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Wow, this is a fantastic story!

I just found it, and nearly missed a meeting because I was reading it so voraciously! You write really well, very clear and rich. I think you've handled all the characters really well, especially given the changes you made to their past. I noticed a distinct lack of Neville, though... Is he just there, in the background, being quiet and Neville-like, or did something change so that he's not there at all?

Ginny's first full chapter (18, I think it was?) just broke my heart, with everything that happened to her. I was so happy when she and Harry were reunited! Watching them fall in love was wonderful, like a balm to the soul. I do love, however, the balance between positive and negative outcomes that your story has. I've read a lot of fics where Harry gets whisked away from the Dursleys to somewhere better and everything is rainbows and sunshine for everyone forever after that... Which are fine if you want to indulge in that, but don't really reflect the way the world works, y'know? You have take the good /with/ the bad.

This is truly brilliant work, thank you so much for sharing! I can't wait to read more!

Author's Response: Nearly missed a meeting? You weren’t reading this at work, where you? Oooo… naughty! But as you gave me such a good review I promise not to tell. I’m afraid we don’t see Neville again in this story; as I explained in previous reviews he is engaged in a passionate affair with Professor Sprout. He’s currently handcuffed to a pair of eucalyptus trees in greenhouse three while Pomona rubs ‘rapid grow’ fertilizer over him. Thrust me, that’s not a scene you want me to write.

Well that was a pretty amazing chapter, possibly one of the best in the whole story.

I really like how Ginny stayed calm and focused and got her points across.

I do think that Molly is an absolute tyrant in this story and, as a previous reviewer said, that she is pretty much irredeemable.

I mean, talk about bad parenting practises!!

Instead of having a quiet word with Ginny and Arthur in private to express her concerns about Ginny's boyfriend, she instead convenes the whole family, including all six of her brothers, to conduct some sort of "show trial"!!

How to alienate your daughter in one easy lesson 101!!

Secondly, while Ginny is a minor and thus her choice of boyfriend is something her parents might be concerned about, it is of absolutely no concern of her brothers. Unless the Weasley's are a sexist family where there is one rule for the sons and a completely different rule for the daughters.

Thirdly, Molly scolds Ginny for being "disrespectful" but she never once asks for Ginny's thoughts on anything and screams at her daughter at the drop of a hat over several different issues.

What must her children really think of her? She is really quite pitiful.

I am not even going to talk about Arthur, he is just a pathetic loser so scared about his own image and reputation that he is willing to let everyone blame an 11 year old girl for his own mistakes.

The best think Ginny should do now is tell her so-called family where to stick it and get the hell out of dodge.

The only one who comes out of this whole sorry mess with any credit at all is Bill.

Percy may be showing some repentance, but he never one asked Ginny for her side of the story. He is just two-faced, quick to switch sides at the drop of a hat.

As for Ron, well words fail me. I have enjoyed all your hints about Ron's upcoming demise at the hands or feet of various exotic beasts; I personally want to see him gobbled up by a Ukrainian Ironbelly!

You do have him showing some self-analysis at the end, personally I think that for this Ron, this is way too premature. I don't think he is at all capable of that level of perception.

This to me is the only jarring aspect of the chapter, which is otherwise just perfect. Although I would liked to have seen Ginny tell her parents how Dumbledore aids and abets rape!

I really want to see Ginny knee Ron in the groin and then bat-bogy him! Actually Molly deserves the curse as well for being such a terrible parent!

Keep up the good work, I can't wait for the next chapter!!



Author's Response: I must admit that the ‘Weasley gathering’ was a bit of a plot device so everyone was together when Ginny dropped a bomb on their heads. I can see them wanting to put up a ‘united front’ against anything they viewed as a threat to the family, even if their target in this case was woefully misguided. Molly in this story is that most terrible of things; a bad parent who is convinced she’s a wonderful parent. Her opinion is the only one that counts, unless Albus Dumbledore makes a suggestion, however. I’d like to say that there’s a scene coming up where the family are reunited after Molly, Arthur, Percy and Ron all see the error of their ways and beg Ginny for forgiveness. But I can’t because there isn’t one. Events are shortly to take a turn and we will be seeing little of the Weasleys, apart from Ron and another of his brothers. Oh, and Ginny of course. That goes without saying.

