Oh Draco, Draco, Draco. You silly fool. You MUST go to Paris! Your relationship with Ginny and her sanity/safety relies on it!! - or at least that's how I see it!
I loved everything about this chapter! Admittedly I felt a little heartbroken and lost for him at the end of it but your Draco chapters are fab, they are so insightful and emotional without being too ooc. His and Colin's budding friendship is so sweet, and I really liked the way you got them both to open up to each other about the war. My favourite passage was definitely "Maybe they were all cowards, every last person on the planet. All with their own insecurities and fears. With things they were willing to fight for, things they were willing to die for, and truths they’d rather not face about themselves and the world. " the idea that they were so similar even when fighting for a different side was described perfectly.
Also can we just take a minute to praise Draco's growth in going to see Pansy and opening up to her when she asked what was wrong!?! Yes!!
I'm dreading the next chapter (if it's Paris) but eagerly awaiting as ever xx
Author's Response: I love this Draco so much! I've enjoyed writing him as kind of the opposite of the Slytherin Sex God he's often portrayed as (though Sex God Draco is a lot of fun, too!), and it makes me so happy that others are enjoying his struggle and growth in this story. *takes a minute* Yes!!! Our little Draco is growing up and maturing and talking about his feelings and it's so wonderful! n_n Let's not forget Pansy growing, too. This has been a group effort learning how to be vulnerable with each other as friends.I'm dreading the next chapter, too, but it will be over soon (I'm hoping it doesn't stretch into more than one chapter like the pool party did), and then we can move on to much better things. :D
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!! I'm so, so, so glad you liked this chapter!
Still no Paris?! You're killing me. Haha! Still, this was a good chapter. :) I like all of these layers to Draco, like we're watching him go through this whole metamorphosis. And it's cute seeing him make nice with Colin. Seriously, though, when they decided they needed something to make them feel brave and strong, I totally thought that would be going to rescue Ginny. I'm not really sure how I feel about his decision to leave her on her own with Junker in Paris. I get that she's independent, and she doesn't want a knight in shining armor; and I respect that Draco respects that, but I still have a really bad feeling about this. So I'm looking forward to seeing how everything plays out. Especially now that they both realize that they have feelings for each other. I'm glad they at least worked that bit out for themselves. ;)
Author's Response: I know! I know! If I could keep putting Paris off, I would, but I can promise the next chapter will be from Ginny's POV at the conference. :) Hmmm, yeah, I think that's all I'm going to say. As much as I'm dreading writing the next chapter, it's for a bunch of different reasons, not *necessarily* because awful things are going to happen (or are they???). I hope people will be satisfied when they read it! I think everyone is looking forward to what happens after Paris, including me. :) Thank you so, so much for taking the time to tell me your thoughts and worries. Your bad feeling is certainly justified; we'll just have to see what happens, though! :O
I realized I left my review for the previous chapter under this chapter and don't know if I can leave two reviews for the same chapter. This cheater there was a lot of realizations going on. I'm glad that Draco finally stood up to his mother and that he realized that he loves Ginny. How I wish he could help her but abiding by her decision shows how much he has changed.
Author's Response: Yes, I think you can submit more than one review on the same chapter, but I appreciate that you made sure your reviews were posted to the correct chapters. n_n I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thank you for reading, and thank you, again, for taking the time to review! <3
First off I am very late reviewing this chapter and I apologize for that. It was so intense and had so much going on that I wanted to think about what to leave in my review and life carried me away.
This chapter, I loved it, especially the connection between Draco and Ginny...and their kiss. Wow! One of my favorite scenes was where Ginny confessed about her possession. The line where even the unflappable Theodore really drove the point home about what no one knew. The darkness inside of Ginny from her possession helped her find common ground with the other Slytherins , it made her relatable to them and not just someone who was on the winning side. It is building a foundation for a good friendship between them all making it even more justifiable of how easily Ginny fits into Draco's life. Their cute little touches of giving each other support was so touching.
The Pansy and Daphne reveal was an eye opener, but what I didn't understand is the motivation for Pansy to marry Theodore. Did it start out as a marriage of convenience? Pansy seems to still love Daphne and married Theo for her, did she gradually grow to care for him? The interaction between Theo and Pansy seemed to have love there. The portrayal of their marriage seemed to be based on opposites making it work, but it's more than that.
I really love Harry with Astoria and I loved Draco for calling her on her jealousy of Ginny.
