A/N: In answer to some questions I got last time in regards to Book V and how it will affect my stories; for the most part, it doesn't. PAR has happily built her writing hut in the land of AU and has no intention of returning to the real book world until Ms. Rowling sees fit to explain the purpose of that horrible incident in Book V. So there!!!! (Personally, I happen to think it was just a typo they haven't caught yet.)

Someone once asked me if I listen to music while I write or if I identify any of my characters with specific songs. Well, the fact is, I do both. From the day he came into my head, I have always associated Orion with SuperTramps, 'The Logical Song'. This song simply defines the man right down to his all too clean socks. There is not one part of that song I could not attribute to the man. Go give it a listen and you'll see what I mean.

Also, poor PAR has had another death in the extended family. On Saturday morning one of my aunts in the Netherlands passed away. She was very old and had led a good life. Although I did not know her well, she was still part of my family and she will be missed.

Also, thanks to those who let me know that Fanfiction.Net erased some reviews. I was not aware that this had happened. But as I look at my hits for this story, I can see that so far it is being very well received and is picking up quite a readership. Thanks to all who read, and especially to those who review.

And as always,

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Although this story is an original concept in regards to the plot, anything remotely connected to the Harry Potter series is the express property of JK 'Kept me waiting three long years just to be horribly let down' Rowling and her heartless publishers who did not make her do a rewrite as they should have.

(The disclaimer 'name' this time around is the sole property of Sailor Sol, who gave me the idea.)

Chapter Twelve: SOMETHING IN COMMON

The evening after his talk with Charly, Orion was still looking over his preparations when the doorbell rang. Hurrying to get it, he was met by a pair of arms and lips as soon as he opened the door.

"I can't stay long tonight." Katlin quickly informed him. "I have an early meeting tomorrow morning." She pulled back from him, giving him a seductive leer from under her long, soft eyelashes. "So I'm afraid it'll have to be just sex tonight."

Orion took hold of her hands before she could do anything more and carefully pulled them down. "I.....actually thought we might try something different tonight." He replied.

Katlin pulled her hands back and slipped off her coat. "As long as it doesn't take more than a few hours," she replied, launching herself back into his arms with a mischievous grin, "I'm game."

Orion pulled her back. "No. Something 'different'." He reiterated.

Katlin let herself be eased back from her lover. "Different?"

Orion smiled at her, then took her hand and led her out of the foyer. "Come with me." He said.

Katlin paused for a moment, resisting his lead, but finally gave in with a sigh and followed. A few minutes later Katlin found herself standing before two large wooden doors in a part of the house she had never seen before. Which wasn't saying much, since the majority of the house she had seen had been Orion's bedroom, with a scant, odd assortment of other rooms when they were feeling a bit more adventurous.

"I thought we might spend the evening a bit differently." Orion offered. "Starting.......," he continued, as he reached for the doors before her.

But almost instantly a small green creature appeared in front of the door.

"Dinner is served!" He announced quite formally.

"Tets!" Orion nearly shouted at the little creature.

The little house elf abruptly bumped into the door behind him as he took a quick step back under his master's glaring stare. "Mmmmmmmmaster?" He stammered quickly.

"You were suppose to wait until I opened the doors. Remember?"

But Katlin seemed a great deal less interested in what was behind the doors than in the little creature himself. She had heard of house elves before, but had never actually seen one.

"Orion!" She cried in delight. "You never said you had a house elf!"

Orion sighed. "Have a whole houseful of the little blighters. Tets is sort of......"

"Tets is Master Black's most trusted house elf, Misses." The little elf announced as formally as ever. "Tets runs the master's house for the master. Places much trust in Tets, the master does."

"....the most obnoxious of the group." Orion finished.

But Katlin still seemed completely impressed with the little creature. "I've never seen a house elf before." She admitted to the little green elf.

Tets gave her a questioning stare. "Well, begging the Misses' pardon," Tets informed her apologetically, "but that is the sign of a good house elf. Not to be seen."

Katlin straightened back up as she turned to Orion. "He's absolutely delightful." She smiled at him. "I can't believe you never introduced me to him before."

Orion sighed. "Katlin, Tets." He replied, then turned to Tets. "Tets, this is Katlin Griss. She's the woman I told you about before who might come by the house from time to time."

Katlin watched the little house elf execute a very formal bow. "I's is being most very pleased to serve the Misses as well as I's serves my master." Tets replied.

Katlin beamed at the little elf as Orion fixed a hard stare on him.

