggle born
2. She is not wealthy
3. She is a Gryffindor
4. She is in love with Ron Weasley you stupid prat!"
The piece of parchment joined the others on the floor and he cast a quick 'incendio' on them, watching them burn and crumble.
***
Several stories up and Hermione Granger was questioning her love for one Ron Weasley as his final edict hung in the air.
Looking at him standing before her, flushed with anger, his eyes not showing any regret, any love, anything to give her hope and she could not find it in her to respond. The day had been emotionally exhausting, what with the earlier fight with Ron, the bigger fight with Sirius and then the alcohol. Turning tail, she ran out of the common room, not wanting to cry yet again.
Furious with herself, with Ron, with Harry and with pretty much everyone, she stormed to her room before she hexed someone with something not entirely reversible. Slamming the portrait behind her she stopped upon seeing Harry sitting in the lounge, the first time he had been there since The Incident.
"Hi," he began before taking in her flushed, ruffled experienced, "is this a bad time?"
"Fucking right it is," she fumed, "but when has that ever stopped anyone. So come in, help yourself. So what is it this time? Evil Slytherins? Malfoy being a bastard? Quidditch? Or have you come to put in your two pence worth about my friends too?" It was totally unfair but she needed to rant and Harry just happened to be the nearest person. Lucky Harry!
"Actually I came to see if you were OK. I heard what Ron said earlier, about your clothes. You look great by the way, if a little scary at the moment." He was edging towards the door throughout the speech, eyeing her warily as if she might attack at any moment.
To his utter amazement she began to laugh at his words, the laughter soon verging on the hysterical as she collapsed onto the sofa. He was at her side in a instant, quite blatantly using magic to calm her down.
"Thanks," she said when she was calmer, "I'm sorry, it's been a long day."
"It's been a long two months, hasn't it," he hugged her and, face hidden against his chest she mumbled, "Ron said he wouldn't let me see them."
"He said what," Harry was genuinely amazed, "I thought I was meant to be the recklessly daring one. That was suicide."
"It's not funny Harry," she was welling up again and she hated it, "I've cried more this year than I have the previous six. I've just made some new friends, I haven't changed sides or anything."
The distress was pouring from her in powerful waves now, almost bowling him over with the force of the emotions tearing up his friend. Suddenly he felt terribly ashamed that he hadn't even tried to support her, taking Ron's side, not caring what it did to Ron and Hermione, or to Hermione and himself. Impulsively he spoke,
"You really want this don't you 'Mione?" She nodded silently and he continued, "then I'll give them a go. Zabini and Parkinson, I mean. I'll stop fighting them, and try and be...civil." Suddenly he hand a lap full of Hermione as she launched herself on him, hugging him hard.
"Harry James Potter you are the bestest, kindest, wonderfullest friend a girl could ever, ever have," she beamed. It seemed somewhat of an over reaction to Harry but he wasn't about to argue. Had he been able to mind read, however, he would have bolted at the images Hermione was currently indulging in as she imagined a reunion between Harry and Draco, imagined them wondering around together hand in hand, virtually reading each others minds as their five year old selves had done.
"Um 'Mione, oxygen becoming an issue," he finally choked out and she released him, still grinning like an idiot. "What about Ron? Do you want me to hit him, or talk to him or something?"
"Shouldn't that be the other way round Harry?" she scolded, "no leave it, I'm just going to pretend that he didn't say anything, it's easier. Maybe a few days apart will help and I could do with some time to myself I think."
"That said I'll go," he stood up, resolving privately to have a few words with Ron about the stupidity of angering Hermione, if nothing else.
***
True to his word, Harry, feeling really rather nervous, approached Pansy Parkinson the next day in charms.
"Hi," he was chewing his bottom lip and playing distractedly with the sleeves of his robes, "I was thinking maybe I would ask to sit next to you, if the seats not taken or anything, only I'm a little nervous."
"Well I'm going to tell you to go ahead, the seat's free, if that helps any."
"It does," he smiled at her and she felt herself melt slightly, "it creates a safety buffer. So can I sit down?"
"Sure," she smile tentatively, not entirely sure what to do or say.
Silence descended as both were thinking frantically, trying to come up with something, anything to say.
