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A Pensieve Affair by Imogen Adult What do you get when you cross a pensieve game devised by Fred and George, a best friend bearing chocolate cake and a disillu...
Daddy's Girl by Drie All (takes place in 'Home is Where the Heart is')) Hope won't stop crying, so what's a father to do? Featuring yodeling Harr...
OK, so I really think that if Hope would finally just ADMIT that she loves Matthew, he'd be up for some serious physicality! hello?!!! I thought she was smart--figure it out, Potter!
Be Careful What You Wish For by rzieve All Did the Sorting Hat get it wrong? How Matthew Belford wound up in Slytherin House. Takes place during chapters 2-5 of Nil Desperandum....
Date: 01 April 2006 - 10:44AM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
I knew it! I'm interested to read Flint's take on all of this. Will he give Hope good advice? Or will his unwillingness to mix emotion and sex lead her to see that she and Mathew could be so much more? Or maybe his contempt for Belford will make Hope defensive?
matthew showing up during/after their dinner...you might want to skip the next few chapters ;)
NOOOOO!!! And there I was trying to convince myself that the sexy dress was only to make her feel good. She can't have a nice dinner without major fallout can she? Poor Mathew, that's only going to make things worse. And poor Hope too. You're just heaping on the guilt aren't you?
Something happened towards the end of their relationship, which means that door's effectively nailed shut.
????? Will we learn what this is? I'm still a bit miffed about Hope choosing the gorgeous and smooth Julius without even recognizing how gorgeous and endearing Mathew is. Even though I keep reminding myself it was Hope's choice not Flint's fault. So anything that delves into this is greatly appreciated.
Hope's not bearing up well at all, but she's got to pull herself back together for work - or she's going to end up in a lot of danger
Well, I know someone who can patch her up again...
Speaking of the St. Mungo's staff, I loved that Hope still found time in between crying and work to come up with creative ways abuse Mathew's body. Ahh, young love. And one more thing... No memory? Dear lord, I can see the bunnies multiplying from here.
Author's Response: It looks like I should be able to get the next chapter up tomorrow, so you'll be able to see how Flint does. It's a new situation for both of them, and neither of them do emotions particularly well ;)
There is a story coming (written by Robert) which tackles the Hope/Julius relationship, and you'll get to find out more about it there. All I can really say at this point, is that there's no going back for Hope. It's all over and finished with
What do you think the memory she left for Matthew is?
Date: 01 April 2006 - 08:23AM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
Wow...at first, when I read that it was Julius she went to, I got a little scared she was gonna make a huge mistake, but with how she's resisting even his silly side comments, I felt a little better, though I agree with who said (not sure who, and since it's after 1 already I'm too lazy to check, sorry!) that they're worried Matthew's gonna see them together at this dinner. That would suck.
I loved the subtlety in this part. There was nothing really huge that occured, it was mostly description and what not, but I loved it just the same, because it still told us a lot. Hope is a WRECK, and that makes me happy. She's not gonna take him for granted ever again!
Amazing as usual...excited for the next part!
Author's Response: Don't worry - Hope's not going to sleep with Julius. Something happened towards the end of their relationship, which means that door's effectively nailed shut. It really is just a friendship now.
Hope's not bearing up well at all, but she's got to pull herself back together for work - or she's going to end up in a lot of danger...
Date: 01 April 2006 - 05:47AM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
I so called it! Sorry...just basking in my talet at Divination...haha. I knew it was going to be Julius...I mean who else would she talk to that won't really be biased one way or another, so to speak. I can't wait for the next chapter. Cheers!
Author's Response: ROFL - good call, and for the right reasons too! I'm editing today, so the next chapter is on the way!
Date: 01 April 2006 - 01:27AM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
Aw man.
I idn't like the last chapter very much. I had thought Matthew a little more intelligent. Even with his emotions he should be able to distinguish between her telling her parents it was nothing and her actually meaning it was nothing. I don't understand why this kind of cliché is so popular; I would always give people the benefit of whatever doubt there possibly can be.
