Just as depressing as the first time I read it. The Wizarding world really needs to do some sort of law building for what would be a normal situation. They can't all inter-marry like the Black's.
MNF

Author's Response: This was a happy chapter until Harry decided to take matters into his own hands. Everything I read about the Statute of Secrecy seems to point to the fact that the authors of that law wanted wizard/Muggle marriages to be as unhappy as possible either by forbidding the magical partner from revealing magic or having the non-magical partner accuse the magical one of lying. Either way, one or both partners are guaranteed to be miserable according to law! So... in this case, both Harry and Ginny have to be miserable. Boo hoo!

I must admit that this was kind of a shock. Let's hope Harry's magic wasn't strong enough yet, the really obliviate her, and the portraits are calling her back before she leaves the house.

Author's Response: I agree. You have an interesting theory about Harry's magic. You'll see on Monday if it's correct. Thanks for reading.

And there's your spectacular cliffy!! Sniffle. I can understand why Harry was so eager to tell her, and I can also understand why Ginny would think he was crazy. Now it's all a mess. A very well done mess! I have no trouble believing the Ministry wouldn't have specific rules other than hiding the magic, and in a way, trying to discourage the mingling.

Author's Response: One of my other readers pointed out that the Statute is rather antiquated, mostly because wizards know so little about Muggles! As I was writing this chapter, I kept thinking that it would have been so much easier if the Statute had been updated to let a witch or wizard disclose his/her "talents" early in the relationship so there wouldn't be so much distrust. Not being able to trust someone seems to be the root of all the messed-up marriages in canon. I find it ironic that Harry decides to follow Ministry guidelines when his carefully planned-out disclosure goes to hell in a handbasket! You're right, it's a mess!

Hope you understand that I consider you a villain right now for this cliffhanger ending. That didn't go well for Harry at all but I'm a little surprised at Ginny's reaction! Thought their love was stronger than that! Even worse, I have to wait a whole week for the next chapter! Congrats on the trinkets - they were
well deserved! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D


Author's Response: To tell the truth, I felt very much the villain when I finished writing this chapter. Then, I looked at all the notes I'd made for the story and decided that I'd dropped enough hints in previous chapters that if you really think about it, there *has* to be a happy ending. Also, if you know me as a writer, I'm a romantic at heart and couldn't end a story in tragedy, even if I tried. Thank you for reading...only six more days until the next chapter is out!

Wow. I hate this, but it makes sense. Is it next Monday yet?!

Author's Response: I'm sorry to say you have to wait another six days until I post chapter eleven. In the meantime, know that I'm a romantic at heart and can't possibly end my story in tragedy. Thanks for reading and lamenting.

What an interesting interpretation of the legal situation. On the other hand, the wizarding world is pretty ignorant of Muggles, so it makes sense again, lol.
Ah, well. I'm a little disappointed with Ginny for giving up Harry so quickly, I'm afraid Harry will have a setback. Knowing how stubborn he is, he'll refuse to ever see Ginny again. On the other hand, since Ginny can't remember her good times with Harry - only the image of the ugly Harry, Harry has implemented in her - she won't bother him again. Their love wasn't strong enough. Sounds like a dead-end street.

Author's Response: Oh, wonderful theories! I can't tell you which ones are right and which are wrong because that would spoil the rest of the story for anyone who reads the comments! I will say this: Harry has an independent streak a mile wide and he's not known for abiding by the rules very often, so disobeying the Statute came easily for him. There are ten more chapters in the story, so maybe one or more of your theories will be proven true in future chapters. Thanks for reading and sending me your thoughts.

Well that's just mean!

Author's Response: I agree. It is! However, I researched the Statute of Secrecy extensively and every marriage of a Muggle to a wizard ended in tragedy; either the couples split up or they didn't trust each other from the point of disclosure. If you read Rowling's biography of Minerva McGonagall, her life was affected twice by the Statute. The first instance was her parents. Her mother was a witch who married a Muggle minister. Her mother kept magic a secret until Minerva started doing accidental magic and the mother had to tell her husband she was a witch. Not a good idea. In the second instance, Minerva fell in love with a Muggle, but I think she refused to marry him because she didn't want a repeat of her parents' marriage. So... there is precedence for Harry's Obliviation of Ginny. Thanks for reading and putting up with my cliffhanger.