Welcome!  It's always a joy to snag – er – gain a new reader.  ;)  Especially one who reviews so well and consistently.  Thank you so very much.

LOL.  NP  RL has as usual been a real - well, yeah.  I'm sorry it's been so long, but we haven't forgotten, honest.  As soon as possible there will be an update.

Forgotten about them?  Not possible, honest.  But RL and a bit of writers block is making it difficult right now.  Never fear, an update will be forthcoming - I just can't promise how soon.

ps Snape just brewed a very sticky potion. How will H get out of it? She requested D alone and now he's gone (?). What about the nightmares? What's Harry going to think of his 'mentor' when circumstances come to light (evetually some details undoubtedly will)? Well at least S had some satisfaction from dedtroying that portrait.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful review and now I'm going to take this opportunity to answer a couple of your questions.  Probably not the ones you WANT answered, but I can't resist."I've wondered for a while why D never paid for what he did 'for the greater good' both as a young man & while he manipulated everyone else later on, even of he did help 'save the world' (maybe the painful withering hand was something?). I've also wondered why S never had a chance to really redeem himself completely."I think the answer to both questions is pretty simple.  JKR liked DD, wanted him seen as someone who'd learned his lesson, so to speak, when his sister died and "graciously" gave his life for the cause.  However, she didn't like Severus and I think was quite amazed when so many of her readers did. 

You're very welcome from the both of us (who are also not so much fans of DD)!

Thank you so very much from the both of us!

I'm thinking that's a pretty sound bet on your part.   ;)

Yesssh, yesh he is, my sweet.

LOL.  Thank you from the both of us.

As soon as RL permits.   ;)

Awe, I know ALLL about RL. Boo. RL, go away. I realllly like this story.The chicken, Yorik is brilliant. I love his and Severus' interaction.

Of both I'm not certain, but more than likely the first. 

Uhm, he first called him a chicken (his "pet" name for Yorick) back in Part Two.Picking up the letter, Simon read it carefully. "I'm surprised, Yorick. She apparently has learned a few things working in that book shoppe. If I were Dumbledore, I'd give her credit for the effort. But I'm not, now am I?" The falcon chuffed once and turned his back on Simon. "I can still change my mind about the mouse, you ungrateful chicken."

It finally occurred to me you were asking "why" and not why all of a sudden.  I don't know exactly why.  A perverse trait on Simon's part?  A noble falcon, being called a chicken.  A bird that can't even really fly that scratches around in the dirt for its dinner.  A way to needle the bird, tease him in Simon's own fashion, perhaps? 

LOL.  It does!

It took a bit of doing, mostly on Hermione's part, but they're headed the right way – for now anyway. 

There's a play on words here that I think I'd better skip.  ;)

Zipping lip here. 

Ah, poor Mrs Carmichael.  Only one reader mentioned liking her.  Her heart will be broken.  ;)

Uhm, could be?  ;)   It took some time to figure out the hows and the whys of it being even possible, since JKR didn't even give us a hint, but it was fun figuring it out all the same.  ;)

LOL   I don't know that Hermione would agree with you, but I do!

Hee!  Really?  Darned Child and I were rather worried it was too "out there" to be missed really.  I'm glad we're more devious than I thought.  

It did, didn't it.

Ah, yes.  But it's such a long way into the future – or is it?

I had to go back and do a quick skim to be sure what you were referring to, and yes, yes it does.

Scary?  Probably.  Ruthless?  Most assuredly.

Thank you, so very much from the both of us.