To read the stories, please make sure you log in first.
If you would like to read the more mature stories on the site, please email admin AT harryandginny.co.uk with your board user name. You must be over 18.
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: 16 March 2006 - 10:33PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Well, yup, there's a lot explained. So tipsiness was involved but not the whole instigation. The ending confuses me; why would Matthew not want Hope to hear the "I love you"? I thought that was the whole point of her seeing this memory! I'm sure that will be answered next chapter.
What I might like to see is more indication of why Matthew is a Slytherin. The guy is loyal to a fault and tends to face his demons head-on. I thought his plan of Pensieve memories might show more Slytherin-style calculations, but he actually seems to be just laying it all out there.
Oh, and I absolutely loved the "Skrewts are good" line.
Author's Response: You've touched on reasons why Matthew is in Slytherin: he does have an element of arrogance (or why else would he have shown her that memory?) and he's immensely ambitious (note him coming from being the Muggle underdog to working as a Healer and believeing he can successfully take on Flint at his own game). He's very single minded (his pursuit of Hope) and to some extent he is manipulating her to make her face up to things she'd rather not.
He didn't intend to lay it all out there (which is why he doesn't want to let her know he loves her), but he wants to make her realise that there's something more to what they have than she wants to admit to. Does that make sense?
Date: 16 March 2006 - 10:28PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
oh my....I am the very worst person for doing reviews - as in I never do them, and I really should - but OH. MY. GOD. This is just spectacular - the whole story is really, really wonderfully thought out, and this chapter is amazing. I really shouldn't have read it at work though :)
Thank you for writing this.
K :)
Author's Response: *blinks*
WOW! I'm amazed you're liking this so much. Thank you! I never expected this response from this chapter! Next one will be along Monday, so you can see the reactions to the "I love you".
Date: 16 March 2006 - 10:01PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
I wanted to give this wonderful chapter a good review, and found myself reading it four times before I could think what to say.... well, the first time doesn't count since I had to diaper my grandson and put him to sleep in the midst of reading. :-) It was worth the rereads, believe me! Commenting on several quotes seemed good at first, but I'll hold myself to one.
"Matthew," she began, not knowing how to phrase what she wanted to ask. The couple in the memory beside them toppled over sideways onto the sofa in a whirl of green velvet, black robes, scarlet hair and breathless giggles. She tried her best to ignore them, but it was difficult.
"Matt, you don't... your feelings for me aren't..." she furrowed her brow. This was coming out all wrong. She inwardly kicked herself and chewed on her lip. How difficult could it be to string a few words together anyway?
Maybe Hope has difficulty finding words and phrasing, but you have found the best way that I could have imagined for expressing Matthew's happiest memory. It is clear that Hope finds it a much happier memory as well. It is facinating how watching herself with Julius did not especially excite her present day self, whereas seeing her past self with Matthew was entirely another matter.
I liked how you made it obvious that neither Matthew nor Hope thought of themselves as potential lovers until that night, though Matthew certainly accepted his love for her ever since, while Hope hid herself from the possibility. What else will it take for her to realize that they can be both friends and lovers? Matthew obviously fears that he will lose her as a friend if she knows of his love. A wonderfully worked tale, this is!
Author's Response: You know, I'm starting to really look forward to getting your reviews. You always send me away with a grin on my face!
You're entirely right, but for one thing: Matthew has known for quite some time how he feels about Hope, but never actually believed that anything would ever come of it. Both of them are very, very protective of their friendship - understandably so in some ways. It's not going to be an easy ride for either of them!
Date: 16 March 2006 - 09:31PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
This chapter was what I was hoping it would be. What a way to show Hope what she had with Flint was so one dimensional compared to what it had been like with Matthew. This chapter really showed the depth of love that Matthew has for Hope; that even having shared that experience with Hope, he loved her so much he put their friendship ahead of that these last four months. And the comment at the end--it will be interesting to see the reaction to that back at the Potter residence. *fans self* I am hoping that the update will be coming soon.
Author's Response: That's brilliant. That's exactly what I was hoping to put across by having those two chapters next to each other. Flint and Hope had a very physical relationship, but not much else; because Matthew knows her so well it's got the potential to be so much more...
Date: 16 March 2006 - 09:20PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
ohh god; thats so beautiful!!!!! so cute and so erotic; really really goood; please update soon!! i dont like cliffies! good job
Author's Response: I love cliffies. I can't help it. I feel all Dickensian writing in episodes and it keeps everyone reading. They're too much fun not to have them there!
