[Report This]Date: 07/28/2007 10:29 am Title: 10. A Smooth Apparater
Oh, oh ... I like the chapter a lot, but there's one point I'd like to nitpick about a bit. Handkissing - certainly suiting Albus and a nice, not only continental thing, but something done in England too. Yet there are certain rules for it. One says: The hand is never really touched. The kiss is always placed just a little bit above the hand in the air. And another rule is: A gentleman never kisses an unmarried woman's hand. Even today kissing a young, unmarried woman's hand would be seen as a break of protocol.
Author's Response: Ah, well, given that I have received such handkisses and when I was young and unmarried, and the lips do not actually kiss, but merely hover or brush (in fact, the contrast with the sloppy kisses Minerva's brother gives her hand in jest were meant to indicate this contrast), I based it on that. Also, I don't expect anyone to learn anything about the real world from reading my fics -- unless it's about human nature. I'm glad you're still reading and enjoying the story.
[Report This]Date: 07/28/2007 10:14 am Title: 7. Chez Albus
Knowing how important reviews are for an author, I'm here for an another one though I actually don't know what to say. It's obvious: I like your story so much that I keep reading (though I actually should do some work) and I'm looking forward to more of it.
Author's Response: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you like the story.
[Report This]Date: 07/28/2007 09:14 am Title: Minerva's Grievance
Great start! I'm looking forward to the next chapters. It's very refreshing to get at least once a story where Minerva doesn't fall in love with Albus at the first sight!
Author's Response: Well, I do think this is an atypical story, but there's a history there that will come out . . . and a little melodrama. But I think that you may still find it refreshing . . . . Thanks for the review!
[Report This]Date: 07/28/2007 06:54 am Title: An Escort in Dark Places
Ah, they're getting closer by mere inches! It's torturous, but nevertheless, the mood is getting better!! I'm happy, huh:)))) but hey, way to go, Albus! He is sweet, ne! Brilliant idea with that passageway! And the way they've parted - oh, I hold my breath there, for sure!^))
Author's Response: Yes, torturous it is! Glad you're happy! The anticipation can be excruciating! Thank you for reviewing. :D
[Report This]Date: 07/28/2007 12:18 am Title: An Escort in Dark Places
What a cute chapter! It brings back memories of "dating" in middle school & early high school! Those last few paragraphs...amazing...way to capture the moment perfectly! This is probably one of my quickly growing list of favorite chapters! Keep them coming!
Author's Response: Glad it was cute. :D I don't think my emotions were quite as strong in school, just erratic and moody! ;) And I sure didn't know any guys who would go out of their way to get a special dessert for me. It was more burger joints, popcorn, holding hands, sweaty palms . . . but I digress! Hee! I'm glad you enjoyed those last paragraphs! Thanks for reviewing!
[Report This]Date: 07/27/2007 10:30 pm Title: An Escort in Dark Places
Good-God-damn!!!! This chapter is so totally swooney!!! I don't think I breathed during those last few paragraphs!!! Minerva blaming it on the lighting!!!!! And I loved the scene at lunch where Albus thinks she's looking at him...and he thinks it's fondly (but he's not sure : ) ). And he mentions soup as an excuse for his grin?! And I love his courtship (though he refuses to call it that) and I love the Silent Knight!!!! Hell, I just love this chapter!!!
Author's Response: Well, now *I* have a big grin on my face! Thanks very much! I'm very glad you enjoyed the chapter so much. And that it was swoony! And the Silent Knight is one of my favorite little characters, so I'm glad you love him. And Albus doesn't realize he's courting her . . . but he is. *grin* I love writing the romantic scenes while neither of them knows how the other feels and both think that a relationship is impossible. It's fun to try to walk that line. . . . Thanks for the review!
[Report This]Date: 07/26/2007 01:34 am Title: Many Meetings
Oh Minerva....a man clutching a blanket in front of him like a life preserver usually means only one thing...silly girl!!!!! And I can't believe that Poppy kicked her under the table!! I also think that finding out about Hagrid's unusual relationship might help Minerva, and I love the end of this chapter..those last few paragraphs are swoony and sad!!!
Author's Response: Poor Minerva -- plagued by It and worried about what she's done wrong . . . but we'll see Albus's perspective on things in the next chapter. I'm glad you liked the end of the chapter. I have a few other nice "ends" to come! Thanks for reviewing!
[Report This]Date: 07/26/2007 12:56 am Title: Hagrid’s Hut
No nightmares! VERY creative witch, though : ). Hagrid is very dear. His needs often get neglected in stories...I love his pet name for her, Meena bird! Curiosity didn't kill the cat, but I had to lol at Minerva!!!
Author's Response: Yes, Minerva's cat form was in for more than she'd bargained for when she decided to nap where she did! And when her curiosity occasionally overcame her discretion and embarrassment . . . well, she certainly learned a thing or two!
Thanks for the review!
[Report This]Date: 07/26/2007 12:42 am Title: Debate and Dissension
Is that good ole fiery Katheryn Hepburn as Minerva in your art work?