"Then get on with it!" Orion stated firmly at him. "Go about your duties the way we discussed them."

Tets bowed again to them and instantly disappeared.

Katlin turned back to Orion with the same pleased smile. "I do like him." She stated enthusiastically.

Orion sighed again. "Well, do me a small favor and don't tell him that. Neither one of us will ever hear the end of it if you do. But," He added, shifting his own expression back to a smile, "back to the business at hand. Mainly, this evening." He continued, reaching again for the handles to the doors. "I thought we might start," he added, opening the doors to reveal an elegantly set table in a small, private dining room, "with dinner."

Katlin stood for a few moments staring at the arrangement before her. But slowly she turned a questioning pair of eyes to Orion. "Dinner?" She asked carefully. "Here? With you?"

Orion shrugged. "Unless you'd rather have dinner with Tets?" He suggested half-seriously.

Almost instantly the little house-elf materialized on Katlin's right side, affectionately squeezing her leg as he wrapped his arms about it.

"Oh! Misses!" He cried happily.

Orion stared down at his house-elf. "Get out, Tets!" He stated firmly.

Tets slowly detached himself from Katlin's leg with a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping in disappointment. "Yes, Master." He stated dejectedly.

"Orion!" Katlin turned back to him sharply. But she just as quickly turned a soft, warm smile down at Tets. "I'd love to have dinner with you too, Tets." She told him.

A quick smile replaced the little elf's sad expression, which just as quickly melted as he turned slowly to his master.

Orion stared down at him, then turned his eyes back to his lover.

"Katlin....."

Katlin met his stare with a hard one of her own. "Orion!"

Orion sighed in resignation as he turned back to Tets. "Fine. But would it be asking too much for you to serve before you 'join us'?"

"Oh, no, Master! Tets is happy to serve the Master and the Misses."

"Then kindly do so."

As the little elf disappeared, Orion sighed quietly as he walked into the room. This was certainly not going the way he had envisioned it.

"What's wrong?" Katlin asked as she followed closely behind him, noting his sigh.

Orion turned back to her with a small frown. "This was suppose to be dinner with 'you', Katlin. Not my house staff."

"And how many times have you ever even bothered having dinner with Tets?"

The frown remained on his face. "Plenty, for your information."

Katlin looked stunned. "Really?"

"The little bugger's actually very good at conversation." Orion admitted with a slight smile.

Katlin returned his smile. "Then I look forward to dinner even more."

Just then Tets reappeared in the room with two plates, which he carefully set on the table. As Orion held out Katlin's chair for her, Tets arranged a seat for himself, then unceremoniously plopped a plate up on the table for himself and quickly crawled up into his seat.

The dinner, much to Orion's chagrin, consisted mainly of Katlin talking to Tets, who proved to be as wonderful a dinner guest as Orion had eluded to.

At the end of the meal, Tets dutifully cleared the table and disappeared as Katlin turned to Orion.

"You were right." She stated with a smile. "He's really very interesting to talk to."

Orion sighed as he leaned over the table on both arms. "Great." He stated forlornly. "You have more in common with my house elf than me."

Katlin looked up from setting her napkin back on the table. "Pardon?"

"Nothing." Orion replied with a another sigh. "Forget it."

But Katlin was prepared to do anything but. "Orion," she said sympathetically, "look, I'm sorry if I made you feel left out at dinner. It was just that...."

"It's fine, Katlin."

"Well, it must be something or you wouldn't have mentioned it."

Orion sighed again. "It's just that.....I thought we could....spend some time alone tonight."

"Orion, we spend a lot of time alone. Unless you've been hiding Tets in your bed somewhere."

"But that's just it." Orion pointed out. "The only time we seem to spend together is in bed."

Katlin's eyebrows went up. "You're complaining?"

"No! I just thought that tonight....we could do something...different."

"Back to that? All right. Aside from dinner, what else?"

Orion shrugged slightly as he seemed to think over the options. "I thought...perhaps....talk."

"Talk?" Katlin repeated, looking puzzled. "About what?"

"Well, for instance, do you realize I know almost nothing at all about you?"

Katlin's tone hardened slightly. "You know what you need to."

Orion paused slightly as he did his best to fend off her tone with a small smile. "But not as much as I'd like to."

Katlin sighed quietly as she leaned towards him over the table. "Orion, we get together, we have sex. What more is there you need to know about me for that?"

"For that, almost nothing." Orion agreed. "I mean, the sex is great, Katlin. You are....an incredible lover. But sex is not what I'm talking about here."

