Okay, first off--that cliffhanger? Absolutely evil. The book? Hilarious. But my favorite, favorite, favorite part of this entire chapter? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference! And here I didn't even know Kingsley was a fan! I did an actual double-take and laughed for about ten minutes...which probably isn't the most sensible thing to do at work, but there you have it. I love the pictures of Cornwall--when I visit your country that is totally on my list of things to see, right after Big Ben and all those touristy spots. Now I guess I must eagerly await the next chapter! Dang, that cliffhanger's evil.
Author's Response: Everyone should be a fan of Douglas Adams - Kingsley should be no exception ;)
Cornwall is absolutely beautiful - I'd definitely recommend it for a visit, but then I live in a touristy spot as well!
Hope's not meant to be using ANY magic at all in Cornwall - people are traceable through their magic, which is why Kingsley's so concerned about her and the case.
That helps but I'm not quite convinced. How come Kingsley can pop out to visit her on a daily basis? Shouldn't that be just as traceable? (Sorry for the nitpicking.)
I'd also like to note that the "Opportunity makes importunity" quote that had Hope rolling on the floor bears some resemblance to Matthew's logic in avoiding her. (To the extent that he's using any logic, rather than pure emotion.)
I'm still working on Matthew's Sorting. I wrote the actual Sorting scene but some pieces I need beforehand aren't cooperating. Hopefully soon, although for the next few days taxes are taking over my life.
Author's Response: Kingsley wasn't planning on being in Tintagel at all to check up on her - he didn't have a choice but to visit with her shooting off all this random magic. The occasional spell, she'd probably get away with, unless the dark wizard(s) in question were really on the alert. The level of magic she's currently erupting with, is at a fairly dangerous risk of being detected.
That book and extract are actually real. I laughed out loud at it as well. Matthew's reactions are part logic, part being extremely hurt, and part planning what to do next. And there definitely is a 'next' - which is quite Slytherin ;)
His sorting sounds much more fun than the taxes - good luck with both. I'm looking forward to reading it!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! WHAT!? AHH! NOOO! Ok... Um dude. gah. I nearly had a heart attack!!!gah.
Anyways, another GREAT chapter!!:D Absolutely brilliant. :D:D *worships you* lol
~Maria~
Author's Response: Noooo - it sounded much more dramatic than it actually was. The car really wasn't travelling fast. Deep breath. And again...
Wow! You are the queen of suspense. I think you should seriously look into writing for television... the cliffhangers... I don't mind if they suffer a little bit though, because I am confident that they will end up working things out. Thanks for posting the Tintagel pics. I was there once as a child and I seem to remember beaches with black rocks. Is that true? I love that you used a magical place as the setting here. I'm really enjoying this!
Author's Response: It's not as hideous as some of the cliffies I've done in the past. I can't decide if the worst was the Carpe Diem one where Ginny/Harry were hit with the AK, or if it was in A&O with the script repeat of the night where Lily and James were killed, but this time with Harry and Ginny.
Tintagel is gorgeous - hubby and I got a 2 day break down there in December without the kids. As you can see, it was decent inspiration! Lots and lots of black jagged rocks in that part of the world. There was a fair bit of ship wrecking and smuggling going on - if you haven't already, you should read Daphne Du Maurier's books - those are set in Cornwall
What??!!?? How did we reviewers bring on this ending? I didn't want "blood." If you were going for the shock value, I'd have to tell you that you got it--I was totally shocked! I won't scream and holler too much only because I know that you will get the next chapter to us soon. *begging voice* Poor Hope!
Author's Response: You can blame JHoll and Alison for it! It's all their fault ;)
I wouldn't worry too much - seriously. It's only a small road and cars can't drive very fast down it...
cliffhanger alert! yikes! :))
Author's Response: Glad you found us after you got lost in the forums! Keep clinging to the cliff edge. The next bit is on its way!
Ooh, you are so very, very evil. I mean that as a compliment.
...I think. =P
Author's Response: Being evil makes it so much more fun. You might forgive me soon ;)
oy...is that suffice for a review? Haha, I loved it as usual; this chapter mixed with Alphie's outtake was just what I needed. I had all sorts of questions when I finished, but of course, I read through the reviews first, so I know it's not Matthew, and she will be in the muggle hospital, and Matthew won't go see her there...but I'm still wondering when our boy is going to make his grand entrance. I'm glad that I'll be celebrating my four day weekend for Easter with a new chapter before I go home...spectacular!