I'm very glad Hope turned to Flint for advice and not for (sexual) comfort, although I'm not convinced he is the most capable and sensible choice. Why is she so reluctant to talk to Cora anyway? Or her mother? Ginny has already proven to be on her side, to be looking out for her interests; she didn't react like Harry did (who I have a hard time imagining to act the overprotective father as well. Obviously, he has not received shock treatment from his relatives to turn him away from such behavior, but I don't think it fits his personality.)
However, if you go right back to the mindless cliché again by having matthew showing up during/after their dinner, I'm going to strangle you! ...hmpf.
waiting for the next chapter
Quizer
Author's Response: I think the main reason Matthew was upset wasn't for Hope throwing him out, but because she wouldn't let him touch her. There was no rushed kiss or anything there to reassure him it wasn't a repeat of Christmas. He's not going to give her the benefit of the doubt twice.
As for the rest - uh oh... She's reluctant to talk to Cora and her mum because she knows they'll be on Matthew's side, and she thinks she'll horrify Cora if she tells her the truth about what happened with Matthew. Flint owes Matthew nothing and does understand more about Hope than you give him credit for.... Having said all that, you might want to skip the next few chapters ;)
Date: 31 March 2006 - 09:39PM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
This chapter may be a transition chapter in a way, but the writing is very impressive, especially the first section that shows how much her emotional situation has affected her physically. The description of her symptoms and feelings was masterful. Cora recognizes the source of Hope's problem, saying "I know how much love can hurt." And even then Hope wants to protest.
The various bits of humor were excellent. Hope falls to pieces at work ostensibly because she ran out of owl treats. Julius knows the sound of a thong being put on. LOL!!!
I suspected Hope would talk to Julius. Since he recognizes the some of the hazards of and love affair with Hope, perhaps he will have at least a somewhat better perspective to give her. Perhaps she will also talk to Kingsley on her mission? At his insistance? Will Hope's Auror training snap her back into a semblance of efficiency once she goes on the mission? Only time (and Imogen) will tell.
Author's Response: :D Glad you're still enjoying this. I couldn't resist the Flint and the thong bit. He really is shameless! He's a good choice for her to talk to in lots of ways - he knows exactly what Hope is like in a relationship, and he's not going to judge her about anything she's done, or try to persuade her to act because he likes Matthew. He can't stand Matthew, so it's going to be brutal advice, but Hope thinks she needs that... if that makes sense...
Date: 31 March 2006 - 09:11PM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
I love Julius! He is so fun and bubbly and just plain fun. I can see why Hope does enjoy his company now that their relationship is platonic.
Great work, as always, Imogen. Can't wait until the next installment.
*hugs*
Susan
Author's Response: I'm glad you like Julius as well - he's shameless about being shameless and I do find that attractive in a man LOL. I'm editing the next chapter today, and I'll email you later. I've had a few ideas... :)
Date: 31 March 2006 - 08:40PM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
Well, I blew that one... Let's try again.
Of course she's asking Julius for advice - he'll be honest with her. He won't judge her if she tells him the whole truth,...
And what's wrong with having a platonic dinner with your ex anyway? ;) (Thanks for the giggle with the review!)
(*snorts as well - sorry, but I couldn't resist. Your response was just too funny*) Since WHEN has ANYTHING Hope and Julius have done together been platonic?!!! And please tell me just how Julius is supposed to give her advice about love when he doesn't know what it is either? It's like the blind leading the blind! Too funny! This little recipie has disaster written all over it!
Author's Response: Julius has already admitted he's not the person Hope should be asking for relationship advice. He's grown up a fair bit since we saw him last (it's 4 years or so after the pensieve memory). He's still not a fan of the concept of 'love', but Hope knows that. She's just after non-judgemental honesty.
Date: 31 March 2006 - 07:21PM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
I was afraid of that....a chapter with no Matthew. :-( Although I'm sure I should be careful what I wish for, because I definitely don't want Matthew around in the next chapter and I'm seriously worried that he will be!
I thought Hope might turn to Julius, but I was expecting them to grab a coffee instead of a ritzy dinner. Wasn't Julius disinherited? ....guess that doesn't mean he's broke. After the first part of the chapter though, I was surprised Hope didn't talk to Cora once she finally woke up.
The bonus memory Hope left for Matthew last chapter....I suspect it's a moment when she said more clearly than usual how important Matthew is to her, either directly to him after spending some particularly happy time with him, or to Cora.