Thrilled ot hear you enjoyed the chapter. The next one will be along on Monday!
Date: 16 March 2006 - 07:53PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
That chapter was excellent. So intense. It was very exciting to read. Well, finally we know what happened at Christmas. And Hope hearing Memory!Matthew's "I love you" - wow! I'm really looking forward to the next chapter.
Author's Response: Thank you SO much. It's such a relief to hear people liked this. Next chapter will be along on Monday when we get back from our weekend away. Hopefully it won't disappoint!
Date: 16 March 2006 - 07:20PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
(*blinks*) WOW! I've got to get some windshield wipers for my glasses. Matthew is right - he is better than Flint. I just pray Hope can see it. And if she can, I hope Matthew can handle her. Heh, heh. Good luck to him!
Cool chapter! I love the part about the mistletoe. That was a cute way to start this! I loved all of the details that drove their banter - the clothing left everywhere, the aforementioned mistletoe, the dress that Molly and Arthur bought her. I could just picture everything in my mind perfectly. As far as the rest of it goes (*winks*) you did a good job. So did Matthew for that matter (*winks again*)!
I loved the ending. That was perfect! It was also perfect that Matthew didn't want her to hear that. I think that's number one on THE LIST (THE LIST is the list of ten things that you absolutely, never, under any circumstances whatsoever, tell a girl). And now you've left us with a cliffie!!!!!! A pretty brutal one, too. Better post the next chapter soon!
Author's Response: There was NO WAY Matthew wanted Hope to hear that - not because he's not sure of his feelings, because he is, but because Hope's always shied away from this sort of thing in the past. Flint, for example, had no real emotional weighting to him at all - it was fun adn physical and that was about it.
Date: 16 March 2006 - 07:20PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Oh lord you need to update soon...you are totally evil leaving us with that cliffhanger...
I guess watching yourself is sorta like making a video of you and your partner, but there is no way I'd be able to do that...
Author's Response: Yeah, my betas have dubbed this my pensieve porn chapter! I think it's probably just like a video, except it's in total 3D. The two of them seemed to enjoy rewatching the event! Next chapter should be along on Monday (we're away this weekend so I can't do it any faster)
Date: 16 March 2006 - 07:19PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Just brilliant my dear. Am loving this fic now that I have found some time to read it. Can't wait to see what Hope does now that she knows. Don't be fearful, it's all utterly wonderful and the rest will be too.
Author's Response: YAY! You're reading. I was wondering if I'd manage to tempt you in. *hugs you lots* Use this as a bit of escapism!
Date: 16 March 2006 - 07:01PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Wow! *cough* Er. Well. Wow.
He loves her!!!! And he's so wonderful!
What will happen?! I can't wait to read the next chapter. What has she been doing to herself? Convincing herself that it was all a terrible mistake, because she's terrified of what she's feeling. Yes, I think that's it. She's scared.
Does she love him too?
Oh, he's so much better than Flint.
Come on, Hope! Don't make another mistake here!
Thanks for the fast updates.
Author's Response: LOL He does love her, but she's never been aware of that before. You're exactly right about what Hope's been doing to herself. She's absolutely terrified of what she's done and the fact she could lose him as her friend because of it. You're too good at this!
Wow. You know, Julius has done nothing to endear himself to me, but I keep finding it harder and harder to hate him. It's obvious that he didn't have any deep feelings for Hope, but the same can be said of her. He's not taking advantage of her, and while he may be an arrogant bastard (at least at the age of 18) Hope has not illusions about him. I can't blame him for what Hope willingly decided to do, even if she had better options.
"You know I am."
I hope he is. I'd hate to think that Hope will never find Mathew as appealing pysicaly as Julius. I understand needing to get that out of her system, but I don't want Mathew to be the good guy she settles with. Of course I don't think Mathew wants that either. Hope is going to have a lot to think about when this game is over. Can't wait for the next chapter.
Author's Response: I'm with you 100% on all of that. Really astute observations; Hope definitely is enjoying Julius in much the same way that he's enjoying her. It was a relationship that worked at the time. Her feelings for Matthew are a lot more complex.
