I currently live in the great state of South Dakota. Why do I live in a place with such nasty winters, I don't know. Since most of my family lives far away in more exotic places than I do, my life revolves around my four dogs, Sampson, Raphael, Seamus, and Mayhem. They are a min-pin, a toy poodle, a teacup Malti-Poo, and a Great Dane, respectively.
I've always had a fascination with the mental illness aspect that characterizes Bellatrix Black Lestrange. My first story is her story. On one site I was sorted into Ravenclaw but I think the hat made a mistake. Most days I feel like a Slytherin!
Tonks' world has fallen into shadow. Voldemort has returned, the Order of the Phoenix has risen, and Sirius is slowly drowning in memories and Firewhisky. Tonks needs more than determination to fight the darkness. She needs Remus.
I still think Tonks and Snape are pretty funny together. But Tonks and Remus are better lovers:) Their interaction with Will was interesting. Will's attitude was probably more typical of other werewolves. Remus is always a good example to follow. He may have issues but he always tries to live life to the fullest. I enjoyed their Valentine's Day. Great chapter.
Author's Response: I agree absolutely, Tonks and Remus are my one true pairing. They fit in ways Snape and Tonks never could. Will has a larger role in the next story, in which Remus is a very good role model, even though he never gives himself the credit. Him and his self esteem issues! Sigh.
I waited until I came home to read this. I knew it was going to be sad and I hate crying at work--people might think I'm mental. My dogs get upset when I cry at home, especially if I'm loud, but I don't think they think I'm mental:) I really liked how you wrote this--through Tonks' dream. This chapter started out so happy, with Lisa having the baby and Remus getting to be a godfather. And, Tonks had a premonition of Teddy. Great chapter, but sad. (Now I can move on.)
Author's Response: I thought I'd move on...and then there was Cami, and then Andromeda, and the waterworks started again. Sigh. I've come to accept that I'll never totally get over what happened to Sirius...and the rest of them...and that's okay. Issues make people interesting. :D
I decided to read this chapter at home too. It was almost sadder than the last one--with Tonks having to break the news to her parents. I hope to start tomorrow off on a happier note. Actually this is a tribute to your skill as a writer--when you can make the reader cry in the good times and the bad times. I had to arrange my reading so I wouldn't cry at work. I feel so bad for Cami, especially since she has hopes that Sirius will come back. I think that's part of the grieving process--it is for me anyway--I usually go through a time period when I pretend the person or dog is still around. Well, I've got to pack up my Halloween stuff for my kids and grandkids to get ready to priority mail tomorrow. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
Breaking bad news sucks. It's like feeling everything anew and seeing your pain on someone else's face.
I'm glad you have something happy to do to distract from the sadness! Lucky kids to get stuff when there are grandkids to steal the attention. :D
I said "What the heck? Might as well finish the book." Even though the ending was happy, I cried. So it's a good thing I finished it at home. I can't have people thinking I'm crying over my budget amendments tomorrow:) although they're enough to make most people cry and not come to work. I'm glad Tonks went to the shrink. I liked the quote in needlepoint and I agree with Tonks' feelings. I'm really glad that Tonks is being given time to grieve. This was a really good book. I'm not sure where I'll show up tomorrow. I might look at some one-shots or I might start the next book. Thank you and I'll see you tomorrow.
Author's Response:
Well, what the heck, I went and did my best
And, by god, I really tasted something swell
And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky
And at least I left some stories they can tell, I did
Have you ever seen Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas? If you haven't, that's from Jack's lament after the Pumpkin King botches his attempt to do Christmas. :D
HaHa, the thought of faces if you said, "Budget amendments" to cover crying.
Whatever you decide to read will be luv-er-ly by me! Take care!
<3
That was outstanding on several points. I figured Remus was going to be angry and it would take him a while to think things over, so that was a given. The argument between Tonks and Sirius was certainly interesting and unexpected. I didn't even think (and I feel so insensitive) that Sirius needed his contribution to the cause and spending time with Remus was it. Tonks, selfishly, took that away from him. The comment that Tonks was Kreacher's new crush was kind of funny. Tonks' questioning of the abusive suspect was priceless and very creative. I have no doubt she was frightening in the mood she was in. Her visit with her mother was comforting. Very telling that they shared chocolate and wine. I was cheered when Remus came back through the mirror and told her he loved her. Excellent chapter.
