Gah! So close and yet so far away...could someone just spike Albus' drink or something!?! Another great chapter...very moving at the end! Keep them coming!

Author's Response: Thanks!

What I left out of the other review was the fact that Albus had butterflies. That was a very sweet moment. It reminds me of when you first fall in love and realize the other person has feelings for you. All that sappy stuff that ensues. I know he hasn't realized Minerva loves him in that way yet..but it just seems he may be approaching that. That fact he shared so much with her was a big step for him.

Thanks so much for the update. More please? =o)

Cheers!

Stef =o)

Author's Response: There will be more! No worries! Glad you liked that moment!

Wow!!! That was some flirting/chemistry when Albus got playful in his animagus form! Both he and Minerva seemed to be dropping their guards when that letter arrived. sigh. Hmm...I wonder what Gertrude was up to, and why the wards felt so strange to Minerva...and I was amused by your teasing on my last review...I almost ended that one with an old fashioned "stay tuned for the next thrilling episode!" very Rocky + Bullwinkle....

Author's Response: Oh, I loved Rocky and Bullwinkle! I loved Fractured Fairy Tales, and the funny little "genius" bits.

I'm glad you liked the Animagus playtime! ;) You'll find out more about the wards stuff later!

Yay! Another chapter! And Minerva realized that Albus said he loved her! Yeesh, girl. He tells you his freakin' life story and you still want more (congrats from him)! Well...I can understand that. And Albus refusal to deal with his physical need for Minerva seems to be causing him problems! The walls are crumbling! Will Minerva help with the corespondence? Will Albus ever accidentally stumble upon her shrine?

Author's Response: So many questions . . . will they be answered? Or will longroot perish of curiosity while awaiting the next chapters which might answer them? Shall we wait and see? *grin* Glad ya liked it! And Minerva realizes it's a bit silly of her to be waiting for his congratulations, but . . . we will see what happens with that in the next chapter. Many thanks for the review! :D

I also wanted to say that I love the bit about the dragon protecting Albus, and giving her life for him, and how the dragon's heart is with the two of them, and how the dragon's feelings for Albus in some way parallel Minerva's: feelings of care, affection and even fierce protectiveness. Have you ever seen a children's movie called Secondhand Lions? It's one of those that I would recommend to adults. There is a lion in it that you would probably like : )

Author's Response: No, I'm not familiar with that movie. I'll check it out sometime.

I'm glad that you liked the dragon and what happened to her heart. :)

Aawwww. Albus worrying about being selfish by telling Minerva this story-both hoping she would understand, and wanting her to know that he's not perfect-wanting her to know just what kind of a friend he is... Minerva handled it beautifully, that bit about being safe with the castle under his care. This has been a lovely week with you spoiling us!!!

Author's Response: I'm glad you enjoyed the last few updates! They won't be that rapid in the future, but I wanted to have those three chapters out without much of a wait in between. But I was happy to spoil you all for a while! Thanks very much for reviewing!

Poor Albus, he really did sink pretty low...his best friend killing his mother! But a little girl & her pony...aww! I wonder how Minerva will react to all of this? Can't wait for the next chapter!

Author's Response: Thanks! Glad you liked the chapter. :)

Tee hee! I liked how Quin slipped in the little tidbit about Minerva having her eye on a wizard other that him. Poor Albus is soooo blind. LOL! Instead of observing how Minerva acts around Johannes and Hagrid he needs to look at how she acts around him. He is acting the jealous lover a bit here, hee hee. When he was watching them from atop the Astronomy Tower and analizing everything was awesome, I loved it. LOL!!!

Hmmm, now you have me interested in what he could have wrote when he was missing Minerva. Will we find out what it was any time soon? And the backstory you have created sounds great. However, from little hints you have left I have to say I am a bit worried. Somehow I think Minerva will help him get passed his past. =o) As you said though, Albus will have to reach bottom before things get better...if he is telling her everything perhaps that time is not too far off, hmmm? You have me VERY nervous. =o

As always, looking forward to more.

Cheers!

Stef =o)

Author's Response: The next chapter will be up tomorrow, so you don't have too long to wait. Poor Albus, hung up on his age and his belief that Minerva will want "an eligible wizard" and he isn't one . . . *sigh*

We will learn what he wrote toward the end -- it's what he wrote while she was at the Gamps, if you remember that. It's been written for a long time (meaning, that I have had it written for a long time!), along with a good deal of the chapter it's in, but it will be a while yet. But I also would say we are about 85% of the way through the story, so it won't be a terribly long wait, compared to the rest of the story!

Thanks much!