'Right, that wasn't so bad,' Harry shot a nervous glance at the girl beside me, '2she hasn't hexed me into oblivion or anything yet, which is always nice. But now I'm sitting here like a total lemon. Hello, Boy-Who-Lived here, shouldn't that be enough of a conversation starter? Oh, right, she's a Slytherin, which limits the topics rather. I mean certain things are right out. "So how about that Order of the Phoenix" or "Isn't Snape a bastard" aren't exactly the icebreakers they could be. Even Quidditch is out. My life is really, really boring if I can't think of anything to say.'
Next to him, Pansy's thoughts were in a slightly different vein.
'Harry Potter is sitting next to me, Harry Potter! Wow. I mean, yeah, I've been at school with him for the last six years but never this close. He's actually kinda hot, when you think about it - his eyes are nice. But those clothes! Oh My God, he needs help, but 'can I dress you next time' isn't the best opening. Wouldn't want to scare him off. I bet if you put him in better clothes, tighter clothes, then he's probably got quite the body under there, something like Draco's, and there's a reason he shows his off! Why isn't he saying anything? Hope he can't read minds! But seriously, you don't down and then descend into total silence, it makes people nervous, makes them think totally inappropriate thoughts.'
They sat there in silence for several minutes before the door opened and both turned, desperate for some tension breaking company.
Unfortunately Ron entered.
He stopped dead in the doorway seeing who his best friend was sitting next to. Harry met his eye and shook his head slightly, indicating that he would not be going into this now, not here. Ron shook his head in return ready to make a scene.
"What's the hold up Ronnikins, Snape in here or something," Seamus clapped him on the back, moving him out of the way and into a seat next to Harry and Pansy, "are, discovering the charms of Pansy are you Harry."
"Shut up Seamus," Pansy flushed slightly.
"Good idea," Hermione joined in, beaming at Harry, who looked slightly less uncomfortable than moments before, "but he never does."
"So that's why you dumped him on me in Hogsmeade then."
"Hey, sitting right here," Seamus objected, standing on his chair and waving his hands enthusiastically.
"Certainly you are Mr Finnegan," the smooth tones of Snape's most superior accent cut across the conversation, "but I see no reason to celebrate the fact. Professor Flitwick has been...detained," he smirked slightly, having been one of the privileged few who had caught a glimpse of the charms teacher after he had been accidentally inflated by an overzealous first year, "so we will use this time for a little potions revision."
As he turned to the blackboard to set the first questions as the stragglers arrived, he was edified to hear Seamus Finnegan mutter to Hermione Granger "still not sweet."
The unifying properties of an impromptu potions lesson have never been fully explored, but Harry found that a mutual dislike for potions served as a great unifier between Pansy and himself, and they were soon working together in a desperate attempt not to answer every question wrong.
"I just don't get it," he groaned in an undertone as yet another question on Polyjuice was asked. "I know what it does, I know it tastes horrible and I know that you definitely don't add any animal hairs. As for the rest, that's why I have Hermione."
"Well I can't help," she whispered back, "Blaise and I are the potions dunces of Slytherin, that's why we have Draco."
"Oh well, there's only one thing to do then. Eny-meny-mine-mo...I go with 'a, the potion dissolves into powder' then."
"A, the potion dissolves into powder," Snape read out the answer and Pansy looked at Harry, impressed beyond belief.
"Was that some sort of spell to give you the right answer?"
"Kind of," he chuckled before relenting, "it's what muggle children do when trying to decide between things and they can't or won't choose any other way. There's lots of rhymes, that's just the politest one."
"I like it," she decided, and used it to answer the final six questions, with varying degrees of success.
They left the lesson together without even realising it.
"So, what other rhymes are there then?"
"Um...ip-dip-dog-shit," he thought for a second, "God I can't remember any more, it's not the kind of thing you here around here much."
"I can imagine."
"Don't wizards have something similar though?"
To his surprise she chuckled at the idea, "no, wizards are really rather logical when it comes down to it. If you can't decide, there's probably a spell to make the right decision for you."
"God that's depressing, and also not what Hermione said."
"What?"
"There were all these spells protecting the Philosophers Stone," he looked up at her as he said it but she showed no great surprise or curiosity so he continued, "and Snape's was a logic puzzle. Hermione was ever so impressed because she said most wizards don't use logic."
"We don't, not like that, we use magic to solve our problems. Speaking of which, you sounded like you know an awful lot about Polyjuice. Did you really mean that Hermione made it? When?"