"Then what are you talking about? Because quite frankly, you've lost me."

Orion reached over and took hold of her hands in his. "I'm talking about us, Katlin. About our relationship."

Katlin snatched her hands back as though Orion had suddenly slapped them. "There is no 'relationship', Orion." She state firmly. "It's sex. Plain and simple. It's nothing too close. Nothing too personal. Nothing to serious. It can't be. Not between us."

"Fine." Orion replied. "But even for that, Katlin, we need.......we need something in common."

Katlin gave him another confused look. "We have something in common. We're great in bed together."

Orion fell silent for a moment. "Is that all you want?" He asked finally.

"It's what we agreed to."

"Is it all you want?"

"It's all I can have. With you."

"Is it all you want, Katlin? With me?"

Katlin sighed. The game was getting tiring. "We are what we are, Orion."

"Is it all you want with me?" He repeated.

"Why are you pressing that?"

"Why aren't you answering the question?"

"I have."

"You've done everything 'but'."

Just then Tets reappeared between them, looking over the edge of the table. "Is there anything else, Mast......."

Orion and Katlin both turned to the little elf.

"Out, Tets!"

Tets stood for a second in stunned silence, but then abruptly disappeared.

Orion turned slowly back to her. "Now listen to me, Love." He said softly. "You can have anything you want with me. But you have to want it."

Katlin seemed to think about what he said for a moment. But eventually she pulled her hands back, staring at them as she rested them in her lap.

"It will just complicate things, Orion." She replied in the same soft voice.

"But do you want it?"

Katlin slowly turned an exasperated stare to him. "Why aren't you happy with things the way they are anymore? What changed?"

"It's an empty relationship, Katlin." Orion tried to explain. "For what it's worth right now, you could be some....some woman I picked up off the street tonight. And I'm sorry if it isn't the same for you, but I've come to a point I need more than that with you. I want more than that with you."

Katlin continued to hold his stare. "To be more than just strangers."

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"Things will change."

"I think for the better."

"I don't."

"Aren't you even willing to try?"

Katlin sighed loudly as she looked about the room. Anywhere but at the man seated across from her.

"Katlin?"

"You're simply asking for something I can't give you, Orion. I'm sorry if you never understood that."

"You're telling me that you can't have anything more than a superficial relationship with a man?"

"I'm saying 'what is the point'? Relationships are for a purpose, Orion. Why do I need to know what your favorite color is, or what you like to eat?"

"Blue. And olives. Preferably the ones at the bottom of a martini glass."

"Orion....." Katlin stated in exasperation. He just wasn't going to listen to reason.

Orion took hold of her hands again. "Katlin, would it really hurt to just get to know me?"

Katlin snatched her hands back again. But this time she stood up from the table as she literally glared down at the man before her. "Yes!" She snapped the answer back at him. "Because it always has. And it always will." Katlin grabbed her wrap off the back of the chair. "You call me when you're ready to accept this 'relationship' for what it is, Mr. Black."

And with a small 'pop' Katlin apparated from the room.

Q&A

SPOILERS ALERT!!!!!!!!!!

Although I try to be vague in my answers, there are spoilers in almost every one of them. If you told me you have not read the book specifically, I tried VERY hard not to spoil it for you and I apologize to anyone if I do unintentionally spoil the read for them. However, be forewarned that should you be one of the people who has not finished the book yet, and you do not want any inside information, your best bet is to avoid reading other's answers right now or proceed with extreme caution.

FairyTale: Why are you not surprised by my reaction to the 'incident'? (Hey! I like that too! I shall now also only refer to it as the 'incident'. 'Denial' isn't just a river in Egypt.)

The circumstances of reading might be different? I read it in four hours. How about you?

Right up to the chapter, I was utterly surprised and taken aback by the 'incident'. Never in a million years did I guess that was who would bite it. Never, never, never.

'How well worked out'? I have issues with that. I did not think this was her best book by any means. I was severely disappointed in it as a whole. I felt she could have covered basically the same ground in about a third less of the space. Instead she seemed desperate to spoon feed us every little bit of none essential information while keeping the really important matters hidden.

YES, YES, YES!!!!!! I couldn't agree more, FairyTale!!!!! Why!? Why, why, why introduce what was probably one of the best loved, most interesting, most intriguing, and well thought out characters to come along in a 'children's' book in ages, only to whack him two books later? This character barely even got going before he was killed off!!! I'm with you. She can take till doomsday to put out Book VI. I couldn't care less.