Author's Response: Ta, thanks! I remember thinking it was such a low blow for Snape to tell Sirius Dumbledore wouldn't listen to a man who had been hiding in his mother's house for six months. As if Sirius wanted to be under house arrest instead of taking action against Voldemort. Tonks wanted to be with Remus so much she didn't consider that Sirius viewed keeping the wolf company his contribution, that she'd taken even that small action away from him. Oh, the guilt! Much chocolate and wine was needed. And love. :)
That's why the name Warwick Davis is so familiar. I am so horrible with names--even when they're written down. I like Soundgarden. Didn't some of them team up with Rage Against the Machine--and become Audioslave? I used to really like Rage. Tonks having to keep watch with Snape again was too much. They are absolutely hysterical together. I'll have to read your Snape and Tonks series at some point. I'm still giggling about their interaction. He knows so many things and Tonks seems to like to taunt him and pretend she knows more than she does. And then for him to give her romantic advice--that actually worked. I also loved the Lotus of Lakshmi. That was very creative. Of course, I'd probably giggle because it would tickle as it "grew." How can Remus resist? I'm not going to make any wand jokes for your amusement:) Excellent chapter.
Author's Response:
No wand jokes? Fine. Lets do all the things that YOU want to do! (One of the few Ace Ventura 2 quips that made me laugh).
Snape's the snarky guy that, even though he's mean to everyone, you can't help wanting him to like you...or at least not consider you a dunderhead. :D I think you'd like my SSNT, they have great chemistry, although in this series it's strictly platonic, no boy/girl stuff to mess up the kinda/sorta, never admitted, odd, reluctant friendship that develops further in the next story.
Remus can't resist. In his journal fic he muses that while Nymphadora is an irresistible force, he is far from an immovable object!
Leave it to Tonks to give Sirius fleas:) I just knew that's what she did when she stared at him and when he started scratching. Tonks was such a sweetheart in this chapter. She usually is but seemed even more so this time. Feeling such sympathy for Hestia, when she formerly thought of her as a rival, and going to Scrimgeour was thoughtful. I had to smile when she gave biscuits to Kreacher. I think there's a secret mutual admiration society going on there. This time you stumped me with ATC. I don't remember ever hearing them. Great chapter. By the way, I thought "Twilight" was kind of a weak movie--not even close to Harry Potter--but I enjoyed it anyway. The soundtracks (for Twilight and New Moon) are fairly good. I enjoy listening to them, although my very favorites are anything by Tool or Smashing Pumpkins. But I will be one of the first to go to "New Moon"--hopefully we'll be able to take some students--and I'll see it twice and then I'll buy the dvd, just because that's a fun thing to do:D
Author's Response:
Tonks probably protested being Sorted into Hufflepuff, but she is the epitome of loyal, and she has a huge heart, sympathizing with people she's disliked.
I would've had a better time watching Twilight if I hadn't been surrounded by Edward worshippers who hissed when I accidentally laughed out loud. I thought for a moment I'd have to fight my way out of the theater. :D
First, I want to say that I love cherry clafouti. I used to make it for my family all the time. Blueberry is good also. And, I'll bet the blackberry souffle was delicious also. One thing I refuse to eat is liver in any shape or form. It just tastes nasty to me. I think I was one of those who said, "Oh no, not him again." Mainly because Evan always seems to figure out it's Tonks under the morphing. I can't get over that he won't forget her. I love the little gadgets "Q" comes up with. It makes everything seem so special agent. I guess I didn't expect to see Percy there. But that was a nice surprise. Now why is Rufus always finding Tonks in odd places? Maybe he doesn't really but it seems like he does. Great chapter.
Author's Response: Why did you stop making clafouti? Or do you just make it on special occasions now? I used to hide liver under mashed potatoes. Very icky. No amount of onions can disguise that distinctive taste--no wonder I'm semi-vegetarian! :D
Poor Percy--why is it that members of the Weasley family keep bumping into Tonks when she's in a compromising position? Maybe because there are so many Weasleys combined with Tonks' "eventful" life. I think that was a good idea for Rufus' limp and also partially explains his apparent attitude towards werewolves. It's always interesting when Remus sniffs Tonks when she comes home. She can't hide anything from him. Usually, it's more often my cats than my dogs that sniff me when I get home. Aren't there some dogs that have different layers of fur too, to protect them from water? My big dogs always seemed rejuvenated by the snow. With regard to the clafouti, I live by myself so I don't usually make big desserts. And, sometimes I forget. I collect cookbooks and recipes to the point of insanity and I've got so many that I just forget what I have unless something jogs my memory. But now that you have jogged my memory, I'll have to look up my clafouti recipes:D So, thanks. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
There you have it--there's so many Weasleys one's bound to show up at embarrassing moments! :D Prejudice isn't excusable because there's a basis (however twisted) for it, but it is more understandable, and I have to understand characters to enjoy writing them (yes, I'm admitting I'm fond of Scrimmy, and hope Bill Nighy doesn't play him like Davy Jones from PotC minus the octopus tentacles).
I have a collection of cookbooks but sometimes they "read" better than the recipes turn out. :D
I thought you working for a school you'd be cooking for staff lunches, etc.
