Well.  I've not read any fanfic besides what I beta here and what I approve at the Ink Pen in, oh, a year or so, gave or take some.  Life just hectic and this part is what had to give to accomodate everything.  But, I have some time now again (finally!), so I'm getting back into reading, and your story was the first I came to.  Started from the beginning to reorient myself, and am thus leaving reviews where I left off, though some of them are incredibly late.  :)

Ron, who had admitted in the past to wanting to try Firewhiskey, would not apply the same rules to his sister that he applied to himself

That is very brother-like -- definitely something that I could see mine doing -- as well as Ron-like.

The room had become an outdoor paradise of sorts, much like the transformed classroom where Firenze taught Divination. The ground was a carpet of moss, and there was a great bubbling hot spring in the centre of the room. There was a low wooden table laden with fruit and various bottles of purplish liquid. "Fancy a spot of breakfast, Harry?" asked Ginny, walking over and uncorking one of the smaller bottles and drinking it down.

That is quite the hangover cure.  Nice use of the Room of Requirement, though.

They rode the spiral staircase into Dumbledore's office. Glancing around, Harry saw that the paintings of the old headmasters and headmistresses were back in their place. They had not resumed their previous habit of pretending to sleep whenever someone was in the room, however; many of them were rushing back and forth or pouring over maps and books.

Oh, I'm glad that you're making use of the portraits.  So handy.

Am curious as to the reasons behind picking Alicia for the disappearance, but I love that Harry's not saying she's dead until there's a body.  I think that's a good way to operate, even if you truly believe that the person is dead.  Though that could be my natural optimist poking its head out.

"I've always wanted to meet the Weird Sisters," said Lupin, quirking a brow. "Careful what you ask for. Would you mind going up to the Room of Requirement and bringing Sirius' guitar to me. He left it to me, in... in his will."

That's a nice response, and rather like Lupin in my mind.  I'm glad he's going to get the guitar, and it's a nice lead-in to Harry going over Sirius' belongings (or, I suppose, his new belongings).

It's nice to be reading again. :)

I've now got myself up to date and with all good WIP fics, I'm left chaffing at the bit for the next part. Harry's continued rudeness to people troubles me. He's been treated badly in the past, but he's not recognising how people (excluding Snape of course) are trying to do things differently. I also would've expected Ron and possibly Ginny (if she's aware) to take Harry to task over Hermione. Thanks and I look forward to the next part.

I can't agree here. Yes, Harry has been rude and even down right confrontational, however, the people around him do seem to be rather calus to his feelings. Hermione has to be able to understand that she is not the only person at Hogwart's, the Burrow, 12 Grimmuald that has strong opinions. She has been spoilded to this point...no one has actually disagreed with Hermione over anything she has said or done...she is used to speaking her mind torpedos be dammed and all and sundry listen. She is a wonderfully strong female character and many times it is her cool level thinking that has allowed them to survive, but Harry for the first time truly wasn't listening to her...was she upset by his tone...I think not. I think it was a combination of a few things....Harry not listening to her, the realization that her uneducated and brash statements hurt someone she calls friend...(Hermione should have known that Harry would not be so thouroughly filled with contempt for Kreitcher with out cause and let it go, but she had to press the issue...inforce her point of view), Harry's tone might have played a part in her being upset. I also think that she was most likely mad and I don't know about others, but when I get angry or feel as though I am being wronged...I cry...dadblameit! I hate it but there it is and I think had she truly cared about wether or not Harry forgave her about the house elf she would have stayed and done the normal Hermione routine and he wold have had to hear her out...he isn't unreasonable. Instead she started crying, gave up, and then.....ran to her boyfriend theinjured party. Ron says he will handle it and soon Hermione is acting as though all is right in the world and like nothing happened secure in the fact that Ron will set Harry straight and in effect handle her apology for her. Harry finds out she was trying to apologize (feels like a cad) and she is off the hook and only has to wait for Harry to knock on her door first to apologize for being a prat...then a quick, 'me too.' and voila.

You are right Harry is being a little blind and yes, maybe even selfish, but there is a hellasious load on his shoulders. Try the entire world and it's little dog, too.

Man, it is 3:00a.m. and I must say I never thought I was this opinionated...hope I don't offend anyone, it wasn't my intention.

Obsidiana

I seem to be in the minority here, but wanted to express my opinion on the Hermione thing nonetheless.  Personally, I feel that Hermione is the one who owes Harry an apology.

I agree...she didn't try hard enough to apologize...and frankly for someone who speaks her mind and damn all else she should be able to take a little of the heat from the fires she starts. I mean look at the way she wanted to shunt poor Harry off to some hiding place and as she put it...one persons happiness shouldn't be placed above the lives of many.....pretty darned heartless for someone who claims to be Harry's friend.

Obsidiana

Getting better and better, but I hope Ginny doesn't get too used to drinking her cares away. Honestly, taking this from a person who watched a perfectly wonderful person destroy themselves with drink, it is really no help in the hard times. Plus, it makes those around you feel helpless.  Sorry, I will now step down from my  to say...

I can not wait to see where this is going!

Obsidiana

I do hope Ginny has learned some sort of lesson, although it doesn't feel like she did.  I wonder if her drinking will come into play later in the story.  It feels very unresolved, somehow.  I did like her use of the RoR.  (I need one of those.)  It's nice to have a little of the normal, teenage hormones involved in a story about, well, teenagers.  Despite the hard times, they stil act their age - and I think that's very important.  Although, Voyeur Snape...ew.

I still hope Harry apologizes to Hermione for making her cry, although maybe it's a testiment to their friendship that she seems willing to forgive him without an apology. 

Poor Alicia.  Harry's thoughts that if she weren't dead, she would long to be were chilling.  Now, I don't know if I want her alive or not.  I appreciate the fact that there are casualties of war in this story.  No glossing over of anything - which is important.  And I really liked that both Harry and Lupin are willing to honor Sirius's memory by doing the things he asked. 

Great chapter, Joe!

Jen

I hope at some point Harry is going to apologize to Hermione?

I really like Ginny's use of the Room of Requirement.

Hooray, an update.  Loved Harry's snarky comment to Dumbledore about keeping him in the dark working so well before.  I wonder where they are going?

I liked how you had Harry just brush off Ron's demands to know where he and Ginny were with just a "We were busy."  Very good, Harry's not used to answering to people, but most fics have him bow down to Ron's overprotectiveness.  I liked that.

Poor Lupin, I feel so bad for him.  I'm a little concerned for Harry going into that room with all Sirus' things.  It wouldn't have been mentioned at the chapter end if it didn't mean something, right?

Loved Ginny's hot spring in the RoR.  Gotta love that girl.