I like that Ginny wants to handle Jason Junker on her own, and to show she can be independent. But sometimes being independent is realizing when you need help.
I cannot wait to read what happens next! The pacing of the story is spot on, even thought I want it faster at times because I'm so eager to find out what is the next reveal or the next step in the progression of their relationship.
Author's Response: First off, this review is amazing. Thank you SO much for taking the time to tell me all your thoughts.Yes, yes, exactly! I've always loved the idea of Draco not knowing the truth about Ginny's part in the CoS and her sharing it with him. I think Pansy and Co. would know even less about it than Draco, so I just had to have a scene where Ginny shares that information with all of them. As you said, knowing the truth makes Ginny a little more relatable to them. Before that moment, they thought of Ginny as a do-goody, Harry's ex-girlfriend, a Weasley, a member of Dumbledore's Army, one of the "good guys," and a Gryffindor. All things they would turn their nose up at. But knowing what happened to Ginny when she was so small, knowing about how she faced that kind of darkness at the age of 11, that would be terrifying and impressive to them, and it would force them to see her in a new light. I'm so happy this moment made sense to you.
Pansy's relationship information has been sprinkled around the story since chapter 6, but I didn't want to put in too much detail because 1) I wanted the previous Pansy/Daphne relationship to be a surprise, 2) I started writing a prequel about Pansy/Daphne/Theodore and wanted the bulk of the information to be there, and 3) Draco doesn't know everything about this relationship because Pansy didn't share it with him. But essentially, what Draco knows is this:
Like Draco, Pansy's mother was pressuring Pansy to marry. At the time, Pansy was dating Daphne, but, unlike Draco, Pansy didn't fight her mother about the marriage issue. She knew her relationship with Daphne would never be accepted by her mother or society, so she and Daphne broke up and Pansy married Theodore, a marriage her mother arranged. She and Theodore didn't love each other, but they fell in love after they got married. Pansy still feels regret about Daphne, and she might even love her still, just a little bit, but she loves Theodore too much to ever give him up. Pansy/Theodore is a bittersweet relationship in this story.
//I like that Ginny wants to handle Jason Junker on her own, and to show she can be independent. But sometimes being independent is realizing when you need help.//
Yes. That's all I'll say about that. :)
Seriously, this review is so wonderful and totally made my night when I saw it. Thank you so much for reading and for the amazingly wonderful review!
Oh, you made my night! And then you made my heart ache for poor Draco, whom I love. Your portrayal of him is just so wonderful. Loved everything in this chapter. Have I mentioned you're fantastic?
Author's Response: I could stand to hear it a few more times. ;D Have I mentioned YOU'RE fantastic?? Probably not, but it's TRUE. Thank you so much for reading and for such a lovely review! ;o;
So glad to come back and see so many new chapters that I read them all in one go! :D I really enjoyed how all the characters are being developed, Draco especially. And I can't wait to see what happens between Draco and Ginny after Paris ;)
Author's Response: I'm looking forward to what happens between Draco and Ginny after Paris, too. ;)))) I'm also really enjoying writing about all these different characters, so it makes me happy that their development is noticed and appreciated! :D Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Great chapter. I'm sure he'll go, when women don't want to be saved (not by a man, in general), it's a brave front we put up, we do want help/advise/support. The scene between the Malfoys was powerful. Thanks for continuing this story.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for continuing to read!! n_n
I can't decide whether I want Draco to change his mind and up and go to Paris or not! But I am looking forward to finding out.
Author's Response: :)))))) Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Wow... Just... Wow... This is one of the best fanfiction chapters I have ever read... And I have read A LOT!
Author's Response: I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you for reading! n_n
Love this chapter! Pansy's character has grown on me, and this is a great portrayal. She knows what's going on, which Ginny and Draco aren't about to admit yet. I think that you showed in some very subtle ways why they can't yet make that admission. Draco actually thinks that he honestly can't define the reasons why he's fighting this attraction so hard, but I think that his mother's reactions tell the whole story-- if he gives in to his desire for Ginny, then he's really kind of giving up on the world that the Malfoys used to inhabit. And even though he's not happy with his mother for her attitude towards Ginny and her attempts to force him into behavior that was appropriate for that world, he's just not quite ready yet. It's a major step for him to take. My guess is that this is basically what Ginny is struggling with too.
Anyway... on to the next chappie!
