I just wanted to tell you I absolutely love this story - I am hooked on it, checking the website twice a day (or more!) to see if you've posted any updates! The characters are acting believably and your backstory of the Malfoys turning to the "dark side" is great! It makes sense, humanizes Lucius, and shows them capable of great depth of feeling. I can't decide if I like reading the Draco-Hermione parts or those dealing with the Severus-Hermione dynamic -- they are both so WOW! Where can I find such chivalry in a guy today? Thank you for continuing to write and update the story! It is one of your best (and I've read many on ashwinder!)

Author's Response: Cristina, what a wonderful, encouraging review! Thank you for telling me how much you liked the details. (The next update is in the queue. ::grins conspiratorially::)

I hesitated before including Lucius' backstory because I'm backstory heavy in this piece, but I thought it enabled us to see the radical difference in Draco more easily. Because SS/HG and DM/HG are the two ships I write almost exclusively, when I write the Severus-Hermione moments they're probably colored by my liking for the pair.

Chivalry does exist today... my husband is always careful of me (it probably spills over into my stories.) I'm really glad you're enjoying the story as much as you are.

Excellent. I like the way you are bringing them all together!! I am seriously hooked on this! Keep writing!

Author's Response: Thank you, thank you, Nathair. It's actually done, I'm just revising it at this point. I'm working on the next chapter, now.

I liked the last bit very much, it was so simple that I think it made it more forr the whole chapter.

Author's Response: What a wonderful compliment, my friend. I always hope to be able to add a little depth to my story-telling. You've very kindly let me know I've managed, at least a little. Thank you.

Instead, Harry noticed that the blond seemed to be… smelling her? I liked this line and : “Gods, Malfoy, I feel for you. I really do. Hermione used to have Ron and me doing her bidding all the time. Until now, I had no idea what I used to look like. Housebroken, definitely housebroken.” These are great - we can see that Harry is growing up and that Draco has changed (for the better). And Dobby giving Severus just the porridge and currents was hysterical!! More - quickly please!

Author's Response: I'm thrilled you're enjoying the dynamics between my witch and wizards. They're such great characters, aren't they? Thank you very much for the lovely compliment. (I'll be uploading the next chapter in a couple of days.)

Tea according to Dobby!! TOO Funny. This is great!! More please :)

Author's Response: Why thank you very much, Nathair. I'll be sending my next chapter in a couple of days.

Excellent story line. I am most anxious for another update as I must see how the characters evolve and grow. This really is fabulous.

Author's Response: You are very, very kind, Nathair. I'm delighted that you're enjoyed in the story so far. I'm about to send the very next chapter off to the queue, so you should have an update in the next couple of days.

Bambu~ What I love about your stories is the complexity of the writing and the genuine nature of it. In these three chapters you have two charecters thinking back over the last several months, presumably to fill in back story in order to get the reader up to date. Most authors would have floundered on a sea of verb tenses and meandering thoughts, but you stay crisp on on point. Secondly, I genuinly believe the parts that are set in Europe. I have no idea whether you are from the UK, the States, or wherever, but you write about these places, not only with conviction, but with a grace that makes me long to visit them. And the best part is that you make it fit into the story (too many fics have the charecters travelling only to talk about someplace the author has been and the reader has no interest in). I sincerely love your writing and I hope to see many many more stories by you, in this genre and others. ~Jenae

Author's Response: Oh, Jenae, what a wonderful review! First of all, thank you very much.

You're quite right about the opening chapters being a device, filling in the backstory. If I'd told it in linear fashion, the story would have been much longer than the 100K it is now. I considered discarding some of it (in fact, I jettisoned about 30 pages,) but I decided the emotional maturation process for these four young wizarding folk was vital to the story.

You're most kind to say that my structural integrity stands up to inspection, and I'm basking just a little with the compliment. My most prevalent reading material this past year has been grammar references.

I'm also thrilled that you think my travelog is believable. I will tell you that I have been to some, but not all, of the places I write about. Really, Jenae, you've made my evening. Thank you again.

I'm glad to see this posted here. The story is quite an achievement; I'm still in awe of its sweep and your skill. And, I just had to tell you I've always been a huge fan of two-for-one chapter titles with "or"! Lucky readers who have more of this story to look forward to!

Author's Response: ::blushes:: That's quite a compliment coming from you. Thank you.

I'm polishing it a bit as we post (and I can find a few moments in my otherwise hectic RL.) And, I'm looking forward to your newest venture into HP-land.

Author's Response: ACK! I wish there was an edit function for comments. Please ignore the extraneous comma.

bloody brilliant! I like that we know both herm and draco! can't wait to see what happens next! btw, has herm tried out Snape's spells?

Author's Response: Thank you, slytherin05. I appreciate you're letting me know that you're enjoying the story so far. The answer to your question is in the next chapter -- which I'm proof-reading within the next couple of days.

Very promising indeed! I enjoyed the references to detective stories and the German Hauptbahnhoff. I like the reflective, flash-back approach to their travels, and can't wait to see Snape when he wakes up! I must say I was surprised that Draco was calling his companion "Severus" not long into this. Snape does not seem the type to allow this familiarity. And they speak French in Bucharest? I look forward to reading the rest of this, so I am glad you intend to update often!

Author's Response: Thank you for your comments, MithLuin. I'm quite happy to think you're enjoying the story so far. I think Snape post-HBP is a very different wizard than the one we've seen before. We are venturing into unknown territory, and I think it's fun to invent create him at this point.

As for the French in Bucharest... I've never been there, but the websites I used for research indicated that French was commonly spoken (isn't it the official EU language,) especially in hotels. They're also eating in a French restaurant. I hope you continue to enjoy the story, and thank you for the review.

Still reading--still enjoying.  Once again, you've used a lot of dialogue in this chapter.  It does make things move along more quickly and keeps them more interesting.  Good job.

Your imaginative use of language is wonderful, and your knowledge and use of grammar is so refreshing.  Many fan fiction authors don't seem to think those little details are important.  I'm truly enjoying this tale.