Oh dear.. Well first very good chapter things were going well, then the Wolf threw Harry away and the two wolves did what came naturally. I thought perhaps it would be okay, but then I realized it would not. I was not surprised by Ginny's reaction and she was right to a point anyway. I guess he was still just being an idiot to trust anything handed to him by a Slytherin, but really Bellatrix. I sure hope we don't have to wait long for the validation
Tricia

Author's Response: You'll be pleased to know that the next chapter is mainly from Ginevra's POV, so you'll get a glimpse into her thinking. don't be concerned, though, I promise not to drag out the pain and suffering. There's enough of that to come later in the story.

Well, after reading the Chapter Title, I think we were forewarned, but I did not expect Ginevra's reaction..though it does make sense.

I guess their sub-conscience has spoken. I mean it's the subconscience who chooses your animagous form, right. So if your animagous form shows up in heat when you transform, that should mean that subconsciously there must have been an attraction, right?

Now I am worried though how that might carry over into the human world...I mean, I don't know how many times wolf pairs mate during the short period of heat, but it seems the alpha pair usually has a pretty high success rate, biologically speaking. Oh boy, PLEASE don't let Ginny have conceived just now...they don't need anymore complications at the moment!

Hmmm, interesting line of thought though...would a pregnant animagous give birth to their animal form, if conceived in animagous form or still a human baby...

And then the cliffie.....aagh! Didn't see that one coming at all. Draco isn't going to be happy either...
So, please update as soon as humanly possible!!!



Author's Response: Okay, as I've had a few comments I will come out and say this now: Ginevra is not pregnant. Not even I would be so low as to have her give birth to a litter of wolf pups (although it might have been worth it just for Molly's reaction) or even a human baby. No rugrats of any shape or form will be featured in this story. BTW, Draco will definitely not be happy, but probably not for the reasons you're suggesting. Now, what would happen if he had sex with a real ferret...

First, thanks for all the hard work you have put into this fic. I've been really enjoying the it so far; in particular your use of Tracey as a major character, with her own unique personality and history which has the feel of being accurate to canon, while covering aspects of Hogwarts we rarely see - even in Slytherin centric plot lines. It's nice to see some true originality in such a crowded field, without it appearing outlandish or over the top. Well done indeed.

Similarly, I have particularly enjoyed reading of Ginny's role in the house, and the power play that occurs (especially in contrast to those such as Tracey and Blaise). I also like how you've written her personality, which has a large enough degree of depth to feel real, but not solely focusing on her Evil! Bad! side which is often done to excess is Slytherin Ginny fics - same goes for Harry now that I think about it.

I also appreciate how you dealt with Harry trying to gain alliances; especially breaking from the norm and focusing on the general school and Hufflepuff, instead of the typical Griffindor vs Slytherin. I would however be interested in some by-play between characters we know (such as Luna or Hermione). In particular the latter, as it always seemed to me the only reason Hermione suffered Ron's presence was because of Harry's influence. I would think she would be in a different position given Ron's behaviour - it most certainly does not exhibit the tempered control Hermione would want to associate with, given the incentive of her friendship with Harry is not there.

However, while I realise the reasoning behind the latter part of this chapter (also having read your reply to another review that it is partially a Segway into Ginny opening up), I feel I need to say I genuinely disliked it. Maybe even hated it. I don't mind cliff hangers; Tracey's death was unpleasant and all, but it didn't bother me overly much - it's just life in the Harry Potter universe. This, I felt it went too far, or maybe not that, but was uncalled for; I can't really express the how or why (certainly not succinctly).
This IS your story though, so I won't object overly much, but I did feel I should pointing out that I feel very strongly that this wasn't the right thing to do.

Anyway, I have enjoyed the story in its grand scheme, even if I disagree with certain aspects, and I as always love your writing style and character development. I can't wait to see what Harry has planned for Hogwarts next!

Author's Response: While you don't specifically say what you disliked, I assume it was the wolf sex/Ginevra's reaction bit, or maybe the dead bunnies. I really wanted to include that section for a good reason. In many stories I've read, Harry (and whoever) achieve an Animagus transformation, but the animal he becomes acts exactly like a human. This never sat exactly right with me, and I always intended that if I did write a story featuring such transformations, Harry would not only inherit certain traits of the animal, he would also be influenced by the animals characteristics while transformed. Wolves do, of course, do kill to eat and they also shag in the woods: this is perfectly natural behaviour to them, and I wanted Harry's animagus form to reflect that. On top of that, I also like pushing the envelope while writing these stories. I've read too many boring re-writes featuring the same old things, and am determined to get away from that. If that occasionally means I push some of my readers too far, so be it. In fact, I have to admit I take it as a good sign. On that note, I warn you now: later in the story there is at least one scene that is more shocking then this. I promise to give you plenty warning of its arrival, however. Thanks for taking the time to share your opinions.