Author's Response: Narcissa is a pretty big reason for Draco's reluctance to admit his feelings. There's definitely more under the surface (some stuff not related to their families, but personal demons) that contribute to their denial as well. It's a big complicated mess, and the fact that they won't acknowledge the mess makes it messier. ;) I'm so glad you enjoyed the last couple chapters! Thank you for reading and reviewing! n_n
Love this chapter, LOVE!! The smut at the start was great, although I kind of knew from the very beginning that it couldn't actually be happening in 3D space-time... ;) Loved the conversation with Astoria; she really has a personality here, and yet-- although it's a little hard to pin down exactly why-- it's easy to believe that she wouldn't be compatible with Draco. My favorite part, though, had to be Ginny's meeting with Colin. Such a wistful evocation of an encounter with a ghost... I wonder if he's sticking around only because he wants to see Dennis and stay at Hogwarts. Hard to tell. But clearly everyone doesn't become a ghost, so he must have some pretty good reasons. On to Ch 6! :)
Author's Response: Thanks, Anise!
great chapie.. nice long chapie, and was posted on my birthday, too! wish had a peek of what harry and his girlfriend talk about!! hope that get together and hang out again!
Author's Response: Oh, happy belated birthday!! I hope you had a fantastic day! Maybe I'll write an outtake of the Harry/Astoria conversation some day. It would probably be kinda boring though. :) Thank you for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Snerk—Draco’s reactions re just so perfect. He actually kind of WANTS a disastrous reception. Although I wonder if in a way, he just convinces himself that he wants to see it because he can’t imagine that kind of reaction not happening, and he wants to feel in control of the possibility. I LOVE Harry and Astoria together!! Hint… I’m kind of writing that too. ;)
Some of the Weasleys really do have a terrible reaction eventually, of course, so he was kind of right. :P Interesting that Arthur is the one to defend him even though he seems genuinely uncomfortable with Draco being there.
Such a great scene when she wants to see the Dark Mark… she’s really straightforward about it, which I think is the only way this Draco could have been honest about it in return. Their relationship is moving ahead in such a believable way.
On to the next chapter!
Author's Response: Harry and Astoria is my way of subverting the epilogue of DOOOOM. It's not Astoria's fault that Ginny is a better match for Draco! So she takes over Harry for me. :) Arthur defending Draco is more of an act of support for his wife, since Molly is the one who requested Draco to attend. It would be super rude of them to invite him over and then let their entire family gang up on him, you know? And Molly has never approved of the Malfoy-Weasley fighting. Just see how she reacts at the beginning of CoS when Lucius and Arthur get into it.Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, Anise!
NO! You're not imagining it. YES! I'm actually leaving a review! :) The past year has just been... well, there hasn't been a lot of fanfic reading, forget about reviewing. :P This chapter seriously went up a year ago, I know. But this means that there are a whole bunch of delicious chapters to catch up on. :) And this one is so much fun-- from Draco thoughtfully providing Ginny with a hex dummy to a three piece suit being made droolworthy. Off to the next one.
Author's Response: Doth mine eyes deceive me?? ;) Your persistence to catch up means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy the chapters to come!
There are so many things I loved about this chapter - the vulnerability, the intimacy, the KISS!!! The way Pansy (and everyone else in this case) keeps pointing out that they're crazy about each other, even though she knows that they think they're pretending. And Ginny finally admitting to herself that she actually does want a real relationship. Things that I didn't love - Ginny didn't tell Draco about her trip with Jason. I feel like that was a really bad idea. And I'm afraid that something terrible is going to happen. But I'm counting on Draco to swoop in and rescue her. ;)
I've been so hit-and-miss about reviewing. I do read every chapter. Usually on my phone, and then I intend to go to the computer to review, but I often don't get back to it. I apologize for that. But I do love this story, and I can't wait to see where it goes next. :)
Author's Response: I'm really excited to get to the Paris trip. Well, not excited *exactly*. Anxious, yes, because it's going to be the hardest chapter (chapters???) to write, and I really just want to get to the stuff that comes after it. I love how everyone wants Draco to go to Paris and save Ginny! I'm afraid to say anything and ruin the surprise of what's coming, so that's all I'll say about that.... I completely understand about reading on your phone and not wanting to review there. It takes, like, three times as long to write a review on a phone than it does on the computer! Who has time for that!! Especially if you're reading before bed and then you want to go to sleep!!Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I can't wait to share the next chapter with everyone, too! (When I write it...)