I too, was confused by the Pensive scene. Since Book I we have been spoon fed that Harry's father was nothing but a likeable geeky sort of person who liked to play harmless pranks. Then WHAM! Suddenly he's a mean, nasty, bully who picks on others for next to no reason at all. Granted, Siruis and Remus both pointed out very well that at the time they were all 15 and a pack of gits. Even Harry, now 15, is acting like a total twit. But still.......that's a large psychological leap to expect the younger generation reading this story to accept. You can not expect your basic eleven to thirteen year old to be able to accept that a character can go from being loveable and nice to being a bully in one book. It's a bit much to asked of anyone, I thought.

Secondly, all Harry ever thought of his father was destroyed. And suddenly he no longer wants anything to do with his memory. Another far stretch to asked us to accept.

Again, granted, he's a teenager and 15 year olds like to test their wings and start to live more independent of their parents, whether real or with their memory. But still, I thought that was a bit of a harsh way to bring about that separation and one that was uncalled for in tainting James' imagine that badly.

Did I miss something in my little 'Man, this blows and I can't wait to get done with it' read through, or did this kid once again skip the emotional loop altogether again? Did he shed so much as ONE tear over the 'incident' or really break down? All I read was him breaking things in Dumbledore's office and that was about it. (Well, the mirror and such, but still!)

As for the trivial information the funny little creature was passing on, I did not remember reading that. But then, I also read 890-something pages in four hours. You have to believe I missed a few things. (Nothing really important, I'm told.).

And now, for something completely different!

I have a theory, and please, people, feel free to comment on it. I shall be touting it proudly about at Nimbus2003.

Suppose.....just SUPPOSE, someone isn't really dead.

'How', you ask? Easy. The person who went through the veil wasn't this person.

(Many people get confused. Hand goes up in the back.)

'Ahhhh, Ms. PAR, If that wasn't 'youknowwho', then who was it?'

Good question.

Two possibilities. One. It was Peter using Pollyjuice Potion. Why? Peter owed Harry a wizard's Debt, he might have wanted to clean the slate with his former friends, and he wasn't mentioned once that I could tell in the whole blasted book. Where was he?

Possibility two. It was a random Deatheater who was captured, given Pollyjuice Potion and put under an Imperious curse.

Where did I come up with this?

Too much caffeine and strong denial needs. Think about this. 'Youknowwho' was a very popular character. What purpose did his death serve? None. Not one, single, tiny, smidgen of purpose can be found in his death, although Rowling says there is one.

Next, didn't you think for someone who survived all 'youknowwho' had, that he went a bit too easily, killed off by a secondary character?

Next, in my opinion, based on what we have seen of this character's personality, with someone he cared about a great deal in danger, 'youknowwho' would not likely have wasted time or effort taunting his advisory. 'Get the job done and get on with it' would have been more his philosophy.

Next, the poor kid deserves a break. Pure and simple.

So why was this elaborate charade carried out? 'Youknowwho' was unable to leave his current place of residence. We were told this over and over and how frustrated he was by it. He was, in a sense, as little an acting character to the story than he is now. I feel that perhaps Dumbledore came up with a plan to make Voldemort believe this character was dead so that he could once again move about freely without anyone looking for him, thinking him dead.

Why put Harry through it? It had to look real. And Dumbledore is really good for keeping secrets, lets face it.

So, that's my theory. Points against it? Well, they say Rowling was really upset writing this death. You are rarely that upset if you know the character isn't really dead.

Next, she has said that once you're gone, you're gone in her books. (This despite the fact she has resurrected Harry's parents twice and Voldemort has more lives than one of Ms. Figg's cats.)

Lastly, we all have an inkling now of how the series is going to end, so what's the point in bringing him back?

Still, I think Ms. Rowling has done herself a grave mis-service with this book. I could, at one time, see Harry Potter as going down as one of the best children's (?) books ever written. Instead, I can see people twenty-five years from now sitting about saying, 'Well, it was a really good series up until Book V.'

As to your next review, what does it matter where, when, or why she adds new characters? She has too keep adding characters, seeing as she keeps killing off the old ones whenever the mood stri.........never mind.

It seemed to me that that whole scene was set up more to accommodate the character's death than was his death a part of the scene, if you know what I mean.

Actually, I think your comment about the archway has possibilities. But I'm still deeply in denial and coming up with my own theories.

In regards to the question about Orion's children, yes, I can see how you got that they weren't Katlin's, since I told you that. But how you went from 'A' to 'B' is a bit of a leap.