"She hasn't told you that one then?" Harry grinned, but before he could say any more Hermione was standing between the two of them, hand over Harry's mouth.
"As pleased as I am that the two of you are getting on, there are some things that you just don't talk about, OK? Now Harry, this isn't the way to Defence, is it. Come on."
Harry nodded obediently and allowed Hermione to pull him away, Pansy grinning at him mouthing 'later.'
When finally able to speak, Harry said, with a tone of total surprise, "we were getting on. I didn't even realise."
"You forgot you were speaking to a Slytherin?"
"Yeah, odd, isn't it?"
"Not so much. Remus said something, something along the lines of that you talk to the person first, and the house and everything else kinda comes with it. It made sense at the time."
"Nice to know Hermione," the man in question smiled at her. "So you've been making friends with Slytherins Harry."
"With Pansy, I guess," he shrugged, still slightly unsure what had happened so he changed the subject. "Go easy on us this lesson Remus, we've just had an extra hour of Snape. Oh the pain," as he fell dramatically into his seat he missed the flicker of pain that crossed Remus' face at his words, and the sympathetic look Hermione shot the older man.
Remus looked at the boy who was like a child to him and wondered how he could ever tell him the truth about his relationship with someone he hated so much. It wasn't like he ever pretended to hate Severus, rather he was very careful about calling him by his first name around Harry, and often tried to encourage the boy to give his mate a chance. Sirius didn't help matters of course; choosing as he did to forget that there was anything between the two men and wilfully encouraging Harry's...dislike of Severus.
Lily, he remembered, was the only one who had made any effort with Severus, the one who had never ignored the relationship. She would deliberately seek the Slytherin out, welcome him into their group when he was anything but welcome. But maybe Harry had too much of his father in him, too much of James' pride and stubbornness and too little of Lily's caring and empathy.
"Um, Professor?"
"What? Oh, sorry," he shook himself slightly, embarrassed at drifting off in front of a now full class. Dragging his mind back into the present he addressed the class. "Right, today we are continuing to look at protection charms, turn to page 76 please."
***
Two weeks later, into December now, and Harry's attempted friendship with Blaise and Pansy was slowly transforming into something more real. It did not take long for him to relax around them, especially when Hermione was around, and Seamus always lightened the mood.
One revelation was the difference in Hermione around people who weren't expecting her to solve everything, weren't expecting her to be the serious, sensible one who put a dampener on the fun. This Hermione wasn't always fighting with Ron, or pushing people to study, rather she would sit in the library and actively not study!
And he found himself being different around them, not falsely different, rather more honest. Being the children of Death Eaters meant that neither of the Slytherins had had a conventional up bringing, and he was able to make references to his past which didn't have people cooing and comforting him for the 'trauma' he 'suffered'. As such, Hermione and Seamus heard him talk about his life with the Dursleys in far more depth than ever before.
Not that it became a Harry therapy session, rather these things just came up, naturally, or not so naturally sometimes.
"Hey Potter, is it true that you were brought up in a cupboard," Blaise had asked once, bored with his essay.
Smiling at the barrage of scandalous 'Blaise's!' and what was obviously a kick from Pansy, Harry replied, "Yes," daring him to make something of it.
"Huh," he snorted, "so do all muggles do that then? Why aren't they shorter?"
"No Zabini, it's not exactly common. You see poor little Dudley only had the two bedrooms, so they put me in the cupboard."
"Ok, now I'm having visions of you living on a small shelf surrounded by shoes."
Laughing now Harry continued, "nothing like that, it wasn't that tidy, just dark."
"Oh, right," Blaise just nodded, before going off on another topic.
After that it just became common to talk about these things, and Harry would talk about the bullying he received from Dudley for being a freak, and Blaise and Pansy would share their experiences of being bought up in an environment where dark magic and death were common factors. It was, he mused, amazing what people considered normal.
The one thing he didn't like about the entire arrangement - apart from the initial friction it had cause between Ron and himself, settled by a mutual agreement not to talk about it - was the fact that he was being forced to reconsider his assumptions about Draco Malfoy.
No one deliberately broached the subject, but he garnered enough from casual asides that not only was Malfoy not considered as being high on the Death Eater's fan list, he had actually dragged Slytherins into the muggle world so they could see the other side of it for themselves, rather than believing the things they were told. In short, the mere mention of his name was making Harry very uneasy, forcing him to think about things he had spent the last six years studiously ignoring.