Author's Response: He's on his way - he has a plan in mind and should be turning up in Cornwall next chapter to try and sort things out with Hope. Not long to wait. It's written, edited and pretty much ready to post. Hopefully you'll like it ;)
Poor Hope!!! I hope she wasn't hurt too seriously. I really felt sorry for her in this chapter.
Btw, everytime this story is updated it makes my day - well at least the part of it spent surfing the Internet:)
Author's Response: No, the car wasn't going particularly fast - it's only a single lane road through the village centre, and she wasn't right in the middle of the road either. Although, having grown up in Hogsmeade, traffic isn't something she tends to think much about and she really should!
Awwww. I'm grinning foolishly at the computer now. Lovely to hear you're enjoying it so much.
You killed Hope!!! You b*****d!!! Just qouting one of my favorite cartoons.
Really good chapter. I loved the raw magic.
And the bit about about the sperm whale and the petunias; brilliant.
I love this chapter and this story. It was worth the wait.
Author's Response: I couldn't resist that nod to Douglas Adams - it's a shame the fic was happening on a Wednesday. I was itching to get "I never got the hang of Thursdays" in there!
Oh My God! You can't stop there!!! Seriously! Is she going to be taken to a Muggle hospital? Is that Matthew? When are you updating again!??!?!
Author's Response: LOL
Yes, she's going to a Muggle hospital. No, that wasn't Matthew. Update probably on Wednesday!
I get the feeling there's a mild bit of panic at your end? *grins*
This chapter is wonderfully written! The interweaving of scene setting, Hope's inner turmoil, and the hilarious spontaneous magic is so expertly done. It is well worth the wait. I don't know why you were concerned.
I am so happy to see Hope realizing that she has to talk with Matthew, even if she has not faced up to that four letter word: love. I'm a little surprised that Kingsley did not dig deeper into the reasons why Hope was so upset, but that would have made it a different story. Of course (we can assume) he has other projects going on and has to attend to them.
And then... another cliff-hanger. It almost wouldn't seem right without one. I do hope that it is Matthew that she saw across the street, and he gets a chance to patch her up. Not they would get everything in the open right away, if they could talk. Hope still has not quite put one and one together and gotten the answer that she is deeply in love with Matthew.
Author's Response: I think one of the reasons Kingsley didn't dig deeper is because he's reasonably well aware of what's going on. Don't forget this whole thing with Matthew started immediately after the Ministry Christmas party, and he's in close contact with Harry (who knows most of it, thanks to Ginny). Hope doesn't respond well to people probing into her life - she'll talk if she wants to talk - so he's probably got it about right. She knows she's supported and she wants to rise to the challenge.
It wasn't Matthew across the street. Just someone who looked vaguely like him from the back. A bit of wishful thinking on Hope's part.
For what it's worth, Hope's adding up has totalled about one and a half so far. It's improving ;)
Wow, I didn't see that coming. Some chaos caused by her accidental magic, maybe. But she really is distracted by all of this.
I love this story so much. And I reread CD and A&O too, because this reminded me how wonderful they were. I can't remember how long ago its been since I read them first. Can I really have been reading fanfic for 5 years? Part of me doesn't want to think about it!
I really am enjoying this story. Hope and Matthew are completely dense, and I am itching for them to get together. I love the dynamic between Flint and Hope. The last chapter, when he took her out for dinner, was fantastic. His interjections during their argument were hilarious.
Can't wait for more!
Author's Response: Nice to see you again :) The next chapter will be posted mid-week. It's pretty much ready to go now. I've been writing fanfic for 5 years (well, I did have 18 months out in the middle of that), so it might well be - scary stuff!
Glad you like Julius - I think he's great, but you can see exactly why he and Hope would never ever have worked!
Oh, you are evil. This is so different from the original chapter you sent me waaaaaaaaaaay back when. I love it, but you're evil!!!
I'm so glad you included Bella and Edward. That's loads of fun to read. Hee, even a vampire was doing better than she was.
Evil authress.
Author's Response: You know I'll patch her back together again when I'm done. I can't kill of my point of view!
Bella and Edward were a bit of a laugh. I'm off to confess now to the author that I borrowed them for a bit... *ducks*
Hmm.... Interesting.
Hope is really losing it this time, but I like your Shacklebolt. He's really kind to her.