Author's Response: Julius is an obvious option of someone to talk to - he knows what Hope is like in the way no one else does. Although, there are limitations to the advice he can give her!
Yes, he was disinherited, but he managed to get some financial backing together and has relaunched a broom company that was about to go under - highly successfully. He's made a fair bit out of that so far. Hope helped him get started by helping out with the advertising.
As for the memory - different people have different plot bunnies about that. I don't ever tell you exactly what that memory was... :)
Date: 31 March 2006 - 06:30PM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
HA! First review! My main reaction:
Oh GOD. PLEASE tell me Matthew doesn't see, hear, or in any way ever find out about Hope going to Romano's with Julius while looking totally glamorous only a couple days after their fight. That's probably too much to ask, right? I love Julius despite his faults, and he may actually have (is it possible?) the advice that Hope needs, but OMG the potential for grotesque and nasty fallout just went WAY up. ARGH!
So, this "couple of days" in which the new chapter will be along? Could you clarify? Pleeeeeeease? I'm totally addicted.
Author's Response: *cue evil authorial laughter*
You'll have to wait and see, but I love Julius as well. He's just about my all time favourite character, and I couldn't resist writing him again. The next update should be on Sunday (UK evening) or maybe early Monday morning, depending on when I get the chapters back from beta. 2-3 days. Not long. Really! :)
Date: 31 March 2006 - 06:26PM
Title: Chapter 15: A Shoulder to Cry On
Julius Flint? She's asking Julius Flint for advice? Good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And she's wearing THAT dress on top of it? She'd better hope Matthew doesn't find out about this or we'll have the ending of Romeo and Juliet on our hands instead of whatever it is that you're plotting for us. (shakes head in disbelief)
This was a funny little chapter, although I notice that you've managed to once again leave us dangling over that same cliff that ended chapter 14. Although now that I've seen the end of this chapter, I have a feeling we'll be dangling for a while. At least until Hope comes to her senses and talks with Cora...
Author's Response: *snorts*
Of course she's asking Julius for advice - he'll be honest with her. He won't judge her if she tells him the whole truth,...
And what's wrong with having a platonic dinner with your ex anyway? ;) (Thanks for the giggle with the review!)
Date: 29 March 2006 - 12:18AM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
I love reading the reviews so much...not as much as the actual chapters (no offense guys) but they really do help me make it to the next updates haha.
TGMarita: I love Matthew way too much too...I understand completely :)
After this new set of reviews after my first one, I gotta admit I never saw Matthew as scheming (how silly of me to forget he's a Slytherin!)...I'm goin back to read it again!
Author's Response: Ooooh -I like all these theories, but I can tell you you're wrong about one of them. She doesn't talk to Cora OR Harry (although the latter would have been a lot of fun). There aren't many people Hope would feel she could turn to with something like this.
Darn! I really would have loved to see her talk to Harry about it, but like I said, yea right. I have no clue who she'll go to now if not Cora....now I really can't wait to see what happens!
Author's Response: Yes, I love reading the reviews too. I actually enjoy them better than the chapters LOL
Never forget he's a Slytherin, and he's been waiting for a very long time to capture this prize ;) Patience is definitely one of his virtues.
The chapter's back from both betas now, so I've just got to turn it around. Might get it up tomorrow if all goes well.
Date: 28 March 2006 - 10:40PM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
look back at chapter 1 and you'll see her ducking out of Fridat night to leave Matthew and Hope alone.
----I noticed. That was half of my original suspicion. The other half was that Robert had put it up. Scheming with mistletoe seemed neither a guy thing nor a Gryffindor thing, so Cora was the natural suspect. (And if Matthew has been anything near as obvious over the years as he was in ND, how could Cora not know?)
Author's Response: Matthew's always been pretty obvious about his feelings for Hope - not quite as blatant as in 'Nil Desperandum' - he's become more subtle as he's got older, but it's always been there. Hope's just too dense to see it!
Date: 28 March 2006 - 09:04PM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
Great chapter. I loved Cora in this chapter. her insinuations were hilarious, especially about Hope's bed not making it a 'Silent Night.' Matthew was also really good. His reaction was perfect.