Oh, and, Dear, I never said you were right. (heeheehee.).

Don't be so sure Orin Bale doesn't stand up to Voldemort. Placed in a room together, I wouldn't be so fast to bet on who would come out after five minutes. Orin Bale did not get to be head of the Unspeakables by, as Charly put it so eloquently, sleeping with someone. He got there because he is a mean, nasty, cunning, sneaky, devious little SOB.

I'm sorry, Dear, but Charly not wanting Orion to have a relationship is indeed filed under the Duh reports (Duh!). And yes, he has done it before, and yes, he does have a reason, which you are about a hair's breath away from right now chapter-wise.

Keep in mind, Charly is not a wizard. He was not raised a wizard, and his view of things are going to be a bit 'muggle-tinted' in POV. To Orion, working with a partner in the Unspeakables is working with yourself. It has to be. Sometimes that is just how good you have to know your partner to keep yourself alive. If you're running off in one direction, spells are flying everywhere and ten Deatheaters are hot on your tail, and you are separated from your partner, who has run off in a separate direction, , your next move to staying alive may very well depend on you're being able to correctly answer the question, 'Now, if it was me, where would I be headed?'.

But for all he may want it to be, the simple fact remains that Charly is a muggle, and he reacts and thinks like one. No matter how well he hides it, he is what he is.

And no, Charly is not the sole reason Orion's relationships don't last more than a week usually. Orion is socially inept enough to end them by his own devices.

There was a tremendous amount of unwritten issues in that one small scene. Yes, Orion has just brought everything he believes in into question. He just destroyed a mission for his own department. He has, for the moment, put his own people in danger. He has no idea how Katlin will use that information, although he's banking on her using it to stay safe herself. He's just traded secrets for sex. Nothing to be proud of. Basically, he's just crossed a very dangerous line.

But to his credit, he did what he did with good intentions. He did not want Katlin to be hurt. That was first on his mind. Second, she had given him information, so it was a fair trade. And lastly, the final word on that attack isn't out yet.

You think you're confused now? Just wait.

Fantome: The situation between Orion and Katlin has gone way beyond harmless fun. This is true. But full implications have yet to be reached. Each of them will soon have to make very difficult choices as they decide where their priorities (and their loyalties) truly are.

Lost most of her adult audience? I have yet to find anyone under the age of fifteen who cares if she ever writes the next book now. (And a lot of people over the age of fifteen who feel the same.).

Indeed, since this character is now a 'cast-off', as far as I am concerned, he is public domain in a really big way.

I found Umbridge too much of a contrived character in what I saw of her (I read the book 'realllllly' fast.).

I don't know that Orion has alleviated any of his guilt over not telling Charly about Katlin. As for here come the problems, you haven't seen anything yet.

Eowyn: I'm sorry you feel you have to make that choice, Dear. But it is, after all, yours to make. Myself, I refuse to let anyone, even the author of the series I loved, destroy for me what has become a major part of my current life. I have a very good denial system and I am employing it at full throttle.

LONG LIVE AU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sailor Sol: I'm with you! I can go on happily reading fanfiction to the end of time and completely disregard that nasty old Book V.

Ohhhhhh, if you want to rescue him, might I suggest my theories in FairyTale's answer? They aren't half bad!

And by the way, thanks for giving me my disclaimer line for this posting. Appreciate it!

O.K., allow me to say this much about Charly Misser. Is he evil? That remains to be seen. But I am not Rowling, folks. At least that is what my drivers license says. And I do not wait until the middle of a story and then completely redo my characters personalities. They are what they are and they make decisions and take actions based on that. No somebody suddenly becoming a nasty person when we all thought they were sweet and loveable. I don't play that.

I was VERY disappointed in the outline of Sirius' family relations. But heavens! The inter-marrying certainly does explain a few people.

As for Rowling's version of Sirius' family eliminating Orion? Well, she's welcome to try. But PAR has a nice little flat in the AU universe and she does her writing there.

Ohhhh, there are so many good OotP stories out there on Fanfiction sites. Much better than that monstrosity Rowling gave us after three long years of waiting.

werepup: Actually, the gap in the poll between 'Best book ever' and "Disappointed' is rapidly closing last time I looked.

So glad you liked the chapters, Dear.

I'll look for your story on the site.

sweets: I am glad things are making more sense now, Dear.

And yes, my stories are AU, and I am well within my rights to ignore Book V either in part or completely as I see fit.