Was it Matthew she saw now or was it not? And what has Hope getting run over by a car got to do with our reviews? (Compared to the whole relationship heartache, it's positively refreshing!)
I suspect it's some weird plot device again to make something happen. Good or bad, I can't tell yet, but I remain wary at the whole thing. Same thing for the book Hope bought. Please tell me Matt's not going to be offended by it or something.
I know things will eventually look up again, but I don't know whether that's already on the way or you are going to let us suffer for another couple of chapters. Whichever way, I'll stay tuned.
Quizer
Author's Response: There's nothing suspicious about this chapter. In lots of ways it's a bit of a filler chapter needed for a transition. It wasn't Matthew she saw - although it's very common to imagine you do see someone you're desperate to see - mind playing tricks on you, I suppose. And he will like the book, when she eventually gets to give it to him.
A few people last chapter were keeping their fingers crossed that Hope would get hurt. And like you said, it's a refreshing change. So why not?
So, while we were waiting impatiently for the chapter you were figuring out how to injure Hope more seriously than you'd originally planned? Really Imogen, we aren't THAT bloodthirsty. We'd be happy to knock off, say, a day of recovery time for Hope for each day the chapter posting could be pushed earlier....
Why does Hope need to stay in Cornwall instead of apparating home each night?
All the extra scene-setting details were great. My favorite line was about whether Hope could get "How to cook by electricity" for Arthur.
Does "What she wasn't certain about was how she could even begin to express what she needed to say" mean that Hope's finally figured out the gist of what to say, just not the words? That seems almost too much to ask for.
Author's Response: LOL I wasn't going to injure Hope at all at this point, but who am I to say no to such pleas?
Hope's not meant to be using ANY magic at all in Cornwall - people are traceable through their magic, which is why Kingsley's so concerned about her and the case. She's also in a prime position to be observing exactly what is happening on Tintagel island - that's the whole point of her being down there before the rest of the team turn up on Friday. Not that she's exactly doing her job at the moment...
I think some cogs are finally starting to turn in her brain, but don't hope for too much too quickly!
Oh dear! This week is not going well for Hope!
Author's Response: It's really one of those weeks that she would have been far better off just staying in bed! Let's hope it improves soon...
This was just what I needed to see this morning. A nice distraction from too much reality. I really enjoyed the cataloging of Hope's reaction to the Muggle world, from the hotel room to the cafe to the little bookstore. It added a lot to the tale. It was also funny to see her magic exploding out in all sorts of unexpected ways. I'll bet the Improper Use of Magic Office has a file cabinet just for her!!!! Kingsley was enjoyable - I like how he has a soft spot for Hope. Now if Hope can just sort out everything in her head and figure out what she wants. I like the idea of a book as a peace offering. Of course, being a book collector I would... (Antique bookcases look so much nicer when they're filled with gilded, leather books!)
Author's Response: Oh, good. I'm glad you enjoyed it. This chapter has been an unmitigated nightmare to write.
Hope hasn't lost control of her magic since she was about 14, so this latest raft of emotional outbursts is a bit of a suprise all round. I think a lot of it is because she's so tired and just can't cope any more. I think he'll like the book too ;)
hehehe (she laughs with glee)...look, I don't want Hope to be seriously hurt, I just want some kind of crying hospital scene--horribly cliched, I suppose, but that's me! :) I don't know what you were worried about Imogen--thank you for another great chapter! I love how you characterized Kingsley, as well. Keep up the good work!!!
Author's Response: ROFL - it's a bit late now. You beg for her to be hurt, and now you're telling me minor injury? ;)
There isn't a hospital scene coming up - partly because Matthew wouldn't be looking for her in a Muggle hospital in Cornwall... Hope's not usually a magnet for accidents!
Look, he can review! I must say that in reading the previous chapter I foresaw disaster at this dinner with Flint and was pleasently surprised at how not-disasteressque it was. Conflict and tears to be sure, but I like that Hope realised this wasn't a one sided everything's-her-fault thing. Flint's take on things was at turns amusing and interesting. I like that random magic started going off at the end, there...I don't recall ever having seen that in fanfiction before; everybody seems to have complete control over things and given what we know from canon, that's 'unrealistic'. So well done, and I'll look forward to chapter 17...
Author's Response: Hey you! I'm surprised no one's done the random magic before - I thought that was the hallmark of losing control? It's also kind of fun as well - in a very malicious torture your characters sort of way!