Author's Response: I couldn't resist that line. Besides, Cora knows exactly what's going on. It's just Hope who has to put two and two together...
Date: 28 March 2006 - 10:54AM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
I think Matt is right... Hope have to learn what she can lose..... Hopefully Matt will look at the memory and things will be better.... ok good job, and i´ll wait eagerly to your next update at Friday... Greetings from Berlin!!
Author's Response: This will certainly give Hope a shock. If anything's going to make her reevaluate Matthew, this is it. Keep your fingers crossed!
Date: 28 March 2006 - 07:37AM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
I didn't mean to ask this, but after the Hope/Cora scene I just have to. Was Cora responsible for the mistletoe? I've been wondering for ages if she put Robert up to it knowing full well Hope would be there.
Matthew seems to have promised himself that Hope won't shut him out again; he'll shut himself off from her first. He's ready to jump on her least misstep, which turns out to be what she told her parents. (Never mind that she's already admitted to herself that the previous night was not "nothing.") Once he gets going he won't look at her or listen to her lest his resolve waver. Whether I consider this Slytherin depends on how much of his motivation is fear that he'll be hurt again (which could fit any of the houses, Gryffindor somewhat less than the others) and how much is putting on a deliberate act to shake Hope into acknowledging her own feelings (very Slytherin). I think it's some of both, but I'm not sure of the mix. (more later)
To the degree that it's the latter, it's cruel but exactly what Hope needs. She was making some slow progress on her own but maybe confronting the specter of a life without any Matthew in it will make her see both what he means to her and how badly she's treated him.
As far as what Matthew's thinking....I know he's had years to dream about him and Hope as a couple, but I'm startled that he wouldn't understand that Hope's not wanting to discuss him with her parents does not mean she is rejecting him! (Certainly once I got to college I never told my parents about anyone I was dating until several months into the relationship.) Her pushing Matthew out the window seemed so clearly parent-panicking that I never expected him to be so angry. Besides, what the heck did Matthew think would happen after those last couple of memories in the Pensieve game? Hope is discovering her feelings as quickly as could possibly be expected, given how little practice she's had at it (and Matthew is fully aware of how thick she is on the feelings front). This is why I wonder how much of Matthew's anger is a calculated ploy. He's not a good enough actor for it to be completely fake though, and goodness knows he's had frustrations aplenty when it comes to Hope. (And yeah, it's possible he's too emotional to think straight just now. But he was the one who turned the pensieve game this way, and that did seem calculated.)
BTW, I saw the SQ reviews and understand better the point of the smutty Flint chapter as giving needed background on Hope's limited view of sex.
Author's Response: Yes, Cora was entirely responsible for the mistletoe. She admits later that she bribed Robert to put it up in Matthew's flat on the principle that it was likely that Hope would go there with Matthew after the Ministry party. Quite a lot of this is actually her fault - look back at chapter 1 and you'll see her ducking out of Fridat night to leave Matthew and Hope alone...
You're right - it's a combination of factors. Matthew's hurt - not so much by the window exit, but by the fact she wouldn't let him touch her - no kiss - nothing. He's made himself quite vulnerable (not a Slytherin thing!), and he's reacting badly to her panic. Some of it is definitely thought out - he's had time alone to ponder out what needs to be done, but the 'nothing' genuinely did sting. It's bound to.
I need to do something to the SQ chapters to make that bridge that's currently missing without the smut. It really does limit the understanding of Hope there. I knew I didn't just write it for the smut. Honest!
Date: 28 March 2006 - 06:00AM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
grrr Hope, she did it AGAIN! *sigh* Yet, I still love her and Matthew...they really need to work this out. I really wanna hug him. It sounds like he needs a hug right now. Keep it up!
Author's Response: He does need a hug right now. And for once he actually doesn't 100% want that hug to come from Hope! Next chapter should be along towards the end of the week.
