Egads, what a rotten night HE had!!  I wanted to smack Amy's father up one side of the street to the next...then she starts splathering on about her little trick...

It's time to open up a can of you-know-what! 

Well done, St. M's and I look forward to Ch 3!!

Oh, man... Mary, that was just harsh!  Poor Lee.   I hurt for him.

Good clear path to Holly though - and very well done by the way.  Loved Fred and George - horns!  *snort*

Oh, poor Lee! Amy's a...$#*&@!! That was totally cold, self-centered... Lonely. *snorts* Hmmph!

Well, the story's awesome at least. *grin* Can't wait for Ch. 3!

*Gasp* That  !!! Oh, That little....  Well, one good thing has come out of this: no more Amy, so what... more Holly? Yes? Quite a delightful little intrigue you've got going here; brill work.

Delani

Excellent part.   The nerve of Amy!  Humph -- Zacharias' sister. 

Poor Lee!  And George and Angelina.  Hopefully those two will make up!

Ouch! Poor Lee. First Amy and then work...

I love the way your characterize Lee, particularly his reaction to Amy's dad and to Amy herself (and the truth of the situation) I absolutely shivered to read Amy's confession. She's so... shallow, and slimy and disgusting. Perfect, it really added to the sympathy for poor, miused Lee. I'm thinking that Holly might be able to make him feel a little better however...

Drunken Lee was also very well done. Some nice clever bits as well - "Magic Without Borders" for "Doctors without Borders". An interesting Muggle/Wizarding parallel.

Can't wait for the next chapter!

I took one look at the title and knew I was going to thoroughly enjoy reading this chapter. 

I have to add my voice to the chorus and say poor, poor Lee.  I can't abide it when people toy with the feelings of others for their own selfish purposes, so I'm afraid I have absolutely no sympathy for Amy -- I don't care how unpleasant and controlling her daddy is.  Maybe she'll get her comeuppance.  *is hopeful*

It's funny that both Holly and Amy have younger brothers whom Lee knew at Hogwarts.  This may not have been what you were going for at all, but it reminds me of how Ginny and Cho were connected in little ways in OotP (i.e., both played Seeker, both had a part in naming the DA).  And obviously, in the case of both Holly & Amy and Ginny & Cho, one girl seems to be very right for the guy, while the other quite clearly is not.  [/tangent]

I'm not sure yet which detail you were referring to in your response to my review of chapter one, but I did notice that history popped up again (yay!).  But then, so did Mr. Jordan's job in Vanishing Management, so I'm still .

Oh, and I'm with Pirate Ginny -- I already love Lee's parents, and we haven't even met them yet!

I took one look at the title and knew I was going to thoroughly enjoy reading this chapter. 

I have to add my voice to the chorus and say poor, poor Lee.  I can't abide it when people toy with the feelings of others for their own selfish purposes, so I'm afraid I have absolutely no sympathy for Amy -- I don't care how unpleasant and controlling her daddy is.  Maybe she'll get her comeuppance.  *is hopeful*

It's funny that both Holly and Amy have younger brothers whom Lee knew at Hogwarts.  This may not have been what you were going for at all, but it reminds me of how Ginny and Cho were connected in little ways in OotP (i.e., both played Seeker, both had a part in naming the DA).  And obviously, in the case of both Holly & Amy and Ginny & Cho, one girl seems to be very right for the guy, while the other quite clearly is not.  [/tangent]

I'm not sure yet which detail you were referring to in your response to my review of chapter one, but I did notice that history popped up again (yay!).  But then, so did Mr. Jordan's job in Vanishing Management, so I'm still .

Oh, and I'm with Pirate Ginny -- I already love Lee's parents, and we haven't even met them yet!

Yes the title isn't very literary is it?  But it seemed apt.

I did the brothers thing because I wanted to ground all the OCs in some part of Canon.  Zacharias Smith knocked poor Andrew off of his broom in OotP.  So payback is necessary! 

You're getting warmer on the plot point! And watch for a cameo in the next chapter!  Thanks for your review!

Whatever could it be that would help Lee take his mind off his problems?I'm glad to hear that you disapprove of drinking yourself into oblivion as a coping skill - but the Apparating while drunk has to be an even dumber move.  The learning curve is steep for our friend in this story!  Thanks for reviewing.

Right- I officially hate Amy's family. Smith reminds me too much of Malfoy. Speaking of that, I really like how you shaped the Smiths around Zacharia's personality. It redeems him, in a way. (in this story, of course) I"m glad Amy;s out of the pivcture- though I feel she'll stil play a role. And that comment Mr. SMih said- about womem not needing a carreer... I HATE sexists, and basically, everything elses Smith represents. Bloody git. Oh, and I feel horrible about the Fred/Angelina fight- I hope they make up. And George must really be in a pickle, seeing his brother hurt like that. I swear, if JK kills off one of the twins, I don't know what I'll do. I think I'll cry even more than when you know who died in book 5. Right, off topic. Well, that;s all from me. EXCELLENT work!! I really love this. 