Wow! Great chapter. Hope G will let D know about Paris...
Author's Response: I can safely say he'll find out about Ginny's trip next chapter.... I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
This was fantastic! I was so excited to see that it was so long, and you didn't disappoint! The clearing of the air between the group was really well done :D
I'm really starting to love this story. I love what you're doing with Draco: his inexperience and guilt is so refreshing and realistic. And I also love what it's been doing to their relationship. I'm also really excited to see what Ginny has planned for Junker. You go be empowered, Gin!
Anyhoo, youre fantastic, and so is your work. :D
Author's Response: NO, YOU'RE FANTASTIC! I'm so so glad you enjoyed the chapter! I love, love, love Draco with a chip on his shoulder. And inexperienced Draco? That's something we don't see too often in fan fic. Of course I love suave, experienced, Sex God Draco, but there's something so nice about seeing him with insecurities. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. n_n
Yes Ginny- the Queen Commander of Snakes!! Hahaha loved it!
This is the best chapter so far. I love drunk Ginny - she gets so handsy! And you know how much I am #TeamDG. Loved the action between the two of them. Really happy that they opened up to each other a little bit more, and I'm so glad Ginny offered her support in the way she did.
Not nice of Draco to make her go into the Chamber stuff the way he did, but you wrote their reactions brilliantly. Really really enjoyed this chapter.
Congrats on your year anniversary! xx
Author's Response: Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! n_n I really like that hashtag. Yes. #TeamDG all the way!
thank you so much..... love the dialog..so smart and witty
Author's Response: I'm so glad you liked it! Thank YOU for reading and reviewing! n_n
AHHH!! This was fantastic!
As per every review I have ever left you, your characters are flawless, as are the relationships you've been developing.
I feel like we've seen a lot more insight into Draco's character in the last few chapters (more so than Ginny, but that's unavoidable since Draco has so much redeeming to do from canon) and I love how you've written him. He's clearly punishing himself for his mistakes in his youth and I like that you address that by having confrontation with his friends and not just a frank conversation with Ginny, which would be much easier but far less satisfying. And you've done it in such a great way, because Ginny observed such discourse in the group that Draco - quite plausibly - never noticed.
Also, such A+++ for giving more development and resolution to Ginny's experience with the CoS. I'm not 100% on board with Draco pulling Ginny into all the drama - if I was her I would have been like excuuuuuuuuse you, that is none of your business - but again, you wrote it in such a way I could see why Ginny allowed herself to open up about it.
Great work! :D Cant wait to see what happens with Ginny on her trip. I'm torn - I hope we won't be Draco-less for the duration, however I also think Ginny needs to sort Junker out on her own so she can build more confidence for her situation.
(I apologize for not reviewing the last two chapters, but I've been binge reading this on my phone and that is not conducive to adequate reviews)
Author's Response: Evidently, Draco becomes a bit of a dick when he's under stress. Good thing Ginny sees right through his bad attitude! I think this is the first story in which I've really discussed Tom and the CoS. Usually I focus on the war specifically and hardly ever mention the effects Tom might have had on Ginny. I don't want to dwell too much on the CoS here, but it's really important, especially in establishing common ground between Draco and Ginny. Both of them have mostly moved on from traumas in their pasts, but they can't forget what happened to them. It just becomes a part of them. Draco, clearly, is still struggling with accepting his past, but luckily he has Ginny to help him. As far as Ginny's trip is concerned, all I'll say is the next chapter is most likely going to be a Draco chapter. Do with that what you will. :)))) As always, thank you so much for reading and reviewing!!
I definitely have mixed feelings about this one. I guess I just don't understand why Ginny would be okay with Draco bringing up such a personal topic in front of a group. I don't believe she would just tell everyone what happened. Anyway, the rest of it was great, especially the constellation scene.
Author's Response: I completely understand the mixed feelings!I felt it was important to include that conversation about the CoS because that was how Ginny showed her willingness to let Draco and the people he considers his family (maybe his dysfunctional family, but important to him all the same) see a side of her that she doesn't normally show people or talk about. Sure, she could have said, "Nah, that's none of your business," or "Maybe later, when we can have a private conversation," but she chose to tell all of them about it, partially because she really thought they already knew but mostly because she recognized that Draco needed her to be brought down to their level. They had all revealed something ugly about themselves or about their relationships. The fact that Da, A, P, T, and Dr had all been friends for years but had never voiced these issues was significant, because they're not *comfortable* voicing those emotional weaknesses. But it all came out anyway, and in front of outsiders (Ginny and Harry), so to make herself part of the group (emotionally at least), to show the Slytherins that she could be trusted with their secrets, Ginny shared an uncomfortable secret with them, too. If she hadn't, they all would have resented her for being present to hear them air their dirty laundry. That's why she didn't get upset with Draco, because she knew why he was doing it, and that's why she decided to tell them.