This was all having a wonderfully negative effect on his relationship with Draco, for the more time he spent with Blaise and Pansy, the more likely he was to follow it up with a run in with Malfoy, much to Ron's elation, who could accept the cordiality as long as the fights continued. But it was Draco's willingness to allow the smallest thing to descend into yet another brawl that was confusing the others, though Harry himself could have a guess at a few of the things that were bothering his Slytherin counterpart.
***
Draco Malfoy was sick of Gryffindors.
It would not, he decided, be an over-reaction to say he could cheerfully exclude the lot of them, if he could. Dumbledore, however, had been less than helpful when Draco had raised the idea, saying that 'just because' didn't really clarify as a reason, and offering Draco a lemon sherbet, assuring them they 'calmed one down wonderfully.'
Draco had left before he could succumb and tell the Head Master exactly what he could do with his sherbet lemons.
All this meant that he was ready to explode when, looking for Pansy, he found her sitting in the library with Granger, Finnegan and Blaise, trying to help the Gryffindors decide on what to get Harry Potter for Christmas.
He was, then, rather surprised to find himself sitting at the table listening to round after round of musings along the lines of
"Clothes, the boy blatantly needs clothes."
"But he won't let us buy them for him."
"Chocolate, always a winner."
"Bit boring though."
"Quills, paper, ink."
"Boring, boring, boring."
"What about a book then."
"Um, he's made it clear he doesn't want one."
"After he threw the last one out of the window declaring he hated potions and no children's 'How To' guide would help? Yeah I think so."
"Well, it was clearly an overreaction."
"Well, how about..."
"Oh for God's sake," Draco finally exploded, "if none of you can think of what to get him when it is clearly obvious then I despair of you all."
"Go on then Malfoy," Seamus glared at the Head Boy half-heartedly, intrigued.
"A snake," he smirked at them.
"Is that meant to be funny Malfoy?" Seamus looked ready to start a fight but Draco wasn't deterred.
"Are you laughing? Then no," he looked at them for a moment before relenting. "Potter will never defeat Voldemort if he is too busy fighting himself. He is quite clearly burying the fact that he is a Parselmouth and God knows how many other abilities along a similar vein. Until he stops fighting himself he will never be able to fight Voldemort. The man is a lot of things, but he is certainly not stupid when it comes to assessing others weaknesses. He will see that Potter is unsure about his abilities and play on it. Plus it'd be nice for him to have someone to talk to," he said this last quieter, but with the same certainty that had shone throughout his explanation. Suddenly recalling himself he left the library in a flurry of robes that would have done Snape proud.
'Shit,' he cursed himself, 'you never know when to shut up do you Malfoy. Why not just give up right now. Fuck.'
***
Back in the library silence reigned as they stared dumbly at the space Draco had occupied moments before.
"Well, I guess it makes sense," Seamus offered, looking around but Hermione was clearly elsewhere.
"I need to go to the library," she said faintly.
"Honey, we are in the library," Pansy was looking concerned.
"Oh, that was quick."
"Um, Hermione?"
But she was thinking, remembering, the certainty in Draco's voice reminding her of another time she had seen him so totally certain.
FLASHBACK - the night they were children
She had woken up in the middle of the night for no discernable reason so, careful not wake Pansy, she got up and out of her room.
Whispering the password 'muggle born' - and resolving to ask him about it one day - she entered the room, stepping over the snoring forms of Blaise and Seamus, who didn't even stir at her entrance.
Taking up the chair she had left beside Harry she sat there and watched the two boys sleep, lying there facing each other, looking even smaller in the large bed.
She smiled, remembering the joy with which they had met the sight of the bed, spending almost an hour jumping on it excitedly, falling off more that once, only to get up again and resume their bouncing, shrieking happily.
Harry stirred slightly in his sleep, kicking his legs slightly and she stood to leave, not wanting to risk waking either child.
Slowly Draco opened his eyes.
"Don't go," he whispered.
She shook her head slightly at him, "you're not meant to be awake," she scolded gently. "Do you want a drink?"
"Please."
She went over and lifted the boy out of the bed, tucking the quilt back in around Harry. As she straightened again Draco wrapped his arms tightly around he, snuggling into her neck and she couldn't help but glow at the love the child was showing her.