Sorry, did not like the moody Harry. Too much of a personality change too fast. And that whole change at the beginning with the Dursley's was just right out. That was WAY too much of a change in everyone's personality for poor PAR to handle.

nessie: I found the whole write up of Sirius' family to fit in well witht he rest of the book. And that is NOT a compliment. It was not what I expected. I did not feel that it fit in with Sirius' personality. And I felt it was uncalled for and contributed nothing to the story. If Ms. Rowling wants to write realistic stories based on psychological development in her characters, I would highly suggest she get to know them a little better. Indeed, she had the whole 'teenage' thing with Harry going on very well, no matter how much I didn't like it and felt it contributed to the plot not one bit; but to have a character with Sirius' personality supposedly coming out of a family where he was looked down on, abased, and finally basically run off, was, to me, very unlikely. No child that put down on in his home life would have developed into the extrovert Sirius appeared to be while at Hogwart's.

And for a child who lived Harry's life, I'm sorry, but he came out a little too normal for my liking. I doubt someone who was abused, abased, and treated like he was, would suddenly grow a backbone and become a badass overnight.

I'm sorry, but when you love someone as much as Harry supposed loved this character, there needs to be at least one good, all out, reaching for the Kleenex crying scene. All he did was break things. Very disappointing.

And again, their meeting for the first time in this book was so much like it was in the others. The kid acts like Sirius has been living under his bed all summer.

She could kill Remus. She could kill Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, half the Weasley clan, Draco, Goyle, Lucius, a bunch of Deatheaters; heck, kill Harry for all I care. Anyone...ANYONE...but who she did.

Bad Rowling. Bad! Bad! No playing in the Gringotts value for a week!

You always knew Sirius was the handsome one in what, Dear?

skahducky: Oh, I don't know. He's had a rotten summer, and now he's facing the prospect of another 'kill or be killed' year at Hogwart's. I would think the kid, no matter how old he was, would at least give one good latch-on hug to the only person who seems totally dedicated to his well-being. Sort of that 'safe harbor' thing going on there.

I really can't wait to see how that whole 'Charly finding out' thing is going to be received. You're either going to really like what's going on behind the scenes, or I'm heading for a cyber lynching.

Nicky: Hi again, Nicky. Good to hear from you.

Orion is indeed digging himself in very deep. But bet well in advance that our boy has an ace to play yet. As for Katlin, she already gave a favor in trade. She showed Orion the information from her informant. Tit for tat.

I hesitate replying to your comments on the book, since I do not want to spoil it for you, so I will tread lightly.

Personally, I would no longer let anyone under the age of ten read Harry Potter. It has simply gotten too dark and distorted, in my opinion, for a ten year old to follow the plot changes. Child need consistency in a story. I feel that Harry Potter has completely chucked everything that came before right out the window and rearranged the whole of the plot based on character interaction. Basically, no one in this story is acting one bit like they did the book before. And I feel that that is a bit to much of a twist for children under ten to comprehend or accept.

I felt the whole 'incident' was uncalled for. To credit that character's death to being because they underestimated their opponent, (which indeed seems to be the case), is a travesty. Again you have the concept of the severe shift in character personality. No where in the first four books did I get the impression that this character was so overconfident of themselves that they would have taken into a situation such as they were in and reduced themselves to taunting their opponent. If anything, this character showed themselves to be overly cautious. Constantly warning Harry away from what they felt were dangerous on his part. I dimply find the character's behavior to be very....uncharacteristic.

I agree. I feel that Rowling has come to a point where she cares more for how much can she shock us than whether the situation does anything to advance the story line. For I felt that for such an important scene, it was very underrated within the whole of the story.

Silverfox: Yes, the 'dragon' is coming back. And personally, as things progress in my universe, I have high hopes for him being a well received character.

Personally, I pay for keeping track of my hits. But to each his own. I'm trying to beat out Kristen at ChamberofKeys against her artwork. But several people did mention the lost reviews thing, although I was totally unaware of it. Don't read the home page of Fanfiction.Net much.

I have no problem at all writing my stories despite the book. In my universe that book doesn't exist.

You know, that whole chapter 11 review was profound. I liked it. As for getting into or out of trouble, they tend to 'get into' more than they 'get out of'. As for their bosses, how they feel about the situation and its possible benefits remains to be seen.

What an interesting comment for chapter 12. I plead the fifth.

All answers are as of 06292003. Take a good look at me now. When next I post I will be a year older. And as always, if I missed you, please let me know.