Greetings!

I noticed that this chapter is missing a paragraph from the one on metafic.

"“Ok, this last bit is the hardest part. This other parchment here,� Harry said, sliding out the crisp and clean sheet, “is a magical oath each person has to sign before getting their ring. I want you three to sign it now, but you can have your rings for free. It’s a Compulsion Oath that you will: first, never willingly serve any Dark Lord; second, never willingly, with deliberate intent, attempt to permanently harm or control another unless in defence of yourself or others; third, you may defend any property not being used by a Dark Lord, or used as a place to harm or control others; and fourth, you agree to swear by signing your name to make the oath binding. Violators will get repercussions. That’s the first oath. The second oath, which requires a signature in this other column, is relatively minor and says you will not discuss the rings without my permission to anyone not wearing one, and then only after making sure you are in a private area.�"

Just thought I'd let you know :-)!

Very good story cant wait for it to get into swing more and the prank war to begin.

Author's Response: You've left a whole chain of reviews. I'm going to lump them all together for one response . . .

Another great chapter, I can't wait to see what happens next. I was wondering when are you going to get Harry and Ginny dating popouliy, and not mocking around about it. Keep up the great work.

Author's Response: Thanks for the feedback. I'm lumping all feedback for you under your last review.

I have to admit that I enjoy reading other reviews and your responses to all of this. It's gratifying to see so many people enjoying it, so yay for that. Even better is watching people trying to figure out what the hell you're doing. Yeah, wouldn't we all like to know. I did love your "these aren't the plot points you're looking for" bit. Nicely done. OK, so this isn't a proper review bit, come on, I think we've discussed this one to death. Of course, Ch. 8 is even worse. When I send 8 back to you for the last time, I'm buying you and Cel and virtual drink to celebrate putting that one to bed.
~ Christine

Author's Response: I'm sending both you and Cel a virtual bottle of Firewhisky (ha! spelled like JKR does for once) for all your hard work.

Honest, I'm not striving to foster conspiracy theories, I just want people to understand that whatever I'm showing you in one hand may keep you completely oblivious to hints about this other hand, right here... er, there.. no, there... riiiight.

Of course, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Great, really good


Author's Response: Thanks for the feedback.

Love the story! Where's the hat? Did it decide to leave him in Gryffindor or did he forget it? Keep writing!

Author's Response: Glad you're enjoying the story... The hat is around, but this chapter and the next one had so many other things, most of the scenes that Floppy participated in were left behind. Never fear, Floppy is here.

First of all, putting off the conversation about Ginny is cruel. Just plain cruel. But since this chapter is about as long as all the others, I don't suppose I can blame you.

I really enjoyed the way you've worked philosophy, psychology, and 'theory of magic' into the story. I've always thought that topics like those were highly neglected in fanfic, though they have vast potential. I look forward to hearing more. I also like that Ginny seems be just a tad more talented in that area than the others. It fits into my pet theory, for now, but it also just makes her more interesting. I hope you flesh out Harry's explanation about thoughts and words, just to confirm that I've gotten it right.

Your writing style leaves me with that delicious feeling of not being entirely sure if I've 'gotten it'. It's very hard to evoke that feeling without causing extreme frustration, so congratulations on that. Even if I have gotten it, not knowing for sure makes the rest of it so much more interesting.

The h/g dynamic continues to be entertaining, regardless of what they're discussing or what they actually are doing. They seem to be falling into a relationship through mutual challenge, and I can say from experience that that's loads of fun.

I look forward to the results of students' having the rings. A point of clarification, though: when the Weasleys sell the rings to others, will those others know everything they do? I assume so, but there's some potential in their not knowing, also.

In response to your response to my last review, I am approaching your whole dang story with paranoia at the forefront. Maybe I'm right, but you've created a loophole in your own work such that I can be right and wrong at the same time. Maybe Harry's really just some loser in nowhereville who hit the peace pipe too hard and is having a truly odd dream.
I begin to think that this story is about Ginny. After all, Harry is interesting, but we really know quite a bit about him, and his goals and motives are pretty darn clear (disclaimer: so far). Yes, there are some details to be revealed, but in the long run they really are just details. Ginny, on the other hand, is the character you're focusing most of the real mystery and tension on. Seven chapters into the story, and we know exactly zero about her that's meaningful. We know a few of her mannerisms and traits, but that's it. So whose story is it, hmm?

Keep up the great work. I can still tell you're a barfly.

Author's Response: Cruel? Perhaps. But as my betas are secretly cursing me for ever agreeing to help, that conversation is not trivial, and very long. It just wouldn't fit well in the framework unless I jump to 20,000 word chapters and that means rather slow updates.

I'm glad you're still enjoying it. As for the theory of magic hints... they are everywhere, and the clues will eventually come together to be very explicit but summarized. But to the close reader, they will already know large pieces of it, and little bits that won't be made explicit. All three of those - magic, psychology, and philosophy - will blend together as the tale moves on.

As for H/G, I will say only this: keep reading. (Sorry, that's teasing I know.)

On the rings -- isn't that an interesting question? Harry left if up to the twins and Ginny to decide. The question is, what would three mischievous conspirators like them do? Clearly, they will have to say something about what the ring does...

On the rest: Excellent! Paranoia is key. "These are not the (subtle plot points) you are looking for. Go about your business." Oh, you may want to revisit your thinking after the next chapter.

For the record, I'm sorry to my betas, the next chapter has a lot of very important things in it, but it's not conducive to easy editing. Rewriting would be closer to the truth than beta'ing this time.