I think Sirius is trying to pick a fight with anyone who would fight back. I also think alcohol doesn't help the situation any. It's sad when people continue to wallow in self-pity. A little bit of wallowing is allowed sometimes but there comes a time when you gotta pick yourself up and move on. (Often easier said than done, I admit.) Tonks was brilliant as usual. That was so sweet of Jerry to speak highly of her Auror skills right to her face. So, does she really have a heightened sense of smell now since she did the blood magic? You know, a lot of times I do like to just read my cookbooks. It's like a research project. I study different recipes for the same thing and make comparisons--how are they made; how do the ingredients differ; which one's easier and will that affect taste; etc. I used to do more cooking for people but now it depends on how much pain I'm in and then how exhausted that makes me. When I was a librarian I also used to take special requests from students. They'd be sure to let me know when their birthdays were and what they liked. One of the favorites was plain old banana bread, believe it or not. Ahh, the good old days:D I'm smiling remembering. Great chapter, by the way.
Author's Response:
The more I thought about it (and didn't want to make Tonks SuperWolfGirl) I decided her heightened sense of smell was a temporary thing, sort of new-bond-bonus, that would fade to normal as the relationship with the wolf became a thing of normality. Is that odd? I haven't mentioned it outside this story, and no one's noticed. :D
I like reading cookbooks where the author talks about the recipe, the inspiration, or the ingredients, people they've known, memories of families, or a season. Stories, lol. If you've never heard of Ken Haedrich, he's great, (Julia Child award-winning :) and his cookbooks are filled with drabbles and short stories along with recipes. His Country Breakfasts make me nostalgic for New England.
Banana Bread is wonderful when it's homemade. It makes pre-pakaged muffins seem like abominations unto baking!
I've always liked that Clash song and if you listen closely you might be able to hear me sing it:D I think that was the first album my son bought when he was around 8. Poor Jerry--I'm beginning to think he can't keep a girlfriend, whether Tonks is a jinx or not. It's really too bad none of that group is any good at potions. It sounds like they could use a good potions maker--someone to make wolfsbane and polyjuice. It was cute when Sirius wanted Indian food like when the Patils would feed Snuffles. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
Do you sing slightly off key? No? That must have been me. :D I was a nightmare in chorus. I have a "susceptible ear" and sing like whoever I'm standing by. In the next story it's finally revealed why Jerry has no luck with girlfriends...and no, he isn't gay...LOL.
Sirius misses the Patils more than their food, I'm sure. Sniff.
I thought I'd get at least one chapter in today. I stayed home from work on a "sickie" and I was too tired to even read, if you can believe that. I'm such a hypochondriac--someone at work had strep for a week before realizing and so I was sure that's what I'd catch:) I'm feeling better this evening. The elevator ride was funny. It's funny how creative people can be when they're bored. I loved Emmeline's invitation. Most of the time I'm happy being a muggle but sometimes I wish I could do fun magical stuff. I was happy that Tonks could spend the full moon with Remus even though they weren't real close together. I love your descriptions of their full moons together. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
Yay for you getting out of your sickbed to read . . . unless you're reading in bed, and in that case yay, you dragged your laptop into your sickbed to read. :D
You're not a hypochondriac, you're a realist!
Thank you for liking how they spend their full moons together. :)
Poor Tonks. I can see Remus interrupting her showers, but Sirius is another story. The conversations between Kreacher and Tonks are always interesting and pretty funny. It was interesting that Kreacher seemed to have some strange respect for Tonks when he talks about her doing blood magic. It sounds like Remus and Tonks have such a busy and fun life, in between their guard duty. So, Molly is worried about Harry. We're getting close to the dream when Arthur gets attacked aren't we? Great chapter.
Author's Response:
Sirius has no modesty, heh.
I think Kreacher has flashbacks to his old Mistress, Walburga, when Tonks is around. It's her Black streak. :D
So many times it's like characters have no life outside the scenes they play secondary roles in, but that's selling them short. Harry's great, but he's not the center of their lives, lol.
Interesting that Remus should ask "What have we dont?" Is he taking responsibility for Tonks' decision to use blood magic? Is he afraid that they are bound together more than they had planned to be? I thought it was kind of a low blow for Tonks to bring up Sirius' drinking the way she did. I'm not sure that's the best way. It seems to make the "accused" more defensive. I'm dying to know--what do you think of Nooks? I saw them advertised on the Barnes and Noble website and I'm thinking of getting one, but I'm not sure. Would it be another toy I think I have to have but wouldn't play with? I could see where it would be good in saving space. I have so many books stacked up all over. Maybe I should ask if I can read fan fiction on it--then it would be well worth it:) Great chapter.