~Maria~ 

Repeat to yourself each day - no Weasleys will be harmed in the making of JKR's series.  How else will we have OBHWF?  It's been interesting to see the F&G from the point of view of their friend - I tried not to make them clones of each other.

That is how I came up with the Smith - starting with Zacharias.  I think anyone who stuck it out in the DA wasn't all bad.  Thanks for your review.

I'm glad you like it and I appreciate your review.  The dreads will come up again - never fear.

Thanks for pointing that out Berte!  I hadn't looked at the version that went up.  I'll send Sherry an e-mail. 

I really hated writing this chapter because Mr. Smith isn't a clever jerk or amusing in the least.  That's sounds strange, doesn't it?  Because I created him.  I could have made him more like Snape- with a great vocabulary and all that - but it didn't fit with my idea of Amy or Zacharias.  Sigh.  Glad this chapter is over!

Thanks for your review!

Oh, Lee! Poor you! Still, I suppose it was inevitable. Amy was totally wrong for him. Fred and Angelina sound interesting at the moment; I hope we hear more about them soon.

Fancy naming your children A and Z. It sounds a rather unimaginative, Mr Smith thing to do. The way you brought Zach in was nice.

Keep it up! Anxiously awaiting the next chapter...

Sarah

Mr. Smith's jerkiness worked for me because I've met so many men (and women) like him in the real world.  (my brother's in-laws.  ::shudder:: )  There really isn't any way to make people like that more balanced.   

 Poor Lee.  :(  I'm glad that you covered so much ground in this chapter--the Amy/Lee break-up was inevitable.  Glad it happens early, and so unusually.  I also enjoyed the worldbuilding that comes out in the conversations between Mr. Smith and Lee.  I hope we get to hear more about what Lee's mother has been up to.  It sounds interesting!

Oh, poor Lee!  I didn't see that coming, I have to admit.  :-(  As usual, I loved your imaginative throwaways - the design of the Quiddich museum, the disapproving mirror, and Magic Without Borders!  And I emphatically agree with the other reviewers - you really threw me for a loop with Zacharias Smith!  But it works really well - I can definitely see how Zacharias would have come out of a family like this.  I'm not entirely sure I like Amy's father (from a writing perspective, of course) - he seems like too much of a right-wing fat cat caricature.  Not that I disagree with Lee's point of view , but it makes old Daddy Warbucks pretty one-dimensional.  Oh well - I suppose that was the point, actually.    And he's certainly amusing - if only to really get Lee steaming.    At any rate, nicely done - especially for a chapter dedicated to grinding the Wheels of Plot! 

The problem with this scene was that I actually based it on a real life experience - and as they say, real life is never as believable as fiction!  My cousin's husband pontificated during the entire meal and wouldn't let anyone else have a word in edgewise!  Then he went on to say that he never " talks politics with women."  I wish I had said what Lee said - but I didn't want to hurt my cousin. 

I had to make Daddy Warbucks horrible enough to explain why Amy would be looking for a way to get out of his clutches (but still enjoy his money).  And Lee only sees him for a few hours - so he could be kind to animals and old ladies for all we know - but try as I might - I couldn't find a way to work in the balance.  Esp. since Lee is not an objective narrator.

Zacharais Smith! I didn't see that one coming!

Poor Lee - he's having a really rough time. I wonder if we've seen the last of Amy. Methinks not.

 That hangover cure is pure Fred and George. The horns!! :D

Previous relationships have a way of ressonating beyond their time - and this one is no different.  I'm glad the Smith wasn't a dead giveaway at the beginning.

Great chapter title!

I liked how Amy's father was an old friend of Umbridge and attributed the success of the DA to her.  After meeting Holly, I think every reader knew that Amy was not for Dean. However, her using him was a great surprise.  Well done. Dean is worse than an unwashed minstrel?  I guess money covers a multitude of smells. Poor Dean..what I wouldn't give to have a problem like Amy.

The hangover cure made me laugh and F&G's residence being the former hq for a temperance movement was funny.  Hope you update soon.

Yes - Fred and George could make millions with a hangover cure that had no side-effects - but alas, they haven't perfected it yet.  Money is going to be a reoccuring theme in this story and this was a way for Lee to start thinking about it.  And the chapter title kind of works on different levels.

Nice...I like how you worked in the obnoxious Zac Smith into this...I was hoping for Mr. Smith to make some type of rude remark about Harry or the Weasleys or find out Lee was a friend of the Weasleys and try to pump him for information about Harry and Ginny.

I have to tell you...that had to stink for Lee...to find out the so-called girl of his dreams was engaged...that was terrible. Nice deal...working in Fred and Angelina and their relationship problems in as well.

I'm really enjoying this story...it is almost like watching episodes from a drama or something.

Keep up the good work...this story is special.