Curse you, Brennus! I mean that in the nicest way possible, of course. Every time you begin a new tale, I'm hooked with the very first chapter. I can hardly wait to see where this story takes us and, more importantly, Harry (especially after this particular cliffhanger). I'm having a hard time swallowing some of Ginevra's personality, but I trust you'll give us many reasons to root for the couple by the end.

Author's Response: You're too late: I'm already cursed, and in so many ways...

Poor Harry!! Poor Ginevra!! Poor readers!! What an evil cliff hanger! This chapter was brilliant. As always can't wait for more.

Author's Response: What about poor author? I deserve some sympathy, too, damn it!

Another terrific chapter! It's probably a good thing that you have a few days between chapters. If you posted the whole thing at once, I'd just sit down and read it all until I was done. Then where would I get my weekly fix of murder, bunny chomping and wolf sex? ;-)

Author's Response: Hey, I'm not doing the bunny chomping ever week!

Well dip me in cocktail sauce and call me an oyster! The Voltaire of vividly vibrant vocabulary has visited upon us another volume of literary brilliance! Look out when the great one starts inventing things! Zabini was a doomed twit - once he pissed off both Harry AND Ginny, He may as well have poured meat sauce over himself and walked into the Acromantula lair! (Incidentally, thank you for not having them give Zabini to the acromantulas and causing a gaseous emission incident! Oh the stench the stench!) Draco signing his own death warrant couldn't have been more obvious if he'd used crayons and a large poster board! I hate to admit it but I really like your Snape in this one! You went right for that X rating with that forest scene, didn't you?! What an unexpected twist at the end from the master of the cunning cliffy(as I previously pointed out)! Needless to say, I can't wait for the next chapter to see what happens with Bellabitch! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D


Author's Response: Yes, you'll be pleased to know no Acromantulars were involved in the making of this story; I think they're all still suffering from indigestion from 'Thorny Rose', poor things. I admit I was a bit worried if I'd get the forest scene approved, but the chapter was up in next to know time. Admittedly, a lot of that came from a Natural History website: I had to spend ages reading about the mating habits of wolves. I hope you lot appreciate what I go through to create these stories!

So I've already used up some of my better superlatives, and wouldn't want to provoke any further attacks of cutaneous vasodilation, but I'm impressed how the depth and flow of the narrative continues to improve, even after setting a high initial standard.


I now understand why you responded to my earlier nagging about Snape with impenitence. This is not the Rowling Snape who flails about ignominiously in his own insecurities; this is an interesting, very slippery individual whose ultimate role in the story may prove very intriguing.


Good job with the Harry/Ginevra angst!


Now for your weekly dose of pedantry:

he sought out people he thought *was* susceptible

Harry mussed. (I assume mused?)

The Headmaster is a grifted Legilimens (Although I assume an error, this would be one of the more elegantly amusing typos I've seen)

Author's Response: 'cutaneous vasodilation' -oh, now that's just showing off! Thanks for the corrections; I keep taking these doses of pedantry but I don't seem to be getting any better...

Great chapter. Between the killing, coupling and intrigue it had it all, plus a cliffhanger at the end. I can't wait for Ginny to open her soul to Harry a little more. Once again your write is top notch.

Thanks for sharing.

Author's Response: Why, thank you, sir. Ginevra will have a fairly rapid shift in attitude during the next chapter, which is mostly from her POV. Can't say any more than that.

In Harry's defence to Ginny it maybe true he did not know she would be in heat, but ginny being the closed door she is didn't think to stop what was happening....as for Harry screwing up he is still to young to not screw up and now bellatrix is going to have some fun....kutgw

Author's Response: I think its fair to say Ginevra overreacted, but after all the bullshit she went through previously at Hogwarts its perhaps understandable. Actually, Harry screwing up is a bit of a theme in this story, or perhaps its fairer to say he just has a lot of bad luck. Poor Harry, I'm soooo cruel to him!