You totally rule. I love this back story for Albus!!!! And no matter how horrible, I think Minerva will manage to love him even MORE!!! It was also SO cute when Albus was comparing himself to Quin-young, handsome and with his own candy factory!! And I was REALLY worried that Albus might try to match Minerva w/ Hagrid....whew!

Author's Response: Albus is confuzzled, isn't he? But at least he's not trying to fix her up with anyone again! Haha! I hope you like the next couple chapters! You'll see why I just couldn't bear to change RaM!Albus's personal history, I hope. I became quite attached to this one . . . so much so, I don't believe I will ever write a DH-compliant story. Particularly since I didn't like DH, anyway . . . cardboard characters, camping . . . and more camping! LOL!

Oh Minerva...Albus didn't walk with you in the morning, and then he awkwardly asks you out! (I bet he was making arrangments that morning for your dinner-perhaps procuring something rare in the forest to properly celebrate your new status). Quin is great!! And I laughed about Malcolm! The title of the next three chapters has me excited!!! Are we getting back-story on Albus? And HOW MUCH is he opening up to Minerva? All of these marvelous updates are going to spoil your readers!!! Thank you so much!!!!!

Author's Response: Hmmm . . . he's telling her a lot. I'm so glad you enjoyed Quin and found Malcolm amusing! :D

Albus's walk . . . I suppose one could say he was "procuring" something, but it was not material.

I am afraid of spoiling you all, and I will warn you, after these three chapters are up, there will be a little "breather" to let you all sit back and digest. And to give me some time, as well! *grin*
As always, thanks for the review!

WOW! You are quick and I see you are going to do more soon too. Yipee skipee. You have made me one happy camper....er....shipper...yeah that! =o)

Hopefully I am gonna be the first reviewer here but we will see by the time I get this written. heh. First, I would like to say bravo to Gertie, it seems to me she sees more in Minerva's and Albus' relationship then they do and I nearly fell out of my seat when she kissed Minerva's cheek. lol, I also loved the fact she was trying to hearten Minerva when she was dwelling on the fact Albus had not come to her party, poor thing.

I think I read somewhere that someone asked if Gertie was tired from Malcolm and now I am wondering the same thing. Because, while I do think Malcolm is peculiar I do not think he is peculiar in the way Quin thinks or thought. LMAO!! Poor Quin. Why couldn't Quin get a feel or reading from Malcolm anyway? Very strange.

Poor Minerva, the poor dear, I was rather shocked, like her, when Albus rebuffed her and her walk like that, but from his appearance I think perhaps he was feeling insecure again. *grrr* But then he asked Minerva to dinner. Umm, was that dinner in his rooms or going out to dinner like a date? Oh, oh I know, perhaps it's a celebratory dinner for her becoming Head of Gryffindor and he didn't tell her. Hmmm, so many wonderful things to ponder.

Finally, I am glad Quin was there for Minerva to lean on, Albus didn't overhear any of their conversation did he? I was surprised he was there when she came back from washing her face. Perhaps he wanted to make sure they weren't actually doing anything like he had suggested before. Maybe he was feeling a bit jealous?? If so, YAY! If not, *grrr* lol. I can't wait to see what Quin gets from Albus when he visits his office. And I wonder when he will get a chance to tell Minerva. *sigh*

Thanks so much for the update and, as always, I am looking forward to more.

Cheers!!
>br/>Stef =o)

Author's Response: Hmm, much as I would love to address everything . . . future chapters will do some of that, and I feel like it's a lot later than it is (no surprise there), and I'm tired, so . . .

Albus stuck his head through the Floo to see if they were there and Quin told him to come on through. I think he was a bit curious about what might be going on . . . pondering the invitation to tea and all.

Quin can't read everyone very well, and as he's a male, his talents are extraordinary for a male MacAirt, but not as good as those of the witches, as he explained. He also can't get a read off of Gertrude very well, either. Malcolm is just very complex, and he's also got a lot going on in him.

There will be another update tomorrow early.

What a cool ceremony! & I really liked the show of support from the other teachers! It was a nice touch! & Albus sharing the centaur mead to celebrate the special occassion! Wonderful! & Minerva knows that Albus has at least 3 pictures of her in his study of all places! Go Gertie! Keep them coming...finals week is coming up next week for me & I would love to read at least one more chapter before the craziness of RL returns in full force!

Author's Response: Glad you liked the little ceremony. :D I'm hoping to have the next chapter up on Wednesday, but this week is going to be a little busier than normal, so I don't know whether I'll be able to or not. I'll certainly try! :D Hope finals go well for you! Be sure to get plenty of sleep and eat properly -- feed your brain! :)