Author's Response: Yes, it's good old Kate as young Minerva -- if you'd like to see all the banners, visit my livejournal. There's a link to it on my author's page here at Lumos. (I try to remember not to cut and paste that banner into my Lumos posting -- I also post at Petulant Poetess at the same time I post to Lumos -- and I don't know if the banner meets SH's guidelines for allowable images.) You should check out the banner that has a picture of "Quin" in it!
[Report This]Date: 07/26/2007 12:41 am Title: Debate and Dissension
Sorry for the LATE review...off travelling, and then a certain new book came out.....excellent chapter! Minerva's in for it now with her new position! And I REALLY like that German professor! A great character, too! And poor Minerva's pesky feelings!!
Author's Response: I'm glad you like Birnbaum! He's a man of conscience and has guts, as well. And Minerva does have some new responsibility, there!
Thanks for reviewing -- hope you had a good trip!
[Report This]Date: 07/26/2007 12:15 am Title: Many Meetings
Poor Albus...I really liked the scene at the end of the chapter. I hope that we get Albus' thoughts next chapter, & mabye a step in the right direction? Great chapter as always! Keep them coming!
Author's Response: Yep, we start off the next chapter with Albus's thoughts . . . I'm glad you liked the scene at the end there. They are getting closer all the time, and they'll make more progress in the next few chapters, however they have a few bumps yet to encounter, and a major slip -- and a slip often means a fall, and falls often hurt . . . . Thanks for reviewing!
[Report This]Date: 07/23/2007 01:31 pm Title: Minerva's Grievance
Yay, new chapter! It seems to me that Minerva is getting more and more possessive and jealous in her thoughts without noticing!:) Aah, i want to kick tnem both!!! Will they ever understand what they see?!
Great story!! I've read it through without even stopping (though it was a tough job, haha)- got really engrossed in their feelings! Thank you, and keep up the good work, i'm oh so looking foward to see their biggest misunderstanding finally solved!!
Author's Response: Thanks! (I assume this review is in response to chapter 64, "Debate and Dissension," although on the review management page it doesn't say.) I'm impressed that you read the whole thing through without stopping! That must have been a marathon -- I think you're right about Minerva. I am sure that you're not the only one who wants to kick them both or bang their heads together or something! Thanks very much for reviewing! I really appreciate it! :D There will be another chapter posted soon.
[Report This]Date: 07/23/2007 08:32 am Title: Waiting
One more thing! i just came around to read chapter 18(which is quiet nice:) esspecially the action in it!). But I noticed one incorrect thing in your german! "Was meinst du dabei?" means "What du you mean by this?" and is normaly when somebody SAYS something that you don't get! "What do you thing you're doing?" is "Was glaubst du was du da tuest?" or "Was soll das?" in german. But don't worry, you know more about the german Language then most people I've meet :)
Author's Response: Vielen herzlichen dank. Und ich meinte "meinst" -- der Soldat hat etwas wie gesagt, "Wir wollen sehen." Es kann sein, dass es nicht besonders klar war. Und soll es nicht "Was glaubst du, was du da tuest?" sein? Ich war an die Uni in Deutschland, aber es ist schon mehr als fuenfzehn Jahre, seit ich jeden Tag Deutsch gesprochen habe. Ich wollte auch etwas schreiben, was einer, der nur ein bisschen Deutsch kann, verstehen koennte. Thanks for your reviews!
Author's Response: I meant to write: der Soldat hat etwas wie "Wir wollen sehen" gesagt. I shouldn't try to write anything in English before my second cup of coffee, let alone in German! LOL! Anyway, I hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Author's Response: Okay -- I just went back and re-read the chapter, which I hadn't looked at in months, and now I see what you mean and recollect better what the scene was. I may change it to "was soll das," if I get around to editing it. (I'm on a trip now, so I'm being a bit lazy!!!)
[Report This]Date: 07/23/2007 07:48 am Title: A Sudden Change of Circumstance
I like the way you build up the complex relationship between the two main characters.
But please don't say anything nasty about germans! We're not all Nazis, you know!
Author's Response: I don't believe I do say anything nasty about Germans in general -- just Nazis and Grindelwald. I lived in Germany for a few years and am very fond of the country and of Germans. Birnbaum is German, and he's one of the best characters in the story. (I'm not sure which chapter this is in regard to, since Lumos doesn't indicate that on the review reply page.) There are lots of nasty or stupid English people in the story, as well, and the one American who shows up is more or less an idiot, so I think it's human nature I'm describing here. I also make a distinction between German soldiers and Nazis.
[Report This]Date: 07/22/2007 11:39 pm Title: Debate and Dissension
Interesting, the idea of a committee. I must say that I prefer your version of Albus to the version DH. He is certainly more likeable & less manipulative. Another great chapter. Keep them coming!
Author's Response: Well, I'm glad you like him. I think he's still recognizably Albus, though. And he's not without his flaws! More of which we will see in the future. But he's lovable, nonetheless, I believe. :D
There will be another chapter up in a day or two, I believe. Just needs one more proofreading before posting. In the next chapter, we'll find out what's been bothering Hagrid!