When outside they found two cups of hot milk waiting for them.
"Some things don't change," she smiled, handing one to Draco. "House elves always know, don't they?"
"They know everything," he looked at her with wide eyes before continuing. "Are you really going to keep Harry for ever and ever?"
"I hope so," she couldn't lie to the child, the risk of being caught in the lie rather too great. "Anyway, didn't Sn-Severus promise that Harry wouldn't go back."
"Yeah but," he looked down, kicking his feet on the chair before remembering himself and stilling, "I was thinking if he was wrong about that then, then he'd be wrong about me having to share him."
"Is that really so bad Draco?"
"Sometime. I could get used to sharing him with you. You're like maman, but not with everyone. If he likes everyone then there won't be enough room for me."
"Oh Draco, he'll always have enough room for you," she took the empty cup out of his hands and pulled him into her lap, "Harry's heart is so big that he can love lots and lots of people and still have room for you. You have room for him and your mother and Uncle don't you."
"Yeah, but..."
"But?"
"Harry...I don't want to share him."
She just laughed, hugging him and he snuggled into her embrace. They sat like that, dozing until a cry from the bedroom her to jump up. She was about to go into the bedroom when Draco caught her hand.
"Don't."
"Draco, he's having a bad dream, I need to go to him."
"No, he isn't. He was just startled, he's asleep again now." The certainty with which he said it amazed her and she stared at him.
"Draco, what makes you say that?"
"I...feel it, here," he pointed to his heart, "and here. I just know. Like I know that he likes you, like I know when he's about to lose control. I just...know."
She didn't know what to say, staring dumbly, the proof of his words being borne out by the silence in the next room.
"Draco, do you know when he does have a nightmare?"
"If I'm with him, yes. Maman says it's because we are best friends."
"Oh."
"Sleepy now Hermy. Want bed." He held his arms up and she carried him back to the bedroom and tucked him in next to a peaceful Harry. Kissing him, she left and went back to her own bed, falling asleep almost instantly.
END FLASHBACK
Without saying anything to the others Hermione got up and began looking through books, still in her own world.
They left her to it.
***
"Draco, you ok?" Pansy found him sitting by the lake, watching the merpeople as they came up to the ice covering the lake. She cast a warming spell, feeling it wrap around herself like a blanket.
"I remember the first time I met Potter," he began, not looking at her.
"Yeah, on the train."
"No, we met before that, in Madam Maklins robe shop a month before school started. I was being fitted up for robes and this boy walks in. He was smaller than me, no mean feat at the time, and he looked so lost with his too big clothes and broken glasses. He looked so vulnerable that you just wanted to be his friend, to protect him," he swallowed, before continuing in the same strangely distanced voice, "is that what you see in him? Do you want to protect him? Is that why he's taking away my friends?"
"Oh Draco no," she wanted to hug him, to hold him, to tell him everything but it wouldn't help. "Draco look at me. No matter what Harry Potter did, no matter how vulnerable he looked, he could never, ever replace you. You are selfish, spoilt, arrogant, vain and snobbish. But you are also loyal, caring, loving, funny and wonderful. Just because I want to be his friend doesn't mean I want to stop being your friend. You are irreplaceable."
He just hugged her, unwilling to show any further weakness by trying to talk.
"You do believe me," she asked when he finally let her go. "Because I would hate to loose you because I made friends with him. I've known you since we were babies, you've protected me when I needed you the most, and you've loved me when I needed some one too do so, so badly. Pretty much every memory I have includes you, and I don't want that to stop for a very long time."
"I never knew I was so wonderful," he finally spoke, sounding more like his old self, but the look on his face showed he was still feeling vulnerable.
"Oh I'm sure you did," she smiled.
"Well yeah, but I was trying out modesty."
"It doesn't suit you."
"Everything suits me, well except light blue," he smirked. "Come on girl, lets go inside."
As they walked back into Hogwarts hand in hand Draco made a silent promise to Pansy which he kept the next day.
Leaving Potions, he and Hermione Granger were the only two who had Arithmancy so, stealing himself for the impending rejection he approached her.
"So Granger, I thought I'd walk with you to Arithmancy, if you don't object."