I can't see Hope ever settling with someone who's just "the good guy" - she'd drive him nuts in the space of a week ;)
This is a very powerfully, skillfully written chapter. I love how the focus goes between the present Hope and Matthew and the past Hope and Julius. Then there is the humor (button popping, the boxer shorts, Hope's sharp elbow jabbing Matthew) and concern that present day Hope and Matthew show for each other time and again while watching Hope's memories, all so skillfully interspersed in the story; it suitably cuts the raw flavor of the bluntly desperate physical attraction that Hope and Julius had.
What Cora said early in the story was so appropriate, that Hope would feel entirely differently once she had feelings of love. She clearly has too limited an idea of happiness! I love Matthew's reaction when Julius dashed off to take a shower so quickly, leaving young Hope "basking in a happy, happy glow of satisfaction." I wonder what would have happened if Hope and Julius hadn't clicked so intensely at the physical level. (Ooops. Plot bunny warning!)
So Hope does not remember the Christmas event enough to know whether it was dark? Was she inebriated enough to lose her inhibitions about Matthew being "only a friend" and their attraction for each other came to the fore? It certainly look like Hope is about to see Matthew's memory of the event, as his happiest memory... unless you have another plot twist to deliver first. :-)
cheers... peachpicker
Author's Response: Wow - what a wonderful review. I've been re-reading this and grinning a lot today! It's camoflaged smut, because the present is all going on at the same time. Works for me ;) Glad I got across the real lust thing going on between Hope and Julius - it really was a predominantly physical relationship
Question now is, what are you planning to do with that bunny? We really should set up a shelter for them. Except that might encourage them to breed.
We're straight into Matthew's memory tomorrow - no twists at this point, so curiosity will be (mostly) satisfied! Thanks so much for the lovely review :)
Whoa! I thought I was anxious to see Matthew's memory before; that doesn't come close to how much I want to read it now. Wow! I am hoping that you have the next chapter up soon. And Matthew is right--Flint was a complete and utter bastard.
Author's Response: You don't have long to wait. It'll be along tomorrow. It's back from beta and almost ready to go. Hope wouldn't agree with Matthew's assessment of Flint, but equally (as you can see) she wasn't in love with him either. Matthew can't stand Flint. Can't imagine why ;)
thats was hot!! but why i have the impression that Hope and Matthew had sex too??? please update soon... the story is really cool... and a question... when will you to finish home?? its a really good story too!!
congratulations!!
Author's Response: 'Home' will be posted as soon as I've finished posting this one. I get confused if I do more than one story at a time (hence the two unfinished fics!) As for Matthew and Hope, they've known each other for a very long time...
Nicely done - I have to hand it to you to be able to write a gratuitous scene, keep it in the story perfectly, and keep it so far above the realms of sleaze that it's scraping the clouds. I'm glad we got to see it.
Author's Response: Hurray! You've made me feel so much better. I've been waiting for someone to criticise the concept of this smut-through-the-pensieve thing. Glad you think it worked :)
I think what I like most about this chapter is Hope's attempts to mask just how embarrassed she is with humor, yet she also won't back down from a challenge. Though...if this were me I think I'd have to re-live the entire scenario with my hands clasped over my eyes!
Author's Response: LOL You and me both. I don't even want to imagine that one!
Ah, it hadn't occurred to me that Hope doesn't even fully remember what happened at Christmas. Makes sense though, if she was drunk enough, and helps explain her cluelessness about Matthew's feelings. I wonder when Matthew figured out that her memory was spotty.
And then I wonder where it's all going. Seems to me at 85,000 words we're not quite half through. Do we get to see Hope at work in Cornwall?
Author's Response: LOL Bits of it are a little hazy, but she remembers it.
Yes, we go to Cornwall - and I even have some photos! How about that for authenticity?
(*blinks - you can't see my eyes because my glasses are all fogged up!!!!*) YOWZER! That was wild! There's a memory that will keep you warm on a long, cold night... I know why Matt needed to see that (typical guy) or at least why he thinks he needed to see that. What he really should have asked Hope for was not her happiest moment with Julius, but for her happiest moment of all. I have a feeling that would have told him much more. Of course, since they are best friends, he probably already has a good idea about that.
And aren't our "friends" being a bit naughty toward each other?
"As if you'd have been so much better."
"You know I am."
His dark eyes lifted to hers, and he held her gaze.
I think there's a bit of a challange being issued here. (*grins and kicks back*) This is going to be fun to watch!
Author's Response: There's most definitely a challenge there. And you'll get to see exactly what that is on Thursday.
I agree with you absolutely - he'd have been far better off going for her happiest memory, but strangely, i think she might have been much more reluctant to admit to that.
14%