Date: 28 March 2006 - 05:29AM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
OK, to be fair I was dealing with some serious sleep deprrvation when I wrote that review, not that I'm doing much better at the moment...
lonelyzephye83 I did not mean to suggest that this is entirely Mathew's fault. It's more of a case of blaming the more mature one because I never expected Hope to know better. Your right, he probably has romanticized the possibility of Hope for so long that her kicking him out completely crushed him. I just have this image in my head of him alone in his flat, broken hearted, wondering how he could have been so stupid. Belittling himself by thinking: of course Hope would never stoop so low as to return my feelings. She doesn't care. I'm just a convenient person to take to a ball when there's no one she's interested in. Someone to owl when she's bored, and now a warm body when she's horny. But nothing important. And there he is, feeling stupid for thinking she might look at him differently. For giving in and screwing everything up when he knew he didn't have a chance with her. So when she comes over he takes all that self loathing out on her.
And now I want Hope to prove him wrong. Because on a deeper level it is her fault for never letting Mathew know how important he is to her. First as a friend, which he has been for years and she has no doubts about, and second as a partner, even though she isn't quite able to admit that yet. 'Cause if she doesn't want him I'd be glad to comfort the boy. My Mathew love is boundless, as seen in my early irrational hatred of Julius. I wouldn't want anyone thinking that I don't appreciate him.
Author's Response: LOL I'll be sure to send him in your direction. I think he's in need of a bit of comfort right now! You've done a pretty good summary of just how he's feeling here, but there's still that element of him that desperately wants her, and wants her to realise that she has feelings for him too.
Date: 28 March 2006 - 02:58AM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
The term "fluff" belies what the best of romance actually can be. You may have started with a little fluffy "plot bunny" but your remarkable story is nowhere near that now.
How naughty of you for that cliff hanger! Hope leaves a memory and does not even tell Matthew that she did so. I can imagine him privately wanting to look at their times together again. I know I would! Then he encounters this new memory... whatever it is.
One limitation of the Pensieve is facinating. It only shows you what was seen and heard. You must infer what was felt or thought. Or is there some additional feature of the Pensieve that we have not seen so far?
I liked this line especially: "She wondered how it must feel to be so utterly certain about your feelings for one person, so completely in love that you just knew it was as it should be." Hope has felt that certainty about Matthew for years, correctly accepting it as friendship, even though to solve her problems she simply (hah!) has to realize that the certainty she felt for Matthew may be and perhaps has been so very much more.
What a facinating person Hope is! I wonder how she got the way she is. I wonder why she finds it so difficult to admit to anyone that she had sex with Matthew, especially since she seems to have had an easier time admitting the sex with Julius. Is it because Hope has yet to recognize in her own feelings the distinction between sex and making love?
It appears certain that Matthew's anger and hurt is genuine, even if his expression of it may be just a bit calculated, possibly a last attempt to stir Hope into recognizing her feelings for him. Is he capable of that sort of subtlety? If Hope ever sorts herself out, I think Matthew would happily forgive her... eventually. But in the mean time, oh, what a lovely story you weave!
Author's Response: It's still pretty fluffy - mostly because I don't find any plot at all in this story until about chapter 20! It's ALL character driven
There are a few limitations to this story, mostly that it's all from Hope's pov, so we don't get to see Matthew and whatever he does with the pensieve. The other problem that there is a backstory to this fic - Hope's 7th Year - which Robert is going to be writing. That explains what's caused her to be this way in relationships far more than I can in this fic. The lust rather than love she had for Julius is part of it, but there's more to it than just that.
The reason she can talk about sex with Julius, but not about sex with Matthew is easy enough. There's no emotion invested in Julius. It's just what they did - deal with it and move on. It's more personal as far as Matthew's concerned and she's unwilling to share with anyone else just yet. I think in part she's worried they might condemn her or him for it, but it's partly too personal to become public gossip.
As for the calculated element. Matthew is definitely Slytherin. He's very much capable of that sort of subtlety, but it'll be limited in Hope's case. He doesn't much like manipulating her unless he has to. If that makes sense... It's kind of a last resort option!
Date: 27 March 2006 - 11:05PM
Title: Chapter 14: Consequences
Duh nuh nuh!
Oh evil authoress...what a tangled web you like to weave! This is such a great chapter with so much emotion. I'm just glad you're not going to leave us hanging too much longer...I hope!
Author's Response: LOL Only until Friday, and I can't help that this week. Life has gone mad.
Glad the emotion comes across. Matthew's at the limits of what he'll take from her. Personally, I think he's been very patient up until now!
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