[Report This]Date: 07/16/2007 10:38 pm Title: Tasseomancy
holy hell!!!!! She called him dearest!!!!!! Did she even notice? And Albus + Minerva shoring up their hearts...it's so painful to read. The two fools!!!!!! Lovely writing, as always!!!!!
Author's Response: Thanks! I don't think either of them noticed. *sigh* Thanks for the review!
[Report This]Date: 07/16/2007 10:04 pm Title: To Be of Assistance
oh my........It was so cute for Albus to sit next to her at dinner!!! And they both said some very swoony things : ). Oh, poor, wistful Albus! And Minerva thinking his expressions have to do with everything but her!!!!!!! And she finally gets to take care of him a bit!!!!! Swoon!!!
Author's Response: Awwww, I know! But there will be more little sweetnesses to come, and they may percolate in their subconsciouses some. Thanks! Glad it was a swoony chapter! :D
[Report This]Date: 07/14/2007 11:04 pm Title: An Owl from St. Mungo’s
Wow. Go Minerva!!! She's getting a fore-taste of what helping Albus involves! And I like how the portrait of the former headmistress complimented her!
Have a safe, fulfilling trip!
Author's Response: Thanks! Dilys seems to have taken a shine to Minerva! :) I hope my trip is relaxing -- it's been put off a couple days because of some minor car issues, so I'll be getting back later, as well.
[Report This]Date: 07/13/2007 12:38 am Title: The Magic of Memory
Great background story for Albus! I'm glad to see that Albus & Minerva are beginning to reach an understanding finally! Can't wait for the next chapter! Have a great vacation! You deserve it after turning out this many chapters in such a short time!
Author's Response: Thanks very much! There will still be a few hiccups along the way, but most of them will be minor . . . notice I used the word "most," not "all"!
[Report This]Date: 07/13/2007 12:37 am Title: Mistakes and Misunderstandings
That was a pretty cool chapter! What a fight (almost like a married couple?). I loved the part with the cliffs!
Author's Response: Thanks!
[Report This]Date: 07/13/2007 12:07 am Title: The Magic of Memory
Wow!!!!!!! I love your back -story on Albus!!! Actually, very inspiring that he could recover from such mistakes and losses. Wonderful walk in the garden!!!! And, AU RULES!!!!!!!!
Author's Response: Albus does believe in self-improvement! :)
Glad you enjoyed the walk in the garden. I will try to put up one more chapter before I leave! Thanks for reviewing!
[Report This]Date: 07/12/2007 11:40 pm Title: Mistakes and Misunderstandings
Wow. What a fight!! And I love the bit on the cliffs, with Minerva's hair in the wind-forcing Albus to come out there on her turf-coming back as a tabby...
Author's Response: Thanks! It was a while coming, but I think it was worth waiting till this point in the story to show what happened back then. Thanks for the review!
[Report This]Date: 07/12/2007 11:38 pm Title: The Comforts of Home
oh my God!! I LOVE Minerva's parents!! So, they had it figured out since that apparation!! I LOVED Minerva's Dad!!! The cheek, the nerve of getting Albus into his cups, suggesting he play with Minerva, then bringing Minerva's letter to his attention!! I love a Dad who doesn't pull any punches for his dauhgter's sake!!!
Author's Response: Well, they certainly figured out their daughter's end of it, 'though they weren't too sure about Albus until he showed up that afternoon with a thin excuse to see Minerva! I'm glad you like Merwyn! Thanks for reviewing!
[Report This]Date: 07/11/2007 01:52 pm Title: The Comforts of Home
Oh, come on...that's such a mean cliff hanger!!! I've been waiting forever to find out what happened between Albus & Minerva after Carson died!!! Hurry up & get the next chapter up! I'm dying here! I wonder if Albus will be drunk when Minerva gets back...that could be very interesting! I love how everyone else (including Minerva's parents) seem to know about Albus & Minerva's feelings for each other! & I think that it's great how Minerva's parents are trying to set them up! Great chapter!
Author's Response: Well, it's not the ENTIRE world that knows -- just those close to them. And Merwyn and Egeria are aware of Minerva's feelings, but were unsure of how Albus felt until he showed up out of the blue that afternoon looking for Minerva -- now they are beginning to think the feelings may be mutual. *wink* I have to leave you guys with the occasional cliffie -- how else would you appreciate the relief that follows it!? *grin* I'm glad you liked the chapter, though -- thanks for reviewing!
[Report This]Date: 07/10/2007 05:21 pm Title: Hot, Cold, and Tepid
wow. just leaving! That was so un-Minerva-y. I wonder what she wrote in that letter!! Well, drastic times call for drastic measures, and Albus needs to get his head out of his arse! Any chance of him using his legendary apparation skills and chasing her? That's always swooney!!
Author's Response: She simply didn't want to sit in her rooms and pout. She'd rather take action. And you'll find out all that soon enough -- I'm going to try to get two more chapters up before I leave town at the end of the week, maybe three . . . but I don't want to overwhelm people!