Great chapter!!

Ha, I knew I had read that before with Ginny & Harry. AtE was great, my very first potter fic!

Okay, dying to go read...more later.

Finally, someone sees the need to train Ron, Hermione and Ginny along with Harry.  All I can do is cheer and hope that Dumbledore follows through.

Congratulations on an excellent chapter.  You really made the scene with Fudge and Percy incredibly effective.  I wanted to strnagle both of them.  They were both far beyond the mere paradies of incompetent beaureaucrats that most fics paint them as.  Very well done.

BJH

Melinda,

Great chapter!

So much fun stuff to do and see! Glad Harry's dealing with the emotional baggage he's holding on to. He needs to get better before school. I'm loving your thought descriptions; they seem so on target.

Fudge is such an idiot. That was so unexpected, and so scary to consider what Harry's training would be like under Fudge. Glad he's getting away. Perhaps some nice fluff coming for our hero?

And the scene where Harry asks Gin to outlive him was so sweet!  Loved that, even if it was borrowed!

And I hope that muse of yours returns!! Look at all t hose reviews! You have to keep writing!

Cheers!

Ash

Another excellent chapter!

Fudge is proving how much of a vile, nasty person I always thought he was. He is going for the lottery either political or financial maybe both. Scenario One-Harry defeats Voldie and survives. The Prophet's Headline would be (I'm sure it would be written with a "Quick Quotes Quill".) "Fudge Trained Savior of Wizarding World!" "A Vote for Fudge is a vote for safety!

Scenario Two-Harry Fights Voldie and doesn't survive..

"Fudge Trained Savior of the Wizarding World" "The Boy Who Lived" donated the Potter Fortune to The Ministry "(aka Fudge)

I'm really glad you let Harry get away from that evil +blocked+. I'm looking forward to next Friday!

Takon

Another excellent chapter!

Fudge is proving how much of a vile, nasty person I always thought he was. He is going for the lottery either political or financial maybe both. Scenario One-Harry defeats Voldie and survives. The Prophet's Headline would be (I'm sure it would be written with a "Quick Quotes Quill".) "Fudge Trained Savior of Wizarding World!" "A Vote for Fudge is a vote for safety!

Scenario Two-Harry Fights Voldie and doesn't survive..

"Fudge Trained Savior of the Wizarding World" "The Boy Who Lived" donated the Potter Fortune to The Ministry "(aka Fudge)

I'm really glad you let Harry get away from that evil +blocked+. I'm looking forward to next Friday!

Takon

Yeah - this fic ROCKS! It is truly one of the great highlights of the week to read a new chapter. Characterisation, plot, the 'canon-feel', dialogue is just so spot on - I'm impressed with the amount of research that seems to have gone into the writing, the PTSD-angle was a new one for me but makes absolute sense, it certainly was the feeling in OotP that GoF left deep, emotional scars in Harry and it makes sense to attribute them to PTSD.

The only thing that doesn't quite sit true with me is Ginny's reference to Harry as 'luv' - in my limited experience from living in England it is a word or part of phrases that is favored mainly by older or middle-age women from the working class and I've yet to hear any teenage girl use a phrase like that.

That is the only gripe I have with your awesome fic - this is IMHO the best fanfic on the net and shows true skill in the art of writing and storytelling! Thanks for writing and sharing it! 

The Fudge part of this chapter nearly got you another "Oh, you evil woman!" review.   Ginny and Hermione came to the rescue with their oh, so caring attention to the hero and his sidekick.  Those two boys have no idea how lucky they are to have Ginny and Hermione in their lives.  (Especially when the girls are willing to pack for their boyfriends!)

The other parts of this chapter that got me riled up were Snape's comments to Harry and Percy's pompousness as well...the git!  You write the professor extremely well and I admire how real he becomes in just a few remarks.  (Oooh, he gives me the creeps!)

Finally, I do hope Harry and friends are due for a respite from all that is causing them pain and that their holiday by the sea is where Harry and Ron can find the time to finish the conversation they started several chapters ago; it seemed that they were helping each other in a way that no one else could.

I look forward to reading the next chapter.     A.

Congratulations again for a magnificent chapter. I love the way this story is flowing, the tension is building up more and more.  Poor Harry, no wonder he wants out of it all - he is very true to form for someone with PTSD.  I imagine that Ron and he will have a few more "deep and meaningful" conversations down at the beachside, and with Ginny and Hermoine's love and support, they may just manage to get through summer!

After the End was the first fan-fic that I read, and this makes it hard for other stories to compare to such high standards.  However, Melinda, once again, you have me feeling such a magnitude of emotions and I can't (but reluctantly will) wait for Friday for the next update!

Happy New Year from Australia!

Good chapter.  I like your take on the Ministry trying to take Harry into custody.  It's definitely new (atleast for me).  Good work! 

I liked this chapter very much.  It's a great thing to see a new chapter from you posted.  I look forward to Fridays even more now. 

I thought Hermione's insights very well done.  It all clicks when viewed from that perspective.  Why do I think JKR is not unaware of this?  Good for you to shine that particular light on OotP. 

Unfortunately, Snape, Percy, and Minister Fudge seem all too in character here.  Your Percy certainly doesn't have to work too hard to be despicable, does he?  One wonders why he was in Gryffindor.

Nice nod to After the End.  Ginny's line was one of the nice moments there.  It worked well for you here as well.  Her packing of Harry's trunk -- mirrored by Hermione for Ron -- was one of the best scenes in this chapter. 

Thanks again!  I hope the Muse is generous to you in 2005.

Just wanted to say that this is a really well written fan fiction, and enjoy reading it. Just a quick question, how far into the summer are we? How close are we to Harry's birthday?

Have a Happy New Year, and I hope your muse gets back to you, as the friday updates are excellent as we have a known date when you update.

Brilliant!! Simply amazing!I'm looking forward to the scenes at the sea...that should be interesting.

Sorry for the short review, I have lots of house work I should be doing!

Excellent work! And update soon!

~Maria~

Another wonderful chapter in a wonderful story.  Fudge trying to take control over Harry is TOTALLY realistic and good for Harry for walking out on him!  I hope you kill Fudge off soon...he's just such an +blocked+!  Harry needs a good vacation with his friends, as does Ron, and the next chapters at the beach should be fun (can't wait to imagine  &  ogling  &  in their swimsuits! )

I wish you would post faster than once a week, although I am always looking forward to Fridays now, even more than I used to because I know a new chapter will be there.

I discovered After the End last weekend (trying to digest from WAY too much food at Christmas) and was subsequently glued to my computer for the next 2 1/2 days until I finished it.  I loved that line of Ginny's, and I think it's appropriate here too.

Excellent work as usual, hope you had a great Christmas and have a Happy New Year!