Author's Response:
I think Remus does blame himself when he shouldn't. He second guesses and thinks if he'd spoken up, things would be different. Sirius and Tonks both have a Black streak and say things they shouldn't when they're upset.
LOL about reading fan fiction. I don't think so, but there is one intriguing benefit:
"Nook owners will also be able to lend books to other users of the Barnes & Noble Bookstore, whether they own a Nook, iPhone, Blackberry, or are just reading books on their PC."
Sounds good for the friends of Nook owners, heh.
I'm going out of town to a log cabin on a NC mountaintop with no internet for an ENTIRE weekend, O_o, so I won't get to reply to any reviews until Monday night. I hope I can survive the wilderness. Wish me luck! :D
Yay--Snuffles will get to eat Indian food again. I enjoy reading about Snuffles. I think I mentioned before that he reminds me of Sampson, the Newfie. Sampson was so smart that he sometimes seemed like a person. He used to sit beside me on the couch--with his butt on the couch and his paws on the floor--it looked hilarious. And then, it seemed like he was visiting--he'd make all sorts of odd noises--grumbling and laughing, sighing and snoring. It's good that Remus has come to an acceptance of the blood bond. Great chapter.
Author's Response: Aw, Sampson sounds like he would've been a wonderful guy if he'd been an Animagus. :)
I really chuckled at the "Hey, You! I Don't Like Your Girlfriend" reference. I guess I could see Andromeda,and Tonks for that matter, doing just that--saying that to the one they loved. Andie was so understanding, even though someone else offered her services as a reception giver. I was wondering why Bubbles gave Tonks just one jelly bean but by the sounds of it, it was one outstanding jelly bean. Was Tonks having a flash forward to her own wedding? Great chapter.
Author's Response:
I wrote this chapter and then had to write the one shot. :D Bubbles had her reasons. Some jellybeans must be so good, you only need one...hmmm...there's a correlation there to men. ;)
Yes, absolutely, that's Tonks' fantasy wedding!
Already, I can sense the tension in this book. Or maybe I'm just reflecting on OofP. This is really interesting, reading this part of the HP books from a viewpoint other than Harry's. We were so caught up in Harry's life at Hogwarts that we didn't (or I didn't anyway) think about what other people were doing. What was the Order doing everyday? What were people like Tonks, who had a job, doing? It was interesting that it was so important to Tonks to impress Harry--that Remus and Mad Eye were the ones to reassure him. I have a feeling things will get intense and sad but you promised me that Remus and Tonks would live--so I read on. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
I'm currently writing the seventh chapter of the story where they live, so it isn't an empty promise. :) Tonks tries a bit too hard to make Harry like her. I think every person has done that at one time or another, and it makes you shake your head at yourself. :D
Things will get intense and sad, but there will be lots of lighter moments and romantic ones, too! :)
I was innocently eating my bagel sandwich,when I read the part where Sirius explained Tonks laughing by saying that Azkaban had unhinged him and now he sounds like a girl. I almost choked:) I hate to think that Remus lost yet another job when he's so talented. One the other hand, I think it will be good for Sirius to have some company he can count on, especially at Grimmauld Place. Molly's always got to be so proper. I guess in many senses I can see her point. Too often kids are exposed to things they shouldn't be, not that Remus and Tonks are all that improper. I was touched by all the help Remus had moving. You can tell who your friends are when moving time comes around. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
What kind of bagel sandwich? I had a veggie on a spinach parmesan bagel with sun dried tomato cream cheese that was yummy...and you're making me hungry. :D
I bet Molly wasn't QUITE sure Sirius was pulling her leg, heh.
Actually, I figured out early on that Tonks was in love with Remus. I don't know what was more dangerous--the ghul or Molly after her roast went missing. It was good for the boys to see Tonks take on a dangerous creature and Kreacher. The most interesting part to me was when Tonks, Ginny, and Hermione were watching the clock being repaired. All three were watching the people they love. It's always funny when Tonks says stuff out loud and then realizes after she says it. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
I'm hoping the ghul, although it might be close.... :D
Yay you liked the clock-work (so to speak), heh.
I forgot to mention before that I loved the idea of a support group for werewolves. It seems the sort of thing a sensitive werewolf would want to attend. How erotic--Remus painting Tonks' toenails. I wish someone would paint mine. And the beach party--how fun. I used to love going to the beach. What I liked about it was the sound of the ocean and just walking along the shore. I'm ashamed to say I didn't think of "Enter Sandman" even though I love that song. I thought about the song Tonks sang. Great chapter.
Author's Response:
Werewolves don't get much support from the Ministry. It made me think maybe they're doing it for themselves. Remus could make sitting together on a sofa erotic. Just by breathing...hopefully in an ear, LOL.
But you love it! That's what counts. Some people would think it's "noise" :D.