"I'm sure that would be an experience Malfoy," she smiled at him, leaving him uncertain as to whether that was an acceptance or not. "Come on then, I don't want to be late."
Smiling, he walked beside her in silence.
END CHAPTER NINETEEN
Well what did you think?
There was always going to be the Draco stuff in there but I added some Harry to even it out. Hope it worked *gulps*
And did you like the bit of child Harry/Draco - totally just because people wanted it - ah the power you have!
And I tried so hard not to let Pansy's little speech get too mushy - how'd I do?
Review Reponses
You've overwhelmed me once again, and here's where I say thanks.
wintermoon2: so you're not a fan of Ron at the mo?! Poor love is a little dense ain't he. I can't help feeling bad when I write him, especially knowing what's coming! I think you were about the only one who liked Hermione yelling at Sirius *sob* Tying Ron up…*ponders* now there's an idea *evil grin*
Miss Lesley: I know I totally passed it, but I can't think of what to put now. Oh, bad idea…I could get someone to write it in return for a cookie…would that work? Anywho, how was that for more kiddy stuff?
Amirathis: long review *dances* love those! You thought it was breathtaking? Now I'm blushing. Glad you like my Hermione – it's the way I want to see her in the books…then again I want a lot of things from the books that are never going to happen…*shakes self* back on track…OK, so wintermoon wasn't the only one to like the Sirius bit, phew! The whole review made me want to write more…penned much of chapter 19 off the glow of a couple of reviews, so hug yourselves, I think you know who you are.
JKH: you can't re-lurk now…if nothing else it sounds scary!
ShaeLynn: maybe wait a couple of chapters.
GoldenSunnyGrl: aw thanks *grins* Ron's too ignorant? Well I wouldn't say that, maybe simplistic. Beneath You really did loads for Pansy didn't it. Great story too – have you read others by that author? You should.
Marishamarish: glad you're enjoying it. And yeah Deal is not abandoned and I'll probably say here when I'm close to updating it.
Honor: sometimes begging does work…
Ciceronian: Hermione and Sirius *shudders* hey, don't mess with the authors mind! *shudders again* ew! Must do some more Sev/Remus stuff…mentally berate authors who hint at it then forget them and I'm starting to be one of them…*hangs head in shame* You read my bio? Really embarrassed now, must change it! I am discovering that I like Ron/Hermione to read better than to right. Have a new found admiration for those who do it well.
CK: I wouldn't say I dislike her in the books, buts she's definitely marginalized and not fleshed out, so you can do what you will with her in fanfiction. Glad you like my Hermione. As for Sirius, well it was a reaction to 5th book Sirius as much as anything – she made him kinda unlikeable I thought. Hope you can overlook my interpretation.
willow-nymph: loved the review, all short staccato lines and all. Made me smile. Glad you like the story.
Saphirefox: me too! And you were kinda right…*applause* well done you!
Baby Sphinx: hey love, if 'Mione attacks I promise you a front row seat, you are my beta after all!
Scorn-Silverstar: sorry, gotta confirm that Hermione and Pansy are both straight…honestly don't think I could write gay Hermione…was quite surprised when people thought I was going that way. Anywho, glad you like it. Oh, and by continuing Deal I am starting to mean not giving up, the actual writing is so hard. *Screams*
sapphire-wolf1: love the name. Three hours reading my story? Wow I'm flattered. Sorry about the wait for the next chapter…hate it when that happens myself!
Slice: I've said it before…hold up on the whole Ron hating thing a few chapters. Again, I know I was too Hermione-ified but…what can you do *shrugs* At least Blaise has some company in his affections, though we don't think exactly the same about her! "Bitch slapped by an overprotective Potter"…funny that you should mention that…*evil grin*
Embroglio: sorry. If it's any consolation I'm making myself hate him too and I don't want to. Hang on, that's really my own fault isn't it? Oops!
Isis-mystic: glad you like my style. Different how? Am curious.
death-resurrected: I know *holds hands up* I keep going abit OTT on the Hermione thing but…can't help it. Keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep writing J that sounds like a good deal, don't it?
SilveredDeath: glad you like it but so not answering the questions. You'll just have to stay tuned, or whatever the online version of that is.
Last Hope2: I would have e-mailed you but what's your address?
Also thanks to: fyre4, paws10081, high?D, Melissa, Sapphire Raine, Katarina Bloodstone and ly4