0f course I loved the naughtiness and everything, but I do think your Ginny is way too bold to be believable in the universe that you have created. Regardless of their connection and shared history, this relationship is supposed to be her very first. For someone who has been depressed, shunned and humiliated for the most part, with absolutely no physical or emotional experience in romance, her behaviour, particularly in this chapter, does not seem very plausible. If anything, I would have expected all the naughtiness and boldness to come from Harry who has at least been in one relationship before. Then again, this is just an observation.

Keep up the good work. Please don't make us wait another 2 weeks for an update.

Author's Response: Despite Harry being a bit more experienced in the ways of love he’s really too much of a gentleman to push himself forward too much. As for Ginny, her true character has been supressed for so long when the barriers are lifted she does go a bit over the top. As, in this story, she never got anywhere with Michael or Dean she’s probably a bit frustrated and desperate for attention. I do see your point, really I do. I guess I always tend to write Ginny as a strong personality who knows what she wants, and this will continue in the next chapter. I might have made her a bit too sexually aggressive here, but you have to admit it’s fun.

A great delivery of a long awaited chapter. You did surprise me with the restraint of the morning after scene. I was expecting more but I think the way you actually handled it was better than my expectations. The Weasley confrontation left me both satisfied and sad. Satisfied that Ginny finally got to confront them with what they did to her but sad that the family I love so much from canon is so wrecked here. I did like Ginny's "demonstration" of her new wand and the strength she showed not just magically but of character. Sounds like Harry's in for a wild ride when she gets back to school, though! As always, I'll be looking forward eagerly to your next update

Author's Response: Brennus shows restraint shocker! Yes, I know anyone who has read my previous stories would have expected Harry and Ginny to be going at it like bunnies by this point but I wanted Ginny to have shed the last of her emotional baggage before things get that heavy. What will happen when Ginny gets back to school? Sorry, can’t say but I assure you it will all be done in the best possible taste.

Loved the morning after scene. :-)
Nice also to see Ginny getting a chance to unload all of that... it shall be interesting to see where things go from here.

I have to say though that Percy's and Ron's reactions felt somewhat... contrived... Percy's especially...

I'm looking forward to the next chapter in any case. :-)

- SC

Author's Response: I’m glad I re-read your review. You start off saying you enjoyed the morning scene then start talking about Ginny getting the chance to ‘unload all of that’. My initial thought was that Harry and Ginny didn’t go that far before I realised you were talking about Ginny’s confrontation with her family! Just as well, the Archivists would never let me be that graphic! Snigger. I view Percy as being something of a hypocrite and I could just imagine him having been so nasty to Ginny doing a complete U-turn when he learns the truth. We don’t actually see Percy again in this story so don’t worry about him too much. Ron is a bit different; he genuinely believed he was doing the right thing by being so protective of his sister, and is shocked to learn his actions were hurting her. He’s got a lot to think about right now and decide how he is going to act towards Ginny from this point on. Well, at least until the point he’s crushed to death by a rampaging Erumpent in the last chapter.

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Author's Response: Thanks for reading.

Excellent chapter.

This may be a contrary opinion but I think you have shown the parents as weak, not evil. Which I find understandable and well done. Pa W is weak and let's things happen because he is ashamed. And it's easier than telling the truth. Ma W just keeps believing Dumbledore, cutting corners to save money and trying to encourage Ginny. She has missed a lot and certainly isn't a good parent but its still weakness and human nature and not really evil. Even if the outcome is still horrible

Thanks

Author's Response: No, the Weasleys certainly aren’t evil, just human beings who have been dealt a bad hand and have reacted poorly to it. While Arthur certainly has given into his weaknesses, it’s perhaps worth remembering that this mess started because he was brave and made a stand against intolerance. Unfortunately, he didn’t think things through and realise what effect it would have on his family if he damaged his career by introducing his Muggle Protection Act. His worst crime, other than letting the blame fall squarely on Ginny’s shoulders, is not trusting his family with the whole story. As Percy said, they would have supported him for trying to do the right thing. Well, after a lot of shouting and cursing they would have, anyway.

Wow!! Loved the way Ginny confronted her family. Great chapter can't wait to see how this changes things!

Author's Response: Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully the next chapter shouldn’t be too long in coming.

Love this chapter, absolutely love it. I had wondered what the heck was up with Bill and Charlie not seeing what was going on before. My husband looked at me like I was a mad woman for jumping up and down in my seat while reading. I so look forward to your next update!

Author's Response: My wife looks at me like I’m a madman most of the time anyway, and that’s when I’m not doing anything. She’s probably right, too.