But even though Ginny thinks about the CoS and Tom a lot, she's mostly moved on from it. She thinks about what happened, but she's not haunted by it. She even jokes with Draco about it in chapter two. She's the one who mentions the possession at dinner, as an explanation for why she felt like she couldn't tell her family about Jason Junker, but at the end of the chapter, she's teasing Draco and implies she will explain it to him eventually. It was important to me that they have that conversation in this story, because it's another way that Draco and Ginny are similar. They've both been tormented by Voldemort. They've both been controlled by him. But it was also important for Pansy and Co. to hear it, too, so they wouldn't underestimate her.
Draco will also have some thoughts about what she told them in his next chapter. If the scene still doesn't work for you, though, it just doesn't, and I'm sorry that part didn't hit the mark. I'm really glad you enjoyed the rest of the chapter though. :) I like the star-gazing scene more every time I read it! Thank you so much for reading and leaving your thoughts!
Loved, loved, loved it! That kiss? Amazing! Cannot wait for more! -Cara
Author's Response: I'm so glad!!! Thank you for reading and reviewing! n_n
How many more rules can we break tonight?"
She pulled his face down to hers for another desperate kiss, but before he could actively participate in the kiss, she was already pulling away. "None. We must behave. Your friends are waiting."
This, I'm done! Done! Send me to bed happy, that was an awesomely long and brilliant chapter! Happy birthday TDC
Author's Response: This review made me so happy. :D I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! Thank you SO much for reading and reviewing!
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear fic!!!
Loved this one. It's like reading about two teenagers starting to fall in love, the innocence, the shy touches, and the stares and the small kisses. Awww so cute. I liked the stargazing scene as well. I wish JKR would've put more attention to the astronomical things going on in Malfoy family, it could've been an interesting thing to read in canon. You did it, instead, and I'm soo glad, because it was great. (I'm so nerdy about astronomy). You say this is the longest chapter you ever wrote, but you manage to keep the tension and the feelings going on between Draco and Gin.
At least Ginny is not alone; I want more, too.
Hugs!!!
Author's Response: This is Draco's first experience with romance, so the innocence (but also the naughtiness of previous chapters :)))) and shyness and wonder of it is very much intentional. And how can Ginny resist, how can she not react the same way, when that kind of attention is given to her? The beginning of her relationship with Harry was nothing like this because it was unrequited at first, and then she had to hide her feelings, but in this chapter, Ginny didn't have to hide anything because Draco was feeling the same things and he wasn't hiding them. It's all very magical and I wish someone would look at me the way Draco looks at Ginny. *swoons*I'm so glad you liked the astronomy bit! I took an astronomy class in college, but I didn't pay as much attention as I should have, so I had to do a bit of research about constellations for this chapter. And I'm glad you liked the chapter! I worried that there would be TOO much going on, and maybe too much talking, but I had to get the backstories and vulnerable moments in there as this was definitely a relationship-building event in the story. It sounds like it all worked for you, though, so that makes me happy!
Hugs!! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
Why would you put a warning over such a beautifully written smut scene?? Ah, I love your Draco, he is so cute, I want to hug him and and make him feel good about himself so he can make Ginny so happy and and and they can love each other properly...
That's how you make me feel.
There are some fascinating lines in this chapter, like the "The light freckles scattered across her shoulders like a negative image of the night sky" one. You create these beautiful images in the reader's mind from time to time and it makes your story not only interesting to read but also so full of sensations and feelings... I love it when authors take me inside their character's heads to the point that I start feeling the same things in my mind and my body. And damn, you're doing it, girl.
Please keep on writing!!!
Author's Response: So this is probably one of the top ten or five reviews I've ever received, and I can't even express how warm and fuzzy my warm and fuzzies are as a result of reading it. n_n This is definitely one of those reviews I'll come back to read again and again. Thank you so much for such kind words. I definitely intend to keep writing! In fact, the next chapter *SHOULD* be posted next week. :D Thank you thank you thank you!